GENERAL HAIG’S REPORTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1918, Page 2

GENERAL HAIG’S REPORTS.

STILL ATTACKING. t LONDQN, April 6. Sir Douglas Haig reports activity . or the enemy’s artillery anil trench mortars increased this morning north of the Somme, followed by strong infantry in' the neighbourhood of Bucquoy.

The latest reports arc that yesterday the enemy met with no success, but sustained farther heavy casualties. We successfully attacked on the Ham front, and in the neighbourhood of Hebuterne, making prisoners of 400 and a few machine guns.

The enemy did not attack the British front to-day south of the Somme. Yesterday’s fighting was of the severest and most persistent sort.

The enemy repeatedly assaulted our positions cast of Yillers. A mist yesterday interfered with operations.

We brought down seven German machines, and one of ours *is missing. Two, which were previously missing, returned. We dropped forty-two heavy bombs to-day on the railway station at Luxembourg. Many burst on the railway causing a large fire. Despite considerable anti-aircraft gunfire all our machines returned.

BRITISH OPERATIONS. GERMAN PRESSURE. f AUSTRALIAN «S' N.2. CAHf.fe ASROCIATI'"! & IIEUtEB.] LONDON April 4. Sir Douglas-JHaig reports: “Between the Luce river, and the Somme, strong enemy assaults were repeated until late on Wednesday evening. Those were beaten off. “We were pressed back a little eastwards of Yillers-Pretonneux region just south of the Somme, which line, however, we still maintain.”

HEAVY FIGHTING. LONDON, April 4. Sir Douglas Haig reports: “Thursday’s .heavy' fighting lasted throughout the afternoon and late into the evening between the Lliee river, and the Somme. In the evening, employing strong forces, the enemy delivered repeated assaults. These wore beaten off with loss to the enemy, but we slightly pressed back to the eastward of the Villers-Beiiethntoux line, where our positions are now maintained.”

ENEMY ACTIVE. LONDON April 5. Sir Douglas Haig reports: “The enemy’s artillery northward of the Somme has been active during the past night In tin.. neiglihpurhood of Bucqiioy, anti further north iu the Scarpe Valley behind Arras. “We have also engaged hostile concentrations southwards in the neigh, bourliood of Albert.

POSITION IMPROVED. LONDON, April 6. Sir Douglas Haig reports that north of the Somme heavy fighting continues and along the whole front south or Ayette. Yesterday the enemy constantly attacked in considerable strength, with no further success.

There was local lighting yesterday morning south of the Somme and in the neighbourhood of Jlangard. We improved our position hv a counter attack.

HEAVY FIGHTTNG. (LONDON, April 6. Sir Douglas Haig reports that northward of the Somme there tl'its heavy fighting until In to yesterday evening, but the enemy had no further successes Southward of the Somme we improved our position in the neighbourhood of Hangard.