WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 April 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

STRONG ATTACK AT LA BASSEE. BRITISH POSITIONS ENTERED. BUT EVENTUALLY RESTORED. Aus. and N.Z Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received April 10, 11.58 p.m. London, April 10. _ Sir Douglas Haig reports: This mornafter an intense bombardment from the La Bassec Canal to the neighborhood of Armentiores, strong hostile forces attacked the British and Portuguese holding this sector. The thick mist made observatio nimpossible. The enemy forced his way into our positions near. Neuve Chappelle, Fanquissart and La Cordonnerrie farm. After heavy fighting all day long the enemy was forced back. The Portuguese were in the centre and the British on the Hanks of the line of the Lys river, be- ■ ween Estaires and Bachtmaur.

ANOTHER HEAVY ATTACK. ON A TEN-MILE FRONT. GERMANS ENTER FIRST LINES. Received April 10, 11.50 p.m. London, April 0 (11.20 p.m.). Thp Germans heavily attacked oil a ten-mile front between Lens and Armentieres, and occupied the first lines in certain points.

STUBBORN FIGHTING. ON A TEN-MILE FRONT. LONG-RANGE GUNS IN USE. United Service. Received April 11, 1.30 a.m. London, April 10. The Germans suddenly attacked the Portuguese and British on their flanks on a ten-mile front from the La Basse Canal to southward of Armentieres. The bombardment opened early in the morning, and Mien died down. About eight o'clock they laid down a barrage from Armentieres to Lens, and then the infantry attacked. They apparently obtained a foot-' j ing in the front lines eastward of Leplakin, Petillon and at Giveiifchy, and on the left flank of the battle we were apparently holding on by the Btubbornest fighting, which was particularly hot eastward of Festubert. Long-range guns bombarded Betllune, Estaires, Lavintie and practically all the villages and towns at the back of these areas. The weather was misty.

GIVENCHY POSITIONS HELD. FURTHER ENEMY CAPTURES. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. ami Reuter. Received April 11, 1.50 a.m. London, April 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We hold our positions on both Hanks about Givenchy and Fluruoix, where the enemy was re» pulsed in heavy fighting. The enemy captured Richebourg, Straast, and Laventie. Severe fighting continues on the whole of this front. We secured prisoners southward of Arras in minor engagements. Aviation.—Owing to mist and rain, only a few flights were possible yesterday. A GERMAN SUCCESS. LARGE SUCCESSSES CLAIMED. (,

United Service. Received April 11, 1.40 a.m. London, April 10 (1.15 a.m.). The Germans advanced three miles and captured Lauptie. Received April 11, 1.55 a.m. London, April 10. Wireless German ofHcial: We captured Quincy, Landricourt and Courcy le Chateau. The enemy lost 330 aeroplanes in March. We lost 81. We penetrated English and Portuguese .positions northward of La Bassee Canal. We threw the enemy back across the Oise-Aisne Canal, between Courcy le Chateau and Brancourt. INTERMITTENT BOMBARDMENTS.

EXEMY TROOPS LOSE HEAVILY. London, April 9. A French communique says: There is great reciprocal artillery fire at nuinerout points on the front north of Montdidier and between Montdidier and Noyon. There were intermittent bombardments on the left of the OiseOur advance elements, in accordance with orders, were withdrawn to previously organised positions south-west of the lower forest of Conchy and south of Couchy-le-Chateau. The enemy troops lost heavily in this operation.

GERMANS WON A BATTLE. BUT NO CHANGE OF WINNING THE CAMPAIGNReceived April 10, 5.0 p.m. New York, April 9. Frank Synumds, iu an article commenting upon' the West front, says the Germans have won the battle but not the campaign. Their chances of winning the campaign are visibly decreasing daily. WEATHER IMPEDES GERMANS. London, April 9. The United Press correspondent states that intermittent fogs and rain are impeding the German transport and delaying the resumption of tins ofltuwife.

HOSTILE SHELLING. German attack developing. BUT PAILS TO MATERIALISE. London, April 9. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The enemy's artillery early in the morning developed, gieat activity from the La liaawee canal to southward of Armentieres. There was heavy hostile shelling in the neighborhood of Villers, Bretonneux, and Mericouit l'Abbe. British headquarters reports: The Germans continue the violent bombardment of the British front, to which we are replying with equal violence. It is believed an attack had been organised to follow this tremendous shelling, hut whether on account of our retaliation barrage or because of the thick weather 110 infantry attack developed-.

NEW FRENCH POSITIONS, AN ATTACK. EXPECTED. Paris, April 9. Semi-official: An attack on - a vast front must be expected. Yesterday on the Oise and the Ailette we withdrew in order to reduce a salient, after fulfilling our mission in holding the enemy while the French main 'body took up new positions. The Germans are attempting to represent this simple operation as a great German, attack, perhaps hoping to attract some of our reserves here so as to ease the Somme front, which is still their main objective. The enemy is employing Frencli prisoners three kilometres behind the firing iine. ATTACK AT LA BASSEE. London, April 8. The Germans have attacked the La Bassee front.