WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1918, Page 6

WESTERN FRONT.

OPERATIONS AT ARMENTIERES. CIVILIANS GASSED AT BEiaUNE. London, April t'2. Mr- Gibbs says that the British holding Armentieres drew back northwards, leaving a dangerous gap on the left of the Northumberland Fusiliers and Royal Scots, but the gaps were filled by a thin 4ine supported by trench mortar companies and cycle corps. The battle spread northwards in the afternoon and there was fierce fighting around the White Chateau near Hollebeke, the enemy's chief objective being the Wytsehaete-Messines ridge. The sufferings of non-combatants stricken by the enemy's ruthless methods are beyond description. The enemy flung hundreds of gas shells into Bethunfi, which was crowded with civilians. Many women and children are in our hospitals suffering from ga3 poisoning, and many others have been wounded by the harassing fire of shrapnel and high velocity shells flung on remote hamlet a.

MESSINES RIDGE RUSHED. F3EXZIED ENEMY ATTACKS, London, April 12Mr. Percival Phillips writes: While Plocgstcert Wood was full of contending infantry the Germans rushed up the Messines slope against a destructive! fire, gaining a foothold in the ruins of the village upon the crest. Our fire swept the ridge and wo gained the ruins. At nightfall fresh Germans rushing up from Warneton sought to make good the

first gains. Many were caught in the barrage, but they rushed Messines after niglitfall and there was hand-to-hand fighting among the ruins, which ended in our favor. The Germans attacked at Wytschaete with even greater frenzy, resulting in a ding-dong battle all night long for the higher ground. To-day the Germans again had a lodging in the cellars at. Messines, but remained further down the slope at Wytschaete, failing to gain the coveted view over the western plain. The enemy in the afternoon held half of Ploegsteert

Wood. While attacking on Tuesday eastward of Bethune the enemy artillery drenched the town with mustard gas shells, which fell among helpless sleeping women and children- Our ambulances made the rounds gathering the victims to the casualty station through a heavy bombardment- If any stimulus is needed to spur jour men on it was the sight of these poor people, victims of the new terror.

OFFICIAL REPORTS. . BRITISH PRESSED 15ACK. • London, April 12. Sir Douglas Haig reports that a coun-ter-attack regained a portion of our positions into which the enemy had penetrated north-eastward of Festubert. The enemy's attacks on the Loisne-Lawe front and northwards were repulsed. Fighting continues on the whole front northward of La Bassee canal as far as Hollebeke. Strong local attacks on our positions in the neighborhood .of Neuville St- Vaast weTe repulsed, The enemy, after prolonged lighting further north, entered a post near Tilloy les Mofflaines. but was immediately driven «at and the post re-established- There is increased hostile artillerying astride the Somme.

A French evening communique says: The artillery struggle was somewhat violent during the night in the region of Hangard-cn-Santerre. Our reconnaissance is active in the sector Noyon-Canny-sur Matz, taking prisoners. There is fairly lively bombardment in the region Oise Canal-Forrest Parroy. Sir Douglas Haig reports: There was severe and continuous lighting last night In the neighborhoods of Merville and Neuf Berquin. Tie enemy continued his pressure and made progress in both localities and captured Merville. During the night he succeeded, after heavy lighting in tho neighborhood of I'locgsieert, in pressing us back to new .positions iff thp neighborhood of Xeuve Eglise.

The situation in the remainder of the northern battle-front is substantially unchangedLondon. April 12. Sir Douglas Haig states that the Germans have already thrown 106 divisions against the Anglo-French armies. E.N'EMY MOVING COASTWARDS. London, April 12. The capture of Merville represents an advance of thirteen miles since Wednesday morning This shows that the enemy is continuing his heaviest pressure in the •vest on the centre of the original attacking front south of Armentieres.. Militurv critics state that this movement of the Germans' right wing cannot, he loncrer regarded as a diversion. There are indications of big efforts to push compact columns towards the coast. Sir Doualas Ilaig's dispatch gives the direction of the enemy's advanced bodies within seven miles of Hazebruek, a railway centre which the Hermans for months shelled at a range of 2S miles. MERVILLE CAPTURED. London. April 12. The latest war news i s that the British have retired from the outskirts of Xenve Eglise and the Germans have captured Merville.

EVERY POSITION MUST BE HELD. London, April 12. Sir Douglas Haig has issued a statement to tiie troops that every position must he held to the hu;t man. There must he no further retirements. With their backs to the wall they must fight to the end for the safety of their homes. The freedom of mankind depended on each one's conduct at this critical time.

Sir Douglts Haij reports that a great force of French reinforcements is#noving to the British assistance. SUPER-GUN AT WORK. Paris, April 12. A long-range ?un yesterday killed four people and wounded 21. A shell fell on a children's hospital.