WORLD'S GREATEST RUSH STOPPED.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1918, Page 5

WORLD'S GREATEST RUSH STOPPED.

FOCH KEEPS THE MAJORITY OF RESERVES UNUSED. Reuter Service. Received May 2, 5.5 p.m. Paris, May 1. Le Matin says the greatest rush in history has been stopped, though General Foch keeps the majority of his reserves unused. Received May 2, 5.5 p.m. London, May 1, A French communique reports: There is a fairly lively bombardment north of Montdidier. j STIRRING INCIDENTS. HOW THE GUARDS KEPT BACK THE FOE. FIGHT TO THE LAST GASP. Received May 2, 11.15 pjtt. London, May 2. The lull in the fighting enables correspondents to describe the stirring incidents of April's battles. Mr. Philip Gibbs, reveals the fact that the Australians relieved the Guards on April 14, after the Germans had penetrated the Portuguese line and widened the gap between Armentieres and Merv*ille, 'gaining the crossings of the Lys River. The Grenadier, Irish and Cdldstream Guards advanced on the HazebrouckEstaires Road when the situation was at its worst, and when our 15th Division had outfought themselves by continuous rearguard actions until they were hardly able to walk or stand.

The Guards had to hold the enemy at all costs for 48 hours until the Australians arrived. They did it, although greatly outnumbered. Fjghting in separate bodies, and the enemy pressing both flanks, they beat bade attack after attack, and gained vital hours by the noblest self-sacrifice. A Grenadier Guards officer sent back a message that the men were standing back to back, shooting on all sides. The Germans swung round on them, encircling them, machine guns and rifles pouring in a fire until only eighteen were left. These, standing among the wounded, fixed bayonets and drove through the enemy. A wounded corporal reported that when lie last saw the company there were only fourteei fighting among a swarm of Germans. The Coldstreams fought similarly, eking out hours with their lives. A private remained at an outpost until every one of his comrades was killed or wounded, and for twenty minutes kept back the Germans with his rifle until a bomb killed him.

The Irish also bought time at a high price, and were still fighting hard when the Australians arrived, according to time-table.

BRITISH CAPTURES. OVER 5000 IN APRIL. Received May 2, 5.5 p.m. London, May 1. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The enemy artillery is active against the back areas in the neighborhood of Betlmne, and also heavily shelled the French positions at Locre. Otherwise there were only local encounters. We took ICBI prisoners during March, of whom 59 were officers. During April we captured 5241, including 136 officers. These- figures are exclusive of the French captures. THE NEW ZEALANDERS. DOING USEFUL WORK. Wellington, Last Night. A cable message received by Sir Jas. Allen, through the Governor-General, states that the New Zealand division moved out of the Somme area on 21st March and came into action about Hamel and Hebuterne on tho 20th. It repulsed four German attacks on 27tb, 28th, and lilst March. The first brigade and part of the third brigade attacked and captured a commanding ridge north of the Scire road, and took 290 prisoners and 110 machine-guns. Un April 5 the division repulsed a heavy attack on the whole of its front. RAIDS ON ENEMY POSTS. GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED. London, May 1. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We repulsed an attack on a post in the neighborhood of St. Julien, and rushed the enemy posts in tho Meteren sector, taking a number of prisoners. The French improved their positions in the neighborhood of Loerc. A French communique says: There was a violent bombardment in the region of Hangard. 'A German attack in the sector of Noyon was resisted, and, after heavy righting, we ejected the enemy from the- advanced elements where his first nish had gained a footing. We have now re-established the line. LEAVE AT THE FRONT. Reuter Service. Received May 2, 7.30 p.m. Renter Service. London, May 1. In the House of Commons Mr. MacPherson, replying to Mr. Watt, said that although all leave in France was at present suspended, Sir Douglas Haig would sympathetically consider the granting of leave to men sent to France after serving three years in Gallipoli, Egypt, and Palestine.