WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 19 April 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

MASSED .ATTACKS. SMASHED BY ARTILLERY CAUGHT UNDER DRUMFIRE. N LONDON, April 17. The United Press Association’s corTespondent at headquarters states that General Sixto von Arnim and General von Quast are continuing their efforts to hammer a ■way into Hazebrouck. They suffered heavy casualties, and made little headway. A large area of the battlefield near Bailleul is constantly pounded with high velocity, gas shells, their deodly vapours drifting across the cultivated fields. General Bernhardi’s divisions near Dranontre attack el heavily at 3 o’clock on Tuesday afternoon, the British guns tearing great rents in the ranks. General von Stettin’s forces throughout the afternoon continued, to attack round Metoren and Morris, three and a-half mjjLcfe south-east of Bailleul, Abe, into them : with, mon4»nqus regularity,. Relieved only by. an burst .of drumfire when; particularly -thick' massesexposed themselves in the open. The costly attack was driven back by the evening the fields being thick with: dead. In the Zillebcko sector*;-to. whieh fighting spread,; General vZudohna’s: storm, troops, tried itodadyapcetowardsypreSj but were mostly shot down at short range,, the centre being literally pounded tp pieces. The enemy, was oydpred to retire,; .and both flanks cauglit :tho full force of the British artillery and machine-guns, dwindling as they scrambled back in disorder. Reports from the Somme battle front show that the general tuning up continues. The areas eastward of Amiens are occasionally heavily phellstroyed Albert Church tower, with the ed. German shells on Tuesday defamous leaning tower of the Virgin. OK THE FRENCH FRONT. LIVELY ARTILLERY WORK. LONDON, April I9_ A French communique reports: There has been fairly great reciprocal artillery activity and patrol encounters on the froßkfrom the Somme to the Oise. We madcsevcral coups de main, notably south-west of Butte du Mesnil, in the region of Tahurc, and north of Flenry. An enemy attack east of Samegneux. on the right bank of the Mease, failed. BOMBING THE ENEMY, PARIS, April 17. Since March 5 French aeroplanes have dropped 330 tons of bombs on enemy lines, compared with 655 tons luring the whole of 1917. FRENCH ARTILLERY SUPERIOR. ITY. paralysing enemy efforts. HUNS STILL HOPE TO GET ‘AMIENS. 9 Received 8.40 a.m. LONDON, April 18. Ffeacii Headquarters, reporting on Ttasdaj, sayr although there have keen no important battles from Hansard to Noyon for several days, -artlllarjr activities are reciprocal, and en. *mf concentrations north' of the Somme indicate the Germans have not aoandonea the hope of breaking through to Amiens. The French have »ljjlfflned their artillery superiority, front lines arid communicajprns are be ; ng. cfintinucusly ; .s a^ >ar^e^ r psrslysing , attempts to . fortify positions, breaking in , C r R v o r and impeding the establishment r

hostile batteries. Meanwhile ,we are organising positions in readiness for the Boche onslaught. AMERICAN OPINION. SITUATION SERIOUS BUT HOPEFUL. AN AMERICAN ARMY OF 3,1100,000. Received 9.15 a.m. NEW YORK, April IS. Newspapers admit the seriousness of the situation on the West front, -hut express confidence in the British to hold the line. Mr. McAdoo said: “Before we have finished the American flag will fly in Berlin.” 4 Mr. Baker, who has just returned from the West front, views the position optimitsically, but says .there must be no limit to America’s war activities. It is,,believed.he will recoau mend preparations, bashed on an,Arnetic an army of’ The New York Tribune, in an editorial to Captain Knyvettls valuable recruiting „ speeches, adds: . “We salute the memory of the gallant Anzac, and through him our brave ally In the Pacific.” THE BATTLE. _ ' VISIBLE T OTHE NAKED EYE. ' whole panorama Viewed ■ FROM" HlLlVoik ' V / : ‘ Received 9;s*.aim. I LONDON, April 18 : The United Press correspondent says the battle now in progress is a most spectacular show of the war from a hilltop near Bailleul. It is observable like a pantomime from a balcony seat. For miles upon miles from around Passchendaele salient, whence the British have voluntarily withdrawn to far south-east of Bailleul, the fighting is visible to'the naked eye, while with field glasses the infantry can be seen on the move. The view is unique. The former battles of Verdun, Champagne, Arras, Messines, and Cambrai were fought in country practically unseen, even by the general, who can see today men going into action across fertile Flemish farms. The unbroken panorama is like an unreal impression, suggesting a monster open-air spectacle commemorating some important centennial. % ' THE POSITION UNCHANGED. GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED. Received 9.15 a.m. LONDON, April IS. At 12.45 in the evening. Sir Douglas Haig reports: No change on the British front. During the night there was great activity by hostile artillery at Givenchy to eastward of Robecq. A heavy bombardment of our positions between Locou and Robecq is still continuing; at dawn Wo repußedi local attacks yesterday evening on the Merris sector. Details of yesterday's fighting on the Nieppe forest and Wytschaete front established the severity of the enemy’s losses. Three waves of German infantry attacking southeastward of Kemmel Hill pressed back our line slightly at one point; our counter-attack restored the situation, and the attack was repulsed at ~ all Three enemy attacks on Bailleul sector were completely repulsed. Our line was intact on the whole front yesterday at noon, FRENCH ENGAGED IN A NEW BATTLE. ON NORTHERN FRONT, Received 8 45 a.m. LONPON y r -i j S< ‘ The Germans gained ground at

Mount Kemmell, which the British regained by counter-attacks. The, French are heavily engaged in a new battle on the northern front. A MASTERLY RETIREMENT. LONDON,. April 17. Reuter’s correspondent "St British Headquarters, reporting on the evening of the 17th, says: The opinion is general amongst the troops that the past twenty-four hours have been anything but good for the enemy, despite his successes at Bailleul, Ravelsberg and Messines Ridge. Our wtihdrawal east of Ypres was accomplished with masterly skill, the net result whereof has been greatly . stiffened power of resistance whilst forcing the enemy to lengthen his communications across unfavourable terrain. The bitter intensity of the fighting which was in progress since yesterday morning lulled during the forenoon and the hurricane artillery duel subsided into spasmodic outbursts, with intervals of comparative calm. We prisonered a goodly number during the last twoHayST There, are signs of another attack coming between Bailleul and Wytschaete. Doubtless the enemy is determined, after the heavy sa’criflces paid,to get Wytschaete, to make another onslaught again to remove us therefrom. Yesterday and last night there was a sharp conflict at Boyelles, south of Arras, but all was quiet to-day, our positions being fully held. Fierce shelling of Villere and Bre tomieux led to expectations of an in. fantry assault, but that has not yet materialised. GERMANS MAKE VALUABLE N . PROGRESS. LONDON, April 17. Wireless German official. —We captured ‘Poelcapelle and Langemarck, occupied Passchendaele, and "advanced our lines near Becclaere and Gheluvelt. ■ -We . stormed the village of Wytsdroye the enemy from the heights to , the and iwestward, , repulsing strong counterattacks, :i Tpe enemy, while retreating southwest of Wulverghen was pressed back ' across, the Douve. - We , captured Bailleul Meteren, and. the stubbornly-defended support .point qf Capp el Ynde, northwards of JBailljßul. ’•* Strong English forces, supported by French ..forces, vainly endeavoured to recapture the Meteren territory on •both.ffides of the Merrin. The attacks broke down with very heavy losses. p ■-* ; ypres front. THE ' WITHDRAWAL DISCUSSED. ‘ I :' ■ LONDON, April, 17. J ' '"Referring; to: the- withdrawal from; : th’e| -Ypres front, a High Authority Aays that preparations for shortening the front were made some time ago in complete detail in the event of emergency. Decision to carry out the plan was made on Sunday before Bailleul was captured. The withdrawal was completed on Monday night. The act, though regrettable, was necessary. Our army is undergoing the severe strain of bad and critical moments. The position is still decidedly anxious but we must remember that we plumped for a united front, and placed our forces under supreme control, which was a wise and proper decision. We must accept the consequences. We must not look at the battle from the viewpoint of our own losses and sufferings, but from the Entente’s viewpoint. We are fighting a Waterloo while Blucher is marching to the battlefield. If we multiply things a hun-dred-fold the situation was not dissimilar then from cur position to-day. We are standing and hammering, ana providing Blucher is marching there is no cause for despair—quite the contrary. In the whole offensive, the Germans are employing 126 divisions, whereof the British alone have engaged seventy-nine and the French twenty-four, while twenty-three have beeh n ¥hgaged by the combined AngloFrench. Of the divisions engaged by the British alone, we have fought twenty-eight of them twice and one thrice. It is an unpleasant business standing and hammering, but we must take a broad view, although you may want to know what has become of Blucher. We have practically taken the strain off the French army, which is larger than ours. But again I would say there Is no reason to despair. BACK FROM PASCHENDAELE.. REASON FOR BRITISH RETIREMENT. BRITISHERS ; HEROIC DEFENCE. LONDON; April 38. Mr. Robison writric; ‘and in-■-'ssant fighting continues in the arc:

from Metereni to Wyts-chacbe, Both changed hands more than once, but the Germans retained their hold on Wyt- ■ schaete Wood and Spandbrockmolen. At the present moment no man can say precisely where are our positions and where the enemy’s. We have fallen back in the Passchendaele area, giving the enemy most of the ground he lost during last summer’s Flanders fighting, including Passchendaele ftidge, which Australians and others captured in 1917. A strong advance towards Kcmmel and Mont des Neath threatened the whole system of communications ' of the Ypres salient. A new German drive with fresh divisions might enable the enemy to secure points from which he would be able to place a continuous barrage across the roads. We knew the retirement was in progress, but it was obviously indiscreet to report. It was made without ■enemy pressure. An outpost line was left, wdiich checked the Germans as they felt their way forward in the morning. It was unpleasant to give ground ‘won at the cost of gallant lives, but it cannot be too often repeated -that local topographical gains have significance in the gigantic struggle how progressing. The Germans have a blasted shell-hole area behind them, over which to bring troops and transport. We know from abundant experience in former advances what it means in this most frightful of battles wherein perpetual drumfire shakes the air and makes speaking impossible. The tally of slaughter mounts hourly. German corpses are piled in heaps on ■wide areas of battlefield. There have been countless episodes of British heroism against overpowering odds, English and Scottish troops, including Scottish Rifles and Highland Light Infantry, held the line from south of Meteren to west of Bailleul from south of Meteren" to west of Bailleul and St. Eazelle from April 12th till yesterday, all sorts of miscellaneous units assisting in the firing line, doggedly holding the enemy. The whole Meteren district is covered with German corpses. Captured documents on prisoners state that the present attack, substituted because the drive against Aire andi Bethune tvas a failure, commenced north of Arraenticrcs with ■small' forces' Initial success caused’ its conversion into a major operation ahd‘ ' strength was diverted from, other'pdfts'Of the' lino in an attempt' to- hamnlcr through. The failure of' the main attack cost the Germans dearly, some battalions losing 50 per cent. During the last two days the enemy made an ineffectual attack on Locon and La Bassee. BELGIAN FRONT ATTACKED. LONDON, April 17. ' Belgian' communique.—The Germans, in force, attacked and obtained a footing Hu our outpost system between Blackacrtpond and ' the railway from 'Ypres to Thorout. Counter-attacks completely drove the enemy out. We 'took 600 prisoners. GERMAN PEOPLE BEGINNING TO THINK). WASHINGTON, April 17. Information from Germany shows that Hindcnburg is willing to suffer million casualties in his attempt to s.chicve victory. The Socialists and militarist loaders previously reached an agreement that no political complaints should be made until that total was exceeded. Militarism has now been warned that the price is likely to be more costly. Whatever truth there may be in the allegations. Americans arc preparing for a long war, making sacrifices and preparations undreamed of a few months back. PASSCHENDAELE A HUN .DEATH TRAP. APPALLING SLAUGHTER OF GERMANS. ROADS AND HEDGES PILED WITH DEAD. DESPERATE ATTEMPTS TO TAKE GIVENCHY. % Received 10.45 a.m LONDON, April 18. Mr. Percival Phillips says the withdrawal from has not discouraged the soldiers), who know the trench positions would lose their ■ former value owing to the return to open warfare. N The abandoned i slope is a desert more .difficult to oc- » cupy than the Somme wastes. We destroyed roads, and left no shelters, and the Germans come into the wilderness across the sky-line plainly observable by gunners.,.. The first advance patrols came over . the . crest hours after the retirement was accomplished. They attempted to attack in the region of Zillcbeke Lake. We waited grimly and withheld our fire until the first wave was at close range and wo scattered it;-4nto the craters. The flanks of .the, attack, seeing the destruction in the centre, tried to retreat, and were nearly annihilated. Craggier* drooped to.ground and crept hc.ck to the eld- lines during the night.

Wc withdrew all our guns and removed and destroyed the ammunition. Wo did not leave any valuable material, and blew up our comfortable winter line. Reports from all parts of the front state that piles of enemy dead are strewn over the fields and villages, but the slaughter at Meteren was unprecedented, bodies being piled up on tho roadside, lining the hedges. What was formerly a stretch of farmland is now a shambles. Prisoners taken at La Bassee admit the failure of German plans, which included the capture of Arras' on 2Sth March, and Bethune by tho 10th April. Try as they will the Germans are unable to loosen our grip of Givenchy. Heavy fighting occurred near St. Venay on Tuesday, the British and Germans delivering attacks simultaneoonsly, and Choi, yhnpact broke the Germans. The enemy field batteries, slipping out at night from Paeaut Wood, fired point blank at our men, who charged and killed and prisouer-:.-u all the gunners and destroyed the guns. THE FLANDERS SITUATION. * SUMMED UP.

LONDON, April 17. A High Authority, after spending the last four days on the battlefront.i says: At mid-day on Tuesday the situation was undoubtedly very anxious. The Germans attacked with four fresh divisions on cither side of Bailleul. If thye could have maintained ’the pressure there would have been great danger to the vital range of heights I beginning in the east with Kemmel and ending in the west with Cassel. That ridge was the backbone of our defence on the northern battlefield. The news last night and to-day is decidedly better. Wc counter-attacked and drove out the Germans from Mctcren and on a widish front advanced in tho direction of Neuvc Eglisc without much opposition. While we could not say that Wytschaetc was entirely in our hands, we secured a portion. Probably the village is now wholly "retaken. French and Australian troops partook in to-day’s. : . counter-attacks. '! 1; . j \ FRENCH REINFORCEMENTS ... Art|w, ■ = ... RIVE. . . - , 'v : ' ; ; r.i Received 10.50 a.m. ~. ' : i LONDON, April. IS. ■ Newspapers give prominence to thq news of the arrival of Freuck rein--forcements at Meteren, and attribute turn of the battle to, their presence. The battle is. going on continuously, and fluctuations must be expected. CANADIANS ENGAGED AT LYS. ~,;■( Received 10!50 a.m. LONDON, April 18. ' The Canadians are engaged in The battle- on the Lys front.' ■ i j • • j ‘-'-i : " M ‘ ; ' f ' V TREMENDOUS FRENCH BOM--1 ;■■, ■'■' BARDMENT. INFLICTING HEAVY GERMAN LOSSES Received 1u.50 a.m. PARIS, April 18. A vast French artillery bombardment south of the Somme proceesting on a 60-mile front as far as the Oise for miles in the rear, preventing the Germans entrenching, and inflicting the heaviest losses. HOW THE GERMANS FIGHT. Received 10.50 a.m. LONDON, April 18. Colonel Repington says the German divisions were mostly withdrawn before exhausted, and the ranks filled up from field depots. Other features of the attack include the lavish use of machine gun companies with the leading troops, and the employment of large numbers of mobile trench mortars; also the field artillery accompanying the first line where possible. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG’S REPORT. WYTSCHAETE AND METEREN LOST.. LONDON, April 17. At 12.5 this morning Sir Douglas Haig reported: There were intense hostile bombardments this morning on the whole Lys battlefront, followed by attacks from the Nieppe Forest to Wytsehaete. All were repulsed, inflicting considerable losses. Our counter-attacks reported this morning sucsceded in entering the villages of Meteren and Wytsehaete, but we were unable to maintain the positions in thq face of continued attacks. The French are now co-operating on this front.