WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

ENEMY'S FULLEST WEIGHT,

HURLED TOWARDS THE CHANNEL ENEMY'S DESPERATE EFFORTS. Received April 20, 7.30 p.m. London, April 28. Tt is fairly certain that the enemy thwarted at Amiens and Arras, has now decided to hurl his fullest-weight northwards, striking towards the Channel through Flanders, and developing the capture of Mount Kemmcl. He will endeavor to pineii off the three remaining hills—Seherpenberg, Mont Rouge, and Mont Noil—dominating the high ground southward of Poperinghe. The enemy Was feeling his way towards Seherpenberg on Friday afternoon, unti bloodily repulsed by the French. He wil 1 attack more furiously, hoping to capture the high ground, making the Ypres salient and the country round Poperinghe untenable.

One of the enemy's most desperate efforts was against the French holding the Loere village, below Seherpenberg. There were distinguished visitors, including kings and princes, who formally watched the British shelling Wytsehaete. Tin enemy's storm troops three times attacked Locfe on Friday, and were flung back with heavy casualties. In the fourth attempt, with fresh reserves, he entered tht ruins of the village, the French falling back. They delivered a counter-attack early on Saturday, recap turing the Village. The Germans have made little progress since capturing Mt Kemmel on Thursday. Broken in fight iiig quality are some of their most renowned regiments, which must be taken out to reorganise.

THE CQST COUNTED,

LUDENDORFF'S AIM. NO SIGN OF GERMAN SLACKENING Received April 29, 7.30 p.m. Times Service. London, April 28. General von Ludendorff, having under taken to crush the British and reach the Channel with losses not exceeding one and n half million casualties, lias already consumed a measurable proportion, with still twenty-five miles to go to reacli Dunkirk. Nevertheless, it will be idle tc deny that there is not the smallest sign of the Germans yet slackening or regard ing their resources of men as limited, foi boys of seventeen are being mustered.

CONTINUOUS FIGHTING,

VILLAGES CHANGE HANDS. GERMANS MASSING AGAIN NEAR KEMMEL. < Times Service. Received April 29, 11.5 p.m. London, April 29. Mr. Robinson says: No operations on a large scale have occurred during the past 48 hours, though there has been continuous fighting in the Kemmel area whereof the chief centres are Metteren Locre and Voormezeelc. Each changed hands more than once. Generally the results favor us.

The Australians are figliting splendidly around Metteren. Everybody is loud in their praise, while they are modest themselves. They worked their way intc the very outskirts, which were toe strohgly held and full of machine guns for direct attack, but Australian parties had been scouring the neighborhood and cleverly working, they perceptibly pushed back the Germans along this sector of the front.

Since the enemy occupied Locre, the French have driven them out again and again. Apparently the Germans still partly hold the place. Fighting is going on with similar oscillation at Voormezeele, and also in a wood southwards, where the Scotsmen in a heavy attack flung the enemy back.

We have taken a considerable numbei of prisoners. Some are notably despondent concerning the offensive, and theii morale is evidently bad. This varies with different units, and depends upon the amount of hammering suffered before capture. Very hard struggles in the Kemme' area are still expected. New German divisions continue to come up, and then is a prodigious number of guns now massed on both sides of the roads and the villages in the rear, which are being continuously Bhelled. The Germain shelled all the successive heights behind Kemmel and the townlets beyond. They drenched the Ypres ruins with gas. It is dreadful to see new places gradually drawn into the sphere of desolation, peaceful lands being torn with hits, and villages pounded to dust. Meanwhile there is fierce and almosl continuous ftghting about Givenchy.

WEARING DOWN THE ENEMY.

GENERAL FOOTS STRATEGY.

Received April 30,12.10 a.m.

Paris, April 29. A high military authority, interviewed said the present phase of the battle if expected to continue for three weeks General Foch's strategy is unshaken, hie planß being to thoroughly wear down the Germans before he launches his main counter-offensive.

A FURIOUS BOMBARDMENT.

ON SOMME SECTORS. Received April 30, 12.10 a.m. London, April 29. A French communique states: There i: a furious bombardment at Villers Breton Ineux, on Luce and west of Noyon.

VOORMEZEELE REGAINED. suaiiysi'uij UAUK London, April Sir Douglas Ilaig reports: The enemy captured Voorniezeole last evening, but a counter-attack parly in the inslit drove out the enemy, who re-attacked later in tin; same louality. 'l'here was ioeal fiiilitina' nil nijjil on bolli sides of (lie Vprcs-C'oiuines canal. We made raids south',vard of (lavrellc and Lens aiul in tile Hill Ttl sector. We repulsed an attempted raid northward ■of Bailleul. Reciprocal artillery five on the battle-front is active.

RESISTANCE GATHERING STRENGTH.

ENEMY DIFFICULTIES INCREASING London April 2S. The military critics find satisfaction in the fact that the Germans are not progressing rapidly past Kemmel. The enemy will find his difficulties increasing if he endeavors to continue his thrust directly westward, encountering the next height in the chain, namely, Mont-des-Cats, where there is a Trappist Monastery.

It is more likely that the enemy will endeavor to advance in n north-easterly direction, which movement will make Ypres untenable, but our resistance, like a butler, is becoming stronger as it is pressed back. The Australians and New Zealamlers know every inch of this country, Practically the whole Australian and New Zealand forces raided and fought many months past along the line which is now in the enemy's hand 9 between Armentieres and Ypres.

DRAWING THE ALLIES RESERVES.

LUDENDORFF'S LITTLE GAME. GERMANS FINDING THE WAY HARD. Received April 29, 5.5 p.m. Paris, April 2R. Marcel Hutin says that General von Ludendorff is manoeuvring to draw the Allies' reserves to the points he selects. General Focli is unlikely to be caught in that way. Flanders in secondary in relation to the battle as a whole. Ludendorff is concentrating masses elsewhere while trying to attract our reserves towards Flanders.

Other critics dwell 011 the importance of the recapture of Loere, which commands several roads.

The situation at one time was such that it became a question of having recourse to indentation to impede the enemy advance. At present this is unnecessary. The Germans have not found the way so easy as expected after the capture of Kemmel, •

A French communique reports: There was violent artillerying during the night north of Avre, between Lassigny and Noyon. We made two successful raids north of the Chemin des Dames, and repulsed attempts north-west of Rheims sectors by St. Mihiel, Luneville, and Bois le Pretre.

SITUATION RE-ESTABLISHED

YPRES MAY BE ABANDONED. Reuter Service. Received April 29, 5.5 p.m. Paris, April 28. A! semi-official statement confirms the report that the French have now extended their front northward as far as Villers Bretonneux, and says the situation has been re-established south, while it is hourly improving in the north. The Journal declares it is questionable whether the retention of the ruios of Ypres is desirable, as it does not affect the security of Dunkirk or Calais, the defences of which have gained in depth and found points of support 011 the Yser at Poperinghe, Mont Cassel, Hazebrouek. The barrier is now sufficiently strong to stop the German rush.

THE GHASTLY LOSSES,

AROUSE A FEELING AGAINST MILITARISM. Received April 29, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, April 2S. Latest advices from Germany indicate that the ghastly losses in the Western offensive are arousing a feeling against militarism. The newspaper Tyd's correspondent, in Germany, referring to the position in Holland, says it will depend on the course of events how far the reaction against the increased powers of militarists will make itself felt. As the extent of the huge sacrifices in the West becomes known it evokes everywhere fresh disquiet. When the energetic participation of the Americans falsifies the Government prophecy that submarines will prevent the transport of Americans' popular disappointment will assume sharper form. German newspapers reflect the deep impression that the Zeebrugge raid made. All assume the attack will be repeated on a greater scale. Count Reventlow praises the sreat and extraordinary bravery of the British.

MARQUIS ARRESTED FOR TREASON

Paris, April 28. The Marquis de Quevilley has been arrested for treason and espionage. He served for several years in the shipyards, notably with Gatibet, the submarine inventor. It is alleged that ho sent submarine plans to Germany, enabling them to build a similar vessel. It is alleged that the Marquis for some years was in Krupp's pay and frequently visited Kiel before the war.

IN THE YPRES SECTOR. UlUTiiSll LINE .-UIiADJI'STJiD. Received April 30, 12.10 a,in. London, April 2!). Mr i'ercival l'hilliys confirms the state' :mt'iit Hint (lie Hritiali line has been re adjusted in the Vpres sector. LOCAL ENGAGiaiKNTS. Received April 20, 7.30 p.m. London, April 28. Sir Douglas Haig reports: A hostile attnek developed this afternoon in tin neighborhood of Locre. Otherwise then have been only local engagements. Tin enemy heavily bombarded positions ii the Ypres sector. There were only twe [flights yesterday, owing to the fog. Wc downed two enemy machines.

A GERMAN REPORT. London, April 28. A wireless German evening official message reports: The English abandoned further parts of Flanders. \Ve reached a line south-westward of Langemarok, Verlorenboek, Hooge, Zillebekc.