WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 April 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

ENEMY EASILY HELD. BY MUCH SMALLER FORCES. FRENCH SUCCESSFULLY COUNTER - ATTACIC. London, April (!. Reuter'g correspondent with the French army says that the results of the first two days' renewed battle brilliantly confirmed General Foch's assurance that the enemy was not only held, but held by half their number of Anglo-French troops. The disproportion on the purely French line from Thennes to Grlevcsnes is even greater. Fifteen German divisions, of which seven were entirely fresh, attacked this front and were checked by a few French divisions who not only held them, but were able to counter-attack and recapture, part of the ground carried by the enemy on Thursday The enemy's objective was again the Amiens railway and town. The fifteen attacking divisions included some of the enemy's best troops. They repeatedly returned to the assault far into the night. The battle was suspended to-day on the German side owing to the exhaustion of the enemy troops, whereupon the French successfully counter-attacked at several points, notably Mailly, Raineval and Cantigny. The front line now passes the Avre close to its junction with the Lues, thence running west to Castel, thence between Marisel and Rouvel around Mailly and Raineval. The gain of ground is practically all in northern angle and the bulge has no importance for the issue of the battle.

BRITISH POSITIONS IMPROVED SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS. London, April 7Sir Douglas Haig reports: Counterattacks yesterday successfully re-estab-lished our positions in Aveluy Wood. We repelM an attack opposite Albert. Minor operations in the morning southward of the Somme improved our position.

THE GERMAN OBJECTIVE. TO OUT LINE TO RAMS. AN ATTEMPT THAT FAILED. London, April 7The battle on Thursday was on a considerable scnle. The enemy attacked heavily in the neighborhood of Albert, but made no progress. The enemy then attacked the Anglo-French in the Montdidier region, where he employed 20 divisions, drove us out of Hamcl and sained the Voire Wood. Meanwhile the enemy drove the French from an angle between the Avre and the Luce rivers and extended his gains west of Moreuil. The enemy's objective was to cross the St. Just-Amiens railway and cut the main line to Paris. The attempt failed, notwithstanding the large force employed The enemy can hardly regard the effort with satisfaction, although he employed twice the force we did. The enemy on Friday attacked in considerable force from Dernanccurt along the line through Beaumont-Hamcl and Bucquoy and Moyenncville . All these attacks were repulsed, except where he gained a footing across the Ancre at Dernan court.

There is some public misconception about the "army of manoeuvre." Some regard it as a great army massed at a central point and marching towards the battle. This is an erroneous picture. Such an army would be a cumbrous thing to move. What really happens is that the reserves are distributed at the principal entraining centres whence they can rapidly be moved where needed.

From the fact that the French army is now fighting over one-half of the present battlefield it .may be inferred that the French reserves have come upIt has been variously reported that ( Austrian and Bulgarian troops are assisting the Germans, but, beyond the fact that a certain force of Austrian artillery is engaged, it is known that no Austrian or Bulgarian trooD£ are employed. PROBABLE FRESH OFFENSIVE IN ARRAS-LA BASSE REGION. London, April 7Military critics say that we must watch farther north for a. fresh outbreak of the German offensive. It is pointed out that there are excellent communications in the busy industrial districts between Arras and Lille. This will probably induce the enemy to make formid.able use of this advantage. Therefore it is not unlikely that a second main battle will burst northward of Arras and around La Bas3ce. HKDENBURG ECLIPSED BY LUDENDORFF. T ""' London, April 6. A feature of the battle lias been the emergence of Ludendorff from Hindenburg's mastery. Ludendorff has long been recognised as tne real brain of the German staff and is now acclaimed director of the battle. The final decision on all battle questions is referred to Ludendorff.

The weather has improved but the visibility is poor. The main attacks today were over marshy ground. Corbie stands upon a micature peninsular formed by the junction of the Anere and Somme. 194 ENEMY DIVISIONS ON FRONT. London, April 0. Mr. Hamilton Fyfe states that now there are 194 enemy divisions on the west front. Eighty-four are on the present battle-front and two recently arrived from Russia. SUPER-GUN IN TUNNEL. Paris, April 7. Aeroplanes spotted one long-range gun hidden in the Betonne tunnel in the St. Gobian Forest. It is only brought to the surface when firing. Counter Measures have been undertaken.

NEW ZEALANDERS ATTACKED ENEMY DEAD LIKE CORN SWATHES (Router Service. * Received April 8, 0.10 p.m. London, April 8. British headquarters correspondent reports that the three attacks made against the New Zealanders proved horribly costly to the enemy on each occasion. The New Zcalandcrs continued firing their Lewis guns until the rapidly thinning waves were sufficiently close and then they bombed them furiously with hand grenades. It is easy to believe the assurance that tiie Bodies disliked this form of resistance. Their dead are lying like corn swathes at harvest time before the New Zealanders' positions.

The Germans are bringing immense numbers of guns of every calibre into the struggle, but we are combatting them pretty adequately.

SUCCESSFUL FRENCH RESISTANCE. IMPORTANT ENEMY LOSSES. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and' Renter April 8, 9.10 p.m. London, April 8 (1 a.m.). French communique: Our artillery stopped attempted enemy attacks in the legion of Hangard-cn-Santere and caught concentrations of troops at various points on the front, north of Montdidier. A strong German attack on the right of the Meuse, northeast of Hill 344 was repulsed after sharp fighting, the enemy's losses being important. Seven aeroplanes and two balloons were brought down and five tons of bombs were dropped on cantonment* in the Roye region.

DEFENDING ROAD TO AMIENS. A GREAT FRENCH FEAT. THREE FRENCH DIVISIONS "OPPOSE . THIRTY.

Router Service. Received April 8, S3O p.m. London, April 7. The French headquarters correspondent, writing on April 7, reports that in the second battle, commenced On Thursday, we held and repulsed the enemy in meet places with heavy losses with troops, which entered the battle on March 25 at the close of a da/a march, which was among the most criticil oE the war. The Germans had been stopped on the Oise and Somme, but confronting them between Montdidier and Moreuil was a mere cordon, barring the way to Amiens. By March 28 relnrorcements had been brought tip and the line re-established, but it was l»ld by only three French divisions whichfor three or four successive days had to meet the shock of thirtv enemy divisions.

•During the whoU battle relief was impossible, yet fresh German divisions were thrown in daily, and as soon as one division gained its objective it was withdrawn and replaced, the retiring division being reinforced and rested for a few days and then sent to battle again. The Teport gives some instances of the fine stand and fierce fighting made by small bodies of 'French against great odds during those critical days. To-days Ml is expected to be of short duration.

GERMAN REPORTS. USUAL SUCCESSES CLAIMED. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc- and Reuter. Received April 5, 8.30 p.m. London, April 1 (11.45 p.tn.J. Wireless German Official: After violent artilleryiiig, the Anglo-French attacked at Ancre and AvTe. English masses collapsed, northward of Beaumonthamcl and before the bridgehead position at Albert. The French vainly stormed between Castel and Mailly eastward of Tbory, near Cantigny. They stormed five times near Mesfiil but all broke down. After desperate hand to hand fighting we crossed the marshes of the Oise and stormed the suburbs of Cfoauny. We also took positions near Anligny and the northeastern portion of the Coucy wood, taking prisoner over 1400. We brought down 18 aeroplanesAus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. Received April 8, 8-30 p,m. London, April 8. Wireless German Official: We liave captured Pierremaude and Folenibray-

AIRMEN AT WORK., ENEMY CONCENTRATIONS AT- ! <,. TACKED. N.Z. Cable Association and Beater. Received April 8, 8.30 p.m. Londoji, April 8 (l - 2,50 a.m.)Sir Douglas Haig's aviation report: Our aeroplanes, watching enemy movements, reported hostile concentrations, southward of the Sonime. large formations immediately went out in the rain dropped over 300 bombs and fired 50,000 rounds at the assembled infantry. We ■brought down fifteen and drove down eleven enemy machines- Sixteen of our machines have not yet been located, many of which having doubtless been forced to land behind our lines, owing to the difficulty of finding our aerodromes in the heavy rain. Canadian airmen have done verv valuable work-in the ibattle. i

SIBERIA ON A WAR FOOTING RED GUAKDS'TO^BE-BOKMED. Received AprilflS, 5.5 p.m. Moscow, April 7. The whole-of Siberia is declared to be on a war footing. The Soviet has ordered the formation of a Red Guard .Army, and- full power has been vested in the- Soviefa-«xecutOTe>.fttJrkatak.

ATTACKS dN WHOLE FRONT. ENEMY POSITION NOT IMPROVED. EXTREMELY HEAVY FIGHTING. GERMAN CONCENTRATIONS BROKEN. Received April 8, 9-33 p.m. London, April 8 (1.40 a.m.). Mr. Percival Phillips states that repeated attacks on practically the entire .front yielded the enemy such scant gain in ground that his position has in no way improved since Friday. Massed divisions tried to advance on a front of thirty miles and the fighting was everywhere extremely heavy. The enemy showed great determination, his infantry constantly being exposed on open ground. We had no difficulty in breaking up all serious concentrations. The Germans may not have put in their greatest striking force, but the attacks were part of a general scheme of advance, probably to try again harder blows. The number of Germans killed since Friday is prodigious. The German divisions attacked on both sides of Albert in order to relieve the almost intolerable pressure, of the cramped front in the Ancre marshes- The Germans sought to throw us off the high ground, above the western hank and also to enlarge the bridgehead below the town. ,

Simc crossing tha Ancre from their old strongholds at Thiepval and O'villers, enemy infantry have been unable to climb out of the narrow valley,

The Germans are closely held against the railway at Albert and Derancourt. Another nut that the Germans could not crack was Aveluy Wood. German mac'nir.s g-jii costs cHvng dizzily to the eastern fringe of trees at, the water's edge, but we controlled the remainder a mile deep, with a belt of timber screening the chalk hills. We could see the Germans assembling for battle and our artillerymen throughout were all ready.

PREPARING ANOTHER DRIVE. GERMAN EFFORTS TO BRING UP * GUNS. DISCOMFORTS TN THE VALLEY OF DEATH. Received April 9, 12.15 a.m. Londou, April 8. Mr. Philip Gibbs states that the Geßmans are struggling hard to bring up their heavy guns and complete the organisation of their divisions before attempting another drive on a big scale. This may come soon, as the Germans have still large concentrations of troops north of the Somme. They must be very wretched, always under our harassing fire in the stinking ditch about Aveluhy, Mesnil and Thiepval, where the foul water lies stagnant below rows of dead, lopped trees, and with the frightful smells arising from the battle of two weeks ago. The Germans have no cover in this valley of death, aa we Bee their every movement.

FORCING THE ISSUE. , HINDENBURG'S ORDERS. AMERICAN AID MOST WELCOME. Received April 8, 8.30 p.m. United Service * London, April 7. President Wilson's decision to hasten America's armed support to the Allied troops has not come an instant too soon. It is now proved beyond doubt that "Marshal von Hindenburg's orders arc to force the issue rapidly in order to end the war this year. Prisoners with sullen obstinacy insist that the offensive cannot stop until the war is won, A QUIET DAY.

ENEMY COUNTER-ATTACK REPULSED. 'Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. and Reuter. Received April 8, 8.30 p.m. London, April 7. Sir Douglas Haig reports that our successful minor operations, southward of the Soninie this morning, led to sharp fighting. The enemy strongly counterattacked, suffering heavily. We repulsed two attacks at Bucquoy by artillery fire. On the remainder of the battle front, the day passed more quietly. .ENEMY ATTACKS REPULSED. RHEDVIS AGAIN BOMBARDEB. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. Received April 8, 5.5 p.m. London, April 7 (4.10 p.m.). A French communique reports: Last evening we repulsed an enemy attack in the Grivesnes region. There was great reciprocal artillery activity during the night between Montdidier and Noyon. A strong enemy detachment, which gained a footing in our advanced line west of Noyon was immediately driven out by our counter-attack. The Germans have not renewed their attempts in the Chaung and Barisses district on the Oise front. Enemy coups de main north of Chemin des Dames were unsuccessful. Rheims was very violently bombarded at night.

THE DEFENSIVE CAMPAIGN. THE WAITING GAME. (By Lieut.-Qol. A. A. Grace. K.Z.F.A. in Auckland Herald). It is comforting to be told by Mr. Bonar Law that the British and' their kllies possess an overwhelming superiorly u: aircraft in the west, and it is reassuring to be told by Mr. Asquith that, the submarine warfare and the Kussian debacle notwithstanding, the outlook is hopelul enough; but it is obvnug that the lull before the breaking of the great Btorui is a time of suspense. For the •term will certainly break. If Hindonbuij,, hesitating' as he evidently is, decides after all not to attack the wester allies in their heavily entrenched positirns, then, in their own good .time, the westein allies will certainly attack the Teutons The approaching summer will surely witness the most tremendous righting imaginable.

' TWO GREAT FACTS. The military policy of the Allies, as enunciated by Mr. Lloyd George two or three months ago, was' one of inactivity. It is difficult to know how far that policy may or may not have been modified by the extraordinary situation of Russia and the partial or entire demobilisation of her armies. It remains to be seen how far the success of German intrigues in ltdssia will affect Hindenburg's muchtniicreted, but somewhat halting, operations in the west. But amid these uncertainties two great facts stand out pre eminently—the wonderful military strength of Britain, both on land and s;na. and the great and systematic effort which the United States are making to cievciop their martial strength to the fidlest extent. For the purposes of defensive strategy file strength of Britain is sufficient to support France and Italy tmtil the United" States' armies take the field in their millions, and, when thos? armies are in the field, then the western allies may be expected to try to iorce a decision. That, in a nutshell, seems to be the military policy enunciated by Mr. Lloyd George and appreciated by Mr. Asquith and Mr. Bonar Law, a policy which emanated- from the Versailles Council, and forces the German war-lords to waste their armies in costly offensive operations or to confess to their own people their inability to conquer in the west.

THE BURDEN.. OF BRITAIN AND AMERICA. It is not too much to say that th» faving of citilisation depends principally on the efforts of the English-speaking nat ! ons. The whole defence of the French and Italian armies is, of course, a vital factor. Nothing but, the highest admiration and the warmest praise are the need of those two nations, of kindred origin and bound together in the same good cause; but it would appear that, without the assistance of the twin nations speaking the English language the eii'cebs of their defence against Teuton aggression would be much in doubt. The one hundred and sixty millions of Britti'n and America turn the scale definitely m their favor. But it must be remembered that it has taken Britain thrce-and-a-half years to develop her full military strngth, and that the United States cannot be expected to create armies as by a miracle. The Americans declared war on Kaiserism a year ago. That year hate seen the great task of making their vast armies well begun, but tlr work is not half finished yet. Part of that task is the simultaneous creation of a huge mercantile marine, in order that the American armies may strike the Germans on their native soil; and that iuim''Tise shipbuilding programme will take years, rather than months, to complete. Therefore, if the Western Powers ha v e decided to await the advent of America fully armed before they seek to enforce a decision, they must be prepared to fight a defensive war for a considerably extended period. In that case the end of the war is by no means in sight.

WK.AT ARE THE TEUTONS' PLANS? The- object of the Teutons, of course, Is to bring the war to a successful close before their resources of men and material are used up. They have been successful against* Russia by means of intrigue rather than by force of arms. They will doubtless seek to use similar means of intrigue for tlie purpose of breaking up the alliance of the Western Powers. But. as to actual fighting, there appears to be three methods of disposing their armies. They may collect every available man and gun in the west, defeat. with a view of smashing the French, British, and Italians before America's strength is in the field. They may act defensively in the west, and draw every avaiiuble man and gun eastward, witli a view to extending their power towards Asia. They may divide their strength between west and east, and try to triumph in both quarters of the globe simultaneously. The problems presented by Macedonia, Palestine, and Mesopotamia may for the time being be placed on one side, as being of minor importance. At the present moment the great bulk of their military strength is in the west, but it must he remembered that it was drawn there before the Russian situation had developed in a

warmer so Remarkably favorable fqr the Teutons, and before the high road to Asia was opened for thom by the treachery of Lenin and Trotsky. But, if they attack in the west, well. If they at. temp' the invasion of Asia, then the allies of the west will he enabled to begin their aggressive with the better chance of success, iu the time of their own choosing. If the Teutons divide their attention between the east and the west, they will be strong in neither quarter. But in any case the Western Powers wiJl continue to develop their strength, which may be expected to reach its maximum when some two million Americans are in France. AERIAL OFFENSIVE. Mr. Bonar Law has drawn attention to the superiority of. the air services ot the Allies. It is a superiority which depends very largely on the advent of .American fliers, and it is a superiority which is destined to grow until it is nositively overwhelming. The Americans' air service may be expected to reach its maximum strength long befors their armies are at their full strength; it may have reached its maximum strength at the present time, for all we know. But whether that be so or 110, when the Allies' United air services enter on their aggressive campaign against Germany and Austria they will certainly open a new phase of the war, and one which will put an entirely new complexion on the situation.