FROM OTHER SOURCES.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1918, Page 2

FROM OTHER SOURCES.

A BITTEr FIGHT. LONDON April 1. A French Communique states in the evening and night, extremely bitter fighting contisued north of Mont Didier The enemy directed Ills effort particularly between. Mont Didier—Perronne and Amiens road, and threw in large forces with the intention of widening his gains, west of Hasrardon iSantjiere. The Fnanco-Britisk troops smashed the attacking waves which were able to emerge into tho open. Then followed a brilliant counter attack wherein the British displayed irresistible dash, which enabled us to completely driven hack the enemy and recapture this village. The struggle was equally violent farther south of Grivespes, which was tue objective of unceasing, renewed attacks which led to hand-to-hand fighting. If remained in our hands.

Despite considerable German losses no change is reported from Mont Didier and Lassigpy.

FRENCH OPINION. LONDON April 1

The French Headquarters correspondent writes that the enemy’s offensive has geen arrested. The course liad been abandoned of marching straight upon their objectives and trying to breaa down our resistance by their overwhelming numbers. His drive down the Oise Valley has been finally arrested, and his attempts to cross the river further north has failed. The bridges are now being destroyed. .The. enemy’s capture oPMont Didier was just too late for him to profit thereby as the French forces were able to engage the Germans westward and bring his advance to a standstill, this nullifying his efforts at the final junction of the An-glo-French armies. The (hinge between the Anglo- French Armies will never be broken as the junction is now covered with French forces, strong enough to meet all eventualities. Eighty- seven enemy divisions have been identified on a 50-mile battle front comprising, not only, the pick, hut practically all sound German troops The French had already engaged three Guard divisions including the famous Brandenburg and somo of the best Bavarian Divisions.

The enemy possesses about twenty divisions, conceivably, forty of inferior material, useful in filling up the gaps hut not for winning battles.

SITUATION UNCHANGED LONDON April 1. This evening the War Office announced that tho situation north of the Somme was i.Mch.uiged. There has been hard fighting south of the Somme and in the neighbourhood of Moreuil Tho British: cavalry, brilliantly counter la t tacking, retook the wood between Moreuil and Hangard. The French beat off an attack south of Moreuil.

TIDE OF BATTLE TURNS. LONDON April 1. Tho French have recaptured Agencourt and the British have recaptured a German position east of Arras.

BATTLE! OF THREE RIVERS. PARIS April 1. The battle of the Three Rivers still continues, The Crown. Prince is desperately seeking to win the hold of the bridgeheads across the Luce River at Hangar d and the Ancre River at Moreuil and the River Esdoms at Montchel. TJie Canadians have done splendid service, fighting alongside the French at Moreuil.

Another fierce struggle has. taken places at Grivesnes, five miles northwest of Mont Didier. /

The mpny heavy rainstorms have made the battlefield most difficult and the getting up of guns and munitoins is hampering the the Allies’ preparations for an offensive, hut still more, the German hammer blows across the stricken Somme battlefield. . The 30th of March was the most critical day for the Allies. The Fifth Army has been fighting continuously since the 21st ? being re. ipved by a French division. The Germans chose the moment for 'a violent, assault, but General Foch continued the work of relief while repelling the assault.

ENEMY CONCENTRATING. • AUSTRALIANS DOING WELL. LONDON April 1

The British Headquarters reports in the evening that the enemy movements and fighting during the last 24 hours indicate a development is in operation to attempt to "work towards Amiens and down the Ancre Valley; also from the south-west. Great masses of troops continue to concentrate in the region of Albert The fighting is progressing towards Vellers and Bretonneiis

The enemy is finding serious difficulties in transport work, owing to the ceaseless destructive activity of our airmen; also owing to the shortage of animals. The Australian troops are now appearing in the thick of the fighting, ai |r ' are doing magnificently. Despite the southwardly trend of the battle, the greatest weight of the enemy divisions remains north of the Somme. THRILLING TALES. WOUNDED OFFICERS ACCOUNT. LONDON April 1.

Wounded officers from the Somme state that the German claim of captured guns and prisoners is a groMo exaggeration. There were comparatively few wounded abandoned as a great, proportion of the, British wounded are hit in the arms and legs by chance shots; as the Germans in the short, mad rushes fired from the hip and sel dom took aim. Nearly 90 per cert of the wounds were slight. The wounded state that a thrilling story will some day ho told of the magnificent defence by Carey’s Corps. This is a labour corps. It was suddenly and heavily attacked by the finest German troops. Carey’s men, however, fought with bayonets, and also their picks, shovels, and then fists until the attack was finally repulsed.

CAPTURE OF MOREUIL. LONDON April 1. The Germans claim the capture of Moreuil heights.

THREE DAYS’ STRUGGLE. FIGHT FOR MOREUIL.

(Received, This Day at 8.50, a.m.) •LONDON, April 3. The great three days’, struggle for tho Beauvais-Amiens railway, which is still raging, on a thirty-mile front, is p{. most, solely an infantry battle, ljL» “heavies” not yet being engaged. * The Germans are unsuccessfully throwing division after division against the lines, an inevitably sustaining the heaviest of losses. It is impossible to . exaggerate the violence of the struggle.

Aviators describe the battlefields as a stormy sea swept bv the ebb and flow of the combatants. ’Our soldiers momentarily retreated in places, hut furiously counter-attacking, swept the' astounded enemy off their feet. The seventy-fives are now. in. action, wreaking tremendous execution on the close ranks, which despite their officers’ efforts, sometimes broke and ran, leaving tho ground strewn with corpses. The prisoners are surprised at our small losses.

Moreuil was especially hotly disputed on Sunday. Tho Canadians and French twice had possession, but lost the village, which at night time remained theirs. The Germans before finally retiring lost half their force. THE GERMAN TANKS.

(Received, This Day at 8.50. a.m.i LONDON, April 2. A minor question concerns the extent of the Germans’ use of Tanks, whereof thev possess three types, the first con- , sisting of captured British Tanks and others built on the same model, the second are smaller, sneedier and better armed and armoured; the third is a big heavy land “ kreuzer,” forty-five feet long, twelve feet beam, and feet high. Besides improvements in armour, the Germans are provided with ..hermetically-sealed machines, impervious to gas. The speed varies from 4.V to 9) miles an hour. The machinjf* V are" equipped with guns, and flammerwerfer. t The Tanks will probably be used to follow an attack to clear islands of resistance. ' FOCH’S COMMAND.

WASHINGTON April 1. President Wilson sent a message to General Foch:—“Wish Jo congratulate you on your new authority. Such a unity of command is a most'hopeful au. gury of ultimate success. We are following with profond interest the bold, brilliant account of your forces. The United Press Agency states it is unknown here whether General Foch’s / now command is supremo, or only the command of the Army Manoeuvres, .. THE NEW COMMAND. NEW YORK, April 1. The “New York states: The appointment is conclusive evidence that the Allies contemplate a great counter offensive. We believe that a blow will be aimed at the German flank. The German attack on Arras has stopped momentarily, and in that moment-; General Foch enters. ' . ■ THE PRESS GRATIFIED. . PARIS, April 1. The French newspapers are gratified at .General Foch’s appointment. They state that it is a dear manifestation of | the Allies’ unity.

APPROVED. WASHINGTON; April !. ' Public opinion in America rejoices at General Foch’s appointment to" supreme control of. the Allied Armies in France. The “New York World” reflects the general view, and says that the ex- 1 , perience of the last ten days demonstrates that unity of command is vital, if the Aliles are ever to break Gormany’s military might. The appointment in itself is a battle won.

IMMENSE FRENCH ARMIESLONDON, March 31. Mr. Keith Murdoch writes:— “Immense French armies, scarcely touched since the Champagne offensive, are growing in strength and preparedness daily. All manner of guns are also flowing to these sectors. The Germans have deeply entrenched from the Somme northwards, but are lightly entrenched elsewhere. “After his failure to roll up the 3rd Army, Hindenburg has shifted his main forces southward, and is now mitted to the plan of defeating the French fesdrves; as they arrive, and opening a road south of the Somme towards Paris.”

GERMAN CAPTURES. . LONDON, March 31. The Germans have captured Achieourt (south of Arras) and other) Auber villers, in the neighbourhood of Montdidier. THE LOSSES. LONDON, March 31 It is authoritatively stated that the v German claims relating to gun captures are impossible. Under 600 guns were on this front. There is no whisper of opposition to any measures the Government may _ ; take to reinforce the armies. It is generally,accepted that the age . limit will be raised. Employers have already been not-i----tied that every serviceable man is wanted. There will be a most searching comb-out of all industries and a consequent restriction of transit servio,:s - w

GERMAN LOSSES. •• 1 (Received This Day at 12.30. a.m.) WASHINGTON, April 2.' - An official French despatch estimates Germany’s losses in th© present offensive at from 275,000 to 300,000. ALBANIAN REPULSE. , (Received This Day at 12.30. a.m.) LONDON. April 2. The Allies completely repulsed the, enemy’s attacks in Albania. GERMAN EXPECTATION. f*' LONDON. April. Ist. f . According to Hague telegrams ' the Gormans are already anticipating better peace terms as a result of their advance on the West Front.

A PRE-ARRANGED PLAN. WASHINGTON, April I. A General Bell, giving evidence the Senate Military Committee, said : “When I was in France recently I was informed by the British of their plans to meet the German offensive. The British withdrawal was in complete accordance with, the pre-arranged plan. A successful counter offensive oould now fee expected.”