WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 April 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

THE GERMAN SPIRIT. SHOWING SIGNS OF DEPRESSION. TANKS DO GALLANT WORK. REPEATEDLY HELP AND SAVE INFANTRY. Received April 1, 8-15 p.m. London. March 31. Mr. Philip Gibbg says that after heavy fighting around Arraa and some minor engagements north . and south of the Somine, there is a lull. The enemy is reorganising and developing new plana. The Germans' violent efforts against Arras were repulsed with extremely heavy losses. A small party of men who were cut off in Roeux withdrew success fully.

Yesterday our lines were firmly he>d. The enemy's only gain south of the Somme was the capture of Marceleave and Mezieres- We made a counterattack here, 'which the enemy's machinegun lire held up. Nevertheless, many Germans were killed. It has been evident during the last day or two that the Germans are losing some of their spirit and becoming depressed and anxious as to the future. ■Their wild gamble for a decisive victory, after the first overwhelming thrust, no longer has so much advantage, and their losses are increasing. They have been hard hit in the. last few days At Hebuterne they tried to rush the village and gained the cemetery, where they placed several machine-guns. Our troops advanced upon the cemetery, but were checked by machiuc-guns. They returned and reorganised, and the swept through the village and charged the enemy line, splashing H to pieces. Then ensued fierce'hand-to-hand fight'ng and bomb-fighting, with bayonet-fighting in the streets. Many Germans were killed.

Since the colossal bombardment of the 21st our tanka have done gallant work.. Some which were hidden in the woods behind the line were gravely threatened by the advancing waves. It "waß impossible to get them away rapidly, and the pilots blew them up. The tankß were | successfully utilised at variouß points, and drove the enemy twice out of the village of Roiael and" covered the withdrawal of the line. •

They fought a gallant rearguard action at Servill for two days, covering the withdrawal.

A most courageous action by the tanks was at Vaux and Vraucourt, south of Bullecourt, which the enemy had captured. Our aviators reported a heavy concentration of the enemy. Tlie tanks advanced, accompanied by two companies of infantry. The enemy at clobe range opened fire with macbine-guns and fieldguns. As soon as the tanks came in sight they made straight for the German trenches and raked them. Our losses were not light, for the tanks were close targets for the field-guns, which were firing at point blank range, but we inflicted heavy casualties. The enemyfled. Some tanks which had been put. out of action lay derelict among the German dead and dying, but maintained the fight for several hours, the survivors returnin' at midnight. On the 20th four tanks fought a rearguard action between Varastere and Les Boeufs, without infantry support, holding up German waves and preventing the cutting off of the infantry. The tanks slouched among the enemy, raking masses of storm troops in tte open country and holding hordes at nay until they brought up field gunß. Then we required all the skilled courage of manoeuvre of the tanks to avoid direct hits. They, however, fought their way back. In all these fights the pilots and crews fought with an utter disregard of their own lives.

The cavalry had a long looked for chance in the vicinity of Ham and Noyon. They streamed through Guiscard and did most gallant work, taking prisoner 150.

THE SITUATION. CAN BE REGARDED WETS MORE CONFIDENCE. ANOTHER MIGHTY BLOW IMEENTJ- ' ING. Received April 1, SA pjn. Renter Service' London, March 31. Renter's correspondent, writing from the British front on the tenth day of the,* battle, says wo can regard the situation with more confidence. During the last few .days the German progress in front of the British armies has been almost trifling. Except for the determined attack with the object of capturing Arras and turning our flank in that direction, the Germans have attempted no operations on a large scale, and in tile 'vast majority of minor encounters we have had much the better of the exchanges, this being conspicuously true of the area from Arras to Albert and about the Ancie, where the Germans repeatedly inade vicious drives to capture local strategical positions. How great their losses during the whole ten days have been it is impossible to compute. Hie Germans have now put into the crucible of battle over eighty divisions of infantry. All have been more or less unmercifully hammered. Within the last few days comparatively few new German divisions have been thrust into the line, which probably means that the enemy is preparing a second great Wow, which may fall at any time with all the tremendous might that was behind the Germans' first Mow. To-day we stand unshaken aci' 083 their path- Seven divisions of "ood troops tried to take Arras and miicd. The decisive check to the German advance on Arras ss important, for it further delays the enemy's plan of campaign. '

VIOLENT LOCAL ATTACKS. \ DEALT WITH BY FRENCH. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received April 2, 1.25 a.m. London, April 1. A French communique states: The Germans, exhausted by yesterday's bloody defeat, confined themselves to violent local attacks. The only success scored north of Moreuil was to the region of Hangarden-San Terre, where they gained a footing after a desperate struggle. ; Between Moreuil and Lassigiiy we recaptured, yestereve, Ayencourt and Lenioncliel.

To-day we notably advanced in the region of Oivillers, after heavy fighting. On the Oise front an enemy assaulting detachment, which had crossed the river near Chauny, and tried to establish a bridgehead on the left bank, was entirely annihilated or taken prisoner. Long-range guns destroyed an enemy train of heavy artillery elsewhere.

FURTHER GERMAN ATTACKS. , REPULSED BY THE BRITISH. SPLENDID WORK BY THE CAVALRY. Reuter Service. Received April 1, 11.50 p.m. London, March 31. A headquarters correspondent, writing in the evening, states: There was a comparative lull in the fighting during the week-end, which enabled the disposition' of our troops to proceed smoothly. The weather is very unsettled after the rains, which made the country heavy. Referring to the cavalry, he says the enemy, having secured a large wood north-east of Moreuil, at dawn our cavalry was thrown into it before the Germans had.consolidated, and drove back the enemy into the open, with severe casualties. The cavalry's work in this open fighting is beyond praise, splendidly justifying the existence of this arm.

After the capture of Marceleave, already cabled, the Germans, in considerable strength, attacked between the Somme and the Ancre, covered by many low-flying aeroplanes, which werepromptly attacked by our airmen! This attempt was completely repulsed. This morning the Germans attacked determinedly near Arras, but were repulsed after fierce fighting. Receiving reinforcements again, they attacked, but were again repulsed. At } two o'clock to-day we assaulted the enemy positions near Laayd farm. Alter a short and obstinate struggle we returned to our own lines with over two hundred prisoners and forty machineguns.

SOUTHWARD OF PERONNE. ENEMY ATTACKS IN CONSIDERABLE FORCE. Received April 1, 10.15 p.m. London; March 31. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The enemy did not renew his attacks northward of the Somme on Sunday, but there was hostile shelling in different parts of this front. Local fighting secured us a few prisoners and machine-guns. A hostile attack developed in considerable ' force at mid-day, southward of Peronne-Axniens road. Fighting continued In ahd between the valleys of tjie Luce and Avre for the possession of the tactical features qf the woods and villages. The weather completely broke at midday on Saturday, but, despite the driving rain, our pilots continued to participate in the battle south of the Somme, bombing and machine-gunning until a late hour.

There was heavy air fighting between the low-flying machines. We downed twelve Germans, anij drove down three others. Anti-aircraft guns shot down five of our machines.

A CROWDED 50 HOURS. INCIDENTS OF THE VISIT. A CHARACTERISTIC COLONIAL GREETING. Reuter Service. Received April 1, 11.45 p.m. , London, March 31. Reuter'a correspondent at headquarters states that the King spent a crowded 50 hours in France. He moved freely among the troops' who had resisted the first onslaught. There was no official programme, his Majesty desiring a quiet, informal visit, which should not interfere with the military movements. His Majesty chatted and shook hands with many officers and men, going to and coming, from the front. He visited headquarters and congratulated Sir Douglas Haig. At the casualty clearing station the King walked among the lines of stretchers, and was cheered by the wounded. He inspected the air service headquarters,, including the American . section, and congratulated them on their smart appearance.

At one part of the journey, the King, meeting a marching regiment, shouted, "Are we downhearted?" The reply was an enthusiastic uproar. Amongßt the wounded at the clearing station was a colonial, who looked critically at the King, then painfully extended a hand and said, "I've often heard of you. Put it right there." The King immediately did so.

Throughout the tour his Majesty had sincere words of admiration and encouragement for the men. Resting soldiers told him that their greatest need wassleep.

ENEMY FIRMLY HELD. SEVERITY OF GERMAN LOSSES. BATTLE PROMISES TO BE OF LONG v DURATION. .J;;. Reuter Service. .' Received April 1, 5.5 p.m. London, March 31. Bcutcr's representative with French headquarters says that the enemy is firmly held west of Mont Didier, where the broken ground facilitates the defence. His nearest point to Amiens is thirteen miles distant. All the accounts agree regarding the severity of the German losses, but it must be remembered that of eighty to ninety divisions thrown into battle only one-fifth have been withdrawn. He, therefore, has still huge • numbers to throw into the attack, and the battle promises to be of long duration.

POINTS RECAPTURED. HEAVY GERMAN ATTACK DEVELOPS. Received April 1, 10.15 pan. London, March 31. The War Office states the .day was qui north of the Somme. , Immediately .h of the Searpe our line has been advanced eastward of Fencliy. The War Office confirms the enemy's heavy losses in yesterday's fruitless attacks. Our successful counter-attacks -south of the Somme on Saturday regained Demuin. Canadian cavalry and British infantry, in conjunction with the French, carried out a brilliant operation on Saturday, recapturing Moreuil and the woqd northward.

A heavy German attack developed this afternoon in the angle between the rivers Luce and Avre. The fighting continues. The Germans are attacking southward of Moreuil, in the direction of Tilly and Rameville. The French this morning had progressed from the south of Montdidier to Lassigny, retaking several villages lost on Saturday.

BETWEEN MOREUIL AND LASSIGNY. i ENEMY COMPLETELY CHECKED. ■- f GERMAN BATTALIONS MOWED DOWN. Received April 1. 10.15 p.m. London, March 31 A French communique states: The fighting, which contin led yesterday evening with the same violen.e were checked, as was a formidable attempt to break through between Montdidier and Moreuil. Our infantry fire mowed dotvn rhe enemy battalions, which returned incessantly to the assault. Moreuil was taken by the Germans, retaken by us, lost again, and finally captured by a bayonet charge by the FrancoBritish, fighting side by side in the same same ranks. The woods north of Moreuil were also wrested from the enemy j after fierce fighting. We took numerous prisoners.

The check to the enemy between Moreuil and Lassigny is complete We succeeded in progressing to the approaches of Canny sur Mats. The picked division which retook Leplwont, and retained it against all assaults, took seven hundred prisoners.

.HINDENBURG'S REVISED PLAN HACKING HIS WAY THROUGH SOUTH OP THE SOMME. IMMENSE FRENCH ARMIES GATHERING. Received April 1, 8.55 p.m. United Service. London, March 31. Mr. Murdoch writes that . immense French armjes, scarcely touched since the Champagne offensive, are gathering round the threatened sectors. They are growing in strength and preparedness daily. All manner of guns are flowing thither. The Germans have deeply entrenched from the Somme northwards, and lightly entrenched elsewhere. After his failure to roll up the Third Army, Hindenbnrg has shifted his main forces southward, and is now committed to the plan of defeating the French reserves as they arrive, and opening a road south of the Somme towards Paris.

- . THE ARRAS ATTACK. PREPARED ON A SCALE OF ENORMOUS STRENGTH. GERMAN TROOPS SWEPT TO PIECES. Received April 1, 9.5 p.m. London, March 31. Mr. Philip Gibbs says: The Arras attack was on a scale of enormous strength by divisions in great depth. The attack was preceded by heavy bombardments. The enemy aimed at capturing Arras and the Vimy Ridge. Seven divisions were placed north of the Searpe and twelve south, in an aTe round Arras. The eni plan was while two divisions, with others supporting, attacked Arras, three divisions, composed of storm troopß, would rush through, seizing the Vimy heights. The brunt of the attack fell upon London troops. Our guns, machine guns and rifles swept the enemy's advancing lines to pieces. The enemy came agiin and again, despite the massacre. Towards night, attacks died ou.t. Such an utter defeat will check-Geijian-efiorta aiound k-Aras.

FURTHER GERMAN CAPTURES. IN THE ARRAS NEIGHBORHOOD. Received April 1, 11.45 pro. Paris, March 31. Tlio Germans have captured Aehicourt and other villages in the Arras neighborhood, also Anbervillers, in the neighborhood of Montdidier. IMPOSSIBLE GERMAN CLAIMS. NOT COO GUNS ON THE FRONT ATTACKED. Received April 1, 10.15 p.m. United Service. London, March 31. It is authoritatively stated that the German claims of gun captures is impossible, as under six hundred guns were on the front attacked. AMERICANS REINFORCING ANGLOFRENCH. Received April 1, 11.45 pjn. ' Paris, March 31. It is reported that American troops are marching to reinforce £he JtVeneh and British.

THE GERMAN VERSION. A CATALOGUE OF SUCCESSES. Received April 1, 10.15 p.m. London, March 31. A wireless German official, dealing with Saturday's operations, says: We repulsed English counter-attacks in the Ancre and stormed Aubercourt, Hangard and Demuin, and throwing the enemy back on Moreuil. Despite the mist and violent counterattacks wo attacked newly brought up French troops between Moreuil and Royon, and repulsed the enemy northward of Montdidier. We stormed heights on the west bank of the Ancre.

Oft-repeated French counter-attacks westward of Mont Didier and agajn at Mesnil failed. We stormed Fontaine and threw the enemy out of freshly constructed trenches beyond Assauvillers, Rollot, Hainvillers, and CourtvilleStrong counter-attacks collapsed. We stormed the Renaud fort, dominating the Oise, south-west of Noyon. The enemy's losses were heavy everywhere. A later report states that there have been local successful battles between the Luce and the Acre. Counter-attacks west and south-west of Mont- Didier heavily failed.