WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

THE BRITISH ADVANCING. WYTSCHAETE RECAPTUREDMARCHING OX TOWARDS XEUVE ECLISE. London, April 17. The British have recaptured Wytschnete, and are now advancing towards Neuve Egli3e and Bailleul.

METEREN RECAPTURED.

WITHDRAWAL FROM YPRES SALIENT.

GERMAXS REACH IIORT KEMMEL.

London, April 17Th© British have recaptured Meteren, but have withdrawn, the front at St. Eloi and at certain positions around Ypres. The Germans have reached the slopes of Mont Kemmel.

[St. Eloi is two miles north of Wytschaete and is about where our line ran before the attack on Messines- Mt Kemmel is a height three miles west of Wytschaete.]

London, April 17 (1.25 p.m). Sir Douglas Haig reports: Meteren remains in our hands. We withdrew from our advanced positions eastwards of Ypres to a new line.

London, April 17 (2:25 p.m). Sir Douglas Haig reports: We successfully counter-attacked last evening in the neighborhood of Wytsehaete. Our counter-attack also restored the situation at Meteren, which wo retain.

We repulsed with loss repeated attacks northwards of Baillsul. Our fire at close range caught bodies of enemy infantry advancing in close formation, inflicting heavy casualties. The enemy was endeavoring to devei- 1 op an attack at mid-day yesterday eastward of Robecq, but our artillery broke up the advance.

In consequence of the enemy's pro' jrress on the Lys front, our troopfln forward positions eastward of Ypres withdrew to a new line. The withdrawal was carried out deliberately, undisturbed by the eenmy. German parties advancing over the old positions were caught and destroyed by fire from our outposts-

We drove out parties who entered trenches 'opposite Boyelles, where the line has been completely restored. There was considerably increased hostile artillery fire this morning on the British front southward of the Somme.

VIOLENT BOMBARDMENT.

ON THE FRENCH FRONT.

London. April 17 (1.30 a.m.). A French communique reports: There were violent reciprocal bombardments in the Montdidier region, but no infantry action. Several enemy attempts i n th« Priests Wood (Boi?e le Pretre, near St- Mihielj were repulsed after sharp fights. , .- t-***^

HECATOMBS OF DEAD.

THE PRICE THE GERMANS PAID.

Paris, April 17. Semi-official.—The enemy paid for his success between Bailleul and Neuve Eglise with fearful hecatombs ef dead. Whole battalions were thrown ji. This unexampled disregard of life undoubtedly will enable the enemy to continue the battle with fresh reinforcements and fresh sacrifices. His objective is clear, namely to tur n the range of heights rising 150 metres above the plain in the triangle framed bj Cassel and Bailleul. This operation demands a little time and the Franco-British forces may stop it.

INCREDIBLE INTENSITY,

ENEMY'S MASSED WAVES MOWED DOWN. CONTINUOUS GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS. London, April 17. Reuter's correspondent at headquarters, writing on the evening of the 17th, says:—During my whole experience, of the war I have never heard such terrific and unintermittent gunfire as since yesterday afternoon. It is still proI cecding and the battle is raging with incredible intensity.

Among many attacks yesterday one of the greatest was oij the ZillebeJce sector. The enemy's massed waves were mown down like livo hay and ordered to retire, whereupon our gunners got them o n the (lank with open sights. The slaughter was appalling. Reviewing the situation, the correspondent states that satisfaction is deductible from the reflection that this is not the original German plan. His objective la**, week was Betnune. He was held there; he then tried Hazebrouck and was stopped there; he is also now trying the strfngth northwards, but Ms previous two failures, also that of the Amiens thrust, justify the hope that he may be stopped. A disquieting feature is the evidence that he is still bringing fresh divisions from Russia, enabling him to increase tho weight of his pressure. The Times declares that Germany can draw reserves from Russia for months.

FRENCH AEROPLANES BUSY. Paris, April 17. Since March 5 French aeroplanes have dropped 330 tons of bombs on the enemy lines, compared with 665 tons during the whole of 1917. THE FUG GUS. 4 Paris, April 17, The long range gun to-day killed 11 •ml wounded 36.

HAZEBROUCK THE OBJECTIVE

GERMAX ARMIES MARK LITTLE HEADWAY'.

FIELDS THICK WITH DEAD. Received April US, 1 10 p.m. | London, April 17 (7.15 p.m.). . The United Press correspondent states that General von Urgiu and General vou Quust are continuing their efforts to hammer a way into Hazebrouck. Their armies have suffered heavy casualties and mado little headway. The large area, of the battlefield near Bailleul is constantly pounded with high velocity and gas shells. Deadly vapors are drifting across the cultivated fields. General Bernhardi's divisions near Bramoutre attacked heavily at three o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, the British gunß tearing great rents in their ranks.

General von Stettin's forces throughout the afternoon continued to attack round Meteren and Merris, the British guns pounding into them with monotonous regularity, relieved by only an occasional burst of drumfire when particularly thick masses exposed themselves in the open. The costly attack was driven back by the evening, the fields being thick with deadIn the Zillebeke sector, to which the fighting spread, General Zudonna's storm troops tried to advance towards Ypres, but were mostly shot down at short range, the centre being literally pounded to pieces. The enemy was ordered to retire. Both flanks caught the full force of the British artillery and machineguns, dwindling as they scrambled back in disorder.

Reports from the Somme battle front show that the general tuning up continues. Tlie areas eastward of Amiens are occasionally heavily shelled. German shells on Tuesday destroyed the Albert church tower, with its famous leaning tower of the Virgin.

COUPS-DE-MAIN,

MADE BY THE FRENCH* Received April 18, 5.5 p.m. London, April 17. A French communique reports: There was fairly great reciprocal artillery activity and patrol encounters on the front of the Somme and the Oise.

We made several coups-de-main, notably south-west of the Butte-du-Mesnil, in the region of Tahure, north of Floury. An enemy attack to the east of Monneux. on the right bank of the Meuse, failed

THE ANZAC FORCES.

VERY HEAVY FIGHTING. J STEM TIDE AT CRITICAL MOMENT. London, April 18. The Australian and New Zealand wounded agree that they have not experienced harder fighting. Though few had yet arrived in England out of the. recent battles there are some who helped to stop the first rush on the Somme. They describe the suddenness of tho orders to proceed south from tho Messine3 sector, the first stage in motor lorries, the second a seemingly interminable march with a momentary prospect or action. The Australian casualties are much lighter than at first anticipated. The sudden inrush of wounded to the Abbeville hospital induced the apprehension that tho losses were heavy. The earliest Australians on the S»mme front plunged directly into the fray though they were very exhausted after 17 hours in the train and 12 miles night march, but two divisions wero singled out for special praise for brilliant work in stopping von Hofacker's advance. The Australian Brigade, which distinguished itself. at Messines in 1917 also fought in most gallant fashion. The New Zealanders also took a splendid part in stemming the tide at a critical moment.

UNABLE TO HOLD POSITIONS,

THE FRENCH 00-OPERATIXiG. Received April 18, 11.20 p.m. London, April 18 (12.5 a.m.). Sir Douglas Hag reports: There were intense hostile bombardments this morning on the whole Lys battlefront, followed by attacks from Nieppe forest to Wytsehaete. All were repulsed, inflicting considerable losses. Our counterattacks, reported in the morning, succeeded in entering the villages of Meteren and Wytschaete, but we were unable to maintain the positions in face of tho continued attacks.

The French are now co-operating on :Uia front.

BELGIANS ATTACKED,

REGAIN LOST POSITION'S. Received April 18, 11.15 p.m. LondoD, April 17. A Belgian communique states: The Germans in force attacked.and obtained a footing in our outpost system between Blackaertpont and the laihvay from Ypres to Thourout. Counter-attacks completely drovo the enemy out. We took six hundred prisoners.

THE POSITION EXPLAINED,

XO OCCASION FOE ALARM. BRITISH KIGIITIXiG AX OTHER WATERLOO. Received April IS, S p.m. Loudon, April 17A high authority, after .spending the last four days at the battlefrout, says: Up to midday on Tuesday the situation was undoubtedly very anxious. The Germans attacked with four fresh divisions on either side of Bailleul. If they could have maintained the pressure there would have been a great danger to the vital range of heights beginning in the east with Kemmell and ending in the west with Cassel. That ridge was the backbone of our defence on the northern battlefield.

The news last night and to-day is de-' cidedly better. We counter-attacked and drove out the Germans from Meteren on a widish front, and advanced in the direction of Neuve Eglise without much opposition. While he could not say that Wytschaete was entirely in our hands, we had secured a portion. Probably the vil- ' lage by now had been wholly re-taken. ! Referring to the withdrawal from the Ypres front, he said that preparations | for shortening the front were made soma [ time ago in complete detail in the event of an emergency arising. The decision to carry it out was made on Sunday before TSailleul was captured. The withdrawal was completed on Monday night. The act, though regrettable, was necessary. He continued: "Our army is underdoing a severe strain. Tt had a critical moment, and still is decidedly anxious, but we must remember that we all plumped for a united front and placed the forces under a supreme control, which is a wise and proper decision, and wo must accept the consequences- Wo must not look at the battle from the viewpoint of our own losses and sufferings, but from the Entente's viewpoint. We are fighting a Waterloo while Blucher is marching to the biittlefield If we multiply things a hundredfold the situation is not dissimi-

iar.' From our position to-day we are standing the hammering, and, providing Blucher is marching, there is no cause for despair. Quite the contrary." In the whole offensive the Germans are employing 126 divisions, whereof the British alone have engaged 70 and the French 24, while 23 are engaged toy the combined Anglo-French. Of the divisions engaged hy the British alone, we have fought .23 of them twice and one thrice. It ia an unpleasant business standing the hammering, hut we must take la broad view, although you may want to know what has become of Blucher. We have practically taken the strain off the French army, which is larger than ours; but again I would say there is no reason for despair.

FRENCH AND AUSTRALIANS,

PARTICIPATE IN COUNTER' ATTACKS

" United Service. Received April 18, 9.15 p.m. London, April 17.„ French and Australian troops partook in to-day's counter-attacks.

IN THE NEW ZEALAND AREA,

A TEMPORARY LULL IN THE FIGHTING. SPLENDID WORK BY Y.M.C.A. (From Captain Malcolm Ross, Official War Correspondent with the New Zealand Forces.)

By Cable, April 14.

At present we are really more interested in tho northern battle than our own, for we know every inch of the country over which the Germans have been advancing, and have many reminiscences of the headquarters we occupied and the homes we lived in there when first we camp to France, and after the Sommft battle. Many of these have now passed into German hands. While the guns in lhat battle are heard clearly in England no sound of it reached us here.

For the past few days activity on our front has been confined almost entirely to artillery. During tho greater part or the,day this is normal, but at times it reaches a giant crescendo, and the crashing of the big guns engaged during the

night in the harrassing of the enemy makes sleep for the time being impossible. The weather is variable—one day bright, warm sunshine, another a blackthorn winter.

Onr Y.M.O.A. has been doing splendid work under the most difficult circumstances.

Provisions and tobacco were salvaged out of Albert while it was burning and the enemy were at close quarters. Thousands of cups of cocoa are "being supplied daily to our men and comforts are even distributed In the front line by our devoted Y.M.C.A. workers.

A divisional canteen was promptly established. It does an extraordinary trade, the takings averaging about a hundred thousand francs per week. It is patronised bvl.be English as well as the New Zealand troops. Private J. R. Bird, Otago. and the following machine-gunners have been awarded the Military Medal for acts of gallantry during the recent fighting:—LanceCorporal P. Riposio, Rercreauts A. T)etteret, J. M. Gordon. A. G. bolder, Cornorals 0. R. Jury. Private T. Tatham, Lance-Corporal J. Horn, -Private 'W. Twentyeige. '

FURIOUS BOMBARDMENT. " Received April 19, 1.30 a.m. London. April 18. !A French comniunkrue states: There has been no infantry action. The. enemy furiously bombarded our first lines and some villages norOh of Montdidier. Our batteries effectively countered.

ANYTHING BUT GOOD FOR THE . ENEMY. .-■ ■. -;-\:<ii

DESPITE MLS .SUCCESSES A MASTERLY WITHDRAWAL. Received April 18, 11.40 p.nv. London, April 17. Router's representative at headquarters, writing on the evening of the 17th, says: The opinion is general amongst the troops that the past 24 hours have been anything but good for the enemy, despite his successes at Baillcul and Ravelsberg and Messines ridge. Tlie last named has been largely neutralised. Our withdrawal east of Ypres was accomplished with masterly skill, the nett result of which lias been a greatly stiffened power of resistance, whilst forcing the enemy to lengthen his communications across the unfavorable terrain.

The bitter intensity of the lighting, which has been in progress since yesterday morning, lulled during the forenoon. The hurricane artillery duel subsided into spasmodic outbursts, with, intervals of comparative calm. We a goodly number during the last two days. There are signs that another attack is coming between Bailleul ' and Wytschaete. Doubtless the enemy is determined, after the heavy sacrifices he has paid, to get Wytschaete, and will make another onslaught to again remove us therefrom.

Yesterday and last night there was a sharp conflict at Boyelles, south of Arras, but it was quiet to-day, our positions being fully held. Fierce shelling at Vjllere and Bvetoiireux led to expectations of an infantry assault, but it has not yet materialised.

HARD AND INCESSANT FIGHTING.

RETIREMENT FROM PASSCHEN. DAELE.

TO PROTECT OUR LINES OF COMMUNICATION.

TALLY OP SLAUGHTER MOUNTS HOURLY.

Times Service. Received April 19,1.15 a.m. London, April 18. Mr. Robinson writes: Hard, incessant fighting continues in the area between Mcteren and Wytschaete. Both places have changed hands more than once, but the Germans have retained hold of Wytschaete Wood and Spanbvockniolen. At the present moment.no man can say precisely where our positions are, and where the enemy's are. We have fallen back in the Passchendaele area, giving the enemy most of the ground he lost in last summer's Flanders fighting, including the Passchendaele ridge, which the Australians and others captured in 1917. The strong advance towards Mont Kemmel and Mont des Neath threatened the whole system of communications in the Yprea salient. A new German drive with fresh divisions might enable the enemy to secure points from which he would be able to place a continuous barrage across the roads.

We knew the retirement was in progress, but obviously it was indiscreet to report it. It was made without enemy pressure, the outpost line being left to check the Germans, who felt their way forward in the morning. It is unpleasant to give ground won at the cost of gallant lives, but it cannot be too often repeated that local topographical gains are of little significance in the gigantic struggle now progressing. The Germans have a blasted shell-hole area behind them, over which to bring

troops and transport. We know from abundant experience in former advances what it means in this most frightful of all battles, wherein perpetual drumfire shakes the air, and makes speaking impossible. The tally of the slaughter mounts hourly. German corpses are piled in heaps in the wide areas of the battlefield. There are countless episodes of British

heroism against overpowering odds. English and Scottish troops, including the Scottish Rifles and Highland Light Infantry, held the lino south, of Meteren and west of Bailleul and Strazele, from April 12 till yesterday, all sorts of miscellaneous units assisting in the firing

line, doggedly holding the enemy. The whole Meteren district is covered with German corpses.

Captured documents on prisoners state that the present attack was substituted because the drive on Aire and Bethune was a failure. They commenced north of Armentieres with small forces. The initial success caused a conversion of the major operation, and strength was diI verted from other parts of the line in an attempt to hammer through.' The failure of the main attack cost the Germans dearly, some battalions losing SO per cent. During the last two days the enemy made an ineffectual attack on Locon and La Bassce.

GERMAN REPORT.

FURTHER CAPTURES ALLEGED. Received April 18, 11.10 p.m. London, April 18. Wireless German official: We captured Poeleapelle and Langemarck, occupied Passchendaele, and advanced our lines near P.ecclaero and Glieluvclt. We stormed the village of Wytsehaete. and drove the enemy from the heights northeastward and westward, repulsing strong counter-attacks. The enemy, while retreating south-west of Wulverghem, was pressed back across the Douve. We captured Bailleul and Mcteren, which were stubbornly defended support pointsAt Appelyiule, northwards of Bailleul, strong English and French forces vainly endeavored to recapture the Mcteren- territory. On 3)otU sides of Merrill the attacks broke down, with the heaviest losses. Tlio Bulgarians on the Struma plain took prisoner 155 English and some Greeks. ' "' ""'^ (The War Office comments that the total British casualties on the Struma were considerably less than the prisoners claimed..) '