GENERAL HAIG'S REPORTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 April 1918, Page 2

GENERAL HAIG'S REPORTS.

FRENCH HELP. LONDON, April 12th

General Haig reports a great force of French reinforcements moving to British assistant^?.

'THE FLANDERS BATTLE. I

LA BASSE TO YPRES CANAL. LONDON, April 12

Reporting on Friday night, Sir Douglas Haig states: —There is heavy fighting along the whole front between La Bassee and the Ypres-Commines Canal.

HA I G' S KX HORTATION

FIGHT ON!. LONDON April 12.

Ejir Douglas Haig lia.s issued a special Order of the Day in the troops in' France as follows: “Three weeks ago to-day the'enemy began his terrific attacks on a fifty mile front. His objects are to separate us from the French, to take the Channel ports and to destroy the British Army. Despite his throwing already 196 divisions into the battle, and enduring the most reckless sacrifice of life, he has yet made little progress towards his goals. We , owe this to the determined fighting and self-sacrifice of our troops. Words fail ime to express the admiration I feel for the splendid resistance offered by all ranks, under the most trying circumstances. There are many amongst us, who arc- now tired To those I would say: “Victory will belong to the, side holding out » the longest.’ The French Army is moving rapidly and in great force to our support. There is no other course open to us, hut to fight out to the last man. There must be no retirement. With our backs to the wall, and believing in the justice of our cause, each one of ns must fight on to the end. The safety of'our homes and the freedom of mankind depend <■ alike o>» the conduct of each one of Us in the particular-moment.” BAILLEUii TAKEN.

GREAT AIR FIGHTING

LONDON April 12

Si|- Douglas Haig, |reporting on Saturday states: “Our troops have been pushed back In continuous fighting for positions in the neighbourhood of Bailleiil railway, where we arc now heavily engaged. •Deporting Sir Douglas Haig states: The enemy has maintained a strong pressure all day southwestward of Bailleiil, 'making constant attacks in great force, which are still continuing. We have been slowly pushed back in continuous fighting to positions in the neigliboni'hoid'of the Bailleul railway, where we are, at the latest heavily engaging the enemy ; Sharp fighting is also occurring northwards of A the Bassec Canal. The enemy has.; slightly progressed between the Lowe-and Clarence Rivers.

Elsewhere our positions have been maintained. Over 110 German Divisions have- so far been engaged since the 21st of March, of which oyer 40 have been thrown into the battle twice and even thrice. , ' When the mist cleared,, onr aeroplanes engaged, in great activity on the whole front, and made several long distance reconnaisances. taking photographs. . ■ They encountered much fighting AVc downed 21 and drove down 13 enemy* machines. Four of our planes reported missing yesterday have returned.

We dropped over eight tons of bombs last night- on Bapamne and' villages southward of the Somme, and also on military .objectives at- Osteiid and Zeebrugge. We successfully bombed the Sabloiin railway-station and .Metz .to-day dropping 21 heavy bombs, which all burst on the railway siding.

ANOTHER ENEMY DRIVE.

- INTENSE FIGHTING. LONDON, April 13.

Sir Douglas Haig reports on the 13-th -at 2 p.m. Heavy fighting developed last niglit in the neighbourhood of Neuvro Egliso and Wulvershan and is still continuing. Late last niglit wo advanced our line slightly in t-lie neigbourhood of Festubert. -

The enemy launched a strong attack, preceded by a heavy .bombardment, eastward of Loco it, and succeeded in entering our lines at certain points, but were <1 riven out by a counter-at-tack.

We beat off a second attack'later at blight and also repulsed an attack east, ward of Meryille. ' The Merville situation and the remainder of the northern battle front is unchanged. Sharp fighing occurred yesterday south of the Somme and in the neighbourood of Hangard. Anglo-French attacks- regained the positions whereto the enemy penetrated. The .enemy’s artillery has been more active north of the Somme.

GREAT FIGHTING CONTINUES

HOLDING THE POSTTONS

(Received Yesterday at 11.10. p.m.) LONDON, April 13.

At 11.25 p.m., General Haig reporfed —As a result of last night’s fighting in the neighbourhood of Neuve Eglise, the enemy succeeded,- after a prolonged struggle, in forcing their way to the village. Counter-attacks this morning drove them out, and we successfully re. pulsed a later attack, also a number of

other attacks at different points along the battle front nortward of La -Bassee Canal. Three separate attacks on our line south-westward, westward and northward of Merville in each case were repulsed after heavy fighting. We successfully drove back attempted attacks southward of Meteren. We also beat off four attacks on our positions southeastward of Bailie ill. Heavy casualties u ere inflicted on the enemy.

This afternoon a hostile attack in strength has developed between Meteren Bacque river, south-westward of Metereii and Walvcrghem. ,Severe fighting proceeding on the whole of/ this front. On other parts of the British frort it is unchanged.

great air work

CAUSES MUCH DEVASTATION

(Received Yesterday at 11.10. p.m.) ~V LONDON, April 13. General Llaig continues:—Atmospheric conditions- were favourable for a. groat concentration of our aeroplanes on, the battle front. , Large numbers of low flyers were employed in bombing and machine gunning the reads packed with enemy troops. Thirty-six tons of bombs were dropped and over 110,000 rounds of ammunition fired.

Other formations, flying at a great height,, engaged the enemy’s, which; wore extremely active in tins sector. Forty hostile aeroplanes were downed and twenty driven down uncontrollable, in addition to two downed by anti-air-and three hostile balloons were destroyed. Twelve of ours are missing. There was an incessant bombarding all night. Over twenty-two tons of bombs were dropped at 'different targets, including t>on and Douai, important. rail junctions between Mezieros and Rheims, and roads leading to the battle front- in the neighbourhoocV of Estaircs.