BERMAN OFFENSIVE FAILS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 March 1918, Page 2

BERMAN OFFENSIVE FAILS.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. COPYRIGHT.] (Received, This Day at 8.50. a.m.) LONDON, March 21. The German offensive has failed lyineffechve attack . WELLINGTON, March 4. The High Commissioner reports from London March 22nd at 1.5. a.m. A British official report states the enemy attacked intensely, but ineffectively, this morning on a front of fifty miles. The fighting continues.

THE ENEMY HELD.

NO .SERIOUS ATTACK TO-DAY

WELLINGTON, This Day. The High Commissioner reports:— London 22nd at 12.10. D.m.

Sir Douglas .Haig reports—We hold the enemy in battle positions. His losses are exceedingly heavy. There was no serious attack this morning.

PARTICULARS OF ATTACK. (Received This Dav at. 10.15. i m.) LONDON March 22. General Hindenburg apparently launched what was his long heralded offensive following a short bombardment along a front of five miles from the enemy. Their high velocity guns opened on towns for bqhind the lines, as the battle began. The British met the first rush with their custoary coolness, bobbing up after the barrage of gas shells and high explosives had passed. Gasmasks were adjusted and machine guns turned on the advancing waves.

Hand-to-hand fighting was frequent, tho Tommies bolding the strong points and fighting it out with knives, and bayonets.

Stupendous German preparations, prior to the attack, were carried out with the utmost secrecy. ,

General Haig, however, knew what wns happening for our air men had reported. every new dump, railway line, strategic road, and aerodrome, as soon as they were commenced. Our precautions were taken accordingly. If this be the loudly advertised drive, and it comes according to specification our officers and men arc confident. ? The situation is necessarily vague, when the fighting is on such a wide front. Some hours and probably days may elapse before the enemy’s true intentions can be divined.

FRENCH OPERATIONS _

GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED

(Received This Day at 1.20 a.m.) LONDON, March 21. A French communique states towards the end of the night there was , an intense, prolonged bombardment of the sectors north and south-east of Rheims also at various points in Champagne, where the Germans mad© several abortive attempts.

The enemy bombardment on the right of the Meuse became very violent yesterday evening, a strong attack following between Caurrieres wood and Bazonvaux. After violent fighting we drove the enemy from some points whither, in the first rush, he succeeded in penetrating. We took prisoners. After lively artillerying, the enemy attacked at 1.30 in the morning in the region of Momenv in Lorraine. Our fire repulsed him with serious losses, resnltlessly.

ALL ATTACKS REPULSED. f AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION 4[ & REUTER.] Received, this dav at 8.45 a.m. LONDON, March '22. A French communique reports during the day there was reciprocal artillery activity, very violent, between Miette in Aisne and the region of Rheims heights, Champagne and Villecourtouree-

Three successive attacks in Hurlus sector broke down under our fire.

Raiding attempts east of Suippe wer© completely defeated. Our artillery caught and dispersed some German columns, which were advancing south of Mouthois, on the right of the Meuse and some points in Wouvre, The enemy intensely bombarded our first lines. I