WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 March 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

MUCH LESS CRITICAL ENEMY CHECKED NORTH OF THE SOMME. LONDON, March. 28. A high military authority states that the situation is much less critical than during the three days past. Broadly speaking the enemy is definitely 4 checked north of the Somme. The enemy entered Albert, but we are holding the railway embankment on the western outskirts. A French communique says;—Last evening and last night the enemy, who was everywhere held, was obliged, weakened by his heavy losses, to slow down his effort. The gallantry of our troops, who are defending the ground foot by foot, is beyond praise. We hold a line from Lechelle through St. Auria, Beauvraignes, and north to Lassigny. The southern line aproaehes to .Noyon On the left bank of the Oise we repulsed at night strong reconnaisaces attempting to reach our positions northwest of Noyon. THE LONG RANGE GUNS INTENDED FOE LONDON. COPENHAGEN, March 28. Austrian military experts express the opinion that the purpose of bombarding Paris is to test guns primarily designed to bombard London. A new and very powerful explosive has replaced the ordinary propellant. POWERFUL BRITISH RESERVES ARRIVING PARIS, March 28. The French Under-Secretary for War states that powerful British reserves are arriving on the battlefield v A French comunique stales that the enemy everywhere is held. A French war correspondent states that two fresh German divisions, proceeding to the front on Mondoy, were almost totally annihilated before they fired a shot, by machine gun fire and bombs from a hundred French aeroplanes. AyGerman newspaper correspondent intemewed General Ludendorff, Hindenburg’s Chief of Staff, who said that the German army was prepared to battle strenuously for three months. Things are going exactly as planned. The troops showed great clan. The warfare of movement has now replaced the warfare of position, although the Germans were handicapped by the enemy holding the advantage of power-

ful defensive -works. The British were strong and determined, and were very skilfully using machine guns posted at places which the German artillery were unable to reach. He added that the devastation of the country had very deeply impressed the Kaiser, who declared that Germans should be glad that- their country had escaped such terrible things. “Why did we succeed in keeping the fighting outside our frontier ?” he asked, and Ludendorff answered, “Because before the war we always insisted on armaments corresponding to the utmost requirements of the times/’ 4jßritish corjcspodent states that in ord% the extent of the casrlaltics from the people, the enemy woAded are not sent to Germany, but are®:ept in B'elgium, mostly out of ijgS of the main lines of communicaHSspital trains are arriving continuously at Ghent.

GREAT BATTLE IN FRENCH AREA

HUGE ENEMY FORCES

LONDON, March 28.

Reuter’s correspondent at Headquarters states; —To-day the enemy are attacking at various points, but have not progressed. Cavalry has been, in action. They achievd a brilliant little success, but no details have transpired. Airmen report that all the enemy hack areas are "black with troops. Although the enemy are continuing to thrust hard and long on practically the whole front, the tendency of the struggle is setting steadily southward. Consequently the French are bearing a growing share. Throughout the Somme area yesterday our airman badly mauled the enemy. Very few anti-aircraft guns have yet moved forward, while the enemy airmen are being so ruthlessly combed out of the skies that they are little disposed to join in combat. News comes that a battle is raging in the French area. The weather has turned bleak and grey, but is remaining dry. Visibility is good, and the ground is excellent for digging and transport.

FRENCH DRIVE GERMANS BACK THREE MILES

(Received 2Sth, 5.30 p.m,l

LONDON, March 28.

The French, fiercely counter-attack-ing, drove the Germans back three miles at Noyon.

It is estimated the Germans have suffered 300,000 casualties since the offensive started.

French official: At Lassiquy and Noyon, on the left bank of the Oise,: there was extremely bloody fighting_ Westward of Montdidier we are inflicting extremely bloody fighting.

BRITISH OFFENSIVE LAUNCHED.

MANY PRISONERS TAKEN

(Extraordinary Press Association)

LONDON, Match 28. New German attack is developing along the Arras front.

British counter-offensive has resulted in the capture of many Germans and machine-guns. New German attack is developing near Montdedier, After hand-to-hand fighting the Frencu retreated to heights in the rear, which they are holding fast. General Maurice says the British »gun losses during the whole offensive do not exceed 600; one hundred tanks have probably been lost.

BRITONS’ FIRM STAND.

GERMAN HIGH COMMAND IS ANXIOUS.

LONDON, March 28,

This evening, northward of the Somme, the British are holding firm. The enemy is not making headway to the southward, where fighting is much heavier. Hindenburg’s pawns are putting less ginger into the assaults. Here and there they are being driven back. It cannot be called a lull. Doubtless it is simply a momentary slowing up, while the gigantic adversaries spar for an opening. Obviously the German High Comand is uneasy. The German storm troops are daily growing more weary and the British resistance is daily strengthening. Hlndenburg is apparently puzzled at the slow progress of his overwhelming masses. He is hastily bringing up fresh troops and guns to continue the attack, putting already traffered divisions back into the front line.

AMERICAN OPINION.

BEITISH AEMY UNBEATEN.

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG’S BTEATEGY

COMMENT—

NEW YOEK, March 28

The New York Times says Germany’s objects was not to drive back the British; it was to rout them. In this the Germans have failed. The British, though retreating, are not defeated, and, we believe, undcfeatable.

The New York Times’ military expert says that the B'ritish arc holding the high ground taken in the battle for Vimy Eidge. This means that the end of the German advance is in. sight Sir Douglas Haig’s retreat north of the Somme was not compulsory. He has waited until the right moment to strike back. The hour of the groat counter-attacks is fast approaching. PAEIS, March 28.

On the strength of the latest news it is claimed that the Germans have been left scant of breath, whereas the Allies have already got their second wind. The chief topic is the outstanding fact that Hindenburg’s attempt to isolate the British and cut communications with Paris and the Channel, has signally failed. * .

COLONEL REPINGTON’S REPORT.

LONDNO, March 28,

Col. Eepington says: The Germans are certain to pour in reinforcements. It would never do to allow this attack to be a failure. If the next succeeds a general advance of the German line may be ordered. It should now be possible to give the British Third and Fifth Armies' a miuch-nfccded British eighteen pounders and French seventy-fives arc now massing for an attack, but Sir Douglas Haig and General Pctafin may 'eject to allow the enemy to break his neck before launching' a counter-attack.

SOUTH AFRICA’S LOYALTY.

CAPETOWN, March 28,

General Botha has cabled Sir Douglas Haig his deepest appreciation of the strenuous efforts of the Array, and praying . that complete victory will crown the noble and heroic stand.

General Botha, speaking in the Assembly said he desired to move an unopposed motion in similar terms, but Wessels .objected and declined General" Botha’s appeal to withdraw. Tho resolution was thereupon postponed till to-morrow.

The Senate passed the resolution unanimously.

FIGHTING TO A FINISH.

LONDON, March 28

The Germans arc making an unsparing effort lest the stubborn Allied stand totally halt their last fling for

victory. An, officer prisoner says they are using a species of tank to bring up artillery and ammunition. This is the only mention of enemy tanks. Allied soldiers believe it is a battle for a great decisive finish, which will prabably end the war. CHEERFUL CONFIDENCE AT HEADQUARTERS" LONDON, ‘karch 28. Reuter’s correspondent at Headquarters, waiting on the 27th, reports: The evening of the sixth day' ot the offensive finds the British front standing firm practically along the whole line, which is the strongest they have occupied since the beginning of the offensive. Some spots are weaker tfian others, where the German hordes may slowly advance. even compelling readjustments elsewhere, but the positions along the Ancre Valley the old Gommecourt Hebuterue line—are of very great, natural strength. Even the weaker parts of the line are held by a most orderly array of men and guns, not showing signs of the forced retirement. With a keen sense of needing to guard against over-optimism, a state of complete, almost cheerful confidence pervades the various hedagnarters. The morale of the troops is superb.

GRAVEST CRISIS OVER,

no pause for anxiet*.

BRITISH NEW TROOPS ARRIVING

GERMANS SHORT OF MEN.

THROWN IN NAVAL RESERVES. Received 8.40. LONDON, March 29. Mr. Phillip Gibbs writes: The enemy has sideslipped in strong force northward, towards Arras, having failed to turn our left by the original attack, owing to the splendid resistance of the third B’ritish division and other English troops. 1 Fighting is most intense; German stormers attacked towards Arras at daylight with many machine-guns. Our artillery made a target of them and large numbers fell,

but succeeding waves reached Orange Hill, from which they were driven during the battle of Arras in 1917. There is also fierce fighting at Telegraph Hill. The enemy pressed in the Bucquoy region, but our counter-attack flung him back, leaving many dead particularly at Ablainzevillo.

Pcrcival Phillips says the attack towards Arras from the south-west appears to be the most important development to-day. I believe . another equally heavy enemy thrust may be made soon astride the Somme. Masses of Germans have arrived at Bray and the country behind is full of troops and guns. Although our barrage, this morning, extended from Gavriils on the north to Bayelles on the south, storm troops, on a narrow front and to a great depth appeared in the region of Gucmappes and Wincourt and succeeded in the middle morning in penetrating our front line for some hundred yards. Heavy fighting is proceeding on the- high ground above the Scarpe, our troops holding their own well against heavy odds. The present, situation gives not the slightest cause for anxiety, the gravest crisis is thought to be over. Fresh troops are coming up steadily and new batteries are laying the foundation-’ of formidable barrages. There are signs that the enemy is being pushed for reserves. He has thrown in one naval division, which has not been done hitherto.

OFFICIAL SECRETS LEAK OUT

CAUSING GERMAN .. ANXIETY

Received 8.50 LONDON March 29

Liclinowsky’s revelations are slowly leaking out in Germany and have aroused most intense anger, coupled with anxiety as to the effect on neutral opinion. The newspaper “Germania” announces that Lichnowsky is to be tried for violation of official secrets. GERMAN CRIMINALS CALLED UP ALL IN GAOL WANTED. Received 9.15. . AMSTERDAM, March 29 The German authorities have decided that all men of military age now in prison must join the army. TREACHERY REWARDED. GERMANS DISGUISED AS BRITISH.

FRENCHMEN’S GLORIOUS WORK

Received 9.15

A wounded French captain whose company was the front by motor lorry at a critical moment says, they found themselves immediately cpnfrontcd by Germans who were also brought in motor lorries. The Germans who had disguised themselves in British uniforms, the next moment fired at us point blank. Our men and charged into the treacherous enemy, and we held the ground until we dropped from exhaustion. Till reinforcements came our Dragoons and Cuirassiers wrote there France’s most glorious pages of the war.

THE ARRAS ATTACK

A TERRIBLE PRICE EXACTED SILENCE ABOUT BRITISH ATTACKS. Received 9.15 LONDON -March 29. Reuter’s Headquarters’ correspondent writing cn Thursday evening says wintry weather has arrived, with bleak east winds and a sinking glass, threatening snow. Heavy fighting developed this morning; the Germans launched two attacks against Arras, One north, the other south of the Scarpe. The former quickly died down while the latter asumed serious proportions. By 11 o’clock dense German waves, under cover of tremendous bombardment, made some advance. We exacted a terrible price as the valley of the Scarpe, from Blangy to Roeux affords a good field of fire for our machine guns, while batteries posted on the ridges northwards swept all the terrain further south. We haVe been attacking, but details have not transpired.

Respecting enemy claims that he captured artillery it has transpired that the Germans are including afl light artillery mounted in tanks which were captured. It is noteworthy that hereanent a “male” tank carries two guns, thus German claims are heavily discounted.

FRENCH SUCCESSES HELD.

BITTER FIGHTING PROCEEDING,

Received 10.10

LONDON, March 29. There Is hitter fighting at Montdi-

dier. The French have recaptured Monceland and have held their gains.

KAISER AND GOTT

SUBTLE APPEAL TO GERMANS

LATENT FEAR OF POPULACE,

Received 9.15

AMSTERDAM, March 29,

The Kaiser, in a telegram to tin Vice-President of the Reichstag, says, “We have, by God’s aid dealt a heavy blow to the English military potver. Many German people and their Parliament particularly, may draw fullest confidence from the greatness of this accomplishment, that German might may bring us peace by force. Everything depends on the people at home preserving their wall to victory. The coming world peace will be better secured by German might than anything hitherto done to this end. May God help us.”

The Kasier telegraphed to Krupp’s congratulating them on their n"e"§v long range gun, which is adding a new glory page in the history of the house of Krupp, and demonstrating the mastery of German science.

SITUATION SUMMED UP

LONDON, March 28

Sir Douglas Haig reports: The battle was renewed this morning north and south of the Somme. There was intense fighting during the day from south of Pozieres to the north of Ablaingebill. Last night’s unsuccesful attempt to drive in our line south of the Somme was followed this morning by a series of heavy attacks in the neighbourhood of Pozieres and northward. All the enemy’s assaults at Pozieres were heavily beaten off. Our line was maintained further north, during the earlier part of the day, despite the great pressure of large forces, but fresh attacks, developing later, bent back our lines for a short distance. Later accounts show that counter attacks completely restored the situation.

Fierce fighting resulted from a number of determined attacks between the Somme and Ancre and north and south of Albert. The enemy forced their way into part of our position south of Albert. Counter attacks regained the ground completely and repulsed further' attacks at this point. ■ During the afternoon we drove back repeated attempts by the Germans to debouch west from Albert, inflicting every heavy casualties. The Germans were in great strength at Bucquoy and Ablainzeville, and gained a footing in the latter. At all other points they were beaten off with great loss. Our troops again fought, magnificently and heavily threw the enemy back all along the front, despite most determined attacks and superiority of numbers. Heavy fighting continues on the wholebattle front. MORE MEN WANTED. " ALLIES APPEAL TO AMERICA. NEW YORK, March 28. Lord Reading has received a message from Mr. Lloyd George stating that it is impossible to exaggerate the importance of America sending reinforcements to France, at the earliest moment. “Time,” he says, “is vital, We are at the greatest crisis of the most momentous battle in history, but ore buoyed up by the knowledge that America will neglect no effort to hasten her troops. Our army as boon forced to retire, but is facing the situation with splendid courage and resolution. ” BULGARIANS EXPECTED ON . .WEST FRONT. AMSTERDAM, March 28. Berlin newspapers indicate that B'ulgr.rians arc expected to largely reinforce the Gormans in the ..est. TWO CRITICAL MOMENTS. LONDON, March 28. A high military outhority says: The enemy have been cheeked south of the Somme, but ws may expect fresh attacks. Attacks round Rove and Noyon arc likely to be renewed, our fresh reserves are coming up every hour. Regarding the situation as a whole, one cardinal fact is that the opposing forces are nearly as equal • as possible The enemy, having taken the initiative got up reserves first, but this does not mean that they have more men We require time to get up ours. Every day the enemy is checked or makes no material advance is of enormous value to us.

In the present battle there were two critical moments. The first was on Saturday when the enemy crossed the Trotillo. There was then danger of separating our forces. The second moment of the crisis was when Martinpuich and Courccllette were taken, but the gap was filled. The line is now complete. The battle is far from over.

Iwould not like to say we might not be faced with months of crisis, but time is on our side. As the enemy gets further from our railhead the process of getting reserves ' is becoming more

difficult while our reserves arc nearing battlefield. The situation is now much less critical than during the past three days. A most remarkable feature has been our airmen’s work. The} dropped 22$ tons of’ bombs on the enemy, cans- I ing enormous losses, without any resistance from enemy aeroplanes.

Referring to the losses of material, an authority says: The enemy usually makes a high estimate of our total. The loss of guns captured or destroyed is about 600. The same remark applies to the enemy’s claim regarding prisoners. His claims to have captured about 100 tanks is probably true. Tho Daily Chronicle’s Paris, correspondent says: We now know that the yielding of one of the British armies, despite their marvellous bravery under the pressure of the German avalanche, left a momentary break in the lines, but the Germans were unable to drive a wedge in. The arrival of British reinforcements preserved the continuity of "the Allied front. At another critical point, the English and French, fighting shoulder to shoulder, crushed all the enemy’s desperate attempts to breach the lincs. Open warfare has come, with all its opportunities for strategy and manoeuvre. English and French reserves are ready to intervene at the proper juncture.