WAR NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 April 1917, Page 1

WAR NEWS.

iPv:n I.’eess Association.—Copyright.] THE WEST OFFENSIVE--w Further Gains. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assojtation and Renter.) * WELLINGTON, April 16. Tlio High Commissioner reports from London .oil April loth at 9.35 p.m. : A British official message reports that north-west of St. Quentin we gained ground to the east and north of Gi'ieourt, capturing, some prisoners. Wo have also progressed in tno neighbourhood of Haviicourt wood ana east of 1 ievin, where wo are approach-' ing the outskirts of Lens. The enemy attacked this morning astride Bapaume-Cambrad road with great determination under our heavy firo. In addition to 300 made prisoners tho Germans left 1500 dead before our positions. Air Fighting. LONDON, April 15. Sir Douglas Haig report#:—ln severe air fighting we destroyed and downed fifteen German machines. Some of ours aro missing. French ' Report. LONDON, April 15. A French communique says:—Thor* has been violent artillery actions at St. Quentin, north of the Aisno and in Champagne. Our batteries caught and dispensed enemy elements north of Staneourfc. Belgian Report. LONDON, April 15. A wireless Belgian communique reports::—After a violent artillery preparation wo penetrated at Dixmudo the second enemy line. An artillery duel was very lively on the whole Belgian front to-day. interesting Report. LONDON, April 15. Mr Philip Gibbs, continuing lids report says: —Later messages state that the attack on the Southern suburbs was successful. The British, avoiding a direct assault on ' the hill, crept/ round the left and gained the high ground north-west, from whence they captured Bis de IL'aniont. The enemy, after recovering from their first panic, sent hack their troops to the trenches and macniiiegun redubty in. the western suburbs finding they had not. sufficient time w prepare their rearward’s positions o«tween Drocourt and Queant. Meanwhile two thousand women, children and old men, unable to dn the interval, were now refuging in cellars .and enduring agonies from the bombardment.

The Germans quitted Licvin with such haste that wo captured vastquantities of bombs, trench mortars and shells. Tho German counter' attack at Lagnicourt was clear evidence of -the enemy’s anxiety at this portion of the line.

A Record Offensive LONDON, April 15. Colonel Repington (Military Expert of tho “London Times”) says that for the extent of front, the number of men engaged, armament and equipment, the new offensive surpasses all records. Marshall von Hindenburg apparently .thought that by withdrawing ten miles and devastating the- intervening space he would give the submarines time to harra'ss us, thus gaining time for further withdrawals. This might hay* succeeded had ho not inaccurately gauged our offensive capacities'. Tho transfer of German troops front the Russian front to France lias begun, and the Germans ate already as thick as pea* on the British front where they already number sixty divisions.

MR WILSON'S MESSAGE. To People of America. WASHINGTON, April 15. President Wilson in a message to the people of America says. Our entrance into the grim horrible war for democracy and human ngms creates the gravest problems of our national life. Wo arc rapidly putting the navy on an effective war footing and wo arc about to create and equip a great army. We must supply foodstuffs not only for ourselves but for our Allies besido whom we will be fighting wit must supply ships by tre hundreds and coal, steel rails, locomotives, horses and everything that our Allies now cannot afford the men and materials and machinery to make There shall be no unwarrantable manipulation of food supplies, and middlemen will be expected to forego any unusual profits.

The President urges all to concentrate their efforts for a great harvest, and suggests that farmers in the south should plant foodstuffs in addition to cotton. The Government will give every assistance in harvesting and transporting,! Supplies must be maintained, and it must not matter how many ships are sent to the bottom. America must correct the unpardonable waste and extravagance. The President urges personal and national economy and the conversion of industrial forces into one, great internal service for the army. Foodstuffs are the Allies’ supreme necdr —Tile world’s reserves are low, and unless there is abundant food for the Allies’ . peoples the Allies’ whole great enterprise whereupon they have embarked will break down and fail. For the supreme test to com®, we must speak, act and servo together.,