FIGHTING CONTINUES FIERCELY.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 March 1918, Page 5

FIGHTING CONTINUES FIERCELY.

ENEMY BRINGING UP NEW ANI) FRESH TROOPS. Received March 29, 5.5 .p.m. London, March "28. Sir Douglas Haig reports: There was severe fighting; last night astride the Somme and northwards from Albert to Poyelles- We repulsed repeated attacks along the Somme valley ami in the neighborhood of Beaumont Hamel, Puisieux, and Moycn Ncuvillc, capturing ,i number of prisoners and machine-guns. Tlie fighting continues fiercely on both banks of the Somme. The enemy heavily bombarded our defences eastward of Arras this morning. An attack is developing on this, sector. There are great concentrations, our aeroplanes report to-day, over the threatened points. Our aeroplanes machinegunned and bombed the infantry and cavalry, using thirty tons of bombs and thousands of rounds "uf ammunition. We downed twenty German machines in the air fighting, and two other by antiaircraft guns. Twelve of ours are miss-

Our night-fliers continuously attacked troops in Bapaume* Cambrai, find Peronne, twenty-five thousand rounds being fired and twenty-four tons of bombs being dropped on important centres of the battle-front, also four tons on the Valenciennes railway statipn, through which troop trains were passing towards the front.

A French' communique states: The Germans are . throwing into the battle new and fresh troops, and the attacks to-day were of redoubled violence. East of Mont Didier our troops several tines, with admirable tenacity, arrested the enemy onslaughts. He succeeded in progressing, owing to his marked numerical superiority and equally powerful attacks. In the regions of Lassigny and Noyon he was completely repulsed before the heroic resistance of our regiments. A further Frencli communique states: The battle continued with sustained violence yestereve and during the. night. The enemy on the front of Lassigny and Noyon and on the left bank of the Oise directed all his efforts to our left, and threw forward important forces in the region of Mont Didier, where there was unpreeedeutedly desperate fighting, our regiments struggling foot by foot, and inflicting heavy losses. They were never momentarily weakened, and fell back orderly to the heights immediately west of Mont Didier.

FRENCH ADVANCE HELD. POWERFUL ATTACKS REBUTTED. Aus. and X.Z. Cable Assoc. and Router. Received Marcli HO, 12.50 a.mLondon, March 2fl. A French communique states: The enemy is continuing to press with powerful forces in, the region of Mont Didier. He attempted this morning to extend his gains west and south of Mont Didier, but with magnificent .dash our troops counter-attacked with the bayonet and ejected the enemy , from Courtemarehe, Mesnil St. George's, and Assainvillers, which we carried and solidly hold. Phis advance exceeds two kilometres deep on a twelve kilometres front. At Lassigny and Noyon, and south of the Oise, bitter fighting gave the enemy no advantage. Our troops are holding vigorously.