MR P. ROBINSON’S ACCOUNT.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 April 1918, Page 2

MR P. ROBINSON’S ACCOUNT.

A GRAPHIC ACCOUNT

THE POSITION SI'AIAIARJSEI). LONDON April 15.

Air writing on the 15th regarding: events of the last 24 hours states that we have no ground to change our opinion that the Germans are definitely held. \ We pushed them appreciably at fit. Venant and Nieppe Forest.

Our line at Flories and Robeck has been further advanced and is now firm.

The enemy seems to have abandoned the hope if reaching the area of the T? etlnme-Dru dry coal fields fearing to make a dangerous salient. The enemy’s strength is now mainly concentrated on his northern advance where he- is hammering hard, with a view to reaching an isolated chain of hills beyond.

The general trend of the German efforts is from Armentieres and Estaires in the direction northwards. The enemy divisons. here employed, exceed 25, whcrof 2d are still in the line. New divisions have been daily arriving since the 11th of April. They include tlie famous German Alpine Corps The sole resiift'lof determined, and almost continuous fighting is our short withdrawal from Neuvc Eglise . There is every evidence that the Herman losses were very heavy . The Germans lost equally heavily at Meteren, west of Bailleul, on Sunday. The most savage enemy struggles to gain several points on Sunday failed.

There lias been terrific artillery fire throughout the night-. The enemy had no advantage as the British guns did splendidly. The Germans massed in the. forenoon for a renewed attack on the line from 'Bailleul, west to Meteren, hut our artillery prevented them. Whether we can continue to hold the Bnilleul-Meteren line, I do not pretend -to say. A point may ho reached when it will possibly be too costly to remain, lint the Germans have been given such a lesson here that no minor advance can now repay the casualties-.. Our airmen report enormous numbers of enemy dead in the neighbourhood of St Venant, where savage hand to hand fighting took place; also in the northern sector hack of Messines.

RE-ATTACK AT BAILLEUL. LONDON, April 15. Air Robinson, reports that the reattack at Bailleu failed. Our aritllery 'ke it up .