GENERAL HAIG’S REPORTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 April 1918, Page 2

GENERAL HAIG’S REPORTS.

THE BATTLE CONTINUES

OUR LINES PRESSED BACK

LONDON, April 27

Sir Douglas Ilaig reports on the 26th at, J 1.15 p.m.:—“The battle is continuing fiercely on the whole front, from the neighbourhood of .Drauoutre to the Yj>res-Comminos Canal. The enemy captured Drtinoutre, Kemmel Hill and the village. The enemy’s attack yesterday was made at great strength bv nine divisions. Early this morning the Franeo-Brit-ish counter attacked and succeeded in first making some progress and taking prisoners. Later in the day the enemy renewed his attacks, particularly against, the positions from Loere to Laelyttc, and astride the Ypres-Commines Canal. We held all attacks in the neighbourhood of Lnelytte and gcherenherg, but after severe fighting, wherein wc repulsed u series of determined attacks with heavy losses, the enemy succeeded in pressing back our lines in the direction of Loere.

He also progressed astride of the Ypres-Commines Canal. The French and British this morning attacked the enemy’s position in the neighbourhood of Haugard and Hangard Wood. 1

Wo advanced our lines at certain points by heavy fighting.

ENEMY ADVANCE HELD. LONDON, April 27

Sir Douglas Haig'reports on 27th a t 2 o’clock in the afternoon, that there was great reciprocal artillerying throughout the night, on the whole battle front.

Northward of l.ys river, fighting in this area yesterday was very serious. The enemy repeatedly making determined attempts to develop the advantage gained on the previous day. After many hours of a fluctuating battle tlie. enemy advance was held at. all points. Heavy casualties were inflicted.

The enemy’s assaults from Loere to Lacelytto wore pressed with extreme violence. Throe attacks were beaten off with great enemy loss. He succeeded in the fourth attempt in carrying Loere village. ■At other points all enemy attacks were repulsed. There has been fierce fighting northward of Kemmel village and in tho neighbourhood of Voormezelle, which after a prolonged struggle, remains in our possession.

The enemy heavily attacked in the afternoon our positions at Ridge Wood south-westward of Voormezelle. Tlis attempts were completely repulsed.

Wc took some hundreds of prisoners. There was local fighting yesterday at noon in the neighbourhood of Given. Ic liy. The fighting was continued all the afternoon and evening to our advantage. Tn the T [align rd-Villers-Brotoonoux sector our line has been advanced at certain points. We broke up a hostile attack, accompanied by tallies in the afternoon.

Wc took in this area over nine hundred prisoners.

We carried out successful raids at night time in the neighbourhood of the Aleitx-Viexberquiii sector. Thunder storms yesterday compelled our aviators to fly within a few feet of tlie ground while roconnoitering in tho neighbourhood of Kemmel.

We dropped 6.50 bombs on Afonin Roulers and Anneiitieres.

We In-ought down ton and drove down two enemy machines, while antiaircraft guns downed four others, and our infantry shot down another enemy machine. Two of our machines are missing. A PROGRESS REPORT. I AUSTRALIAN A N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION A REUTER. 1

(Received Yesterday at 11 10. p.m.) LONDON, April 27.

At 10.10 n.m.. General Haig reported that the enemy had captured a post in the neighbourhood of Festubert. Our: fire broke up a local attack westward of Mervillo.

Our artillery effectively engaged the infantry assembling eastward of VillorsBretonneux.

Mist interferred with flying. Our infantry downed two low-fliers.

OFFICIAL NEWS. WELLINGTON, This Day

The High Commissioner reports from London on Anril 27th at 2 p.m.:

Sir Douglas Haig reports the enemy is held everywhere. There was fierce fighting at advanced line posts in the Hangard-Bretonnoux sector, where wo captured 900 prisoners. STILL HOLDING.

[AUSTRALIAN <£ N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION & REUTER.]

Received, th.s day at 8.45 ft.m. LONDON, April 28

At 12.45 n.m., General Raig reported the enemy had captured Voormezelle yesterday, hut a counter attack early *u the night drove, him out. The enemy re-attacked later in the same locnl-

ity. There was local lighting all night on both sides of the Y p res-Com mines canal. We raided southward of Gastrelle, in Lens and Hill 70 sectors. The enemy launched an attempt to raid northward of Balleul. "Reciprocal artillerying on all the bat tl tf routs was