SATISFACTORY POSITION AT LYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 April 1918, Page 5

SATISFACTORY POSITION AT LYS.

LOSS OF KEMMEL HILL. HOPES OF ITS BEING RETAKEN. LOSSES AT VILLERS REGAINED. Received April 28, 5.5 p.m. London, April 27. A high military authority states that the situation in the Lys sector, between Givenchy and Merville, is highly satisfactory for us. We regained several important positions, and the enemy, who sustained heavy losses, gained nothing The balance in wear and tear went against the Germans. The enemy, who has now heavily attacked the Kemmel front, made considerable progress. The sector chosen for the attack involved both the French and British troops. The latest information though incomplete, shows that the enemy occupied Kemmel hill, gainiug about two thousand yards on a front of twelve hundred yards. This is serious, but not decisive. The hill is tactically important as an observation point. Our line to the north is all right. It is perfectly possible for us to hold Ypres, but it might not be convenient for us to do so. Still, we must not regard Kemmel as definitely lost. On the southern front, at Villers Bretonneux, the situation is satisfactory. We have regained all that we lost, and hold the village. We captured a considerable number of prisoners. The village is important tactically. , Both in the northern and southern attacks the enemy is striking at the junction of the British and French armies, which are naturally the weaker spots, because it is more difficult to arrange for supports of artillery and reserves where two commands of different nationalities meet. Speaking generally, the aim of the enemy to fight the British Army by itself has been countered by the transference of the French northwards. A great offensive may still be expected between Arras and Amiens. A TEST OF ENDURANCE. So far the Germans have gained only tactical successes, and have not achieved any strategical success. The enemy may be expected to continue his plan to breakup the British throughout the summer and in the end it will be a question of who holds the most reserves. So far General Foch has only used a small portion of his reserves, which is a good augury for the future. A long-drawn-out struggle would be a test of endurance, and it is therefore imperative to get every man possible in support of the battle front. SEVERE FIGHTING AT LYS. ENEMY'S ADVANCE HELD. BRITISH ADVANCE AT VILLERS BRETONNEUX. SUCCESSFUL AVIATION WORK. Received April 28, 5.20 p.m. London, April 27. Sir Douglas Haig reports (April 27, 2 p.m.): There was great reciprocal artillcrying during the night on the whole battlefront northward of the Lys River. The fighting in this are.a yesterday was very severe, the enemy repeatedly making determined attempts to develop the advantage gained on the previous day After many hours of the fluctuating battle the enemy advance was held at all points, heavy casualties being inflicted. The enemy's assaults from Loere to Laclytte were pressed with extreme violence, three attacks being beaten off with great enemy loss. He succeeded at the fourth attempt in carrying Locre village Our allies counter-attacked in the evening, and drove the enemy out of possession of the village and other points, all enemy attacks being repulsed. Fierce fighting occurred northward of Voaormezeele, which, after a prolonged struggle, remains in our possession. The enemy heavily attacked in the afternoon our positions on the ridge and wood south-westward of Voormezeele but was completely repulsed. We took some hundreds of prisoners. There was local fighting at noon yesterday in the neighborhood of Givenchy and the fighting continued during the afternoon and evening to our advantage In the Hangard—Villers Bretonneux sector our line was advanced at certain points. We broke up a hostile attack, accompanied by tanks, in the afternoon We took in this area over 900 prisoners. We carried out successful raids at night time in the neighborhood of the Arleux —Vie Eberquin sector. A thunderstorm yesterday compelled our men to fly within a few feet of the ground in reconnoitring in the neighborhood of Kemmel. They dropped 050 bombs on Menin, Roulers and Armentieres. We brought down ten and drove down two enemy machines, while our anti-aircraft guns downed four others and the infantry shot down another. Two of our machines are missing.

HAIC'S REPORT.

VERY HEAVY ENEMY" LOSSES. London, AprS 2fi. ■• Sir Douglas Haig reports: The FrancoBritish positions from northward of Bailleul to eastward of Wytscliaetewere heavily attacked, fighting proceeding all day with great severity on the whole of this front, particularly in the neighborhood of Dranoutre, Kemmel, and Virstraat. In the course of repeated attacks and counter-attacks the Allies were comj petted to withdraw from positions held in the morning. Fighting continues south of the Somme. Successful Australian and English counter-attacks last I night regained positions in and around ! Villers Brctonneux, and advanced our line to within, a short distance of the former front. We took prisoner over fiOO. The village is now in our hands. The enemy employed at least four divisions in the attack on this front- Prisoners state the objectives were Cachy village and the Cachy-i'ouilipy road. The objectives were not reached anywhere. The numbers of dead found in the recaptured positions show that the enemy losses were very heavy. Despite the mist yesterday our aviators attacked troops in the neighborhood of Villers3retonn«ux from a low height, Our night fliers dropped 5% tons of bombs on Estaires, Armentieres, and Rc-ulers, also on the railway stations at Couirtr&i and ThsMirottt. All our machines returned.