THE BIG OFFENSIVE.

Taihape Daily Times, 26 March 1918, Page 5

THE BIG OFFENSIVE.

ATTACKS CONTINUE.

ON WHOLE BATTLEFKONT. HEEOIC BRITISHERS. LONDON, March 24. Mr Phillip Gibbs writes: “The enemy is continuing his attacks all ay along the whole battle front. He progressed at various points, despite heroic resistance. We were greatly outnumbered, owing to the enormous concentration of enemy divisions, which are constantly reinforced and passing through each other so that fresh regiments may pursue the assaults Our men have been fighting gallantly for three days. They inflicted severe losses at every part of the battle .line. Thus the enemy, where he advanced, passed through thousands of his Own dead and wounded. In accordance with the general plan we have methodically fallen back .to pur new defensive, lines under the continuous and increasing enemy- pressure. ~, This movement is covered by- most glprious, heroic deeds on the part- of our troops, small bodies of ■ mfett. sometimes .sacrificing : j selves to ; the .last in order to gain time for theirs 1 -comrades, and,, though cm tirete surrounded jin some cases, they defined redoubts many hours, pouringi machine-gun fireupon'the I advancing enemy wavesy and raking their ranks. :rr So it was yesterday; round, Kenin - Hill, for which the enemy fought with desperate - obstin■'He’'’sent -forward column after column at Lagnicourt and Croisilles under our artillery fire, which slaughtered them in large numbers.

“Our infantry did wonders defending the hill which guards the way of the Searpe Valley, and here was long, intense fighting yesterday and to day, in which our dear men withstood repeated onslaughts of vast numbers, holding out, and counterattacking with ■unconquerable spirit to the death. So it was also on the right and centre of the battlefront, right from the beginning of these tremendous actions. Three mornings ago in the southern part the battle bdgan along the •whole sweep with a bombardment and intense gas shelling of our batteries. Afterwards the attack was launched by overwhelming numbers of storm troops. Our line was held by some three divisions, but the night before the battle he was reinforced until eight divisions were massed, while at one point on a frontage of tiwk thousand yards the enemy had a div*on against our one battalion.”

“By splendid work our intelligence corps learnt the attack was coming, and we poured heavy fire over the enemy lines, and drenched the town of St- Quentin, which was crowded with eneihy troops, with gas, causing him heavy casualties, though it did not suffice to break up his organisations and plans/'

“The position of some of our batteries was slightly changed to avoid the German (bombardment* This proved ©f?ectiv<7, as the -enemy jpoured a frightful deluge of high explosives on empty emplacements. A number of field batteries were however, left to cover any withdrawal of the outpost line, and these heroic gunners served their batteries to the last and until the enemy swept over them. On this sector of the front, north and south of St. Quentin, and opposite our line further south, the enemy's intention, as we learned from prisoners, was to reach the line of the St. Quentin, Canal on he first day, then advance by quick stages westwards. The rate iof advance was to be eight miles the first-day, twelve the second, and twee* ty on [the third day."

GERMANS CLAIM VICTORY. LONDON, March 24. Wireless German official: In our victory near Monchy, Cambrai, St. Quentin and La Fere, the English Third and Fourth Armies and portions of the Franco-American reserves were beaten and between Peronne and Ham, and at Chauny they were repulsed With very heavy losses. Yon Buelow stormed the Monchy heights and advanced beyond Wancou.it and Penin, and is now engaged in a fight north-westward of Bapaume for the third enemy position. Strong English counter-attacks were repulsed Von der Marwitz, following on the heights, advanced beyond Wancourt on Friday night as far as‘the third enemy position in the Equancourt-Nurlu-Templeux-Fossebernes line. He renewedlly attacked the enemy yesterday morning, defeating him, despite a desperate defence and continual counter-attacks. He functioned with Von Bulow’s left wing. We crossed the Tortille sector, and are now fighting around Bouchavesnes (on the Baupaume road.). . ~ ! Von Sutler, .tlxird enemy, position on Friday, , some ■diyisions. traversed southward . to the iSomme, Ham fell, after : a desperate jfight. English reserves, thrown in ■against sustained sanguinary losses .)We, crossed the Crozat Canal. . .

\ ——--—-77-7- . COLONEL REPINGTON’S REVIEW.

’ . ‘‘ V , LONDON, March 24. I ' Colpnel Eepington in the "Morning •: post, ’ ’ says: The Germans have gained eight miles in two, days being half the first day’s objective. They also gained aid indisputable .tactical success, but no straiegidal success. The' ers captured are Tar below' the number of wounded who might be expected to he left' behind. The’ ghns captured are only a fraction of the divisional artillery supporting the first lines. The loss will not incommode us. The ground won is a portion of that which the Germans voluntarily surrendered in 1917. They employed fifty divisions in retaking it, after severe losses. Our reserves will soon be ready to return blow for blow. The deployment of considerable accompanying artillery is not a matter of/ a few hours. The Gormans took ten days bringing up reserves to retrieve the Cambrai losses.

MIST SAVES THE ENEMY,

LONDON, March 25.

Mr. Robinson writes: On the 22nd the battle was nowhere fiercer than between Gouzeaucourt and Epehy. The enemy attacked in overwhelming strength. After a relatively ineffective bombardment, they stealthily emerged in a thick mist, solid lines presenting magnificent target at close quarters. The British say that only the surprise due to the mist saved the Germans from a smashing defeat at this point. A terrific combat raged in Gauche Wood, held by the Scots and South Africans, the defence recalling the glories of Delvllle Wood in 1916. All day the Germans came on in successive waves. Several times they penetrated the edges of the wood, bnt were always wiped out or thrown back. At then end of an almost uninaginablo day the British here had not lost a foot of ground below Cauche Wood. On the area extending from Pozieres to Epehy, one British division—mainly Lcicestors and Northumberlands— encountered three enemy divisions and part of a fourth. Fog again obscured the advance. Only one part of the line was breached. A party of Lcicesters holding a farm fought until all were killed and wounded.

The Germans, using flammenwerfers, captured Peizierea but were driven ont by the British, aided by tanks, after a most bloody struggle,. the Germans losing terribly.

though fighting against fearful odds, showed absolutely automatic precision They positively crowed with joy when they realised the punishment inflicted on the Germans. Our losses were inevitably heavy, but the position was held.

The withdrawal of the British near Epehy compelled other gradual retirements to Templcux la Fosse, where there was heavy fighting on Friday and Saturday. The defenders had borne a terrible two days’ battle, yet they had not yielded the new 'position Two batteries moved down masses of the enemy at point blank range during whole of Friday. The Germans during the retirement began looting adjoining huts. None were seen again. Concealed rearguard machine-guns riddled the buildings and killed all.

The British asked prisonered officers from Balkan units whether this was really Germany’s supreme effort. They replied "Certainly, or we would not be here.” They ruefully added that they had been given- the job of clearing the Germans path to open fighting. THE ST. QUENTIN FIGHTING. LONDON, March 24. In spite of intense gunfire from massed batteries, supported by Austrian howitzers and a large number of heavy trench mortars, the enemy plans were thwarted, as far as rapidity of progress was concerned, by the heavy fog. Early on the morning of the 21st, he threw his assault, through which were interspersed machine-gun companies 'at intervals of 100 yards, and then heavy machine-guns and field artillery. They sometimes became hopelessly mixed with the thira and fourth lines, while the right battalions were confused -with the left battalions in the thichTfog. Our ma-chine-gun fire caught their waves and checked the pace of the onslaught, and caused the enemy heavy losses. The enemy troops were ignorant of the line, having been’brought up during the night from a long distance behind. Even officers had only sealed orders, and the aid of a scrap map marked with a green line showing the objectives. The German high command, relied entirely on, the weight oi £uns .and, .m.an-power to break; our resistauce, .the dfivingpower of the 1 pient... the., enemy owes m»ch | bf its.. progress*. Our line . was not fetrong enough to hold all its old positions, .^gainst.....jSuch,. a„ ..tide ■■ of . brute, jforce. Our men served the guns as .'attack followed attack and column ifbllowed column; and bur losses increased as the hours passed. They were ordered to give ground at certain points, 'and fell back, fighting these heroic rearguard actions from one ‘position "to ..another. The main . attack, just south of! St., Quentin, was directed against . Urvillers , and Essig- ; ny. The enemy forced a way througn these places by' great drives. Our garrison •■'there-' was.'partly destroyed by hdsvstupendous gunfire. ’ Ho: seems to. have;gained; possession cf Essignay before’ mid-day bn the; 2.lst and captured Condescourt. This gave him important high ground which he used to the full, and succeeded by this in bending our line at the right flank of the Ulster division north of the Canal, which he crossed hereabouts, and by advancing field artillery, was able to bombard the line to which our main body of troops had withdrawn from Maisseny and Holnon to Savy and Roupy. He pressed forward againsT this line, but meanwhile several detached companies of our men holding out in a ledcubt, were entirely surrounded ny the enemy. They were defended by machine-guns and had forty eight hours’ food supply. One was near St. Quentin. Another was near Grugies. Many others were southward and past Fort Deliez to La Fere. These companies of English, Irlsn, Buffs, and Londoners held out. They saw the enemy streaming past them and knew they were cut off, but they would not retreat. Some of them (maintained fire until the evening, | when their ammuntion was spent, j They then tried to fight their way through. I fear many did not succeed in this heroic adventure, but their services, which will always be remembered, checked the enemy’s progress ana gave their comrades the greatest chance. Later on in the first day of j battle the enemy reached the village of Grand Serancourt and the hign , ground south of St Quentin, which dominates the positions on the other bank. He was fighting there all night and yesterday morning his eignt divisions against our splendid, harepressed three, while he had in support two other divisions. The main enemy attack was between Roupy and the Canal, All day yesterday he fought us ceaselessly. The enemy forced his way past the villages of Artemps and St. Simon. A desperate endeavour was made against the main canal crossings about mid-day yesterI day. The enemy directed column ag- | ainst Tugny, eastward of Ham, to

further north, the security of our three divisions in this sector was threatened by the enemy advance on the left. We withdrew further bac::. One body of troops was sent to hole Tugny bridgehead. Two other unrts of the same division covered the div-

ision as they fell back. They did this with glorious gallantry. Late last night their last rearguards returnee, after many hours’ battle. Mr. Philip Gibbs pays a tribute‘to the immortal heroism of the Highlanders first division. When their right flank was exposed, a battalion of Seaforths covered the withdrawal of the other troops, regardless of their lives against enemy hordes. They held their position even when the enemy brought two field guns and fired into the Seaforths at point blank range. Only a few Seaforths surviv-. ed. BRITISH TENACITY EXEMPLIFIED. LONDON, March 24. Mr Percival Phillips writefe: The enemy between La Fere and St. Quentin had one assault division opposed to each British battalion. Throughout Thursday the battle did not cease on the downs beside the Oise. The Germans, in lofty observation towers on the crest of the hill at St. Gobain, could follow r every movement of their racn_ Having occupied all the high ground, the Germans are able to search the valley beyond, which are still in our possession. The open country south of St. Quentin contained a number of strong redoubts equipped with machine guns, food and water. All held out until the afternoon, some until the evening, but one after were taken by storm. The Buffs and Londoners, who were holding the old Vaudan keeps near La Fere and Yenthuil, kept up a steady fire long after the Germans were a great distance behind them. The Germans' poured men through patches of woodland dotting the rolling country between the Oise and St. Quentin canal. All withdrew behind the canal during Thursday night. The enemy renewed the battle on Friday with fresh troops. We fought a severe rearguard action throughout 'Friday By Saturday morning the Germans held the bridgeheads on the St. QuenHiP' canal, " and had thrown large Masses- across. We fell back behind jthe ‘lihe of railway which irimS parallel ( to^thfe' canal,' -Witfi: hilly Moody ; country at our-rear. The earihl was 'dry near Ham, and the enemy' crossed readily, German prisoners "said they- ' suffered greatly, owing to bur machine-gun fire The attacking divisions ■ lost 40 per cent of their strength.* J

Meanwhile, there were two days of, the fiercest fighting between Arras and Bapaume for the high ground between the rivers Cajuel and Sensee. and a series of villages' around.. Be.aumetz. Our men, outnumbered eight to one, clung io the battered trenches wiith traditdbnal tjen'ac'ity, and £upst dogged resistance in tfie ’ Scarpe marshes.' '' ' : -

Our report received read that twelve, machine-guns wer estill “sticking it” on the ridge, although the infantry on both sides had been forced back These twelve guns remained, firing into the advancing waves long after the infantry had retired. The gunners’ heroism rendered invaluable service. "Wherever possible the Germans used ordinary roads, which are fairly whole. They showed utter disregard for the British artillery The Germans made no attempt at concealment. I could not help being impressed by the celerity with which troops followed troops with rapid blow's at our fluctuating line. They came on with trench mortars, while field guns pressed up behind, into villages just evacuated. Heavy mountain guns from the Balkans were sent forward slung on horses

Mory, where we fought ' throughout Friday night was the cockpit of sanguinary fighting. Some English who were cut off refused to surrender. Their comrades counterattacked continually and bayonetted the Germans, releasing the defenders, who had comparatively few casualties Our lines here made a sharp salient We were obliged to fall back on Saturday morning. The troops had a harder time than the weary men at Mory The spirit of our men was in nowise shaken by the necessity to give ground Everywhere there was the greatest activity, but everything was orderly Stores, equipment for hospitals, and ammunition, were safely taken back Transport columns rolled back in per* feet order. The staffs carried on their operations as methodically ag ever Sometimes they were grouped round a table in an orchard

CAPTURE OF HAM AND PERONNE CLAIMED.

LONDON, March 24 A Goman official statement claims the capture of the towns- of Ham and Fctronne.

VANCOUVER, March 24. he Germans claim that in the can tore of Ham and Peronnc a lar g e nam

They allege that the American reserve was annihilated. Paris message deny any breach of the front, and assert that the German losses amount to 40 per cent of the total engaged.

GERMANS DRIVEN BACK AT

THE SOMME,

FIERCE FIGHTING AT HAM

Received 8.45

LONDON, March 25

The British have driven back the Germans across the Somme, In the Licourt neighbourhood, clearing the right bank.

The British are fiercely engaged at Ham and Ncsle. The French arc fighting north of

Bapaume

PRESIDENT WILSON CONGRATULATES HAIG. Received 8.45. WASHINGTON, March 25. President Wilson has cabled to Sir Douglas Haig congratulates the British on their heroic stand against the Germans, and assuring them of the confidence of America. TREMENDOUS STRUGGLE FOR BAPAUME. PERONNE STILL HELD BY BRITISH. FIERCE BRITISH COUNTERATTACKS. FRENCH ARMIES HEAVILY ENGAGED. Received 9 a.m. LONDON, Maerh 25. A tremendous struggle is proceeding in defence of Bapaume. The Germans have launched fresh attacks north and south of the town, and their losses are enormous. Peronne is tetill In i,the hands of the British, who arc fiercely counterattacking between Nesle and Ham. The French armies are heavily engaged at Noyon, on the right bank of the Oise.

The long-range bombardment of Paris was resumed,, but interrupted after the second shot. , a >■< *.,• , j feRITISM TROOPS EPIC BRAVERY. ; SURROUNDEp, BUT EIGHT ON. . , v Received 8.50.., n , y-.. : i LONDON, March 1 25. Mr. Perceval Phillips writes:—‘Ten German divisions were employed in the early atack on the BapaumeCambrai Road. The Germans had 110 new battery positions, of which we discovered 72 during the two days before the battle. They fired heavily on Lagnicourt, Morchies, and Dimecourt, which were the first of the storm troops. Lagnicourt 'and Dimecburt held out longest. We were bafck :to Vraucourt-Anmetz line by Friday, ; Gktribraiand St. Quentin faced ' the : famous Ninth ■ Division, composed of South African's arid ’Scottish troops,who were holding the line around Gauche Wood. They battled for hours against the heaviest odds, and stuck to fragments of their old defences, refusing to surrender. One party ol Leicesters fought at Yaucelette Farm until all were killed. The Durhams coming up behind, also helped to hold up the attack, though the British on the right were forced back~by overwhelming numbers. Two other companies of Leicesters, assisted by two others, held Prezers, where the Germans crept in under cover of a dense fog. Finally, One company of Leicesters was completely cut off, but being surrounded, held the village until only one surviving officer led a charge through two lines of Germans. The Leicesters fought their way back to the British line. The field battles by Epehy fired steadily with open sights at 300 yards for four hours, when tne seemingly exhaustible hordes of Germans succeeded in dribbling past on both sides. The gallant gunners Continued to shoot at point blank range, surviving in a miraculous way after being surrounded. Some Irishmen formed a divisional line behind Epehy, assisting the escape of British troops, which retired from isolated pockets after fighting for twelve hours unceasingly against fresh German divisions, which leaped right through the troops used on the previous day. There was little rest on Friday night, and the German blows were renewed at Fiis, Nurlu, Templeux, and Caross. On Saturday morning the hardest fighting was east of Peronne. We fell back as arranged, worrying the tired, tried and hungry German advance guard, riddling his columns of infantry with machine-guns. It was a well organised, .coolly executed rearguard action, and the Germans were nearly dropping with .fatigue, but,, lashed to fresh exertions by officers We drew them cleverly into ambushes and harried them from our carefully chosen hiding places. One body came on a deserted camp and searched for

watched them into the trap until it was full of men in grey, then the guns riddled them and not a man came out again. All officers, from generals to subalterns, insisted on the 1 magnificent behaviour of all the troops, often so heavy with fatigue that they slept when they dropped for a moment’s rest by the road. One young officer stumbled into a divisional headquarters, pallid, unshaven, and dirty, and made a report; his voice vibrating with enthusiasm, he concluded, “The loveliest show we have ever been in, general; you don’t know how fine the men behaved.” ANXIETY IN ENGLAND. Received 9.25. LONDON, March 25. Palm Sunday in Britain was a day of intense anxiety, Special prayers were offered in all churches for the success of the Allied arms. A special Litany was read in many churches. By evening it was evident the news had the deepest significance, but the public was cheered by the announcement that Sir D. Haig, British and General Headquarters were full of confidence. War experts point out that two British armies have been driven back by an overwhelming mass. If 150 thousand to two hundred thousand Germans have fallen, as is likely, it is not a German victory, but a disaster, ' since they have sustained a loss of eight to ten per cent of their effectives without seriously lowering the Allies’ efficiency.

AMERICAN OPINION.

POSITION CONSIDERED CRITICAL

Received 10.55.

WASHINGTON, March 25

The press generally accepts the seriousness of the offensive, but- is confident the advance will be checked.

The New York Tribune says the situation is critical. Hindenburg won in the first phase, but the cost must be tremendous. Unless Haig can immediately repair the damage we must prepare for gigantic open warfare, which marked the Marne campaign. Mr. Frank Simmonds says all now depends oii'the extent of Britain’s forethought and preparation. Any considerable.,.iprthor .advance wouL* the French and;'.British; YTCi lf)0£ ,v. jayoS i r? U LONDONr March 25. : The Germans': hAUe, captured Nesle and Guicard. it XV- ini, .. 1.",..-^'— S' n.% • Received M.ISA J PARlS,'March 25. i Newspapers are full .pf Confidence, The outstanding feature of the “battle is the destruction of the enemy force, while the British retain complete ' power, ip"'^COunter-attack:'. '' Wl Germans are throwing themselves recklessly, into the gulf of destruction. xorL-V TL--'' * The, „ “Matin” states in a defensive the. employment of a reserve- must necessarily be delayed. This is the reason for the withdrawal of the British. PL myoofan4oDD,i?gas,rC ’aarrP,fla

EXPERT OPINIONS.

ENEMY’S OBJECT,

TO SEPARATE FRENCH AND BRITISH.

Received 10.45.

, LONDON, March 25

Even if the German claim of prisoners and guns captured is true, it does not justify despondency on our part or jubilation on the part of the enemy. We don’t hear of any division cut off. All accounts suggest the Germans are bleeding at their mam arteries. The Kaiser has apparently announced the end of the first stage of the battle, because the Germans want breathing time . M. Hilaire Belloc expresses the opinion that the German infantry losses is the cause of the hesitation apparent in Saturday’s fighting. The Prussian system demands very heavy losses at the outset. They work upon such losses, but everything depends on their relation t© results achieved.

Lord Sydenham points out the German object is to cut off the British from the French, hence the heaviest attack on our right. Such a gigantic effort, entailing immense loss, cannot he prolonged for many days. Other exerts similarly insist that Hindenburg’s and Ludendorff’s ambitious strategy is seeking to separate the defences of the channel ports fr m the defences of Paris. If attained this would justify the big German losses; but the resources of Allies might be able to frustrate the scheme If the enemy secured Bapaume, there would be the formidable Pozieres bridge behind. Before that is taken' the German losses will cause even Hindenburg disquietude. Fighting round Guiorhe Wood recalls Delville Wood in 1916, where the South Africans and toots were also fighting

Germans again and again managed to reach the borders of the Wood, but were always thrust back. The chief disappointment is the withdrawal from. Mpnchy, which was a big prize of the battle of Arras; otherwise the line north, is well maintained. SPECULATION'S ABOUT SUPER-GUN. NO NEED TO BE DOWN-HEARTED. Received 950. WASHINGTON, March 24, Tremendous interest in the great offensive, especially in the mysterious report of the shelling of Paris by long range guns. Officials and military ordnance experts are sceptical regarding a gun with 52 mile range. The speculation is as to whether aerial torpedoes are used or mortars mounted on aircrafts. Some suggest cannon shells are dropped by air craft, others speculate as to the possibilty of an isolated hidden gun within the French territory.

Colonel Raynor states ordnance with, a sixty mile range is not theoretically impossible, but impracticable, because of Its unwieldliness.

The New York Times says the news from the West front is disquieting, but there is no occasion to be downhearted. Every offensive since trench warfare began has been halted. We have undoubted faith in the powers of resistance of the heroic British.