OPERATIONS SUMMARISED.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 March 1918, Page 6

OPERATIONS SUMMARISED.

BRITISH RESERVES AVAILABLE. London. March 24. Mr. Robinson, I'u'.miusi'ising th-.: 2-i hours, says that on the whole the Germans made headway and we fell back. It is impossible to visualise fifty miles as a single entity. The great 'conflict seems more and mora to resolve itself into detached incidents of the thrust and counter-thrust at scattered points. Our guns and aeroplaifcs are incessantly bombarding Xesle and Bapaumc, civing the incoming infantry a bad time. In the old Somme battlefield, towards i'eronne, the Germans on the north side of the river are a trifle further west t/ian yesterday in the Longeval and Montauban region and between Clery and Mericonrt, but we hold the river" line. Fighting is progressing on the north side. The enemy made- additional crossings of the river at Brie and Voyennes. We have fallen bark behind Nesle. Tiiero Is evidence that the German troops are petting beyond the guns and the Ger-iii-.n artillery thus is unable to play nnything like tlie earlier part, but fresh innuv.'ft of troops art continuously Uirown in. The numbers are now enormous.

At the beginning of the battle probably So German divisions were in reserve on the west front. Thirty-three were used the lirst dav, and approximately ten each succeeding day. Sn the reserves are now reduced to between 30 nnd 32 division's. Si net* then new troops 'iave been thrown in each day. How many reserves are left it is impossible to say, but this is nn obviously hopeful feature of the situation.

Oil the other hand we have new reserves available, and the spirit of our •whole army remains sunerb.

TJie airmen's prodigious efforts are badly hampering the enemy. The French assistance has been most valuable. All these facts prove the ultimate unimportance of the immediate territorial gain. The British troops were very hard pressed in the struggle at Nesle, the ipr:nans having thirteen divisions to our four. The latter nevertheless held ihc line of the canal from Bethincourt southward all day, checking the enemy till by overwhelming strength he forced a passage at Voyennes with tho Moodiest losses. The enemy advanced at Kuy-Jie-Gr.md.

We still held a line running through Morchain, Mesnil, Ruv-le-petit, Mcyen-ro-.ur Libei-mont. I.m Blesses and Villesleve, but it is an awkward line and only exceeding valor enabled us to cling thereto so long. Therefore during the day a vew line was prepared .west of Nesle and we fell back at nightfall. Our lino still continues across the enemy frwn but though the troops everywhere are outnumbered they nowhere hnvc yielded, except to overwhlming pressure. Che division defending Ervillem and Alory fought 30 hours, beating off three divisions, including the Second Guards' Reserve.

The beaten enemy threw his weislit further south against Gommeeourt, and here the Lancashircs and Yorkshires beat off repeated attacks, lighting so long 'hat the officers were hardly able to stand. Finally the (iermans withdrew. The Lancashire and Yorkshire men, whf> had had tlieir fill of fight and glory, had an opportunity to rest. Respite the in. tensest strain on their physical endurincs the weary Tommies clung to the line to the last with but one idea, that their business was to go on and kill Germans.

Prisoners declare that this is Germany's supreme effort. She must have peace whether she wins or loses.

German attacks repulsed. London, March 27. A German night attack south of the fiomme was repulsed with heavy losses. The long-rangs bombardment of Paris continues. Gerjnan attacks on the French along the Noyon front have been driven off. Sir Douglas Hnig reports: As the result of attacks yesterday afternoon and evening aistride the Somme we were forced back on both banks a short distance in the neighborhood of Bray. We repulsed, after severe fighting, a heavy night attack southward of the Somme. The enemy entered our positions at one point in the neighborhood of the river, but were immediately thrown back by a counter-attack. There has been further local fighting northward and north-eastward of' Albert, but the situation here is unchanged.

Amsterdam, March 27. The Vorwarts war correspondent says: "The enemy hold strong reserves southward of the penetrated front and will make a flanking attack northward."

THE ALLIES' RESERVES. London, March 27. When the British and French reserves enter the battle the whole complexion should be changed. The sternest German effort is now against Roye, where twelve of the enemy's West divisions, including fresh Brandenburgers are pressing heavily. Other Germans are pushing steadily against Albert where the latest messages state that the British lino still held. EFFECTIVE AIR V. ORIC Paris, Marcji 27. A French war correspondent states that two fresh German divisions proceeding to the front on March 25 were almost totally annihilated before they fired a shot by machine-gun fire and bombs from 100 French aeroplanes.

SUCCESSFUL COUNTER ATTACKS. Vancouver, March 2". London advices state that British counter-attacks resulted in the recapture of Warleneourt and Chip illy. It is also announced that the Germans have captured Albert. London, March 27. Lord Morris, late Premier of Newfoundland. speaking at the Overseas Club, said that he heard from official l.sources straight from the front headquarters that, of four German divisions, numbering 30,000, who broke our old Somme line, not one escaped. All were killed or citptured.