Backs to the Wall.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 13 April 1918, Page 3

Backs to the Wall.

Haig's CaJI to His Men.

THE DECISIVE HOUR

Received 11.55 a.m. this day. London, April 12. Sir Douglas Haig has issued a statement to tl\e troops that every position must be held to the last man. There must be no further retirements. With their backs to the wall they must fight to the end. The safety of their homes and mankind's freedom, declared Sir Douglas, depends on each one's conduct at this critical time. Germans Take Merville. * TURKISH OFFENSIVE IN PALESTINE. Received 8.55 a.m. this day. London, April 12. The British have retired to flie outskirts of Neuve Eglise. The Germans have captured Merville. The Turks have launched an offensive against the British in the Palestine coast sector. Received 9.20 a.m. this day. London, April 12, 2.10 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: There was severe and continuous fighting last night in the neighbourhood of Merville and Neuf Berquin. The enemy continuing his pressure made progress in both localities and captured Herville. During the night he succeeded after heavy fighting in the neighbourhood of Ploegsteert in pressing us back to new positions in the neighbourhood of Neuve Eglise. The situation on the remainder of the northern battTe front is substantially unchanged. There is heavy figTiting on the whole front between La Bassee and the Ypres-Comines canal. Thirteen Miles in Three Days. GERMAN DRIVE FOR CHANNEL. ONLY SEVEN MILES FROM HAZEBROTTCK. Received 12.40 a.m. this day. London, April I' 2. The capture of Merville represents an advance of thirteen miles since Wednesday morning and shows that the enemy is conthe heaviest pressure directly in the «centre of the attacking front south of Armentieres. . . Military critics state that this movement of the German right wing cannot be longer regarded as a diversion. There are indications of a big effort to push compact columns towards the coast. Haig's despatch gives the position of the nemy's advanced bodies as being within seven miles of Hazebruck, the railway centre which the Germans for months have slielled at a range of 28 miles. GREAT STRUGGLE FOR HIGH GROUND. WOMEN AND CHILDREN DRENCHED WITH GAS. Received 9.55 a.m. this day. London, April 12. Mr Pereival Phillips writes: "While Ploegsteert Wood was full of contending infantry the Germans rushed up the Messines slopte against a hre gaining a foothold in the rums oi the village upon the crest. Our fire swept the ridge and we regained the ruins. At nightfall fresh Germans rushing up from Warneton sought to make good their gams. Many were caught in their own barrage. They rushed Messines after nightfall but hand-to-hand fighting among the rums ended in our favour. i , - r The Germans attackeu at VV ytscliaete With even greater iienzv, rsultinsf in a ding-dong battle all night long for this higher ground. • u 1 To-day the Germans again hail a lodging in the cellars at Messines, but remained further down the slope at Wytschaete, failing to gain the coveted view over the western plain. The encmv in the afternoon held half Ploegsteert wood. While attacking on luesdaj, eastward of Bethune, the enemy artilery drenched the town with mustard gas, the shells _ falling among the helpless sleeping 1 men and children. Our ambulances made the rounds gathering the victims to the casualty stations through the, heavy bombardment. If any stimulus were needed to spur our men on it was the sight of those people, the victims of a new terror.