UNITED PRESS REPORT.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 April 1918, Page 3

UNITED PRESS REPORT.

k j THEI POSITION' REVIEWED. “ ASSUMING THE OFFENSIVE. 3 (Received This Day at 9.60 a.m.*, LONDON April 1. Reuteifs correspondent at British Headquarters says the first tremendous ! crash having failed in its purpose, the ’ enemy now is confronted with the alternatives of making another effort on this front, or of extending the battle further to ground wherfein movements are restricted by the marshes and swamps of Avre and Somme Valley. Perhaps the enemy’s hopes of advancing further depends on tho depression He can take it that the resistance of the Allies in the north, with each successive blow, will cause him to be weakened out of all proportions to the capacity for continued resistance, but perhaps on a mere weignt of numbers : he is playing a desperate gamble. On*. I of the most encouraging symptoms ) is the extent whereto our troops are i now successfully assuming the initiative

THE DAMAGE DONE. COST OF THE ADVANCE. LONDON, April 1. Iloutor at the French Headquarters says the Germans, following their habitual tactics, are delivering alternate blows. Tliey have transferred the weight 'of the attack from the Somme sector, to the line of the Avre, where a furious battle is raging. x \s the results of the day’s fighting involving apparently the heaviest losses yet suffer cd since the beginning of the offensive, the Germans have worked their vy-y to the bank of the Avre at Moreuil. The enemy still held on the east bank of the Avre, and except that he enlarged his position, along the course of the stream, he has nothing to show for his losses.

The French machine guns did terrible execution. The Germans are now bringing up heavy artillery, which lias not vet participated and breaking weather must delay its appearance on the battlefield.

An extraordinary feature of the battle is that so far it has been fought, on the German side, almost entirely by infantry. So far tho Germans have onlv been able to use field guns and

light field howitzers. They have not kept their heavies inactive from choice but because the retreating British methodically blew up the roads and bridges. Hitherto, the enemy’s quick advance was due to his employment of masses of infantry, and infantry arms but the costliness of this fighting, without bringing up artillery, is far too great for him to keep up too long. Tho enemy advance slackened in the last few days and gains were only made upon a narrow front. Meantime our artillery reinforcements are arriving.

Opinion is growing that General Ludendorff’s plan for sweeping a bloody passage through the junction of the Anglo-French forces will degenerate Into a long battle on both fronts.