WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 April 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

EXTREMELY BiTTER FIGHTING ENEMY WAVES SMASHED. A VILLAGE RECAPTURED. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received April 2, 5.5 p.m. London, April 1. A French communique states: Last evening and night extremely bittev fighting continued north of Montdidier. The enemy directed his effort particularly between Montdidier and the PeronneAmiens Road, and threw in large forces with the intention of widening his gains west oi' Hangarden san Terre. FrancoBritish troops smashed the attacking waves, which were unable to emerge into the open. A brilliant counter-attack, wherein the British displayed irresistible dash, enabled us to completely drive back the enemy and recapture this village. The struggle was equally violent further south of Grivesnes, which was the objective of unceasing renewed attacks, which led to hand-to-hand fighting. It remained in our hands, despite considerable German losses. No change is reported between Montdidier Und Lassigny.

THE ARRAS AND VIMY ATTACK. ENEMY HEAVILY PUNISHED. —.'t'al&iiiSS RESULT NEVER IN DOUBT. Received April 2, 5.5 p.m. London, April 1. Tbs United Press correspondent says that the first attack on Arras and the Vimy ridge cost the enemy the heaviest. The First Guards reserve regiment was lost. In officers alone the colonel and nine others were killed and twenty-one wounded. Several British batteries fired for long periods with open sights, cutting long lanes through the Germans. Machine guns went at full speed simultaneously. One gun mowed down 450, the targets being so perfect. The officers were sniped with rifles. Others killed the Germans with their revolvers. The battle was never ill doubt, the British singing as they fought. I recently mentioned certaiji units of youngsters sallying out Rt night. They fought their way through the German lines and back again. These were Canadian armored car units, whose crews lost heavily, but they were refilled instantly with volunteers. Four cars engaged and routed the German cavalry near Lamotte.

DOWN THE ANCRE VALLEY, STRIKING TOWARDS AMIENS. OUR AIRMEN HINDER ENEMY'S TRANSPORT WfiPTC. ■ Reuter Service. Received April 2, 9.55 p.m. London, April 1. British headquarters' evening bulletin states: The enemy movements and tho fighting of the last twenty-four hours indicate the development of an attempt to work towards Amiens down the Ancre valley, also from the south-weßl. Great masses of troops continue to concentrate in the region of Albert. Fighting is progressing towards Vellers and Bretonneux. " The enemy is finding serious difficulties in connection with the transport work, owing to the ceaseless and destructive activity of our iiirmen, also owing to the shortage of animalsThe enemy is bringing up artillery comparatively slowly. Meanwhile he is jazily employing trench mortars: The Austraian troops are now appearing in the thick of the fighting and doing magnificently. Despite the southward trend of the battle, the greatest weight of tho enemy divisions remains north of the Somme.

Documents now reveal that the enemy expected to reach the Somme on the first day of the offeosiva.

SPARING FOR TIME. TO STRENGTHEN GERMAN DIVISIONS. SEVERE FIGHTING COMING BEFORE ' AMIENS. Received April -2, 9.50 p.m. London, April 1. The United Press correspondent states that General Hindenburg is hesitating. His generals have obviously reported that their armies have been too badly mauled to undertake a general forward movement until rested and reinforced, and backed by ample artillery. It is estimated that there are fifty divisions between Arras and Mareuil. Fifteen had such a drubbing as to he unlit for immediate use. The bulk r" the Germans arc still northward of the Somme. A second blow against Arras andVimy is likely, but the most severe fighting is coming towards Amiens. Meantime Germany is sparring for positions and gaining time>ta replace her groggy divisions. AMERICANS TO PARTICIPATE. Reuter Service. Received April 2, 5.5 p.m. Paris, April 1. The French Government has decided to, accede to General Pershing's requeßt to allow American troops to fight in the present battle. A GERMAN CLAIM. Received April 2, 5.5 p.m. London, April 1. The Germans claim to have captured Moreuil heights

GERMANY'S LOSSES. BETWEEN 275,000 AND 300,000. . Received April 3, 1.10 a.m. Washington, April 1. An official French despatch estimates Germany's losses in the great offensive at 275,000 to 300,000. HARD FIGHTING. SOUTH OF THE SOMME. BRITISH CAVALRY'S BRILLIANT COUNTER-ATTACK. Received April 2, 7.30 p.m. London, April 1 (0.45 p.m.) The F.vening Bulletin published by the War Office states that the situation in the north Somme is unchanged. Hard fighting is going on south of the Somme in the neighborhood of Moreuil. The British cavalry, brilliantly coun-ter-attacking, retook a wood between Moreuil and Hangard. The French beat off an attack South of Moreuil.

BATTLE OF THREE RIVERS. GERMANS' DESPERATE EFFORTS. SUNDAY A CRITICAL DAY. Received April 2, 7.30 p.m. Paris. April 1. - The Battle of the Three Rivers continues. The Crown Prince is desperately seeking to win a hold on the bridgeheads across the Luce River at Hangard and across the Ancre River at Moreuil, and the River Esdoms at Montehel. The Canadians rendered splendid service, fighting alongside the French at Moreuil. There was another fierce struggle at Grivesnes, five miles northwest of Montdidier.

Many heavy rainstorms made the battlefield most difficult for getting up guns and munitions, hampering the Allies' preparations for an but still more the German hammer-blows across the fitricken Somme battlefield. The 30th At arch (Sunday) was the most critical day for the Allies. Tho Fifth Army, which had been fighting continuously since the 21st were being relieved by French divisions. The Germans chose' the moment for a violent assault, but General Foch continued his work of relief while repelling the assault.

ENEMY CANNOT AFFORD DELAY. ONE LAST DESPERATE EFFORT. GERMANS UNABLE TO RESIST FOCH'S COUNTER-STROKE. Received April 2, 9.30 p.m. New York, April 1. A high military authority in Paris, interviewed by American press men, stated that the cardinal factor of the situa- 1 tion was that the enemy could not afford to delay. We could expect one last desperate effort, and then the collapse of the offensive. The Germans are fast using up their reserves and will be unable to resist General Foch's counter-offensive.

VILLAGES RECAPTURED. • BY THE ANGLO-FRENCH. Received April 2, 11.55 p.m. London, April 1. The French have recaptured Argencourt and the British have recaptured German positions west of Arras. OUR WOUNDED MEN. GROSS GERMAN EXAGGERATIONS. THRILLING STORY OF LABOR CORPS Received April 2, 0.30 p.m. London, April 1. Wouriu." officers from the Sommo state that the Germans' claims as regards suns and prisoner? arc gross exaggerations. Comparatively few wounded "'ere abandoned, as the great proportion of the British wounded were hit in the arms and legs by chance shots, as the Germans, in their short, mad rushes, fired from the hip, and seldom aimed. Nearly ninety per cent, of the wounds are slight. Wounded men state that a thrilling story some day will be told of the magnificent defence by Carey's Corps. This labor corps was suddenly heavily attacked by the finest German troops. Carey's men fought with bayonets, picks, shovels and.even fists until the attack was repulsed.

AVIATORS' ACTIVITY. RAILWAY STATIONS BOMBED. Received April 3, 1.10 a.m. London, April 1. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—Our aviators bombed aiul machine gunned a large ■column of troops south of the Somme and downed three enemy aeropl.ioes. Four of ours are missing Four pre-viously-reported. missing Jiavo returned. Night bombers dropped twonty-four tons on the stations at Douai, Oambrai, Bapaume, Posieres and Thorout. and the docks at Bruges. | We bombed and machine gunned troops "and transport in the neighborhood of Bapaumeand- Chaulnes. All returned,

USING AMERICAN TROOPS. TO FORM PART OF ALLIES' DIVISIONS. A LARGE FORCE AVAILABLE. Received April 2, T.I'O p.m. London, April 1. The Press Bureau states that, as a result of consultations between President Wilson and Mr. Lloyd George, and consultations with American representatives in London and at Versailles, with regard to the West front, important decisions have been reached, whereby a large force of trained Americans can be brought to the assistance of tlie Allies. America is not only sending large numbers of divisions to Europe during; the coming critical months, but has agreed that such regiments as cannot be used in the purely American divisions shall be brigaded with the English and French while tli3 necessity lasts. Thus troops not yet trained sufficiently to fight as divisions will form part of seasoned divisions until they have completed their training, when General Pershing wishes to withdraw them and build up the American army. • Throughout the discussions President Wilson has shown the greatest anxiety to do his utmost to assist the Allies. Although the arrangement is of vital importance it will not diminish the need for the further raising of troops in Britain already foreshadowed.

AMERICANS MOVING. TO JOIN UP WITH THE ALLIES'. "A REAL ALLY AT LAST." Received April 2, 11.35 p.m. New .York, April 1. Correspondents at American headquarters state that the United States troops have been turned over to the Allies. It is expected the Americans will soon re>nforce Sir Douglas Haig's troops. There is great activity in the whole American zone. A long line of motor trucks and large forces of Americans are moving westwards. The War Department's official summary says that American troops are releasing the French veterans for emergency service on the West front Such American troops as are sufficiently trained will co-operate with tile French and British.

There i s the greatest enthusiasm over the news that the Americans are ready to join the Anglo-French in cheeking the German offensive. The New Yorlc World says America is a real ally at last.

BATTLE CONTINUES. ON THE WHOLE FRONT. [ ANGLO-FRENCH APPRECIABLY ADVANCE. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received April 2, 11.55 p.m. London, April 2. A French communique states: The battle continues on the whole front to the north of Montdidier, where the enemy artillery is particularly active. New attacks by the enemy were delivered against Grivesnes, but all were repulsed with heavy losses. In the course of sharp fighting, the Anglo-French troops appreciably progressed at various points between the Somme and Demuin. Five tons of bombs were dropped on enemy cantonment.B and stations in the neighborhood of St. Quentin, Guiscard, and Roye. Our aviators frequently ma-chine-gunned, bombed and dispersed assembled enemy troops. Nine enemy aeroplanes were destroyed. Italian bombarding machines participated in many of these expeditions, and carried out numerous raids with magnificent 'audacity.

"COMPARATIVELY QUIET." SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT. Received April 2, 7.30 p.m. London, April 1. Sir Douglas Hnig, reporting at 10.25 in the evening, states: The day was comparatively quiet. We repulsed small local attacks in the morning iu the neighborhood of Albert. There was local lighting at Moreuil and Hangard, where we gained ground by successful counter-attacks. GERMAN OFFICIAL. . 75,000 PRISONERS CLAIMED. Received April 2, 7.30 p.m. 1 London, April !. German official: We captured the heights north of Moreuil. Several AngloFrench counter-attacks heavily failed. We captured Arachis Wood, on the west bank of the Avre. Repeated French attempts to recapture the villages and heights west of Montdidier, and also between Doms and Matz, broke" down. The prisoners are now 75,000.

THE ARRAS ATTACK. A COMPLETE AND COSTLY FAILURE PILES OF GERMAN DEAD. THRILLING BATTLE STORIES. Times Service. Received April 2, 11.55 p.m. London, April 1 (11.15 p.m.) Mr. Robinson reports that the situation has not changed materially. The Germans have shown no disposition to re-; take Arras since their complete and costly failure on March 28. Our positions between the Ancre and the Sonnne are so firm that the British regret the enemy is disinclined to a greater enterprise.

Some fighting is going on in the De-muin-Hangard-Moreuil area, with a view to reaching Amiens, but the attacks show little determination.

Small bodies of British performed extraordinary feats of resistance, the cavalry being very useful during several minor operations. It is now certain that the Germans lost tremendously in attempting to regain the Vimy ridge after we had shattered the shock troops and defeated the following divisions which were attempting to break through. The German commanders decided not to use their reserve divisions of Guards, which were previously intended to consolidate the victory. The Bailleul and Villeroi positions, opposite our machine-guns, were covered with German dead, so that there is no wonder that the commanders were unwilling to risk further slaughter. The enemy employed on both sides of the Scarpe no fewer than eleven divisions, and they all suffered terribly. The London troops resisted the greatest weight of the attack at Cavrella and Oppy. Probably they killed as many as any equal forte ever killed on anv battlefield.

The bombardment with high explosives, gas shells and vast numbers of trench mortars completely blotted out several of our advanced posts. A party of the Queen's Westminsters heroically held another post opposite Gavrelle, and they suffered heavy casualties. They Were all half gassed, but enough were left to work the machineguns, and to enfilade and mow down the attackers, who Avere advancing in waves. Ultimately the persistent enemy occupied both sides, and the remnant of the Westminsters retired fighting. Carrying their machine guns, they rejoined the main line at Bailleul. The attack here began at seven in the morning, and was continued for eleven hours, leaving the ground black with German dead. The British line is still held.

A party of Essex men, who became isolated, sent back a message: "We will fight to the last man," and, as far as is knowii, they did. There is a story of the SufTolks being cut off and surrounded at Wancourt Wood, such as painters ought to immortalise and historians celebrate. The men fought back to back till they were wiped out.