PHILIP GIBBS’ ACCOUNT.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 April 1918, Page 3

PHILIP GIBBS’ ACCOUNT.

FURTHER REPORT. LONDON, April 12. Mr, Phillip. Gibbs reports the British holding Armentieres, drew back to the northwards, leaving a dangerous - gap on the left of the Northumberland Fusiliers and Royal Scots, but the gaps were filled and then the line was supported by trench mortar companies and cycle corps. The battle { spread northwards in the afternoon and their Was fierce fighting around White Chatea uand, Hollobeke, the enemy’s chief objecting being the Wytschaetc—Mossines ridge. The suffering of non-combatants, striken by the enemy’s'ruthless moth- j ods, are beyond description. The ; enemy flung hundreds of gas shells in- \ to Bethune which was crowded with i civilians. Many women and children ! are in our hospitals suffering from gas i poisoning and many others were wound i cd by harrassing fire of shrapnel. High : velocity shells were flung on hamlets, j

I A DEATH STRUGGLE. FOR FATE OF WORLD. LONDON, April 13. Mr Phillip Gibbs reports at 1.30 a.m.; The enemy is flinging his all into the struggle. The hazard was stupendous. WliilS holding the lines at the Somme, numbers of men moved up north silently and rapidlyi There is a large concentration of troops and guns ia order to crush the British before France and America will be able to draw off their divisions.for counter offensives.' Thirty German divisions at Wytsehaete .and La Basse in the .northern offensive are now menacing us. At the Somme we were greatly outnumbered. and only the supremo courage of the men saved the Hundreds of stories could be given as proof of this. In some cases the guns were buried by shell-fire and our men dug them up and served them again. ’j

Unoccupied officers and men belonging to machine-gun companies fought with revolvers and bombs while their comrades kept the guns going . • The Liverpool troops showed great skill in utilising their knowledge of the ground and cutting off parties of attackers. They rounded up 300 Germans in a single attack of whom 50 surrendered to a British brigade major and his orderly. Reserves came up to strengthen the line, riding in London omnibuses and lorries. The Germans on Thursday night drove in a wedge ■ between Lestrem and Merville and gained the position of Colonnesurlalya, where they arc trying to force their way to-day with a big concentration of machine gunnels and riflemen-. A bloody battle is also being fought below the forest of Nieppe where old French peasants and young girls continued working in the fields until the began to fall. However, our men are Full of confidence that even if the enemy is pushing them back they are glad to kfiow they made the enemy . pay a heavy jjirice. Our line is still unbroken and our men are full of faith that against j all odds they will hold their own in the led Inttl" of all. * v 1

In the heart of every man is ' the thought thdt these days are deciding the fate of the world.