ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 16 April 1918, Page 6

ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

'• HAIG’S STIRRING APPEAL. LONDON, April 14< - Sir Douglas Haig has issued a spe. 'dal order of the day to the troops in France:—* /‘Three weeks ago to-day the enemy began his terrific attacks on a fiftymile front. His objects are to segftr. ate us from the French, to take the Channel ports, and to destroy the British army. Despite the throwing' already of 196 divisions into the battle, and enduring the most reckless . sacrifice of life, he as yet has made little progress towards his goals. IWe owe this to the determined fighting and self-sacrifice of our troops. Words fail me to express the admiration I feel for the splendid resistance offered hy all ranks under the most trying circumstances. Many amongst us are now tired. To those I Would say, victory will belong to the side holding out the longest. The French army Is moving rapidly and in great force to our support. No other course is open to us but to fight it out. Every position must be held to the last man. There must be no retirements. With our backs to the wall, and believing in the justice of our cause, each one of us must fight on to the end. The safety of our homes and the freedom of mankind depend alike on the conduct of each one of us at this critical moment.” ’At 11.55 this evening Sir Douglas Haig reported: The enemy maintained strong pressure all day south-west-wards of Bailleul, making constant attacks in great force, which axe still continuing. We have been slowly pushed back in continuous fighting, to positions in the neighbourhood of t.‘ Bailleul railway, where we are heavily engaging the enemy. There is sharp fighting also northwards of the La Bassee Canal. The enemy slightly progressed between the Lawe and Clarence rivers, but elsewhere our positions have been maintained. Over 110 German divisions have so far been engaged since March 21st, of which over forty have been thrown into the battle twice and thrice. When the mist cleared our aeroplanes showed great activity on the whole front. They made several longdistance reconnaissances, taking photographs, and doing much fighting. We downed 21 and drove down 1-1 enemy machines. Four of ours reported to he missing yest&fSay have returned. We dropped over eight tons of bombs last night on Bapaume and v lages to the southward of the Somme, also' on military objectives at Ostend and Zeebrugge. . We successfully bombed Sablon railway station and Metz to-day, dropping 21 heavies. All burst on the railway and sidings.

THE FRENCH FRONT] A TERRIFIC BOMBARDMENT. LONDON, April 12. Correspondents emphasise the significance of the renewed bombardment on the Corbie front, also the increasing power of mutual cannonading on the French front, where artillery in the ext shock will play a full part. THIRTEEN MILES IN TWO DATS. ' LONDON, April 12. The capture by the enemy of Merille represents an advance of 13 miles since Wednesday morning, and shows the enemy is continuing his heaviest pressure on the direct centre of the original attacking front south of Armentieres. Military critics state this movement of the Germans’ right wing cannot be longer regarded as a diversion. There are indications of a big effort to push compact columns towards the coast. General Haig’s dispatch gives the location of the enemy’s advanced bodies within seven miles of Hazebruck railway centre, which the Germans for months shelled at a range of 28 miles.