THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 March 1918, Page 8

THE WAR.

WESTERN FRONT. GERMAN OFFENSIVE FAILS. IMMENSE ENEMY LOSSES. FURTHER DETAILS. T.on<!o:i. March 21. The f'.ermnn nfycibivc i 1 as l',t)k\[ bail! lliiiuc.i'.inri; bus iipj'nrontlv launched 1: i s hingber.'hicd offensive. Following..' a btimbaruinint <m ii 4."i-ss:ilc front, the enemy liigh velocity guns opened on tliu towns !ur liohiml the lines. A:; the battiu licpraa the British met the llr.it rush with their customary coolness, I'obKng up after the barrage of ga<j shells ami high explosives had passed. (Jas mmks were adjusted, niaehine-guiK turned on the advancin;,' waves, and hand-to-hand lighting was frequent, the Tommies holding strong points light-

ing it o;it with knives and bayonets. The si.upendoas Uerman preparations prior to the attack were carried out v,"it?i the utmost secrocv. Sir Douglas Haijr. however, knew what "'as happening. for the alrnii'n reported every new dump, railway line, strategic road, and aerodrome mi soon as it was commenced, and our prceaulioiM were taken accordingly. If til's be the loudly :nlvolti-0.l drive,

and it comes according to .specification, our .olli'xrs and men are csnlident. The situation is ncces-arilv vague when the fighting is en such a wide front, and some hours, probable days, may elapse before '.he enemy's intention-} v.-ill be divined. Received March 23, ;">.5 p.m. London, March it. Correspondents at the front are not vet able to give the details of the lighting' Ti'.cv emphasise the men's splendid morale an I their coiuideitee in their ability to break the attack.

, London, March 22 British infantry, accompanied by 1 auks, drove out the enemy from Doignicr.. Mr. I'ercival Phillips writes: The fittack i? apparently the beginning of the ,-»real offensive. No doubt the enemy hopes the attacking forces westward and i-.oiith-westward of Cambrai will form a junction, cutting ofi' a considerable slice of the British front and taking back all the iliiiden'.iurg trenches lost four months sgo. The prciiminarv wire-cutting bombardment bcran parly in the morning between the fcrarpc and Vcndhuilc, southward of St. Quanlin.

The first infantry attack came soon after daylight, the enemy displaying great vij'or and determination. Tlie correspondent was unable to eonfirm the reported appearance of enemy tanks. The weather was fine. There has been grcat ae-ial activity. The enemy troops are well trained for open warfare and well supported by light and heavy artillery. mostly trench mortars which are intended to advance steadily with the advancing infantry. London, March 22.

Earlier reports state that the enemy infantry. nclri>.ncinf;.<*.t several points between the Scary.!! end Si. Quentin, penetrated some points of our front line trenches northwards of Lagnicourt and Louveral. Subsequent-Reports state that the Germans are adducing over the St. Quentin ridge running north and south on the edge of the C'ambrai salient, also through Gauche wood on the same sector and the brickfields near Croiselles The latest report states that thera-,is a bombardment southward of the Scarpo to below St. Quentin.

Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: There was an intense bombardment at five o'clock this morning from southward of the Searpe and to westward of Bullecourt near Croiselles and as far south as our right flank. Then followed an infantry attack against strategic points on a twenty-five miles front between the Searpe and ITargicourt. Whether they attacked further south I don't know. Among the places chiefly attacked are Bullecourt, where the Australians, Scots, and Londoners fought last year, and Lagnicourt and Noreuil. The enemy suffered immense losses owing to massed formations. The attack slackened early in the morning.

MORE THAN THEIR MATCH. '.MARCEL T-ITjTIN'S VIEWS. Received March -23, 5.3 p.m. Paris, March 22. Marcel ITntin says that Prince llupprecht hiss considerable reserves, including the finest divisions of the Prusian Guard. The fact that they are attacking on such a vast front is an indication I that the Germans counted on an important initial success. It cannot be affirmed whether Germany is determined to play a decisive role here, but the\' will find more than their match. OFFICIAL REPORTS. London, March 22. Sir Douglas Haig reports: About eight o'clock in the morning, after an intense bombardment by gas shells and high explosives on our forward positions and hack areas, the enemy launched a powerful infantry attack on a front of over fifty miles," between the Oise river near La Fere and the Sensee river near Croisclles. There is hostile artillery on a wide front northward of La iassee canal and tlie Ypres sector. It has been known for some time past ihat an attack was being prepared. The enemy pressed with the greatest vigor and determination all day long and broke through some of our outpost positions and penetrated the battle positions at certain parts. Tlie enemy attacked in masses and bis losses are exceptionally heavv. Severe fighting continues on tho whole front. Large numbers of reinforcements have been obscr»ed behind the enemy's lines- Several divisions which have been specially trained for this great attack have been identified, including Guards. Maps captured dcpictins the enemy's intentions show that they have not attained their objectives on any part of tlie front. Sir Douglas Haig's later report stales: Fighting continued late last night on the whole front from the river Oise to the river Sensee. Our troops continue tn hold the enemy in their battle positions. During yesterday's atjaeks the enemy's massed infantry offered remark'ftW* targets to. rifles, machine-guns, and

artillery, of which we took lull advantage. All reports te-.tify to the enemy's exceedingly heavy lossc-s. No serious attack lias yet developed this morning-, but heavy fighting must stiil be expected. A French eomr.tai:kji;« saya: During the day reciprocal artillery activity was very violent between in tlio A una sector, and Kbeiins, the heijjhtu of Champagne, and Yille-sur-TourL'o. Tlil'6o successive attack, in the Murius sector broke down under our lira. Uaiding attempts eiut of Suippes were 'completely defeated ' Our artillery cauai.t and dispersed some i.'jrraan columns which were a-lvimcin# snulh of Menthols, on the right of the Mcuse. At sotn■: point.-, of the Woevre the enemy intensely bombarded our line?.

London, March 2i. A Frnvh eomrauuioue states: Towards (he end of the night tb»rc was p.n intense and prolonged bombardment; on the sectors north and south-east of Rheisus, also at various points in the Champagne, where the Germans made several abortive attempts. The enemy's bombardment 011 the rigW of the Mcuso became ver>- violent, yesterday evening, a strong .attack following between Caurieres Wood and fiezonvaox. Aft<>r violent limiting, we drove, the enemy bark front some points whither, in the first rush, he succeeded in penetrating. We took prisoners. After live'.v artilWv reparation the enemy atteched at 1 SO this morning in the region of Momer.y, Lorraine Our fire repulsed him with serious losses, the attack being rcsultkr,-. A Relgian coiuniuni(]iia states: There was lively artillery activity yesterday. During the naval engagement last night o!V Dunkirk, the enemy's vessels bombarded our const towards La Patina- A violent bombardment of poison gas shells nsrainst «ie battwiss on the whole front h«f»l throughout to-day. Y'irciess Oerman official: The Ravarians made ft surprise attack south-west ni, Orr.es. They over-ran t'ne first Vines and advanced as far as lae Bois Brule ravine, taking 210 prisoners. The Aw-tro-Hungarians are eo-operating ?ns':n«t the English and French in artillery fire on broad sectors of the Western front. We r.enelrated a portion of the Fngii-h positions between Camhrai and La Fere.

ON THE FRENCH FROMT. STRONG FXEMY ATTACK. London. March 22. A French communique suites: Towards the end of the night there was an intense and prolonged bombardment on the sectors north riad south-east of liheims, also at various points in the Champagne, where the Germans made several abortive attempts. The enemy's bombardment on ike right of (he Mouse became very violent yesterday evening, a strong attach following between Canricres Wood ami Bczonvaux. After violent fighting we drove the enemy back from some points whether, in the first rush, he succeeded in penetrating. \\'e took prisoners. After lively arullcrying the enemy attacked at 1.30 t?iis morning in the region nf Momenv. Lorraine. Our lire repulsed liiin with serious losses, the attack being resultless. HUM TYRANNY, Amsterdam, March 22. The Echo de Beige states that German tribunal sentenced M. Capelli. the Belgian Director of Foreign Affairs, to 15 years' imprisonment.