The Flanders Battle.

Taihape Daily Times, 17 April 1918, Page 5

The Flanders Battle.

THE STRUGGLE FOR NEUVE EGLISE. MERELY A DEATH TRAP.. Received 8.50 a.m. m LONDON, April 16. " ; ' Mr. Philip Gibbs writes that the British who held Neuve Eglise -f6r three days arid nights withdrew iin- ;; known to the enemy rather than repain'a target for'unceasing- shellsv ; The "enemy : had broken into' the' streets, but small parties: of Wiltshire; ' Worcester, and other troop's fought them desperately, clearing : them out several' time's. The enemy was unusually'savage; the commah'cters when sending fresh troops sternly ordering that the business must be finished/ Yet Neuve'Eglise 'did' not fall to direct, assault, the enemy being obliged to concentrate artillery fire on the village, making it a death trap for our' men,, who retired under orders to a line a short distance away. B ATLEUL CAPTURED Received 9.10 a.m. LONDON, April 19. The Germans have captured Baileul. FRESH GERMAN ATTACKS. SMASHED BY SHELL FIRE. REINFORCEMENTS RUSHING UP. Received 10.10 a.m. LONDON, April 16. The United Press* reports that the Allies are rushing up impotrant reinforcements. Hindenburg is attacking heavily along the Lys battle front from near MerviUe to Neuve Eglise. Bailleul was taken during the night, also Revelsberg ridge. The enemy, after heavy trench mortar bombardment attemptd to storm positions on the eastern edge of Nieppe Forest. The attackers forming the southern flank were caught under shell fire and failed to make, progress. The northern flank developed its attack fiercely, but was smashed before it reached its objectives, and thrown back. The attack on Bailleul began early last night, preceded by a terrific bombardment. " OUTLOOK FULL OF HOPE. LONDON, April 15. i Mr. Hamilton Fyfe writes: The posi- J tion has been relieved since fresh I troops replaced tired battalions. The outlook is full of hope. The marvellous endurance of our troops has sustained us since the Be'ginning of the critical phase on April Bth. Their resistance was unparalleled in the history of war. I believe our troops formed at one time a hollow square at Neuve Elgise, the enemy surrounding except at one corner, where we held the road leading to Dranortre. Here the, King's Royal Rifles; very gallantly took up the line, protecting the town while the difficult retirement was carried out. They staved off the enemy's attempts to break through, TheCheshires and Wilts occupied the square after the withdrawal of the

main body. They dashed out- and stopped the enemy and captured five machine-guns. . Yfe withdrew from Neuve Eglise voluntarily bccauso it was costing more, than it was worth. Then the en!>my redoubled his efforts to capture Baillcul. The Germans came in enormous forces towards the high road between Bailleul 'and Metcren, being ordered to reach the road no matter •hat the cost, with the intention of surrounding B'ailloul. They did not fulfil their peremptory instructions. Determined British infantry barried the way and broke every wave, covering the ground with dead. A PERTINENT QUESTION. . ABOUT FOCH'S AUTHORITY. Received 9.10 a.m. NEW YORK, April 17 The New. York. Times' Paris correspondent says the question is being asked in many .quarters why Foch's control is riot extended, to the Italian front. There is a consensus of opinion that Foch's, authority over the Allied armies should be complete. ON THE FRENCH FRONT, LONDON, April 15. At 11.5 this morning a French communique stated: An artillery duel is very violent in the region of Hangar-den-Anterre.' Our artillery dispersed enemy assemblages on the outskirts of Temuin. There is lively cannonading in the region of Avocourt. | i the german wounded, thrice What was expected. AMSTERDAM, April 15. The Germans have turned five leading hotels in Brussels into hospitals. Similar measures are being taken at Liege and Antwerp. The number of wounded is thrice what was expected. Interesting details of the Germans' losses are coming in. The 16th Diviiion and 17th Reserve Division on April 11 got a terrible gruelling and were forced to retire upon their start-ing-point!. .'.■.- ■■'"•.., , ■■ I &di ?"-° ner from the 52nd Reserve f^an try reluctantly paid a tribute to ff e .niagn'iflc'erit fighting of the Britpsft 'machine-gunners, who, on March para,'' reduced the prisoner's company tto'ha'lf its strength. j >h THE DOMINIONS' TROOPS. GUARDING THE ROAD TO AMIENS • ~.., - LONDON, April 15. \ ..Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians hold the line against the enemy's advance towards Amiens. Some Australian woundeds are arriving in England, from the battle-fields of. Dernancourt, south of the Soflime, and elsewhere. The bulk of the woundreds remain in hospitals in France. ;There is ; great pressure, 0n... shipping : for France, but ships are not full re;,turning.| .' v 'BOMBARDMENT OF PARIS. Received 11.10 a.m. PARIS, April 16. F-ench official.—One was killed ard two injured during the bombardment cf Paris last night.

FRENCH ACTIVITY ON THE OISE. Received 11.10 a.m. LONDON, April 16. At four in the evening a French communique reports fairly considerable artillery, action in the region north of Montdidier. We progressed by operation in the sector, of Noyon. Our reconnaissances were very active, esp cially in the region of the Oise Canal. A detachment crossed the canal west of Pierremont and brought back prisoners. THE FIGHTING AROUND BAIL. LEUL. Received 9.10 a.m. LONDON, April 16. At 3.50 in the evening Bailleul was attacked from the south and eastward, and the battle was hottest in piteh black darkness. The Britisn lines are intact, merely bent back. Haig reports the enemy last evening launched a. very heavy attacß, preceded by intense bombardment, between Bailleul and Neuve Eglise. Three picked German divisions not previously engaged in the battle delivered an assault, and after a fierce and bitter struggle carried the high ground south-eastward of Bailleu*, known as Mont de Lille and the Revelsberg. We Eave fallen back to new positions northward of BaftTein and Wuiverghem when Bailleul fell into the enemy's hands. Fresh German attacks developed this morning in the neighbourhood of Wytschaete. We repulsed an attack under cover of heavy artillery and trench mortar fire southwestward of Vieux Berquin and took prisoners. A successful minor enterprise was carried out south-eastward cf Robecq.

THE PAUSE ON THE SOMME. THE REASON FOR IT. Received 8.50 a.m. LOKPON, April 17. The Daily Chronicle's correspondent at French Headquarters says though there is no news of any large transference of Germans from the Somme to the north, the pause on the Somme front is easily explained. The Allied forces and positions are over strong for 'Surprise •irafanf-ry 'attacks. until more big guns are brought up. Evidence exists that the artillery teams are exhausted. DESPERATE FIGHTING CONTINUES. ENEMY'S LOSSES ESTIMATED AT 400,000. Received 11.10 a.m. LONDON, April 15. At 3.50 in the evening a Britisn Headquarter's correspondent says: "Last evening the Germans were attacking heavily in various parts in the northern battle area, and gained some ground. Their most important advance is the occupation of Bailleul. Following the re-entry of Neuve Eglise they maintained feteadily increasing pressure along the front practically all the way between Neuve Eglise and Meltun. Towards evening, under cover of a tremendous bombardment the infantry advanced in the usual dense masses. Our troops fought stubbornly, but overwhelming numbers forced them to yield ground. Desperate fighting continued all night. Our artillery shelled the enemy continuously. It is certain his attempt to advance towards the ridge system will be strenuously contested. His gain hitherto has all been in the dead levels of Flanders and although it is futile to pretend his success is not a matter of much concern, yet it brought the smallest tactical advance proportionate to its extent. Bailleul stands astride what was an important artery in communication with places now occupied by the Germans. Considerable hostile ihfan-. try movement took place all day along the La Bassee-Estaires road.. Our aeroplane incessantly skimmed over columns, inflicting heavy casualties.; South of the Somme. enemy, was slightly more aetive., It v is reported enemy infantry concentrating south of. Bois de Hangard. Colonel Repingtoh opines our stragetical position is not exactly brilliant but estimates a quarter of the entire German forces on the British front are used up, while Foch's French reserves have not yet given a sign of life. The Daily News expects the enemy losses total four hundred thousand. HAiG'S DESPATCH. APPLAUDS. GALLANT 55THS. i - > Received 11.50 a.m. LONDON, April 16. Sir D. Haig, in a supplementary despatch, deals with, the gallant fighting of the Fifty-fifth Division, comprising West Lancashire Territorials, on April 9, when holding a front of 6000 yaras from La Bassee to southward of Richebourg l e Vaast, where the line joined the Portuguese. The enemy attack on the southern portion of this front was delivered by three regiments well up to strength. Captured enemy army orders says the three regiments would be opposed at most by six companies in the front line and two reserve battalions. It describes the Britishers, composing the Fifty-fifth as having lost heavily in the Somme, Flankers, and Cambrai fighting. The army order says: "It Ts~ a division fit to hold a quiet sector, as it is below the average quality." Sir Douglas Haig says if the enemy expected the opposition would not be very serious j it was signally disappointed. The Fifty-fifth beat off all early attacks in the forward zone and maintained its line intact. ; When they learned the Germans got through the Portugal on their left the Fifty-fifths formed a defensive flank, and maintained e new line practically unchanged until relief came through. They had six days' almost continual fighting during which they beat off repeated attacks with heaviest losses to the enemy, and taking nearly a thousand prisoners. Haig describes further fierce fighting including the heavy bombardment of the whole front occupied by .the Fiftyfifth, followed by an attack in strength, and concludes: "The enemy was again repulsed with heavy loss by the most gallant and most successful defence of a division which he had been pleased to describe as consisting of second class troops." ENEMY/S SMALL GAIN. LONDON, April 15. Mr. Robinson, writing on the 15th, says: Events during the past 24 hours have given no ground to change the opinion that the Germans are definite- | ly hold. We pushed them back ap- '

j preciably at St. Venant and Nieppc I Forest) while our line at Floris and Robcck has been further advanced and lis firmer. The enemy seems to have ! abandoned hope of reaching the area of the Bethune-Druay coalfields, fearing to make a dangerous salient. His strength is mainly concentrated on the northern advance, where ho is hammering wit ha view to reaching the isolated chain of. hills beyond. The general trend of his efforts from Armentieres to Estaires is in a direction, northwards and north-westerly. Enemy divisions here employed exceed twentyfive, of which twenty-three are still in the line. New divisions have been daily arriving since April 11th. They include the famous Alpine Corps. The sole result of the determined, almost continuous, fighting is in our short withdrawal from Neuve Eglise. There is every evidence that the German losses have been very heavy. They were equally heavy at Metercn on Sunday. Very savage struggles at several points failed. There was terrific artillery fire throughout the night, The enemy got no advantage, as the British guns were splendid. The Germans massed in the forenoon for a renewed attack on Bailleul and Meteren, but artillery prevented them. Whether we will continue to hold the Bail-leul-Metereii line I cannot pretend to say. A point may be reached when it will be possibly too costly to remain, but the Germans have been given such a lesson here that no minor advance can now repay for casualties. Airmen report enormous numbers of ene 3 ny dead in the neighbourhood of St. Venant, where there was savage ' hand-to-hand .fighting, a i so in the northern sector.|