WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 April 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

SUCCESSFU FRENCH ATTACK

.SUPLTJOIiITY OF INFANTRY OVER GERMAN. OBJECTIVES GAIXED IN TWO HOURS. Router Service. Received April 21. 0.0 p.m. Renter's correspondent at the French headquarters, telegraphing on the loth, fctatr.< : Tlie French attack yesterday must rank as noteworthy for its complete and speedy success, showing that the superiority of the French infantry over the German is still retained, ft also deprived the enemy of several useful departure points for his next push past Hangard towards Amiens, along the Luce valley.

Starting shortly after four o'clock the objectives were gained in two hours. Ancliin farm, crowning a 340 feet hill, with a lower height southward, were raptured, and the French line was established on or immediately below the line of crests dominating the Rouvrel-Hailles road. Over 800 prisoners were taken, therefore the total German casualties ere equivalent to the entire attacking strength.

The ground gained was about a mile on a front of three miles. That the operation is embarrassing to the enemy is certain. The Germans bare a sevenmiles front on this sector. Mass divisions were waiting an opportunity to push on to Amiens. Three German divisions took part in yesterday's engagement.

BRITISH LINE ADVANCED,

ENEMY ASSAULT REPULSED.

Received April 21, 5.5 p.m. London. April 20 (4.35 p.m.). British headquarters report more activity south of Arras, where yesterday morning we succeeded in advancing our line over 1500 yards on the front eastward of Beaurains.

Last night the enemy delivered a heavy assault from the direction of Telegraph Hill, which was repulsed after hard fiehting. The bombardment so pounded our new trenches that we decided to withdraw to the line held yesterday morning. The enemy heavily shelled Bailleul Wood. There was also " genc-ral increase of artillerying in the Scarpe valley.

COUNTER-ATTACW AT GIVENCHY.

BRITISH POSITION RE-EST;U" LTSHED. Received April 21, 5.5 p.m. London. April 20 (2 p.m.). Sir Douglas Haig reports: Our attack threw the enemy from his advanced defences around Givencliy and Festubert. re-establishing our positions. The Press Bureau states that Sir Douglas Haiu has congratulated Lieut.General Holland and all ranks in the first corps for the gallant and successful way in which all the enemy's attacks had been repulsed yesterday. A French communique states: No infantry actions have taken place to-day. An artillery duel is very lively in the region of Caste! and Grivesnes, and on the right bank of the Meuse.

ENEMY'S STAGGERLING LOSSES.

AFTER FORMIDABLE PREPARA TIONS.

Received April 21, 5.5 p.m. London, April 2(1. . Mr. Philip Oihbs writes: Thursday was a black day for the enerv between Eobeeq and Givenchv, especially at Givenchy itself, where desperate efforts to pain the high ground failed, with staggering losses. It was a big attack, following formidable preparations. The onemv had increased liis heavy artillery threefold, bringing lip a large number of howitzers, including monster eleveninchors. He also massed new divisions on this front ngainst us.

Our men stood for five hours under an infernal fire of high explosives and gas shells, hut received the German in fantry with blasts of machine-gun fire and trench mortar bombardment. Our freneh mortar.? caused awful slaughter. One battery continued its deadly execution until the gunpits were surrounded anil only two crews escaped. The ma-chine-gunners fought in the open when gunfire wiped out their position, and mowed down the enemy waves at fifty yards range. Our troops more southward on the canal lost some parts of their front line, but fought in the open, smashing the enemy out of his positions. Once the Germans penetrated the battalion headquarters, but the servants and staff participated in a. fierce hand-to-hand fight and drove off the enemy. There were extraordinary scenes on the canal bank in the twilight and early dawn. An enemy party rushed out of a wood and our machine-gunners mowed them down. Another party advanced, carrying a floating bridge, but found the bridge too short to reach the other side. One of our corporals went to the canal edge and flung hand grenades at the Germans who were trying to fix the bridge. Then a lieutenant and a few men rushed down and pulled the bridge to our side.

A few hours later 150 of the enemy surrendered, some swimming tlie canal for the purpose. This morning the patrols gathered in the prisoners, many of whom were hungry, as they had been living for six days on two days' rations.

A FRENCH REPORT.

SUCCESSFUL SURPRISE ATT At;* Received April 20, 5.5 pjn. London, April 19. A French communique states: Thero has been a violent reciprocal bombardment in the Caitel-Quallyrainval region We destroyed some machine-gun nests on the front of yesterday's attack. Wo made a successful.surprise attack north of Beswnmtx.

POSITION AT CIVENCHY,

XO WEAK SPOTS r\~ TVRTTTSTF muSTAXCH. Received April 'JO, r>.o p.m. London, April in. llie change 0 j mml nl the Geiuian atlaek t.> 111,- icgion between Givencliy and east of Rnbrcq lias found 110 weik spot m the British resistance, and the close <,r yesterdays fighting found the British (inc Ht ill intact. There was oidr one poir.t in the ne>r battle area where I lie enenn gained anylhing, namely, opposite tiie 'hill of Hinges, where he succeeded in bridging the La Uassee Canal, Imt the only Germans who crossed came as prisoners.

Tins new attack in the direction of Rcthune is obviously intended to protect his thinks if he wished to drive further north, and the enemy is trying to secute the La I'ussee Canal with the object of safeguarding his troops' around Railleul and simultaneously imperilling the British in the French coalfields,near Bethune.

Generally speaking, the British line is more secure than it lias been for days, justifying the belief that the enemv may be held to his present positions obtained by the British withdrawal east of Ypres but tiie German advance from the South, along the Lys valley, is threatening the communications of the Ypres army.

THE CIVENCHY POSITIONS.

ALL POINTS SECURE, r

London, April J.R. Mr. Hamilton Fyffe writes: This morning the enemy was trying, by the use of very large forces, to break through the Givenchy positions and capture Bethune, hut was 110 more successful than before. All the essentia! points are steady and secure- The enemy momentarily gained opposite the Hill of Hinges, two miles north of Bothune. Fresh jtroops, attacking vigorously, reached the La Bassee carnal and threw bridges acios.s, but no Germans crossed except .as prisoners. Many were shot while attempting to cross. Then ths giyis smashed the bridges and gave a bad time to the enemy massps on the opposite bank, so destroying their moral that the parties who had crossed the broken bridges surrendered.

There are notw ten divisions opposite us on tlie Givenchy front, four of which have recently arrived. Three attacked Hinges, using four waves, which is now the usual method. The enemy anticipate the loss of the lirst two and expect the lemainder to press over their bodies.

The preparations suggest a great effort here, wiiich is likely to be pressed to the utmost.

RESULTLESS ENEMY ATTACKS.

ALL BEATEN OFF.

~ „,. London, April 19. Robinson writes: The news for she last '24 hours is all good. The Germans attacked at various points but famed nothing. Their casualties are undoubtedly i.tavy. Though the llcavjest igliting was at Givenchy and Robccq the northern sector remains of chief interest. 7 . from Passehendaele obtained good results. The enemy was siow to grasp what had happened, and allowed six hours to elapse before cautiously advancing. lli s caution was justified for we wiped out or took prisoner his advance guards. While the enemy was endeavoring to advance in strength our guns were severely handing his formation. I„ the Polygon Wood area the Germans were experiencing an unpleasant time, getting in an d getting the troops, guns, and transport over the shell-pitted and blasted region, aeroplane photographs revealing shellholes brimming with water. Since the retirement we have had almost total immunity from casualties, wmle handling the enomy very roughly. Ihe enemy yesterday continued 'his attacks at Kemmel without success. Our line runs practically through Meteren. Our guns are more active than the enemy's, their roar and the whistle of shells through the air completely dominating the noise of the German shell bursts. The attacks on Givenchy were very heavy, being desperately puslied. There were 10 or 17 divisions in front of Hollebeko and Merns. Yesterday attacks were made in three successive drives midway between Bailleul and Draneolie, and at Meteren all being beaten off. The attacks at Kemmel were the fiercest, involving great enemy losses. There was. a hitter struggle aroiuid Meteren. Practically the whole village is a No Han's Land. We hold the northern edge. Mutual artillery lire makes the ruins untenable

The result of the German failure at each point lias undoubtedly increased our confidence- If the line of the hill is gained it will be at an enormous pricr: The line was very thin five or six days ago, when the Germans were ordered to capture Rcmiuel at oil costs. It seems miraculous that we held it- The enemv should have got there cheaply. The position is different now. Apart from our own increase in strength it is permissible) to state the French are with us hero as elsewhere.

Last night tho enemy shelled our lines heavily, especially at ißobecq. He succeeded in the darkness in rushing an advanced post at Saquerelle. A heavy bombardment began in the morning and lasted five hours. The enemy attacked at five o'clock and was unfortunate from the start. Our guns got on the main forces assembling at Calonne on the Clarenco river, down to Riezcduviiiage, and his losses were- heavy. The attack extended to Itobecq and Givenchy, and was particularly heavy in the centre towards Hinges, but our guns, maeliinoguns and rifles smothered four successive waves. Tho enemy nowhere gained ground except at one point near Givenchy.

VERSAILLES WAR COMMITTEE

NEW SBENCH REPRESENTATION Received April 20, 5.5 p.m. Paris, April 19. General Belin lias been appointed the French representative on the InterAllied War Committee at Versailles n succession to General Weygand, who remains as General Foci's principal collaborator-

EXHAUSTED AFTER DEFEAT,

IWEMY OTSIXCLIXFD TO -KftSUMI! FiGirnm Received April -I, 5.5 p.m. Loudon, April 20Air. I'enhal Phillips writes:—-A lull lollowed yesterday's Gerniau defeat. .The exhausted enemy divisions between La. liassee and tin- l'>"lgiaii frontier were glad L> passs the night quietly after a day of utter failure, and the disinclination to light wa* also apparent this morning.

Though (lie British yesterday faced greatly superior numbers, esepeeially between Givenchv and the Micppe Forest and the reigion of the La Bitssee Cans!, •they held all their ground except two minor outposts. It is believed that more Germans were killed from the La Bassec -Canal ban!, and bridgehead to tlvt, Bcthune roail than since the northern battle: DeganProspects of loot had been the incentive of the Germans, who are frequently hungry, owing to their supply columns having been destroyed by our bombardments

The Bail/ Chron'ele's correspondent! at the French front says that yesterday's attack was only a .small operation, but forwarded tii» line on a fourmile front Jor albout half a mile on the left and one mile and a half on tho right, thus improving the position on the Avre and the roads between Amiens and the Somme, also u?. to dominate the Avre crossing up to Mareuil.

FURTHER BRITISH SUCCESSES.

ALL OBJECTIVES GAINED. Received April 21, 11.50 p.m. London, April 20 (10.30 p.m.). Sir Douglas Haig reports: We captured a few men and nine machine guns as the outcome of a successful enterprise south of the Searpe Biver, and also repulsed a counter-attack in this sector. In a successful counter-attack last night the .First Division threw the enemy out at points of the advanced defences around Givenchy and Festubert, gained by him on Wednesday at the cost of heavy losses. We gained all our objectives, and re-established our positions. We drove back the attacking enemy after sharp fighting south-east of Robficq. Aviation report: Despite the weather, 4i tons of bombs were dropped on railway station at Thourout, an ammunition dump at Engel, and other targets. Our night fliers were most active, dropping sixteen tons of bombs on Armcnticres, i Wamclon, Estaires and Bapaume, and the railway junction at Chaulnes, directly hitting four trains, one of which, judging by the explosions, was full o£ ammunition. All our machines returned.

SUCCESSFUL MINOR ENTERPRISES.

BRITISH LINE SLIGHTLY ADVANCED. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received April 21, 11.10 p.m. London, April 20 ('.(.50 p.m.). Sir Douglas llaig reports: South of Hebuterne and south of the Scarpe, we carried out successful minor enterprises, advancing our line slightly and taking 37 prisoners and three machine guns. Hostile artillery is active at Ayette and south of La Bassee Canal.

SUCCESSFUL FRENCH RAIDS

RESULTLESS ENEMY ATTACK. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received April 21, 11.10 p.m. London, April 20. A French communique states: Reciprocal artillery activity has been most lively between Lasaigny and Noyon. We carried out several raids and captured some prisoners. Similar enemy attacks were repulsed.

The enemy yesterday morning, east of St. Miliiel, delivered an attack on a front of one kilometre, near Lueheprey, and gained a footing in some elements of our advanced trenches, but immediate coun-ter-attacks partially drove him out. Our airmen dropped four tons of bombs on the landing ground at Champion, and on bivouacs in the region of Ham, Guiscard and Noyon, oil the night of 19-20, while seventy machines effectively bombed the railway- station at St. Quentiu, and railway lines in the Jussy region; also aerodromes.

FIGHTING AT GIVENCHY.

ENEMY MOWN DOWN-

London, April 119. Mr. Pcrcival Phillips says: The storm centra swung to day back to the Lys Plain, in which the 6th German Army is attacking iu the hope of taking )3ethiuie.

The enemy lias so far failed in this, lor nowhere on the fifteen-mile front 'between Dieppe Forest and the canai beside the earthwork of Givenchy lias our line given wayApparently three German £*rsioiis ,wero allotted for the capture of Givenchy, and ten compressed into the narrow space for the drive against the La llasseo canal westward of Festubert.

At Givenchy wo met tlie advancing enemy waves with massed machine-gun fire. There was hard fighting, but the enemy failed to occudv even tho »d-i vaneed position-

The greatest presssurc above Givenchy came against the La Bassee Canal from the Pocaut Wood. The enemy, making an effort to capture the foridge'liead on the Hinges road towards Bethune, advanced in very dense masses. Our gunners mowed them dawn. Some reached the canal holding up their hands in surrender, then turned and ran, tout few reached Pocaut Wood alive.

GERMAN'S HAVE A WARM TIME. LOXTDON, April 10. Glhbs writes: During the withdrawal from Passchenduele tile Germans hesitated about following up, and it was many hours before the advanced patrols drew anywhere near. Meanwhile our guns were awaiting them, and swept the ground, killing tins outpost parties and breaking up the assemblies in Polygon Wood and elsewhere.

! The whole of this country is still of i :i i- nature, and 1 lie shell craters are brimful of water. Prisoners [her.; are disconsolate, and have little reaching Calais.

A MOST COMPLETE KNOCK.

WORST THE EXE.VLY RECEIVED

SINCE OFFENSIVE STARTED. Thiited Service. Received April 21, fj.s p.m. London, April 20. Mr. Hamilton Fylfc -writes that the attack at (Jivenchy whs the most- complete. ami the most umnistakeable knock tho enemy has bad since his oll'eiiKive began. It was less costly than at Arras, but there the enemy gained some ground, while here he gained nothing, lie was squarely and solidly beaten. The attack on the canal 'was met by a tremendous hail of machine-gun's, sweeping the woods and mowing down the attackers.

NO CHANGE.

ENEMY'S ARTILLERY ACTIVE. GERMAN TROOPS AND TRANSPORT SHELLED. Aug, and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received April 21, 5.5 p.m. London, April 19 (9.45 p.m.). Sir Douglas Haig reports: There is no change. The enemy's artillery has been active at various points. It shelled our positions this morning in the neighborhood of Caudescure, northward of Merville.

Our artillery effectively engaged troops and transport moving on the roads behind the Lys battlefront. Sir Douglas Haig's aviation report states: Last night we dropped nine tons of bombs on Bapaume, Armcntieres, Warneton, and Chaylnes railway junction. Ail our aeroplanes returned.

FOCH'S COUNTER-DESIGU

ABOUT TO TAKE FORM! New York, April 19. The United Press correspondent at the French front reports that the French are heavily cannonading the German lines over a 5'G-mile front in the Somme and Oise sectors.

The New York Times comments: It still remains a secret what General Foch's resources are, but the indications are that FocK has planned a strategical counter-offensive on a considerable scale. Foch's counter-design should take definite form within 48 'hours.

MORE GERMANS FROM RUSSIA.

SEVERAL DIVISIONS IDENTIFIED. Australian Cable Association. Received April 20, 5.5 p.m. London, April 20. The United Press corresondent, states that the Germans are still transferring troops from Russia to the West front. The French staff has identified several divisions.

THE WITHDRAWAL FROM ARMENTIERES.

WAS IT A' SURRENDER?

Times Service. Received April 21, 5.5 p.m. / London, April 20. Mr. Massingham, writing in the Nation, asserts that the British did not withdraw from Armentieres, but that the garrison surrendered after fighting bravely when eut off, and all hope of retreat or relief had ended.

ITALIAN FORCE ARRIVES.

APPROXIMATELY 200,000 STRONG.

Received April 21, 5.5 p.m. Washington, April 19. The Italian Embassy states that the advance guard of the Italians reached the West front some days ago. A high officer states that the Italian force in France will approximate 200,000,

GERMAN RESERVES.

70 DIVISIONS COMPARATIVELY FRESH.

Received .April 21, 11 p.m.

New York, April 10. British officials state that- Germany &till has, approximately, seventy divisions comparatively fresh as reserve forces on the West front.

FRENCH LOSSES,

1,300,000 MEN' KILTiED.

(Received April 21, 11 p.m.

Hew York, April 20. M. Tardieu, High Commissioner for Prance, in a speech, said that a total of 1,300,000 French soldiera have been killed.

GERMAN WAR PRISONERS,

TO BE SPEEDILY RELEASED.

Received April 21, 11.10 p.m. London, April 20. A Russian wireless messago ' to the German Foreign Office states that measures have been taken for the speedy evacuation of German war prisoners from Eastern Siberia.

ITALIANS ON ALSACE SECTOR.

New York, April If). A Rome telegram announces that Italian troops will be sent to France, and a London message indicates that Italian troops have arrived in an Aisaee sector. Rheiras has (been completely ruined by Uie flame?

FRENCH GENERAL'S VIEWS.J

DECIDELY OPTIMISTIC

London, April -11). The Daily Chronicle's Paris correspon"dent had an interview with the French general Who interveued at Noyon on March S!3 and blocked the road to Paris when the British right broke down. He said: "We have husbanded our strength ;md yet arrested the enemy and now hold him firmly and, thanks to our su-" perior artillery and greatly superior aviation, we are wearing him down. MesBines and Wytschaeto are only episodes. The German armies made an effort to secure an immediate decision by dividing the Allies, and therefore we have slaughtered his best forces. If the effort has not succeeded in a month, what are the future prospects? f'The enemy can yet strike severe blows, but we are daily better prepared, while his case grows daily worse. Many of the (Merman divisions now in the lino are in lamentable condition, and others, which have Deen brought back for the second or third time, are little better. For the firat time the German 1919 class is now being used to a considerable extent in order to complete the effectives. Very soon, with the British and American reinforcements, we shall have the margin we want."

BRITISH LINE MORE SECURE THAN EOII DATS. Received April 21, 11 p.m. Ottawa, April 2®.

Despatches from Europe say that tlie British lines are now more secure they have teen for somo <laya.

LAST WEEK'S OPERATIONS,

BRITISH OFFICIAL REPORT. Wellington, Last Night. The Governor-General has received the following official report from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated London 10, on the operations during the week ending April *18: "Lys 'battle absorbed almost the entire German energies, straining at the same time the British defence to a pojat whereat only the knowledge of the stake could enable a successful resistance to he mantained.

"The enemy's advance had been diverted from the south by the solid will encountered at Givenchy and westward, the pressure being gradually removed to the front and north flank of the attack. Arnientieres was evacuated to avoid an encircling movement, whereafter twjo German armies north and south thereof joined hands. The British divisions on the north and south flanks remained firm, but the attack in the centre continued till they crossed the river Lawe and captured Merville, Merris, and Neuve Eglise, whereafter the advance appeared to be checked. "The struggle has narrowed to one for three points Bailleul, Nieppe Forest, and Mont. Kemmel with its objective, the capture, of Hazebrouek. "During the week there was fluctuating fighting, and'villages changed hands, but, at tlie end, Bailleul fell, and the enemy occupied Meteren, Wulverghem, and Wytschaete, and ipractically the whole of the Messines ridge fell to him The forward lino eastward of Ypres then became untenable, and was abandoned without the knowledge of the enemy. Fighting at every point was of a most desperate kind, but the enemy realised ■that there was little chance of any farther exploitation of his successes in any direction but north and north-west, where, discovering a weaik spot, lie concentrated a full attack. Nevertheless, the net result to him was a small gain of territory, which cost him severe losses.

"At a critical monient, #lO situation, though serious, gives grounds for .confidence, but the fighting must continue a long while. German reinforcements are being exhausted. enemy reckoned by.an impetuous rush of highly-trained troops to smother the British lines and shatter.the morale of the whole of the Entente. He concentrated on the British line because manoeuvring space to their rear was so restricted, also because the decision would give him the coast. He. also expected thereby to affect French morale, whereto he has been exercising his whole ingenuity of propaganda by calling into question their mutual loyalty, but the Allies, having decided 011 a, French Commander in whom t.hey have implicit faith, are now willing to face all losses till the time arrived for a counter-stroke. Since the enemy selected the British for the attack, the British must bear the brunt for a time. Neither the inevitable losses nor the yielding of unimportant ground succeeded in shaking the Allied confidence in tlieir troops or their leaders. German methods of trying to rush soldiers into precipitate action and trying to undermine the patience and confidence of the •iivlian population are well understood. '•During the earlier part of last week weather conditions on the Western front were unfavourable for flying. Our aircraft, however, though compelled to fly as low as 200 feet, maintained a continual watch on the enemy's line, and attacked troops and transports with'bombs and machine-gun 3 whenever possible. The statements of prisoners confirm the heavy casualties and confusion caused by these tactics in all stages of the "battle. The weather improved on the 12th, and gave exceptional opportunity for royal air forces, which surpassed all previous records. Over* 3000 photographs were taken in spite of the efforts of enemy aircraft, while -40 hostile ma-> chines were brought down and 20 driven down out of control. From statements by prisoners and the observations of our pilots, it is manifest that these heavy losses are draining the enemy's aviation resources, with which his reserve parks find it increasingly difficult to cope. On the same day 55% tons of bombs were dropped on the battlefield.