WORK OF VARIOUS DIVISIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 April 1918, Page 5

WORK OF VARIOUS DIVISIONS.

SOME GALLANT, EXPLOITS. Ana. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Router. Received April 24, 8.30 p.m. • London, April 23. Continuing his supplementary report, Sir Douglas Haig said: During the first two days of the enemy's* oilensive southward a withdrawal was necessitated, but before 'withdrawing we inflicted great loss on the enemy, and Herman official reports, acknowledge the bitterness of the fighting. The Twenty-fourth Division was in close support when the attack opened, and was sent immediately into'the battle in the neighborhood of the BapaumeCambrai Road. They were not dislodged from any position, though constantly attacked. The Thirty-fourth Division, after severe vghting in the neighborhood of Croisellcs, at the commencement of the battle, took over the Armentieres sector in the line on April D, and maintained the positions intact during the first two days of the Lys battle, and when the eijemy's advance on either liank necessitated the evacuation of Armentieres, they were withdrawn from the town on the- night of the lOth-lltli, deliberately and in good order. Since then they have been continuously engaged, and hpye fought throughout witii the greatest gallantry, yielding ground reluctantly and counterattacking frequently. The 42nd (East Lancashire) and C2nd (West Riding) Divisions participated in fierce lighting at the end of March and early in April around Bucquoy and Ablainzeville. They beat off many attacks and contributed greatly to the successful maintenance of the line. The 50th Division, though but recently withdrawn after weeks of continuous fighting southward of the Somme, held up the enemy along the Lys line on April !) and subsequent days, and by their stubborn resistance at Estaires and Merville checked the enemy's advance until our reinforcements arrived. s GERMAN TACTICS ALTERED. ABOLITION OF MASSED ATTACK. * London, April 23. Mr. Hamilton Fyfe writes:,. Enormous losses have compelled the Germans to abandon since early in April massed frontal attacks. They have substituted small trickling groups armed with machine guns. Ludendorff on March 30 ordered the absolute abolition of massed «attacks, on the ground that they only led to unnecessary losses, adding: "It is effective use of weapons, not numbers, that gives a decision." MINOR OPERATIONS. BRITISH TAKE PRISONERS AND MACHINE GUNS. • Received April 24, 11.45 p.m. London, April 23 (11 p.m.). Sir Douglas Haig reports: "A minor operation eastward of Robeeq was completely; successful. In addition to the ground gained we took 120 prisoners and a number of machine-guns. There was considerable enemy gasshelling at Villers Brettonncux. XviATION ACTIVITY. ARTILLERY WORK ON FRENCH FRONT. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received April 25, 1.20 a.m. London, April 24. Sir Douglas Haig's aviation report states: We carried out several long distance reconnaissances yesterday, took many photographs and dropped nineteen bombs on Thourout railway station, "Engel dump, and on Warneton, Arioen'tieres, and Roulers. We brought down eight*, and drove down six, enemy machines. Three of ours are missing., A French communique states: There has been great reciprocal artillery activity in the region of Hangard-en-Santerro, west of Noyon, but no infantry attacks. GERMAN REPORT. ' London, April 23. Wireless German official: The English were active between Lens and Albert, The enemy lost prisoners in repeatd attacks to recapture ground in Aveluy Wood and the capture of the railway northward of Arras, on both sides of the Bougincourt-Aveluy Road. FRENCH SOLDIERS HAVE LEAVE. Paris, April 23. M. Clemenceau has returned from a visit to the front. He ■ states that the | best proof that no uneasiness exists is the fact that French soldiers are again j receiving leave, which had been suspended since the German offensive began. GERMANS PUSHED BACK. London, April 23. The British south of Aveluy Wood pushed back the Germans 250 yards on a 1000 yards front.