At Bay.

Taihape Daily Times, 16 April 1918, Page 5

At Bay.

HEROIC BRITISH TROOPS. NO SURRENDER. LONDON, April 14. Mr. Gibbs writes : Sir Douglas Haig’s order of the day should reveal to the world what is happening out here. The enemy’s objectives 'arc to seise the Channel ports and destroy the British Army. They have brought frightful forces, to :achieye thep plan, making a call upon our troops to holel every position -to the last man. Many of our men have fighting day and night for weeks, do so because the spirit wakes,. again above bfidily fatigue. Some have fought ■ continuously since March 21st, many rearguard actions with the enemy on both flanks. They are truly fighting with their backs against the wall. England and Scotland must steel their hearts to this sacrifice. The enemy still storms against us with fresh men and more fresh men in overwhelming numbers. Little groups are left out" of gallant companies. These hands of brothers belonging to English and Scottish regiments have no surrender in their souls. If they yield it will be to the death.

The dreadful scene of war draws near places long outside the war zone, where our soldiers lived on familiar terms among the people. At night the scene is infernal. On a clear, starlight night the horizon is lit for miles by the flames of burning stores and ammunition dumps, combined with bonfires of farms, houses and villages, and the flashes of guns. Yesterday the weather changed. There was no sunlight in the sky. It was a strange and terrible thing to stand be. hind the line with ears tingling with the noise of the gre&test battle in history, but unable to see' the shellbursts. The tumult of gunfire was greatest south of Bailleul. I sawguns coming up, the gunners, dusty, white men, saying little, and getting immediately into action. I saw little bodies of infantry marching up with heavy packs slung on rifles—men with gray eyes and tightened lips’. It courage, not lightheartedness that keeps these men cheerful, because they know the truth in all its nakedness.

The worst tragedy, apart from the ordeal of our fighting, is the plight or the people now compelled to flee from the advancing flame of war. These old women and young girls are enormously brave, departing from farms on carts and 'bicycles, Some afoot withwheelbarrows and perambulators, some riding on British gun waggons and lorries, the girls calling “good luck’ ’to our soldiers. Many villagers stand about among our steel-hearted men until the last moment, when they must go or die. Our fighters have exceeded all records of valour, although they have already filled three years with acts of courage.

When the centre was broken at Laventie by the colossal thrust against the Portuguese, the defence of Estaires was placed in the hands of the Northumberlands, East Yorkshires, and Durhams, but it was too late to form a strong defensive line. They met attack after attack in unceasing waves and hold the crossings of the Lys until the enemy struck into Bachstmaur. There was a race for the river. The Durhams got there first and faced the enemy on the other side, raking them with rifle fire. 'A party of Durhams held the salient of Lestrem a long time until compelled by a trench mortar bombardment to fall back across the river. The enemy crossed between the bridgeheads and stormed into the western part of Estates, which was filled with shell fire. The Durhams and Northumberlands charged down the streets, clearing the enemy out and making a no man’s land fifty yards beyond the bridgehead, which was covered with machine guns. Their line was turned by the enemy breaking through close to Armentieres and compelling them to withdraw. A party of East Yorkshires received a message saying tnc enemy was behind, but refused to retire until surroundered and overpowered, A brigade-major defending Merville telephoned that the enemy were surrounding the house. The general replied “You had better hop it.” The major said “Thanks, I will,” and coolly strolled out of the back door while the Germans' were entering the front. There was fierce street fighting in Merville, the Germans repeatedly attacking. They were shot down like rabbits. Great battles continue from Wytschaete to Neuve Eglise, The South Africans" charge at Messines was one of the finest things ever done, because tlrsy had not rested after the battle on the Somme. Mr. Garvin, in the “Observer,” says: In the sternest crisis our centurions of the Fifty-fifth, Fifty-first, nnd Ninth Divisions, have shown us how to stick it in the old British way that has always led from long resist-

anee to final victory. After reviewing the position, he declares th€re cannot be other than a prolonged wide-chang. ing terrible struggle, calling forth tUe ) i utmost faculties. Merely by playing out this campaign without suffering a catastrophe and maintaining an unbroken front, the Allies will make absolutely sure of ultiamte victory. Mr. Garvin adds: Two hundred thousanc British troops crossed the Channel since the 21st March. NEUVE EGLISE LOST. • ,i ) i)'. yr .00J, . MERVILLE RETAINED. "A .GERMAN ATTACKS BEATEN OFF. .Received 9.20. LONDON, April 15. At 1.25 this morning General Haig reported: Severe fighting took place I all day yesterday around Neuve Eglisc After beating off numerous attacks we were finally compelled to withdraw a second time from the village. Strong enemy attacks developed in the afternoon at a number of points on the battle-front. Fierce fighting raged north and westward of Merville, and the German infantry were driven back with great loss. A hostile infantry advancing along the northern bak of the Lys Canal was caught in our artillery fire and were unable to develop their attack. No fewer than seven enemy attacks took place during the day in the Merville sector but all were repulsed with heavy enemy losses. In one case the enemy advanced in five waves, and under the weight of the attack our line was bent back slightly but a counter-attack completely restored it. Southwards of Baileul parties of the enemy temporarily penetrated our positions, but were driven out and the line retored. We carrod out successful minor operations during the night eastward of Eobocq. Fighting occurred in the morning in the neighbourhood of Hangard, where wo improved our position, taking a number of prisoners. Hostile artillery is active in the neighbourhood of Bucquoy. AMERICA’S POSSIBLE STRENGTH ON THE WEST FRONT.

ALBANY. (NY.) April 14. Mr. Taft addressed the New York Legislature. He declared that America within two years should sent five million men to the West front, and thus assure victory and render impossible any repetition of the Kaiser’s dastardly acts. The Legislature adopted a resolution pledging New York State’s entire resources for the vigorous prosecution of the war until Prussian autocracy is defeated. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. LONDON, April 15. Wireless German official, (12.25 ami.) On the battlefield of the Lys we gained ground. We penetrated the enemy position south-west of Wulverghom. Wo stormed and captured Nieuwekerke. After a desperate struggle with English counter-attacking troops, we got possesion of the heights westward ttf Nieuwekerke. Fighting took place with variable results near Baileul We captured Meryls and Yieux Bcrquin. Enemy forces pushing forwards towards the battlefield sustained heavy losses. An attack by several French battalions against Hainvillers sanguinarily collapsed > We prisonered many. Wo carried out a successful thrust agaist the Americans north of St. Mihiel, inflicting heavy losses. We brought back prisoners. We shot down 37 enemy aeroplanes during the last few days. BEST AS WELL AS WORST YET TO COME. FORECASTING THE GERMAN PLANS. Received 11.30 a.m. LONDON, April 15. The Daily Chronicle’s correspondent at the French headquarters believes the best as well as the worst is yet to come. He says we need all our courage to win through this last black valley. It is only in seeing the battle and understanding its meaning as a whole that grounds for encouragement can he found. The German Command has not yet ssffiwn ITS whole programme, its rserves are not fully deployed, its striking force"' not yet sufficiently worn down; therefore/ severe though the pressure be, tHe moment for defensive intervention has not yet arrived. The men may be sure the sacrifice is not in vain, and Foch’s cool brain and hard grip will be justified. About 1£ millions of Germans were thrown into battle during the three weeks’ offensive, whereof seventy-five divisions were so dislocated that they had to he withdrawn for reorganisation. It is probable the German casualties are nearly half a million. The Germans conducted the northern battle on a sma!-

ler scale, and this may fairly be regarded as a confession that the southern battle was a failure. Nevertheless the northern offensive strengthens the German position athwart the Somme and cramps our power of manoeuvre for the defence of the Channel. Everything points to the enemy using every ounce of power in this next, phase of the offensive, suggesting four possibilities - : Firstly, new attack on the Somme; “second, further engagement at Armentieres, the battle threatening the YpresYser line; thirdly, a dire'et attack on the Yser; fourthly, a combination of some on all of these. The 'Allies are ceaselessly reinforcing, and the only hope of the German success lies in his speed. GERMANS AIMED AT CHANNEL PORTS. TO SEPARATE ANGLO. FRENCH ARMIES. - Received 10.35 a.m. LONDON, April 15. The diary of a dead German officer shows the Germans believed the preparations for the March offensive were so thoughtfully planned that failure was practically impossible. The diary confirms the idea that the Germans aimed at Boulogne and other French ports in order to separate the Anglo-French armies. ’ BRITISH AWAIT NEXT ONSLAUGHT. LNODON, April 14. The' United Press correspondent.’feporting at 11.50 p.m. on the 14th. says: The storm troops are apparently held, with B'ailleul, Hazelbrouck, Fillers and Bethune still in Haig's possession - Fighting has become patchy at various points. The first phase of the great attack is seemingly over. Fighting will not cease for some time yet, but another critical period has been put behind the Allies, who await further onslaught. 'Renter's Headquarters correspondent says: I judge' that the most critical period 1 of the battle on the ,12th was the stage: when, had the epemy pressed his ad-' vantage, the consequences might have! been serious. Hi§ failure to improve opportunity was presumably , because: he could not. Since then there has been a steady improvement in the general position. The latest news isy very encouraging, almost cheering. Our lines are holding firm. The formidable thrust is at present arrested. His position is tactically not good; Conditions might develop to render it distinctly, bad.

FRENCH REINFORCEMENTS. ARRIVE, ....... | LONDON, April 15. \ At 11,15 this morning, Mr. Hamilton Fyfo reported that French reinforcements have arrived, ENEMY’S GREAT THRUST SPENT. LONDON, April-15. Mr Robinson, writing on the 14th, says: The second great German thrust has, I think, spent itself, along the whole line,, the enemy beating against ,a continuously stiffening The attacks lack the original momentum. Several counter-attacks have definitely driven back the Germans. Their progress since Thursday has been comparatively trifling. The centre of the attack beyond Mem illc is now making little headway along the edge of the forest of Nieppe to 'tho Eoseck. Hard fighting continues. The enemy’s gains are insignificant. ’{Their losses have been vastly greater ■than ours. That tho second German blow has definitely failed to break Jtho British defences is, I think as certain as the failure of the first attempt. BRITISH TROOPS STAND .FAST. LONDON, April 14. Reuter’s correspondent at British Headquarters states: A bitter east wind is blowing and visibility is very low. The situation generally is unchanged. The enemy continues to employ fresh troops and we are steadily increasing our forces. Consequently the battle is more stationary although as intense as ever. The Germans’ continuous heavy attacks during the past two days were undoubtedly based on the calculation that the jSritish wre worn out and another smashing blow would finish us, but with fresh reinforcements helping the defenders flung back the attacking masses with terrble losses. Frequently his advance was checked by a barrier of piled up corpses. Our, rearguard fighting has been most skilful and valiant beyond praise. While the machine-gunners holding a series of little posts poured bullets into the enemy until their am-,. mundtioin was tjfrqj main body was slowly falling back upon prepared positions. Each backward step was made perfectly and methodically exacting the full price- Never have

troops fought with such superb courage and tenacity as they are now display* ing They have got their back to the wall indeed, and Haig's order baa vastly heartened them. The enemy is fighting desperately' with mechanical -bravery and iron discipline; - SUCCESSFUL F"RENCH RAIDS. • Received 12.45 p.m. LONDON, April 15. At. 4.5 this evening a French communique reports; We made several raids between Montdidier, Noyon f and sc nth of Mont Fetu, in the Cha'm■pagne. An enemy attempt north of* Chemin des Dames and south and east of Oorbeny were unsuccessful. GERMANS FAILED IN VICTORY. ANOTHER WAR WINTER .NECESSARY.. Received 10.35 a.m. LONDON, April 15. The War Department’s weekly re- - view states the Germans will soon b© compelled to assume the old tactics of limited objectives. Germany’s sole aim is the annihilation of the British armies, hence the conquered territory counts for little. The Germans have failed in victory, and are reminding their people that another war winter may be necessary. FIERCE FIGHTING PROCEEDING* MESSINES STILL IN BRITISH HANDS. POSITION OBSCURE. Received 12.45 p.m. LONDON, April 15. Reuter’s correspondent at Headquarters, writing at 3.40 in the evening of the 15th, says enormous Tosses were inflicted on the enemy in yesterday’s fighting, especially by machineguns- at close range. We smashed attacks against Messines Ridge. The bitterest struggle -was for Neuve Eglise, where big forces on tiofh sides were engaged. The situation hereabouts to-day is obscure, hut our guns are. reported to be shelling the ruins of the place this'morning, which suggests that the enemy again has got ~SL footing there, Prisoners say the effort to take Bailleul will heTenewetJ. WS have retaken the . hamlet Razuvlnage, three thousand yards east of Robecq. Givenchy and Pestubert have been heavily sFelled.

(The ’ above reference to Messines makes it appear that ridge is still in the hands of the British, notwithstanding a statement to the contrary made a “high military, authority” published in our cables yesterday.-—Ed.)