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Taihape Daily Times, 27 March 1918, Page 8

Latest War News

FIGHTING AT PE BONNE

VIVID BATTLE PICTURE,

Received 11.5. LONDON, March 27,

Mr. Perceval Phillips continues that in order to understand what took place on Monday it is necessary to recall the four days’ fighting, when the Germans at cached between Gouzeau- ! court and Viliaret on Thursday. They utilised five divisions in the first assault and three in two others. Later, they managed to get up in a fog without being seen. By Thursday we were behind Viliaret and Hargicourt. There was intense fighting about Liver guicr, the enemy winning high ground before the end of the day. We again fell back when the enemy broke our new line at Hervilly. We counterattacked with tanks, hut finally retired across the Somme, blowing up all bridges except St. Christ, also destroying causeways across the marshes and derelict canal. The Germans brought up rafts, and a small detachment tried co pole themselves across the Somme, out they were annihilated by machineguns almost belore they embarked. A similar fate befel a bridging expedition at St. Christ. Meanwhile ten German divisions were in action between Nesle and Clery. Two of the best German divisions, including the crack Brandenburg Corps, tried to cross the Somme on Monday and managed to gain a footing on the w r est bank by means of rafts and pontoons, supported by the heaviest bombard raent. They thus made a dent in our lines at Morshain. Our counter-at-tack partially restored the situation. The Germans, however, kept steadilj flowing across the Somme in great numbers, and by 11 in the morning got a footing in our .line between Marchelpot and Sicourt, where hand-to-hand fighting took place. In places at the Somme the Brandcnburgers fought with great , determination and appeared fresh. The result of the Nesle fighting was still in. doubt when the despatch left. w.

The German casualties are very much greater than, burs, and the majority of the British wounded are walking cases. All say that the Germans are trying to smother us by weight. They come oh in greater numbers than we can kill them. A remarkable • feature of the German advance is the rapid movement of the heavy guns_ This phase of open warfare has been rehearsed very carefully for months. It is astonishing to see howitzers cl|n(bing along roads, and endless columns of ‘ motor lories bringing shells to the now battety positions. The guns come into action anywhere in the ’ open fields. Batteries are seen galloping boldly along rising ground within miles of obr troops. Behind the advancing armies is another army of workmen repairing railway bridges, and erecting aerodromes and hospitals. The latest reports states that the Germans have captured Eoyc, and that the British, Americans and French are engaged. The French are bringing up reinforcements.

WASHINGTON, March 26

General McLachlan, member of the British Military mission, states that the first phase of the battle is over, and the position has improved considcrably >