WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

HINDENBURGS WORST DAY. SINCE OFFENSIVE COMMENCED. MAGNIFICENT FRENCH DASH. GERMANS DRIVEN INTO A POCKET. Received May 1, 5.5 p.m. London, April 30 (4.30 p.m.). Tim United Press correspondent states that yesterday was one of Von Hindenburg's worst days sinee the commencement of the offensive. The French, with magnificent dash, recovered the whole of Locre and the Locre Hospice, eastward of Mont Rouge, putting the enemy into a nasty pocket at the cross roads known as Hyde Park Corner. It is doubtful if the Germans still hold the cross roads. General von Marsehall's attempt against the Belgians astride the YpresStaden railway yesterday puahed in some outposts, but was thwarted on the main line in the vicinity of the canal. The Britsli 25th, 49th, and 21st Divisions further south repulsed ten attacks. The 25th alone smashed three by 10 o'clock and four by noon. The French stopped approximately the same number.

BATTLE FOR THE HEIGHTS. FRUITLESS ENEMY EFFORTS. London, April 30. Mr. Percival Phillips writes that tlie three days' lull preceding to-day's attack were obviously due to the interchange of German divisions, the rearrangement of artillery and the necessity of carefully planning the nest step in the offensive against the coast. It in apparent that the enemy cannot afford to hold the line on Kemmel while we hold the neighboring heights. Ho must have them without delay. Locre was the first, of to-day's objectives. The enemy gained ground oa the plain, but was unable to push beyond the village. The French counterattacked in the morning and restored the original line. The Belgians, though hard-pressed, gave no ground. The enemy here is confronted by marshes, making movement difficult and costly. The Germans are pressing the attack everywhere with the greatest determination. During the early fighting around the canal eastward of Voormezeele, the enemy tried to drive northwards, but completely failed. The Borderers repelled four attacks before 11 o'clock in the morning, not giving a foot of ground. The Germans made an effort to drive a wedge between Scherpenberg and Mont Rouge, and reached the cross-roads northward of Locre, but the French drove them back. The enemy's artillery fire was more intense than in the previous attacks. Evidently new heavy batteries have come into position.

DISASTROUS GERMAN DEFEAT THE BLOODSEST HAY HITHERTO. London, April 30. Correspondents agree that the Germans suffered nothing less than a disastrous defeat in the first phase of the battle consequent on their desperate attempt to capture the line of Ilills, the Allied hold of which endangers their possession of Mont Kemmel. They probably used thirteen divisions from east of Ypres southwards, with two more north. The violence of the gunfire on both sides was never greater, and the successful defence made the day the bloodiest hitherto for the enemy, as attack after attack was smashed. The Germans had already suffered heavily on Sunday, when their concentrations of troops were caught and shattered by gunfire. Their waves yesterday were mowed down, and the British wings and French centre neither broke nor bent. ALLIED LINE ADVANCED. London, April 30. The Allied line has been advanced between La Clytte and Mont Kemmel, and has made some progress in the south. THE RECAPTURE OF LOCRE. London, April 30. Sir Douglas Haig reports: French counter-attacks yesterday afternoon and evening drove the enemy from the remainder of the ground he had gained in the morning in the neighborhood of Locre, and they took a number of prisoners. We secured the whole village, after a heavy repulse had been inflicted on the enemy. The night was comparatively quiet on the northern battle front. Our line was advanced slightly duringthe night eastward of Villers Bretonneux. BRAVE AMERICAN GIRLS. Washington, April 30. The United Press correspondent on., the French front says that sixteen American girls from Smith College have become heroines. During the recent fighting they succoured refugees under shellfire. SOCIALISTS' PATRIOTISM. Paris, April 30. The French Socialist Party has issued a manifesto stating that it has decided not to hold demonstrations on May Day. The manifesto says that the German Imperialists aro seeking to secure a crushing victory in the West similar to that in the East; therefore the primary duty of all citizens is to defend the country. AMERICANS DECORATED. New York, April 30. A correspondent at the American front reports that 122 Americans have been decorated with the Croix de Guerre for bravery at Apremont.