ATTACKING NEW LINE.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 11 April 1917, Page 2

ATTACKING NEW LINE.

ST. QUENTIN MAIN OBJECTIVE

RESISTANCE MUCH GREATER.

LONDON, March 27

Router's correspondent at Paris sends a semi-official message which states that the Allies have apparentlyreached the so-called Hindenburg defensive line, of which St. Quentin is believed to be the centre, with Cambrai on the north, and Laon on the south, as the support points. The Allies are again confronted by trenches, and the fighting is intensifying, but the more vigorous German resist-

ance has not checked the dash of the assailants. The number of German effectives now engaged proves the extent of the effort the enemy is making to arrest the advance. The British advance has slowed down, as the country between Arras and Peronne has been smashed by terrific bombardments for eight months. Nevertheless the British are already astride th e famous Hindenburg line, between Cambrai and St.

Quentin, as the result of the capture of Roisel and Vermand. The French are able to advance more rapidly, as the bombardments further south have been less severe. The operations on the Oise and on the western border of the great wooded St. Gobain Plateau, near Laon, are most promising. This is a natural stronghold, 15 miles square, rising TuOft above the Oise. It was here that Joffre intended to stand in 1915, but lack of munitions forced him to fall back to Soissons, repeating th e experience of Napoleon in 1814. The French are now threatening to turn the Hindenburg line as the re-

suit of their success near La Fere, where the line is already partially broken. They have also captured important positions south of St. Quentin, inflicting heavy losses on the Ger-

| mans. If a further French blow car- . ries them across the wide marshy valq ley of the Oise, the whole of the Laon 1 salient may go, especially as the French are simultaneously vigorously delivering a frontal attack on the plaC teau from Soissons, gaining ground in spite of obstinate opposition at St. Vregny and Margival. | Both the French and the British are

approaching St. Quentin. The French

capture of the Essignay plateau,, immediately south of the town, is notable, as it commands a gap which is a direct strategic route between Paris and Belgium, and also marks a con-

siderable step towards outflanking the town. The Germans, recognising the importance of the position, made numerous counter-attacks, all of which were shattered with heavy loss. The plateau of Crouy, up the southern side of which the French are fighting their, way in the teeth of fierce opposition, is the south-western projection of the vast Laon plateau. Its surface is broken by countless ravines, which are frequently wooded. Under a clear sky and a bright sun, hot enough in the afternoon to tempt weary men to lie and bask in its rays, the French are steadily driving the enemy from position to position. The wilderness of mud has disappeared,, and men and guns advance over the fields, taking cover as men did in wars a decade ago. The fr,equent fusillading shows that the rifle has come into its own again. The brilliant French capture of Eed

Bridge over a ravine on the Maubcuge Eoad gave the French the hey to the whole of the Crouy plateau. The attack ing regiments were mostly peasants, infuriated by the sights of ruined farms and orchards. They stormed the position with irresistable fury, and repulsed three counter-attacks in two days. Every gain is followed by a counterattack, in which the Germans recklessly and fruitlessly sacrifice men.