WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 15 April 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

y BATTLE CONTINUES. »■*■■■■ ■ yOVER A WIDE FIELD. SITUATION STILL INDEFINITE. LONDON, April 12. A Headquarter’s correspondent says: The battle of Flanders wan continued this morning in brilliant sunshine and clear visibility, with a fierceness which scarcely flagged since it began. The situation continues Indefinite in many parts of a very wide battlefield, and therefore only a general and incomplete out line of the position is possible. There has been no apreciable change from Givenchy to the River Lawe* “During the past 24 hours we successfully beat off a heavy attack upon Loisne, and also repulsed, with immense enemy losses, three attacks launched in big waves near Neuve Chapelle. The ground in-front of our line is strewn', with corpses. “Further north our line was withdrawalo a more advantageous defensive jfßsition about a'thousand yards w<Mst of Beaupre, through Neuf Berquin, and thence in a north-westerly direction to La Verbier, Thus the enemy salient has become considerably considerably more acute. “I hear the enemy is still pressing on the to win ;of Merville. We. counterattacked later south-westward from the direction of Bailleul, and from the north towards Steenwerck, but did not succeed in pushing back the enemy, although we punished him severely. The Germans are throwing in reserves in the same prodigal manner as during the opening days of the present offensive. “Prisoners unanimously agree that the German High Command’s object is to swamp the British by sheer weight of numbers. “The enemy made a determined attack along Messines Ridge, where the South Africans, hardly rested after their splendid share in the recent southern fighting, did grand work in restoring the situation, “On Wednesday afterncrclT the enemy succeeded in gaining some ground, but the South Africans again drove him out by a spirited counterattack in combination with British troops. . • “Enaay artillery opened heavy bombardment at 2.45 in the morning from east of Ploegstreet. No report has yet arrived of subsequent Infantry action. German guns are also plastering Datestrasse area early this morning. Our artillery were kept intensely busy. “Our airmen in great numbers are rendering invaluable aid. “The Germans are developing great artillery activity In the southern area, which will possibly herald further infantry attacks. The BrayCorbie Road was fiercely shelled from 3 a.m. till daylight, and the valley west of Sailly-le-Sec was under heavy fire all night.” V: BRITISH ARMAMENT. STRONGER THAN EVER. LONDON, April 12. In the House of Commons. Mr Kellaway outlined progress in the production of munitions. He stated that the Increase in the first two months of 1918, compared with last year, amounted In light guns to 30 per cent.; medium guns, 57 per cent.; heavy guns, 38 per cent; machine-guns, 96 per cent; shells, 83 per cent.; tanks, 39 per cent; aeroplanes, 223 per cent. The average • production of. aeroplanes in ■ 1918'flRfrdIcd the average production cf 1315, while' one

week’s production of machine guns equalled five months in 1915. Over 100,000 men were released for the Army in 1917. The Army was as well equipped to-day as when the German offensive began. All the guns lost had been replaced, and we were now actually stronger in machine-guns than at the beginning,of the battle, and nearly as strong, if not stronger, in tanks. Those lost have been replaced by tanks of a superior model. AMERICANS ATTACKED. PARIS, April 12. *ThcT Germans attacked the Americans north-west of Toul, where the heaviest artillery and infantry fighting is in progress. MESSINES CAPTURED. LOSS OF MERYILLE. LONDON, April 12. A high, authority states that Mess-, iues has been, captured by the enemy.; Referring. >to the Joss of. .Merville, he,says: ‘‘We again reached a defin-, ite crisis,. , MERE SLAUGHTER. CHANNEL FILLED WITH DEAD. f/’ 1 ’ ' ‘ ' LONDON, April 12.

Mr. Robinson says violent fighting occurred along a little canalised stream between Lestrem Villa and Chapelle. The enemy attempt was made in the face of troops lining the west bank. Successive waves were cut down in mid stream. Men said it was impossible to cross, and the,.whole channel was choked with dead, the British.de-, liberately allowing men to come ■ so, close that the rest was mere slaughter. Fighting in this zone was most severe throughout, frequently becoming, a hand-to-hand struggle, and positions repeatedly changing hands, The Inemy captured Lestrem twice, also Estaires, but were driven out. The enemy’s success at Ploegsteert, permitted a northern advance, while southern fighting was progressing, and so endangering the Armentieres garrison. It was withdrawn first to Erquinghem, and then to a line in front of Nieppe, which is still held. The Germans once reached Nieppe, but are now well eastward. BRITISHERS’ SECOND LINE, PARIS, April 12. The German attack on the British in Flanders was originally intended as a diversion, but owing to its initial success it has ben changed into an attack, and pushed through to the .full with fresh divisions. The threatened objective is specially the mining district of Bethune. It is impossible to foresee the issue, but it should be contemplated confidently, for the British possess a second very powerful line of positions, which they have not yet reached, and on which their resistance would be considerably facilitated. GENERAL POOH* .DIRECTING THE BATTLE. LONDON, April 12. In the House of Commons, Mr Bonar Law, replying to a question regarding General Foch, said the Versailles Council, so far as the working out of plans and details were concerned, was still going on. General Foch, who was chairman of the Council, had been necessarily taken up with other work, He was appointed with full approval, not merely of the Governments, but of the generals concerned with the direct strategy 0 f both armies He was exercising the powers of Generalissimo, and directing the strategy, i n the present battle.

POSITION IMPROVING. BRITISH RETAKE NEUVE EGLISE. Received 9.40 a.m. LONDON, April 14. Reuter’s correspondent at Headquarters, writing at 11 o’clock on Salurday evening, says the general position at the moment seems to jusiitj the hope that the Germans will achieve no more towards a decision in Flanders than they have gone in Picardy and Artois. He has overrun a lot of territory and scored a series of tactical r but, .the gic position remains unaffected. The The Allied armies continue to face the enepy in. .an unbroken line.. The,, position,, which weakened steadily, is imprpvpg.. ; Al||}ough livered several heavy attacks to-day at various points, all were repulsed. Our retaking of Neuve Egiise may force t-.e enemy to release his efforts in the direction of Bailleul. There is a tendency towards a lull in the offensive, which probably means that the Germans are very tired. BAILEUL ATTACKED. LONDON, April 12. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Our troops were pushed back in continuous fighting for positions in the neighbourhood of B'ailcul railway, where we are heavily engaged. THE LONG RANGE GUNS. THREE IN USE. Received 8.45 am. PARIS, April 14. Le Petit Journal states three long range guns have been located half a mile apart, but one is out of action. Many naval guns are in the vicinity, which fire simultaneously for the purpose of confusing aerial observations. The guns are 95 feet long, of which two-thirds are - barrels. GERMANS' DESPERATE GAMBLE. LONDON, April 13. r Miv,Gibbs, reporting at 1.30 this .moping, says; The enemy is flinging his; all,-into the hazard of war. He a . stupendous number 'of men.. } While holding the lines on .the Somr me,, he moved up north silently and < rapidly large concentrations of troops and guns in order to crush the British; before France and America are able to draw off his divisions by conn- 1 ter- offensives. Thirty German divisions are between Wytschaete and La Bassee. The northern offensive is now as menacing as the Somme. We are greatly outnumbered, only the supreme courage of our men saving the situation. Hundreds of stories could be given as proof of this. In some cases guns were buried by shellfire, And our men dug them up and served them again. Unoccupied officers and’ men’ belonging to machine-gun companies :j fought with revolvers and bombs while their comrades kept the guns going. Liverpool troops showed great skill utilising their knowledge of the ground in cutting off parties of attackers, rounded up 300 Germans in a single attack, of whom 50 surrendered to a British brigade-major and his orderly. Reserves came up to strengthen the line riding in Loudon omnibuses and lorries.

The Germans on Thursday night drove in a wedge between Lestrem and Merville, and gained the position of Carlonne-sur-Lalys, where they are trying to force their way to-day with a big concentration of machine-gun and riflemen. A bloody battle is also being fought below the forest of Nieppe. Old French peasants, and young girls and boys continued working in fields until shells began to fall. However, our men are full of confidence. If they are forced back they are glad to know they have made the enemy pay a heavy price. Oiif line is still unbroken. They are full of faith that, against all odds, they will hold their own in the last battle of all. In the heart of every man is the thought that these days are deciding the fate of the world. THE GERMAN PLAN OF CAMPAIGN. Mr. Robinson reports: Prisoners’ documents roveal that the attacking forces are in three groups, the northern being the weakest. Six divisions were to strike through Bailleul in the direction of Hazebruck for the protec. tion of the centre operations, wheTe 12 divisions were instructed to penetrate" from Merville to Aire. The southernmost push was ordered to reach Bethune on the first day, thence Lillers, spreading southwards over the coal area west of Lens and Bruay. Only. the central thrust has so far realised its objective—much less rapidly than the Germans expected. This morning (12th) fighting was going on across. the Clarence River in the direction of St. Venant. The situation here is undoubtedly threatening.

ENEMY’S HEAVY LOSSES. LONDON, April 13. Violent fighting occurred", along the little canalised stream, between Lestrem village and Ghapelle.. The enemy attempted to wade, in fact troops were lining the west bank in successive waves, and were cut down in midstream The men said it was impossible to cross. The whole channel was choked with dead, the British deliberately allowing the men to come so close that the rest was mere slaughter The fighting in this zone was most severe throughout, frequently becoma hand-to-hand struggle. Positions ' w.crp i repeatedly changing hands, the enemjyo : capturing Lestrem twice, also Estaires, but were driven out. The' enemy success at permitted the northern advance while the southern fighting was progresing, and so endangering Armentieres. The garrison in it was withdrawn first to Erquinghcm and then to the line in front of Nieppe, but are now well eastward.

Wireless German official: In the 'capture* of Armentieres, the English garrison of 50 officers and 3000 men laid down their arms after a brave resistance. We captured 55 guns, and other booty. The total prisoners in the battle in the Armentieres area is now 20,000 including an English general. We have talun 200 guns, A French assault westward of Moreuil broke down, leaving 300 prisoners, who were subsequently killed by French artillery. GERMAN PRESSURE CONTINUES. LONDON, April 13. The United Press correspondent reporting at 10.30 this evening, says: German pressure was ceaseless to-day from La B’assee to Hollebeke. The ten divisions with which the thrust began have now doubled. About three-fifths of the enemy’s forces on the West front have been engaged in the offensive since March 21st. leaving between 70 and 80 holding other sectors, only sixty of which consist of good fighting men. The British are hourly performing prodigious valour, firing rifles until too hot to hold; while artillerymen, stripped to the waist, are blazing at point blank targets. OFFICIAL REPORTS. GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED. Received 11.15 a.m. LONDON, April 14.

At 1.55 this morning Haig reports: We repulsed, after heavy fighting throughout the evening attacks from Mbtiriu to Wulverghen. We also repulsed a fourth attack at Neuve Eglise. We heat off last evening a deter, mined attack near Festubert. On this portion of the battle front and northwestward as far as Locou numerous enemies jvere effectively engaged at short range by infantry and artillery fire. Despite numerous strong attacks at all parts on the Lys battlefront our line remains intact, and the enemy’s losses were severest throughout yesterday. Fighting opened yester eve at Neuve Eglise, and the enemy recommenced attacks in the neighbourhood of Bailleul this morning, which continue. French evening communique: There were fairly lively artillery actions between Montdidier and Noyon. . Our reconnoitring parties here brought back prisoners. We penetrated the enemy lines north of St. Mesil-Ember and Meenil-Bureg' sectors, and also at Lorraine, and took prisoners. A German coup de main north of Hill 304, in the region of St. Mesnil, Woevre and Bonhomme" Hill, were repulsed. I LONG RANGE BOMBARDMENT. Received 11.55 a.m LONDON, April 14. The long range bombardment has entered a new phase. After firing during the day the bombardment was continued at night. There were no casualties. LORD FRENCH TO HAIG. Received 11.55 a.m. LONDON, April 14. Lord French telegraphed to Sir Douglas Haig: “In heart and thought I am with you and my old comrades in this time of trial, confident that the lustre and illumination of the glorious army in every phase of the campaign will continue to shine as brightly as ever.” THE SAME OLD STORY. WAVE AFTER WAVE OF ATTACKERS. Received 9.40 a.m. LONDON, April 14. , Mr. Pirie Robinson describes the advance of the Germans. All parts of the battlefield are telling the same story. Wave after wave against small British forces in great numbers sue-

need in getting through somewhere, and they flow around like the tide er:circling a sand castle on the seashore. REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVING. 1 ENEMY’S THRUST SPENT. Received 11.45 a.m. LONDON, April 14. This morning’s news is regarded as reassuring. The British are holding out brilliantly against the Concentrated fiery onslaughts. The position north-westward of Armentieres is still critical, but timely reinforcements are hourly strengthening the lines. Our tenacious stand at Neuve Eglise is bearing off repeated attacks towards Bailleul and other directions are important factors in the situation. German shells set fire to many houses at Bailleul, and a strong breeze fans the flames. Saturday’s battles again illustrate the extreme celerity with which the successive masses of German troops are thrown forward. We hold an ampitheatre with ground from W7ytschaete to Mont Kemmel and Neuve Eglise, also the hills at Fleurs and Bertheu, besides Bailleul, and the enemy is still confined almost exclusively to low-lying country.