BRITAIN'S HOUR OF TRIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1918, Page 4

BRITAIN'S HOUR OF TRIAL .

(Commonwealth Official Correspondent). April 2. It is not known what the official opinion is, but the situation appears to have been that the Germans,/after heavily threatening both the French and Briitraltis 1

tisli fronts at several points, have thrown in their whole immense available strength against the British from the line to.which they retired last spring from the old Somme line. Although the German concentration is the greatest of this war, the British have held up tue Germans for three days in desperate fighting, in a battle-line largely dug by the Australians last year at Vaux and Beaumetz, but the Germans forced a way farther south. Yesterday, at this point, they reached the outskirts of the old Somme battlefield. .This morning they appeared to have been held, but in the afternoon again fresh troops advanced against our men, who have now "been fighting unceasingly. Since then some Gerrqans have reached a position near where the Australians foughj; during the great iSomme battle. Only a few specialist units of Australians are as yet involved. The British people are unquestionably bearing the heaviest burden of all nations at this moment. The people are working very long hours on low rations, facing an exceedingly heavy trial of national stregth. It is unquestionable that the British ation at this stage of the war is bearing a critical Wow on the front, and the heaviest trial at home. Britain will undoubtedly need every ounce of help and support that can be given in this time of tensest trial.