PHILIP GIBBS’ ACCOUNT. A DITCH OF DEATH.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 April 1918, Page 3

PHILIP GIBBS’ ACCOUNT. A DITCH OF DEATH.

(Received This Day at 9.50. a.m.) LONDON April 1.

Mr Phillip Gibbs added —It was a touch and go several times at different parts of the line, but the gaps were always filled at the psychological moment.

One British unit, holding the line before Hermies and Havrineourt, on the 21st, fought like Greek heroes. The enemy attacked 'Hermies six times and Havrineourt seven, but fell in heaps and could not break through there. The sunken roads at Demiecourt, from which the enemy deployed became a ditch of death, ftor the German storm troops. The enemy successes elsewhere, however, necessitated the British withdrawal on. night of the 22nd when .the unit was in danger of being surrounded. The rearguard became isolated, hut hacked their way through and subsequently withstood most violent attacks, until the ragged line of weary men reached the Ancre on the 26th.

THE FRENCH HOLDING. (Received This Rav »i 11.25. a.m.) WASHINGTON, April Ist. Officials ave received a cable from General Bliss. Chief-of-Staff on tkc American front, that the French are holding the enemy at all points.

ATTACKS REPULSED. i ■ f AUSTRALIAN A N.Z. CABLK ABBOCIATI }N & REUTER.] LONDON April 1. General Haig reports we completely repulsed two attacks westward of Albert the last one extending. "The enemy persists in attempts to advance along tut valley on the Luce and Avre. He progressed but little, attacks and counterattacks occurring all day on this sector with varying success, the fighting is expected to continue.

STILL AT IT. PARIS April 1. The long range gun bombarded the fity twice on Sunday. One person was killed and one injured.

A PORTUGUESE CLAIM. 'Received Tliis Onv at 11.25. a.m.. MADRID April 1. The newspapers state Benito Caero, a Portuguese engineer in 1916, invented a gun throwing a 150 milimetre shell a distance of 130 to 140 kilometres. A commission of French experts reported favourably on the invention, A copy of the plan and descriptive memoranda with telegrams from the Portuguese Minister of War in Switzerland, were stolen from the Portuguese Ministry of war. The theft is attributed to spie.s.

GERMANS ENTER MOREUIL. (Received This Unv nt 11.25. a.m.) LONDON April 1. The Germans have entered Moreuil. Anglo-French brilliantly pushed hack the German b westward of Han garde santire, and recaptured the latter.

* A BRITISH APPEAL.

(Received Thia Dav at 10.15. a in.) LONDON, March 31. Lord Bryce and Lord Northcliff sent a message to the South America] Republics pointing out that the Gei mans’ first aim is to dominate Europ< and then the Western Hemisphere an< banish Republicanism from the world The messages urge that Latii America, which had intervened. They also ask sympathy for thos< nations who are fighting the battles oJ democracy and humanity. Lord Northbliffe adds! We ate gratified at your sympathy, knowing that if the need arises we shall see your sons standing in tho trenches beside our children and those of tho United •States. AMERICAN LINE EXTENDED. (Received This Day at 11.25. a.m.) WASHINGTON March 31. Americana are taking over more French positions, releasing French to assist General Haig.

PRAISE OF 'THE BRITISH. (Received This Dnv at 11.25. a.m.) PARIS April 1.

Colonel Rouset, in the newspaper “Liherte says the British are standing fast with a splendid, tenacity. The enemy is exhausting himself in bloody onslaught bringing only a few insignificant gau>» of territory. The struggles on our part of the line is terrific. The Germans must feel a profound admiration, and certain terror at tjhe unflinching valour of our men.

The Crown Prince’s armies deployed along a front of sixty kilometres, between Moreuil and Lassigny.. in a peculiar position, forming an offensive angle on the left, but almost hack to hack on the General von Mnritz’s armies who are fighting on the West, face to face with the British.

OCR FIRST RESERVES. Official comment on fighting says the German offensive is against the iron wall of our first reserves. The Crown Prince has paid with thousands of lives for the temporary conquest of a few villages the enemy’s effort has obtained.

13 TO 4. AND THEN BEATEN. (Received This l)av ar 11.1'";. r m ) PARIS April 1. x A lira me, under-Secretary for War in a statement to a newpaper, said we witnessed yesterday the unforgettable spectacle of the Germans who brought up thirteen divisions in Mont Didier region, where three French divisions met the shock with incomparable elan and advanced with the bayonet and artillery and put the assailants to flight after a terrific struggle.

The Germans are now constructing the second line entrenchments iu the region of Lassigny.

BELGIAN SUCCESS. (Received T 1 ’’ - •>' ’1 25. a.m.) LONDON April 1. A BeQgian communique states a German attack after a violent bombardment, east of Ni eu P°rt on the nignt of the 30th, was completely broken.