TROUBLESOME RIDGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 May 1918, Page 3

TROUBLESOME RIDGE.

ALPINE CORPS BROUGHT UP. BAPAUME BLASTED AWAY. London, April 23 Router's corespondent at British headquarters, writing last night, said:— This morning several minor attacks which were made against our positions on the Flanders battlefield were successfully repulsed. An attempt near Mont Kemmel only developed upon a small front, and it seems to have been completely repulsed. The Germans have brought up special mountain troops in 'i endeavour to capture the chain of hills running eastwards frpm Cassel. Among them are an Alpine corps. The officers of this corps, in a letter which has fallen into our hands, says: "We have made up I our minds to plunder again ruthlessly. In the Alpine corps we understand the business." Prisoners are expressing surprise and disquiet at the appearance of French troops in Flanders. They understood that the object of the present offensive is to separate the two armies and crush the British force, when the French, they believed, would make terms. They are now realising that the effect so far has been to consolidate the two armies to a degree that has not been witnessed since the days of Mons. The latest news from the whole of our front is that all is quiet. No news is the best news at the present time, when every day of quiet adds to our strength. The Germans are energetically repairing the roads, and bringing up large supplies of concrete slabs, which they lay like paving-stones. As soon as they are nicely set our gunners tear great craters in the smooth surface. A captured letter describing the appearance of Bapaume road pays a tribute to the devastating work of our airmen and artillery. It says that ditches are piled with corpses, and the shattered highway is strewn with debris and the carcases of horses. The road can no longer bo used. Our airmen report that Bapaume has practically ceased to exist. Indications are not lacking that the Germans ■will continue their main effort ■with a push northerly- between. Wetwwov «nd Wytesciaete.