NEW BATTLE COMMENCES

Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1918, Page 3

NEW BATTLE COMMENCES

FIGHT FOB. AMIENS. enemy everywhere CHECKED

(Received This Day at 9.50. a.m.) PARIS April 1. A French semi-official message of the Ist says:

The enemy is now diverting his efforts entirely against Amiens. A' new battle of Verdun, with multiplied forces t« beginning. The enemy proceeds by converging attacks, and is trying particularly to advance by two natural routes, the first from the south, northward, following the course of the Avre, which passes Moreuil, and secondly, from the east, westward following the course m, the Luce river which passes llaugard. The struggle is particularly keen round Hangard, from which the Germans attempted several times to debouch, only to he decimated. At last an impetuous counter-attack brought the Franco-Bri-tish back to Hangard. Attacks and counter attacks succeeded here with fluctuating; 'fortunes, but, at the end of the day the Allies bad gained ground . A.i.

The'Germans are endeavouring to extend their positions west of Mont Didier to which we are very close, and where they are invested, without being able to debouch.

Enemy attacks in tho neighbourhood of Albert only amounted to a diversion. Summing up, the message says, “The Germans^ were held to-day, on the whole front, where they make no progress.'”

FRENCH REPORT. <Received This T'nv nt 1 1 :’5. " m 1 LONDON. Anvil 2

A French communique states t”< night was relatively calm on Jhe fro”, from the Oise to the Somme. The :>itillery struggle assumed a certain activity on portion of the battlefield. Franco-Briiish forces made some progress at night time between the Somme and Demuin.

BATTLE OF SOMME. ENEMY ACTION CHECKED. (Received This Day nt 9.15 a.m.) PARIS April 2

An Evening semi-official message issued on the night of the Ist says thu Battle of tihe Somme has continued violently for the last twenty-four hours. Having failed on Saturday to seize the wooded heights between Mont Didior and Lassigny, which would have protected them from a French counter-at-tack and served as a starting point for a further attack, he has changed his efforts.

FRENCH REPORT PROGRESS WELLINGTON. This Day. The High Commissioner report* from London 2nd April 14.50 p.m. French official report.—Between the Somme and Demuin, some progress was made during the night. LULL IN THE WEST. EACH SIRE PREPARING. (Reuter’s Telegram.; (Received this day at 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 2.

There is a comparative lull on the West Front, which is interpreted as covering the preparation for the fresh German blow, but the fact must not he overlooked that the Allies equally take advantage of the quieter state of things. Opinion is strengthening that though a too sanguine construction must not be put on the improved note of the , battle, as apparent from the reports of the last two or three days, it is justifiable to look forward to the future with less anxiety . This more cheerful aspect is assisted by President Wilson’s decision to permit of brigading American troops with the Anglo-French units.

HELP FOR ALLIES. P •oived this day at. 2.36 p.m.,) NEW YORK, April 2. •v Britain has sent a message to United States— “Owing to the President’s co-operation we will receive strong reinforcements which are so necessary, in the next few months.”