WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

, ANIGHT OF FIGHTING. (HEROIC RESISTANCE, AGAINST ENORMOUS ODDS. London, April 15. Mr. Robinson, -writing on the 14th, says that the 51st Division was continuously fighting all day, then as the enemy leaked round the shifting front had a night of fighting again. Ail sorts of troops have been pressed into combatant ranks and done well. They drove back the Germans across the L)'s at Bac-St. Jlaur, and held the line of the stream until the threat on the left by Nieppe compelled them to fall back behind Steenwerck.

SOME.GALLANT REGIMENTS. The Royal Fusiliers did extremely well at Merville. Constant rearguard fighting occurred north of Estaircs and by Neuf Berquin, where orderlies, engineers, and mixed detachments held up the enemy very gallantly. The line was then thin and opposing German masses who were pressing on first one side and then on the otherThe King's Scottish Borderers distinguished themselves against great odds in the region of Vieux, Berquin, and Merris. The Welsh also fought well, holding positions where the German repeatedly failed to make ground. The scattered posts ahead of the troops holding the crossings of the Lys and Lawe fought heroically against the German flood which crept over them. One post of the Durhams especially held up the advance and killed great numbers of Germans, until at la?t only a remnant fought its way back through the encircling waves. THE STRUGGLE AT ESTAIRES. A bloody struggle occurred at Estaires. There was no time to blow up the drawbridge, and the enemy poured into the 'village, but was beaten back across the canal, with the result that for a long time the lmlf-destroyed bridge was a No Man's Land which neither side could cross. The Germans finally swarmed round by Croix-du-Bac. The East Yorks refused to fall back, and nothing more hns been heard of them. It is calculated that one tired brigade held up two and a-half German divisions.

The savageness of the fighting at Estaries was duplicated at Merville. A blind, merciless struggle went on in the streets through the darkness of the night. The bridge across the Bourre wag blown lip while the Germans were on it, and all went up in the air. Another was blown up before the Durhams crossed, and they had to rejoin by swimming. GERMANS MOWN DONW. The Germans who attacked the North umberland Fusiliers on the Lys were mown down in such numbers that latecomers actually sought to make breastwork* of their own dead. The machinegunners fought brilliantly- One hung on alone, tiring into the masses until they reached within 00 yards and commenced to fiurround him. Then he smashed the gun and escaped. In hundreds of cases it is marvellous how the British fought- The strain was inconceivable. I have seen men drop out by the roadside in a stupor of sleep. GERMANY'S OBJECTIVE.

The diary of a dead German officer shows that the Germans believed the preparations for the March offensive were so thoughtfully planned that failure was practically impossible. The diary confirms the idea that the Germans aimed at Boulogne and other French ports in order to separate the British and French.

VERY SEVERE FIGHTING,

NEUVE EGLISE LOST. OTHER GROUND HELD. London, April 15. Sir Douglas Haig reports: There was severe fighting all day yesterday (Sunday) around Xeuve Eglise. Aftiir beating off numerous attacks we were finally compelled to withdraw a second time from the village. Strong enenfy attacks developed in the afternoon at a number of other points on the battle front. There was tierce fighting north-westward of Mer. ville, and the German infantry was driven back with great loss. Hostile infantry advancing aiono- the northern bank of the Lvs Canal" was caught in artillery fire and was unable Lo develop the attack. There were no fewer than seven enemy attacks during the day in the Merville -t°r, and all were repulseij with heavy

In one case the enemy advanced to the assault in five waves and under the weight, of this attack our line bent back slightly, but the counter-attack completely restored it

Parties of the enemy south-westward il Bailleul temporarily penetrated oui« positions, but were driven out and the line restored.

We carried out a successful minor operation during the night eastward of Rohecq.

Fighting occurred in the morning in the neighborhood of Hangard, -where we improved our position, taking a number of prisoners. Hostile artillery is ac™ln t ' 1 _ e neighborhood of Bucquoy. The British lost Heuve Eglise, but seven German attacks at Merville failed.

GENERAL FOCH'S APPOINTMENTParis. April 15It is officially announced that General Foch has been appointed Generalissimo of all the Allied armies in France. . HUN OPPRESSIONS.

London, April 15The Germans' monthly levies in Belgium during the war aggregate over 80 million sterling and the requisition of goods about 18 million- Factories have been cleared of machinery and private houses almost everywhere plundered.

The levies on northern France total 7 million-

attacks acaimst messines. -SMASHED HY BRITISH. BITTER STRUGGLE AT IVEUVE . "SLISE. London, April 15. Renter's correspondent at British headquarters, writing at 3.30 p.m. ou Monday, says: Enormous losses were inflicted on the enemy in yesterday's fighting, especially by machine-guns at close range. We smashed attacks at Messines Ridge. Tlie bitterest struggle was for Xeuve Eglise, where big forces on botfi aides were engaged. The situation hereabouts to-day is obscure, but our guns are reported to be shelling the ruins of the place this morning, which suggests that the enemy again has a footing there. Prisoners say the effort to take Baillenl will be renewed. We have re-taken the lumlet of Reiz-du-Vinage, 3000 yards east of Robecq. Givencliv and Festubert have -been heavily shelled. THE LAST BLACK VALLEY. UTMOST COURAGE NEEDED. FOUR POSSIBILITIES. London, April 15. The French headquarters correspondent of the Daily Clironielo believes that the best as well as the worst has /et to come. He says we need all our courage to win through this last black vallej. It is only in seeing the battle and its meaning as a whole that grounds of encouragement can be found. The German command lias not yet shown its whole programme, its reserves are not fully developed, its striking force not yet sufficiently worn down. Therefore, severe though the pressure be, the moment for definite intervention has not arrived. Hard as the burden of defence is, we may be sure the sacrifice is not in vain, and General Focli's cool brain and hard grip will be justified. About 1% million of Germans have been thrown into the battle during the three weeks' offensive, of which 75 divisions have been so dislocated that they have had to be withdrawn for reorganisation. It is probable tlie German casualties are nearly half a million. The Germans have conducted the northern battle on a smaller scale, and tliis may fairly be regarded as a confession that the southern battle is a failure. Nevertheless, the northern offensive strengthens the German position athwart the Somme and cramps our power 'of manoeuvre for the defence of the Channel. Everything points to the enemy using every ounce of power in the next phase of the offensive This suggests four possibilities: First, n. new attack on the Somme; second, a further engagement in the Armentieres battle, threatening Ypres and the Yser line, third, a direct attack on the Yser; fourth, a combination of some or all of these.

The Allies tiro being constantly reinforced, and the only hope of German success lies in' his speed.

SITUATION ENCOURAGING.

FOOH WILL MAKE GOOD. Washington, April 14. Tlio New York Sun's Loudon correspondent says that official opinion on the situation on the West front is encouraging. It is expected that the most critical period will he -within the next 24 hours.

The New York Times' Paris representative interviewed a high military authority, who said that the load to Calais and Dunkirk was barred to the Germans by the British resistance and the fact that General Foch would shortly be able to use a substantial number of French divisions,

Sir Douglas Haig's position corresponded to Wellington's at Waterloo, while awaiting Bluclier- The latter arrived in time; so will General Foch.

THE AILETTE WITHDRAWAL

A TACTICAL SUCCESS. London, April 15. Reuter'a correspondent at the French headquarters, writing on Friday, says the recent tactical withdrawal upon the line of the Ailette was a complete success and noteworthy for the gallantry of the troops covering a difficult movement, which was effected without the loss of a single cannon or machine-gun. The village of Barrisis lies in the middle of an angle of the territory which was evacuated. The dominating point was a hill crowned by the castle of Coucy-le-Cliateau, a European specimen of mediaeval military architecture.

While the troops were retiring, the defenders of this castle were ordered to hold at all costs. Small parties of the enemy advanced into the gullies leading to the height of Coucy-le-Chateau and dense wave 3 followed. Tlic French ma-chine-gunners lined both sides of a gully, 36 fixing continually for 48 hours on April 8 and 9. Over a million rounds were used, and when the French retired the valley was grey with German corpses.

A company commander was ordered to check the Germans, who were dangerously advancing up other ravines. He collected forty crack grenadiers and pushed the enemy hack a hundred yards, pursuing and throwing grenades at a range of three yards.

ANOTHER WAR WINTER POSSIBLE. London, April 15. The War Department's weekly review states that the Germans have soon been compelled to resume'the old tactics of limited objectives. Germany's sole aim is the annihilation of the British armies, .hence the conquered territory counts for little.

The Germans have failed in gaining jft victory, and are warning their people I that another war winter may be necssW '

TIRED BATTALIONS REPLACED

THEIR RESISTANCE VXfABALLELED M. THE HISTORY OF WAR NEUVJS EGLISE GIVEN UP VOLUNTARILY. Received April 16, T.lo p.m. United Service. London, April 10. Mr. Hamilton Eyfe writes that tlie position lias been relieved since the fresh troop 3 replaced the tired battalions. The outlook is full of hope. ,The marvellous endurance of tlie troops sustained u8 since the beginning of the critical phase of the 3th April. Their resistance is unparalleled in the history of war I believe our 1 troops formed at one time a hollow square at Neuve Eglise, the enemy surrounding them except at one corner, where we held the road leading to Dranoutre. Here the King's Royal Rifles very gallantly took lip the line protecting "the town, while » difficult retirement was carried out, and staved off the enemy's attempts to break through. The Clieshires and Wilts occupied the square. After the withdrawal of tlie main body they dashed out and stopped the enemy and captured five machine-guns. We withdrew from Neuve Eglise voluntarily, because it was costing us more than it was worth. Then the enemy redoubled his efforts to capture Bailleul. Thev came on in enormous forces towards the high road between Bailleul and Meteren, being ordered to reach the road at no matter what cost, with tho intention of surrounding Bailleul. They did not fulfil their peremptory instructions, for determined British infantry barred the way and broke every wavej covering the road with dead. THE STRUGGLE AT NEUVE EGLISE. CHANGES HANDS SEVERAL TIMES. ENEMY PAYS DEARLY. THE LINE A SHARP SALIENT. Received April 17, 12.50 ajn. London, April 10. Mr. Phillips states that Neuve Eglise had changed hands three or four times before we voluntarily gave it up last night. Some of the bitterest street fighting occurred there. Our machine guns took a heavy toll of the oncoming Germans, but some of them got through, and, when a sufficient number had gathered they swept again through the streets. Our men were days without sleep. Our line now makes Bailleul a sharp salient, somewhat like Ypres in the old days. The Germans are bombarding the town in the effort to make it untenable.

The Trappist monks at Mont Descatk refuse to abandon the monastery,.going) to prayers under fire. The enemy employed 22 divisions in this fighting, whereof 15 were concentrated astride Bailleul.

.GERMANS DEFINITELY HELD,

ATTACK ON BAILLEUL AND METEREN. ENEMY HAMMERING WART) Times Service. Received April 16, 11,10 p.m. London, April 16. Mr. Robinson, writing on the 15th of events of the previous 24 hours, gives no ground to change the opinion that the Germans are definitely held- We have pushed them back appreciably from St. Venant and Nieppe forest. Our line Plories-Robeck has been further advanced and is firmer.

Tho enemy seems to have abandoned hope of reaching the area of Bethune and the Druay coalfields, fearing to make a dangerous salient,, His strength is tnainly concentrated on the northern advance, where he is hammering hard with a view of reaching the isolated chain of hills beyond. The general trend of his efforts from Armentieres and Estaires is in a direction northwards and northwesterly. Tho enemy divisions here employed exceed 25, whereof 23 are still in the line. New divisions have been daily arriving sinco April 11, and include the famous Alpine corps. The sole result of the determined, almost continuous, fighting is our short withdrawal from Neuve Eglise. There is every evidenco that the German losses are very heavy, and were equally heavy at Meteren on Sunday, Thoir most savage struggles at several points' failed. There was terriGe artillerying throughout the night. The enemy gained no advantage, as the British guns were splendid. The Germans massed in the forenoon for a renewed attack on Bailleul and Meteren, but our artillery prevented them. Whether we will continue to hold the Bailleul-Meteren line Mr. Robinson does not pretend to say. A point may be reached when it would possibly be too costly to remain, hut the Germans have been given such a lesson here that no minor advance will now repay the casualties.

Airmen report enormous numbers of enemy dead in the neighborhood of St. Venant, wliere there was savage hand-to-hand fighting, also in the northern sector. :