FRESH BLOW COMING

Taihape Daily Times, 10 April 1918, Page 5

FRESH BLOW COMING

* Artillery Preparation Proceeding. Weather Against the Germans. Russia Protests Against Japs Landing. Russian Warships Blown Up To Prevent German Seizure.

■■ ■ ■ stormed the enemy troops were to push on to Colincamps Village, which was their objective—an advance or three thousand yards. Far from reaching this, they failed to gain entry into 1 a single yard of a New Zealand trench All the enemy has done is to make an insignificant little bulge in -his own line at La Signay Farm, where he is attempting to dig in, but the process is costing him further lives, for our rifles, machine guns, and artillery are now playing on the Farm. The indications are"that the enemy must have suffered the best part of a thousand casualties in addition to which our Lewis gunners shot down a German aeroplane. Our field guns are now pounding him to spme purpose, while the heavier guns are not neglecting the targets further afield. THE LATEST PLOT. LONDON, April 81 v ' Simultaneously with Hmdenburg's,' offensive, a .stupendous propaganda, offensive against France, England, and America is now beginning, efforts being made to create bad blood. Csip;. ,'tured documents • and handbills dr.op-, ped from balloons show that the Germans represent America to be scared .1 by the offensive and England and France to. be on the verge of collapse. Enemy field propagandists are circulating similar stories among their own troops and people in an effort to revive their spirits and depress the Allies. '">: ' : ; ' ■•' '" "'• TERRIFIC GUNFIRE .REPORTED GERMANS ATTEMPTING DOUBLE -■i \s. MOVEMENT. LONDON, April ;&,.ihi At 9.30 this evening 'Mr: Philip Gibbs reported: Terrific gunfire suggests that another great battle is beginning. The enemy artillery is active south of the Somme and elsewhere, doubtless preparatory to another phase of the German offensive, where they may again attempt, to drive a wedge between the French and British. The Germans have large concentrations astride the Somme, and they are still bringing up guns. Simultaneously they are demonstrating by heavy shellfiro at Arras and further north at Armentieres and La Bassee Canal, where many gas shells were thrown last night. There is a possibility that they may again attempt 'to turn our defences at Arras, while simultaneously striking hard for Amiens, hoping by success south of the Somme to make our positinos untenable from Albert about the Ancre valley. SIR DOUGLAS HAIGS VERSION. LONDON, April 9. At 10.20 this evening Sir Douglas Haig reported: Except for hostile artillery fire at different parts of the front, especially in the neighbourhood of Buequoy, there is nothing to report. THE BOMBARDMENT DIES DOWN LONDON, April 8. Renter's correspondent at Headquarters, writing on the evening of the Bth inst., says: The heavy bombardment mentioned earlier died down ajfter an Apparently lit was smothered by the violence of our reply. Wet, cold and dreary weather has commenced It is said that the weather during this offensive is the first time luck thereanent has gone against the Germans. OTJBGTJN& VERY ACTIVE. ; U LONDON,. April 8. Mr. Robinson writes: Our guns were particularly effective during the last ■ few days around Albert, Aveluv, and Avette. We at least three times stop-

WESTERN FRONT.

LONDON, April 8. A French communique issued at 4 p.m. to-day, reports: "The night was marked by violent artillery actions, notably on the left bank of the Meuse and in the Oise." ENEMY RESTING HIS TROOPS. BRITISH WAITING CONFIDENTLY LINE ADVANCED IN SOME PLACES. LONDON, April 9.. ' Mr. Perceval Phillips writes: There Is another lull. The enemy failed to get further results after two days' hard driving. Therefore he has allowed his disheartened troops to remain for the past three days resting in the | trenches they created in a new" wan-i dering line. This can only he a pause before a still greater attack. Great German guns are coming up,, and are already registering for the next int activity this morning: Many gas shells were fired, .between Arras and Albert, but the in:. fantryhas not yet left cover. We can afford to contemplate.the enemy's latest efforts with satisfaction. We held, the attacks well. We even advanced our line in some "places. GOOD WORK BY NEW ZEALAND-. £j r;V /, : -,, ERS. (From' Captain Malcolm Ross, Officii War Correspondent with the New Zealand Forces.) f. By Cable.—April 5. On the New Zealand front early this morning the enemy increased his artillery activity. He shelled our frontline, searched the roads and battery positions, and bombarded villages in which many civilians are still clinging to-their homes. Among the casualties was an old woman. A shell landed in her bedroom and blew oii: part of her leg and the foott. We were aware that the enemy had brought up against us the best part of a new Reserve division, which bad not been as yet in the great push; and his artillery preparation indicated - that he was about to attack. At 9 o'clockj|his "advancing troops were seen through the drizzling rain and mist, advacning from the south of the Serre Road, on a front of 2000 yards. They had probably overwhelmed some el our outposts which were being held by only a few men. At first the enemy came on in parties' of fours and fives. Immediately the New Zealand rifles rang out, and the -machine guns began to stutter i with deadly effect, and the German troops quickly melted away. These advance parties were followed by other waves, but they were met with a wittering fire and nowhere did they get nearer than 200 yards from our trenches. Not content with theif~macliin6 gun and rifle fire, so eager" oar men that they went over the~para- ( pet and advanced to meet those in No' Man's Land, but in this new development the Germans had no heart to food the tall New Zealanders. * The attack seems to have been carrled; out by two regiments, each with ■J two battalions in line. It was met by: a numerically inferior force of New Zealand riflemen and machine gunners, who dealt the German regiments a staggering blow, their dead"; being strewn about No Man's Lanu, while rnaay there were wounded, ami were <Wn Japing sadly back to the tren--«bed-l||ni which they came. . From' the prisoners we gather that! v*f*~r the" New Zealand line had-been i

ped the enemy attempting a massed attack, breaking up formations. I hear that 2000. British prisoners are being forced to work on railways within six miles of the German front, exposed to artillery risks. ,' • THE FIFTH ARMY'S, RETREAT. INQUIRY TO B*E HELD. LONDON", "April 9. The Daily News states that the Government has decided that an enquiry shall be held into the circumstances of the Fifth Army's retreat from St. Quenrln GERMANS CLAIM SUCCESS. LONDON, April 9. "Wireless German official: Troops advancing on the eastern border of Coucy Wood and Vailarises, stormed a hill north-east of Folembray, and advanced as far,, as Verneuil. Prisoners now number 2000. Wireless German official: We drove out the enemy from a strong position on the heights eastward of Coucy le Chateau.

ATTACK ON LA BASSEE DEVELOPING; Received 10.2,0 a.m.. LONDON,. ApTil 9. The German attack on La Bassee Canal, in the direction of Fleurbaix is developing. GERMANY'S CONFIDENCE. HEAVY CASUALTIES ADMITTED^ Received 10.20 a.m. ZURICH, April 9. Hejfferich, speaking at Stuttgart, said: "We are fighting for our life,, against England's political system. We shall conquer in the West as in the East.' We must undo England's gains in the colonies, Mesopotamia, Persia, and China. We must not emerge crippled by war, and must not be universal commerce, which is England's aim. ROME, April 9. Germans newspapers admit the casualties are heavier than in any previous fighting. «e ... i a

FRENCH COMMUNIQUE. At 1.35 this morning a French communique states: The enemy pressure continues north of the Cailette in the region of the lower Covey Forest. Our advanced elements resisted and delayed, the advance of the enemy, who were very superior numerically, inflicting very heavy losses. There was reciprocal lively artillery activity on the Somme front and between Montdidier and Noyon. i GERMAN CORPSE TRAINS. 'GRUESOME CARAVANS. AMSTERDAM, April 8. Frontier reports state that the whole of Brussels has been converted into a large hospital for German wounded. Train-loads are arriving hourly. Scores of trains laden with corpses passed through Antwerp for Germany. Nobody is permitted 'in the vicinity of the stations while the gruesome caravans are passing. .FOGS AND RAIN DELAY OFFEN--1 !. SIVE. ,•] ,; r Received 10.50 a.m. : | ''' , LONDON, April 9. f The United Press correspondent (.States intermittent rain and fogs are \ impeding German transport, delaying ; the resumption of the o'ffensive. I HURRICANE NOT YET OVER. MOST CRITICAL TIME COMING. ; j ;■•■ . Received 8.45 a.m. I j ...;■■ LONDON, April 9. ] Lloyd George said the hurricane was, not yet over, and the most critical time was coming. Everything depends on our resistance to the'coming German assaults. i ENEMY ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. " ON A WIDE FRONT. Received 8.45 a.m. LONDON, April 9. At 1.25 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports that the enemy's artillery in the early morning developed great activity at La Bassee to southward of Atmentieres. Heavy hostile shelling has taken place in the neighbourhood of Villers, Bretonvaux, Muricourt, and L'Abbe. TREMENDOUS'BOMBARDMENT BUT NO INFANTRY ATTACK. Received 10.20 a.m. LONDON, April 9. British Headquarters report that the Germans continue violent bombardment of the British front, to which we are replying with equal violence. It is believed an attack has j been organised to follow this tremendous shelling, but whether on account of our retaliation barrage or because of the thick weather no infantry attack has developed. READJUSTING THE FRENCH LINE VAST OFFENSIVE EXPECTED. Received 11.55 a.m. . PARIS, April 9. I Semi-official: A renewal of the .attack on a vast front must be expected. Yesterday, on the Oise and Ailelte we withdrew in order to reduce a salient, and after fulfilling this mission, holding the enemy while the French main body took up new positions. The Germans are attempting to -represent this simple operation as a great German attack) perhaps hoping to attract some of bur reserves here so as to. ease the Somme front, which is still their main objective. The enemy is employing French prisoners three kilometres behind the firing line.