WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 April 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

GERMAN TACTICS At.Tr.KED. | CAPTURE OF MOXTDIDIER NULLIFIED. GERMAN STRENGTH/ ANALYSED. Received March 31, 5.5 p.m. London, March 30. A French headquarters correspondent; writes that ihe enemy's offensive has' been arrested in mid course He has abandoned marching straight, upon his objective.- and breaking down resistance uy overwhelming number*. He is now striking at estimated weak spots. His drive down the Oise valley has been finally arrested, while attempts to cross the river further north have failed. The bridges are now being destroyed. The enemy's capture jt Mouldidier v." a a just too lute for him f .o profit thereby, French f'.ree wis able to engage theGermans westward, and bring the advance to a standstill, nullifying their efforts to find the junction of the Anglol'reneh armies The hinge between the Anglo-French armies, the correspondent says, will never be broken, as the junction is now covered by French forces Strong enough to meet all eventualities. Eighty-seven enemy divisions have been identified on a fifty-mile battle front, comprising not only the pick, but practically all the sound German troops. The French have already engaged three Guard divisions, the famous Brandenburgers, and some of the best Bavarian divisions. ..Before the offensive the Germans j ad a hundred and nine divisions in line cn the France LVitish front and sii in reserve. The ramny, therefore, ir\; : already engaged nunc tiuin the whole of 'lis reserves in France.

The present biittlc has al-o denuded certain sectors (if • lie best t-ronns o rapbiu; wastage. Tile enemy ( « ..wenty diviM.ms, conceivable ..nay, of :n."trior tnalcrinl. useful for tilling gaps, but not for winning battles.

BATTLE RESUMED. >VITU .atEXCH OFFERIX'"! DETERMINE'! RESISTANCE. Keesivcd March 31, 5.6 p.m. London, Merdi 30. A French communique states: The b:\ f tlo iva:i resumed at ni?hi v/ith renewed violence, ai u miv. Lagos on a front of forty kilometres, from Moreuil to beyond Lassigne.-. * » Our troops. supported by reserves, which continue to arrive, are offering a determined resistance to the powerful assaults. Our airmen, despite the bad weather, flying in group.-, arc heavily sp-iying with machine-gun lire, and bombs the* enemy buttle line and concentration zone-. Seventeen thousand kilogrammes of projectiles were dropped in the Noyon-Cuiscard-Ham region. One squadron downed thirteen enemy machines.

Tho Daily Hail says Jie capture of Mon'didicr affects the defence of Amier.s. French r serves are eontinualiy arriving. The situation is serious until Montdidiev is recovered. The. Germans have been beaten back from their present positions cast of Amiens. The German press predicts a great new attack in a totally different direction. If true, the enemy will find the Allies ready to meet it in the same spirit. A POSITION SAVED. A THRILLING NARRATIVE. Australian Cable Association. Received March 31, 5.5 p.m. Paris, March 30. The Crown s?rince's ru.,li in the Oise valley afford., a thrilling narrative of the successful Anglo-French effort to recover a most serious position. The advances both at Noyon and Montdidier '•ave now been arretted, the latter by a brilliant bayonet charge by the Chasseurs i-Pied, resulting in an advance of H miles and the recapture of the villages of Courtemarehe, Assainvillers and Mosnil St. George. British infantry and cavalry in the Oise valley fought shoulder to shoulder with French infantry, enabling General Petain to rush in his reserve of infantry and artillery.

ROLLING UP THE ALLIES. GERMANS ADHERE TO HOPE OF DIVIDING THE ALLIES. Times Service. Received March 31, 5.5 p.m. London, March 30. The Times' special correspondent with the French forces says developments on the northern front show that the Germans adhere to the hope of being able to divide the Allies, and then, with a great rolling-up movement, capture the armies and their supplies between Ypres and Boulogne, and make their way towards Calais.

The sturdy confidence of the French is founded on the knowledge that the question of strategical co-ordination has been settled between the French and British high commands, ensuring the most effective unity of operations throughout. When the Germans deliver, with their reinforcements, a general attack, they will find the Allies consolidated, strengthened and ready to make an initiative by the >videst counter-attacking. They wdl be able to choose their time and plaoft

enemy attacks not PRESSED. GERMANS SIGNALLY DEFEATED AT ARRAS. CEASELESS ARRIVAL 01 FRENCH RESERVES. Received March 31, 5.5 p.m. Loudon, March 30. Sir Douglas Haig reports: North of Uie Sornme there were local actions only. The enemy attacks yesterday at Demiim and Mezieres. south of the ioiiime, pro;?'.::! liacl. troops from the latter village. All the enemy's attacks at llcinnm broke down, after sharp lighting, lasting throughout the afternoon. Our cavalry during the week fought with great gallantry, both mounted and dismounted, and repulsed the enemy, inliieting heavy losses in numerous engagements

Apart from local fighting at different points tin) tnciuy to-day (lid not press ins attacks Nortiavard of the Somme we gained ground in certain places. Heavy hostile attacks developed this morning southwards of the Sommo, in the neighborhood of Mezieres and Demum The lighting here continues. Captured documents show that the attack on Thursday astride the Scarpe aimed at the capture-of the Vimy ridge and Arras, the attack being conducted by at least six' divisions in the front line, with four assault divisions in support. Despite its force, the attack made no considerable impression <>n our battle pc■■it-inn, but resulted in a severe enemy uri'iiit. In the heavy fighting further south, between Boiry und Serre, which had no greater success, eleven hostile divisions were identified

Tin- majority of our aeroplane .1 (tacks too 1 ; place southward of •.lie *0: 'lie. where large concentrations of troops were constantly reported. The aeroplanes continued their work till dark, despite the rain storms and low clouds. They fired nearly a quarter of a million rounds There was not, much a'r fighting, considering the number of British machines in the air, but on the battle iront the fire from the ground was again heavy We downed nine German machines and drove down five ethers uncontrolled, and fire from tilt! ground downed two. Twelfe of ours are missing A French communique states: The battle 011 the Oise front has appreciably slackened du.'ng the day German activity was confined to local attacks on some points of our front, which is ,(nily being consolidated by the arrival of reinforcements- All these attacks were repulsed. Raids on our position- in the rejr'on of Badoiivillcrs, Parrny Forest, and soutli of Seppois, completely failed

BRITISH TAKEN !N REAR. TIRED TROOPS' INDOMITABLE SPIRIT. Received March 31, 55 p.m. Reuter Service. v London, March 30. The headquarters correspondent says the enemy'.? attack 011 Arras failed after fierce fighting. Prisoners state that the objective, Arras, must he captured at all rosts. Specially trained shock troops ivere used with that intention. The capture will probably not be abandoned, but the losses inflicted arc so great that the enemy must bring up fresh divisions br-ijre he renews the experiment. t'rmeii continue to report enemy concentrations behind t'he !h-ea, foreshadowing further heavy thrusts.

Reporting later, the correspondent sav3 that on the whole the British lines along the whole front were held splendidly throughout the day. At one point wily the Germans got across the river in force, about Croicv, taking our troops in the Proyart and Mcricourt nfeighborliood in the rear. We have fallen back. The retirement was particularly well conducted.

The men were taken in the rear before they knew it, and in the threatened area (be infantry and guns faced round for a time, the lield uuns firing with open Bights, and the infantry chained dashingly and drove the enemy, who far outnumbered themselves, hack to the river bank till nil the guns were withdrawnThen this -ection swung hack to their new position by Hamel-La Motte.

As evidence of the spirit of the British it may he mentioned that some of the jnost tired men, after terrific fighting for three days, were ordered to make a new attack. It was a serious job, for the enemy troops were fresh and twice their number; yet they attacked, singing •'Tipperary," and scored a splendid success.

DECISIVE FIGHTING MUST BE EXPECTED. AMERICAN HELP—WILL IT BE TOO LATE? United Service. Received March 31,? 5.5 p.m. London, March ,"*O. A special correspondent speaks o r the keenness with which the Americans participate. Ai. officer said that tli's whole American army bitterly regrets its comparative futility to-day, ami prays for a speeding up to enable it to take some real part in the war before many months. The correspondent adds: "It is wise, in the meantime, to realise that nothing (h» American army can do for a considerable time will count for anything as things go. The English and French must do this job practically alone for some time. "The serious question is whether Germany has still sufficient fresh divisions to overbear the (logged Anglo-French soi(l;ers, thereby compelling grave decisions. No 'it the Oefman leaders believe Uif ' eriority is sufficient, and they in' i force the fightin." and make it inuous and exhnu c as they possii../ can. Decisive fighting must be expected.'

ENEivVv'tj Si£huY Fkl-.. BRITISH -TfTFT THEIR LINE 80 MIAMI AT. 1 "NTM 1 ".'"; MACHINE GUN BARRAGE Received Mare'i 3!, 5.5 p.m. London, March HO. Mr. TYreivnl Phillip.; „iati-s that steady pressure |i;u been continued on our r.ght, southward of (he Si::r,me, by crossing the Sonime from 1 hip'ly lo Cerisy. Tlie enemy succeeded in yt>\ witiiin about \ ards of opr rear, lie was held up, ho.iever, until oil our guns were removed. e (.link a fresl'i line further west. This wa; iSie .position this morning, hut the Germans are si.ijl bringing up guns and fresh divisions, though a great attack has not yet materialised There are strong concentrations to-day around Guillaucourt, on the AmiensNesle railway, a short distance behind their present front. The situation generally is one of comparative calm, obvious! v due to Oornmn preparations for the next eliase. Much rain lias fallen during the nitrbt. We have the advantage in the maximum of shelter possible in open warfire, whereas the enemy i? lodger! i„ a rej'on stripped to the last roof and without protection from rain or the deadlier hail of our machine-gun*. A notable feature of the fighting was the extraordinary weight of the German machine-gun offensive, and fciio amazingly swift expert handling of the newer weapon. The enemy makes each attarV under an intense machine-gun' barrage. Which appears to rise out of the ground. What is no man's land one moment appears to fairly sprout with uiaoMne-«-ma the next moment-

FRIDAY'S POSITION ANGLO-FRENCII HEAVILY ENGAGE!) Received Mare 11 31. 5."> )) m. 1 Lindoa Maivi 2!i The Press Bureau states regarding the evening situation: W.! maintained all our positions nortluvapl of the Somme, where tliere were no s 'rious attacks during the day There was heavy fighting southward.-. 01 the Somme. We nave lnvii prt-wod back to the iino westward of .Bauid-Aiarce'cavc-Demum. The French line southwards ■:[ Dtmnui runs: Mossieves-Luneviile ,<ur Gnitilms, (•i una westward of M 011". Dhhcr

There has been further heavy fighting today or. t'ns line. Tin- French 01111'erollt ii.-iyel between Mom; 'Tinier and Lassigny continues. Fresh French troops are arriving. The French line eastward of Lnssigny i 3 unchanged. A captured German order shows that the objective of tlic division attacking on March 21 near St. Ouentin was the -.Somme near Hamel, a distance of eleven miles. The division actually penetrated under three milesBROUGHT TO A STANDSTILL GERMAN BATTLE PLANS MISCARRY. CYCLONIC FIGHTING EXPECTED. Received March 31, 5 5 p.m. London, March 30. Tho United Press correspondent, writ-, ing on March i), states he believes that during the last 48 hours Hindenburg's cohorts have been brought practically to a standstill. From carefully sifted information from widely different sources lie is convinced that the battle plans of the German war lords have signally miscarried, and that tho present spasmodic thrusts are due partly to the reeomposltion of the enemy as a fighting force and a readjustment of the scheme of offensive.

Prisoners intimate that the, Germans expected to occupy Amiens on the fifth or sixth day, cutting the Paris-Calais railway; yet Amiens still stands. Similarly as to Arras, which was yesterday's immediate objective, coupled with an effort to capture Vimy by a flanking movement.

Withering machine-gun and arti'iery Tiro checked the Kaiser's storm troops. Further cyclonic fighting is expected all along the liiu, but the first flush of the enemy's enthusiasm has passed. Prisoners .say tho offensive is not going as well as was expected, while the Josses are high. However, the Germans' } discipline i s such that they will undoubtedly continue the offensive despite 'the lower spirit of the troops. Eighty divisions have been already badly mauled, ma.ny being unfit to return to the firing line before the tide is definitelyturned, but fresh divisions are being hurried up, and the tired enemy is trying to advance everywhere possible, particularly southward of the Soimne in au effort to reach Amiens. The enemy is steadily losing his headway. THE GERMAN VERSION. BOOTY OF THE OFFENSIVE. # Received March 3i, 5.5 p.m. London, March HO. Wireless German official: There, have heen local engagements on both sides, of the Scarpe. We broke into the foremost English positions and made prisoners several thousands. The English continued near.and northwards of Albert their fruitless and costly counter-attacks. We again attacked between the Somme and the Arc-re and drove out the enemy from their old positions, and out of the bravely-defended villages in westerly and north-westerly directions, via Warcusee Abaeourt and Plessier. The French repeatedly violently coun-ter-attacked our new front between Montdidier and Noyon. , The booty since the beginning of the battle consists of 70,0(10 prisoners, and j 1100 guns, of which General von Hutier j captured 40,000 prisoners and IiOO guns. I Increased art-illerying continued in the 1 Lorraine district.

GiJNKUAL KOcrr API'OIKTED. UEN'KKALISSIMO. OL'TC'OjIK of the situation. Received Marc];. 5!, 5.5 p.m. London, March 30. The Daily Chronicle stales tlifit (ionova! Foch Ims been appointed generalissimo oil the Wesf front, in conformity with Sir Douglas Haig's and Ocneral Main's wishes. The Chronicle adds (hat General Foch's appointment is no reflection on Sir Douglas lUu» or General l'eui,i, lnit hi the inevivable outcome of the military hit nation and emanated from tkise soldiers themselves Unity of command is vitally necessary, the Allies having fluttered sadly by lack of co-ordina-tion. General Foch's claims are indisputable.

The Daily News protests against i,..e appointment, which is full of dangers, as fiieiion. will be set up the first time (.ha i'enenilissinio's orders are not approved. j\n arxnv can stand defeat under itM own chiefs, but not under a foreign general. Renter, Service. Received March 31, 5.5 p.m. London, March 30. The Daily Chronicle's announcement relative to Anglo-French military co-. ordination being expectable almost immediately indicates that an influential role may be assigned to General Foeh thereancnl. Received April 1, 1.35 a.m. London. March 31. No official announcement has yet been made regarding General Focli's appointment, but it is generally accepted as

FRENCH PUSHED BACK. HEAVY FIGHTING PROCEEDING. Aus. and, N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Router. deceived March 31. 11.30 p.m. London, March 30 The War Office reports: 'North 1 of the Sum" n the situation is unchanged. South of the Sor.ime our positions are maint:pneii. Heavy attacks on the French front enabled the Germans to gain ground westward of Avre and southward and southeastward of Montdidier. The enemy captured the villages of Aubvillei's, Grivesnes, C.'antigny. Mesnil St. George. Leirnneesel and Tvencourt. Heavy fighting k prixwling eastward of tl;e the latter place, but the exact situation is not known. The weather has broken and heavy rain is falling. FURTHER CAPTURES CLAIMED. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc and Renter Received March 31, 11.30 p.ryi. London, Ma h 30. Wireless- German official: VVe cleared Avotte. We drove out the Anglo-French from parts of their foremost positions between the Somme and the Avre. We captured Beaueourt and Mezieres. French attacks against Montdidier failed.