BRITISH DEFENCES BROKEN.

Taihape Daily Times, 25 March 1918, Page 5

BRITISH DEFENCES BROKEN.

WEST OP ST. QUENTIN.

NEW POSITIONS HOLDING

EvEEIPWHERE.

PARIS? UNDER BOMBARDMENT

FOR NINE HOURS.

(Extraordinary Press Association)

(Received: 24th, 4.5 p : m.) LONDON, March 23. The Germans have broken the Brit' ish defences west of St. Quentin. British retreating in good orde^r British occupied new postions west of St, Quentin and the new Britisi line holds everywhere. ' j The Germans are firing on 7 aris with long range guns. The Germans are using 240 millimetre guns, and killed many in Paris. Shells are travelling 60 miles. Paris has been under bombardment for nine hours Continuously. . \ ' - AUSTRIAN CO-OPERATION". W - GERMAN STORY OF FIGHTING. LONDON, March 22 A German official message says: The Bavarians made a surprise attack south-east, of Ornes, to the north-east Of Verdun, overran the first lines, and advanced as far as Brule Ravine. They tcok 240 prisoners.

The Austro-Hungarians are co-oper-ating agaisnt the English and French in artillery attacks on broad sectors of the Western front. We captured Cherbsou in the Ukraine."

TREMENDOUS ATTACKS Otf THE WHOLE FRONT.

ENEMY IN GREAT FORCE.

HEAVY LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES

LONDON, March 23. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The enemy tn this morning renewed their attacks in great strength on practically the whole front. Fierce fighting is still continuing. The enemy progressed at certain points, but elsewhere our counter-attacks threw him back. Our losses are inevitably considerable, tt not out of proportion to the ttle's' magnitude. Keports from all parts show that the enemy losses continue very heavy, and their advance everywhere has been made at great sacrifice

Our troops are fighting with, the greatest gallantry. Exceptional gallantry was shown by the Twenty-fourth Division in its protracted defence of Leverguier, and also /by the Third Division, who maintained their positions near Croissilles and northward against repeated attacks. The Fiftyfirst Division made a most gallant fight near ths Bapaume-Cambrai road against repeated attacks. Identifications obtained show that the opening attack was delivered by forty German divisions, supported by a great num- ' ber of German artillery and Austrian batteries. ~any other German divisions have since participated in the fighting, and others are arriving Fur-

ther severe fighting is anticipated

Douglas Haig 'a later report that heavy fighting continued on tht Vhole front until late last night

Powerful attacks with great weight of

infantry and artillery in the afternoon i broke our defensive system westward \of St. Quentin, we falling back in good

order to prepared positions further invest. Our troops are holding their *»ositions in the northern portion of me battle front, where very heavy fighting with fresh hostile forces is progressing.

There was much air fighting. We downed twenty-three enemy machines and three of ours are missing. Our night fliers dropped 3£ tons bombs on Surges dockyards and 3£ tons on billets at Tournai. All machines returned.

TROOPS CONFIDENT OF VICTORY,

LONDON, March 23

Mr. Robinson reports: Below the main Cambrai front, an enormous number of troops was used —in all, something like one-third of the whole German army was engaged in the first attack. They penetrated our front line in considerable sectors. At others, where we held him completely, we drew back in comfort. Retirement elsewhere was general. Fighting has now been resumed on this reserve dine Nowkp.ref "have the initial successes been greater than was anticipated. Ma-chine-guns and field guns decimated solid masses at close range. Eastward of Flesquieres the attack was a failure. South of St. Quentin one. division, beat off and then withdrew reluctantly. The men were worn out \ with mere slaughtering. Nine German divisions in 2,000 yards, succeeded in advancing 1,000 yards, but suffered enormously. lAn adjoining attack was wiped out in No Man's Land. Succeeding waves were also killed. When finally the troops fell back, the right continued fighting, holding the advancing waves in check. Following a stubborn afternoon fight on the reserve line, the enemy advance on Fotainewood and the Sensee Valleywas completely checked with great losses.

A very fierce battle is now raging on the front Beaumetz-MerehisVaulx-Vraucourt. 'The; whole battle !has hardly began. It is necessary to be very sane and temperate in attempting to form a judgment of an operation fraught with such grave issues. The Germans attacked in tremendous strength and gained ground, prisoners and guns. We also have taken prisoners. Our line, if withdrawn, holds absolutely firm. On the whole front there is not the smallest sign yet of any break through.. The moral of the British troops is magnificent. The enemy's losses are vastly in excess of ours. The Germans will, of course, trumpet a gigantic victory, but we are just as cooi as when the attack began. We have left nothing undone to secure victory, ALLIES' CAUSE FOR SATISFACTION. PPABIS, March 23. In the Chamber, M. Clcmenceau stated that the Allied Staffs had every reason to be satisfied with the first great attack. Ho was extremely pleased with the results.

Some newspapers opine that the. enemy contemplates, after fixing the British reserves on the front attacked to make a massive attack on AngloBelgian left wing in the direction of Calais, between the Yser and Arras, thus directly threatening Britain; but the Allies arc everywhere prepared.