WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 May 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

TERRIFIC ATTACKS ON AISNE.

BATTLE CONTINUES DESPERATELY. amCIAL REPORTS.

ENEMY GAINS INITIAL ADVANTAGE. Paris, May 28. Semi-official:—The enemy ha 9 gained an initial advantage in the new battle north of the Aisne. The battle continues desperately. While Allied troops are contesting the ground foot by foot, our reserves are arriving and will prevent the enemy exploiting his first success and hold him on the final line of resistance. M. Clemenceau, conversing with deputies, indioated that this battle was only a diversion, and the main attack was still to come. —Reuter. London, May 28 (1.35 p.m.). Sir Douglas Haig reports:—Late on Monday the enemy crossed the Aisne westward of the British sector and compelled our left to fall back. The enemy is developing his attacks with great strength on the whole of the Aisne battle-front- —Aus.-N.Z. Oaible Assoc.

Sir Douglas Haig reports:—The enemy maintained continuous pressure all day on Monday against the British Aiane front, and severe fighting continues on the whole front of the British sector. On the right the 21st Division i s in touch with the French, and held its battlepositions all day, and successfully withstood enemy attempts to advance in the centre and loft of the sector.

The Bth. 15th, and "25th Divisions put Up a determined resistance and maintained the second line positions until a late hour, when the weight of hi s attacks carried the enemy across the Aiane westward of tho British sector, towards the eAd of the dayj compelling our left flank to fall baclc.

Local fighting has recommenced on the Lvs front eastward of Dfckebusch Lake. We made guooessful raids elsewhere, yielding prisoners. CORRESPONDENTS' REPORTS. situation in Flanders SATISFACTORY. London, May 28 (4.15 p.m.). The United Press correspondent reports that while the French and British were battling heavily on the heights above the Aisne Valley, comparative quiet reigned along the northern part of the line. The exception was south-eastward of Ypres, where tho French and British counter-attacks to-day have already practically regained all the ground won by the enemy's initial onset yesterday, thereby thwarting General von Arnim's aims.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc. London, May 28. I.'miter's correspondent at British headquarters says:—When the battle died down in the evening of the 27th the situation on the right and in the centre of our front remained practically as 'before Northwards, between La Clytte and Dickebusoh Lake, where the French left rested on the British flank, the German* wore still in possession of a small length of the front line. The night was fairly quiet. Nowhere north of the Somme has the. enemy renewed the heavy bosnbardment. The French and British again were heavily engaged at daylight this morning east of Dickebusch. Tho issue of yesterday s battle in Flanders may be regarded with complete Satisfaction. The Germans practically attained nothing, while their casualties were of the heaviest.—Reuter. London, May 28. Mr. Pereival Phillips writes:—Simultaneously with the heavy assault on the French and British westward of Rheima this morning, the enemy started himself hetweeen Ypres and the Somme. This I is suggestive of the imminence of greater events. Before daybreak the enemy let loose a portion of his hewly-maesed artillerv against the British on both sides of Arras and the old battlefield defences, thence to the Ancre and Somme valleys, but no infantry action followed. The German attack against the French between Locre and the Yser flats appears to be a local operation, though 'had the French given way the enemy would doubtless have been ready to exploit the situation.—Aua.-N.Z*. Cable Assoc.

RIVIHR CROSSING FORCED. London, May 28. The Germans are developing terrific attacks along the Aisne front, and have forced a passage across the Aisne River, ■between Berry-au-Bac and Vailly. The British and French are counterattacking south of Dickebuseh lake. Amsterdam, May 28. The Telegraaf's frontier correspondent say a that Mackensen and his staff have arrived in the neighborhood of Antwerp. Paris, May 28. The long-range gun killed three people and wounded 14, but did little damage. —AUS.-N.Z. Cable Assoc. FRENCH LOSSES. GERMAN CLAIMS. Received May 29, 2.35 p.m. London, May 28. The Standard states that the Germans have made further progress against the French, who suffered considerable losses and prisonersNew York, May 28. A Berlin message claims the captore of fifteen thousand prisoners.—United ServiceAMERICANS EXPEL GERMANS. Washington, May 28. A communique from the Amrican front in Picardy states: —German infantry detachments suoceeded in penetrating our advanced positions at two points. American troops counter-attacked, expelling thorn and entering the German lines.— Au».-NJZ. Cable Amoe^

THE CHAMPAGNE ATTACK. Enemy Advances Five Miles. British Guarding Rheims. Receive.! May 29, 11.15 p.m. Lor>in, May 2S (S.4u p.m.). The Champagne attack has developed into a great offensive. The enemv crossed- the Aisne on a front of 18 miles. The advance averages five miles on a front of 25 miles. New troops ale constantly arrivin". The British are guarding Rheims.— United Service. THE ALLIED LINE. Maintained At All Points. The Battle Developing With Sustained Violence." Wellington, last Night. The High Commissioner reports from London, May 88, 8.10 p.m.: Sir Douglas Haig reports that the French and British this morning counter-attacked ' and re-established their line eastward of Diekebusch Lake. Yesterday four Germ,-.;, divisions lost heavily, and the Allied line was maintained at all points. The High Commissioner reports from London on May 2D, at 12.20 a.m.: French official: Counter-attacks on our left arrested the German advance in the centre.

A battle is developing witli sustained violence on the Laverles line, which the Germans crossed at several points, notably in the region of Bazoches and Fismes.

West of Montdidier the Americans, supported by tanks, carried a front of two kilometres.

FRESH ENEMY FORCES. EiNABLE AISNE TO BE CROSSED. Received May 29, 5.45 p.m. London, May 28 (4.40 p.m.). A French communique states: Thanks to the arrival of fresh enemy forces, the Germans, on the night of the 27th, succeeded in crossing the Aisue, between Yailly and Berry-au-Bac. The Franco-British troops, facing air enemy numerically superior, have continued gradually to withdraw. Tha battle continues violently between the fivers Vesles and Aisne, in the region of the plateaux, in the rear whereof our reserves are arriving. There has been fairly lively reciprocal artillerying in the Ohampadgne, on the right bank of the Mouse and at Woevre. A strong coup-de-main against our positions at the Chamibrettes sector broke down under fire.—Aus.-N-Z. Cable Assocand Reuter. A SUPREME EFFORT. COMMENTS ON THE OFFENSIVE. London, May 28. The Germans gains in Champagne have proved very serious, and a continuation of the offensive is expected. Though French correspondents insist that the Germans have made huge sacrifices in order to secure the gains, they do not minimise the importance of the enemy's success. Commentators claim that Ihe Crown Prince attempted to Qireak through, the first day's results falling far short of his programme, but they agree that the evacuation of the territory gained by General Nivelle in 1917 is a disappointment and surprise.

M. Hutin says:—"Certainly the blow had been hard and the recoil important, but it is better to retreat to secure the Aisne defence rather than defend the Chemin-des-f)ames at heavy cost. 5 ' M. Hutin thinks that the Germans are now making a supreme effort. General Foeh's greatest care must be safeguarding his armies by the judicious use of the reserves The Allied line was thinly held, and a retreat early in the day bocame inevitable. Commentators point out that the Germans inevitably secure early results in the offensive, but Foch has never failed to stabilise the situation. Colonel Maurice, in the Daily Chronicle, expresses the opinion that the Crown Prince's attack has rather the appearance of a preparatory blow than of a grea/t effort intended to produce great results. For some distance behind the thirty-mile front attacked the AngloFrench hold nothing vital, and have room to give way without serious consequences. } The famoois heights of Craonne and the Chemin-des-Daines are of great local I value, because they command the entire i Ailette Valley, and their loss would be inconvenient, but the Germans would ad--1 vanc6 into highly defensible country to the strong line of the Aisne. The Germans profbably reckon that General Foch j will try hard to keep the Chemin-des-Dames. and also Scherpenberg ■ therefore, they hope to draw in more of General Foch's reserves before they strike a great blow. Nothing yet indicates that the enemy's j main reserves are moving, tut if he | gains a considerable success now he may ! throw in reserves for a groat blow.— i Aus.-N Z. Oaible Assoc. MENDING THE LINE. LABOR CORPS' FINE STAND. HOW AMIENS WAS SAVED. The following narrative by Mr. Hamilton Fyfe refers to the feats of General SaajLemann-Oarey's improvised force in stopping a gap in the British line at a Vritical moment. j The story begins on the sixth day of ■the battle—Tuesday, March 26. After the Germans had enterad Albert on the

north of the Somme and Rove on the pouth, and were advancing rapidly along the river itself, there was a perilously weak sector In our front. This sector began at the river near Sailly-Laurette, and extended south-westerly down to about the little stream called the Luce. It was urgent that it should bo strengthened, but I believe there was a difficulty in finding troops immediately available for the purpose. There was no time to lose. If we had not been so strong in the air tliAt we kept the German aeroplanes from scouting over our lines and discovering our \veak spot, the enemy might have been pouring through already. Next day lie would certainly push, forward patrols to test our strength, would find a chance to get through, and would at cm.ce take advantage of it. At 2 a.m. orders were given for creating a composite force and employing it to strengthen the line running through H'ame to the wood of Ilangard until the French relief appeared. This could not he expected for at least three days, probably more, and the troops to be sent would of necessity be a scratch lot. But they were Englishmen, and they would be told how much depended upon them. There was no doubt in anybody's mind that they would hold on grimly so long as breath remained in their bodies. First, it was necessary to appoint a commander. He must be a man of energy, initiative, rapid decision; also one who would give the men confidence in his leadership. These qualities were found in. an artillery general, and the emergency unit was named after him. A FORCE CONSTITUTED. Before dayliglut the rounding-up of men for the new force had begun- The labor battalions in the neighborhood were called upon, and in every caee responded with alacrity. There was an infantry training sdiool at hand. This furnished a respectable contingent both of officers and men, electricians and signallers,, Royal Engineer field companies, and a party of United States engineers. Men engaged in all the various jobs which have to be done behind the lines were quickly made up into companies and battalions.

By noon they were ready to march, and at two o'clock in the afternoon they had already started digging scratch positions for themselves, machine-gun emplacements, and so forth. I should have mentioned that some fifty troopers from a cavalry regiment were allotted to the Force, which henceforth is spelt with a capital F, and that it was given some guns, but these guns it had to yield up again immediately. There was even greater need of them elsewhere. M was not until it had been in the field for some little time that the Force was able to get artillery. As soon as they had it they certainly used it to good advantage. To that I can bear witness from seeing the batteries at work, but in the beginning it was the men who held the enemy back with their bodies and with the fine British spirit of them, and under their active commander secured the situation so far as this particular peril was concerned- But for them the enemy might have pushed through into Amiens. _ RENT, BUT N)OT BROKEN. The attacks upon this port of the front were frequent and vigorous, but the scratch battalions fought stubbornly, and though they had to yield some ground they made the enemy pay dearly for it. Nor was any tiling gained by the. Germans in the way of territory, in spite of their efforts. Once our men were in a hard place. The largo forces .pressed them back, so that,their line bent southwestward of Villers-Bre-tonncux, eight miles and three-quarters east of AmiensNot being seasoned troops—most, of them, indeed, not having had any experience of this kind before— they could not have been severely blamed if they had broken under the fierce pressure. They did nothing of the sort. They did bi?gin to fall ba«k, but fighting all the time, and, luckily, ait this critical moment other British troops, cavalry and infantry, were sent to help them. Thus the line was restoredI chanced upon the Force after it had been "sticking it" for four days. The men were in good heart; the batteries were pounding the Germans most effectively on the skyline; stretcher-bearers could be seen at their devoted work somewhere albout the battlefield. The general was riding round looking for himself to see how things were going and encouraging his men. All his improvised staff arrangements were working admirably. A very capable younji man whom I had known before in the more ornamental capacity of A.D.C. got the chance of his life and seemed to be making good use of it. The Force was then looking for relief. Not long after that relief came, and with it the necessity of keeping the Force together passed*. It had done its work. The line had been held. The battalions hastily scraped up and thrown together had proved that the confidence placed in them was justified They broke lip again and dissolved into the former elements. But the record of their pluck and resolution must not be lost.

BOMBARDMENT OF PARIS.

GERMAN LONG-RANGE GUNS. CITY NOT PERTURBED. Paris was frankly puzzled when the bombardment of the city by a German long-range gun was commenced. At 7.25 on a Saturday morning several dull reports were heard in quick succession, but these caused no apprehension, as it was generally understood from the intentional explosion of quantities of grenades which had been damaged in the catastrophe at La Courneuve and which the authorities decided was wise to destroy as the best means of avoiding possible disaster in the future. FTom eight o'clock onward, however, other explosions continued to be heard at regular intervals of a quarter of an hour, and these the authorities soon determined could have no possible connection - with the destruction of grenades at La Courneuve. At 9.15, therefore, fire engines were sent out to sound the usual siren Ularm to notify the inhabitants that another air raid was impending. Some curious scenes were witnessed in all parts of iP&ris. The alarm had been given at the moment when thousands of working people, shop assistants and typists were in the act of leaving the railway stations for their places of business, and, warned by previous experience, the vast majority immediately,

bolted for the nearest underground shelters, of which there are now several thousand in the city. The tradespeople, who had barely opened their doors, instantly pulled down their iron shutters. Trains on the Metro. , were brought to a standstill, and everywhere omnibuses and tramcars stopped dead in the streets. Loud explosions of bombs or other projectiles were heard at regular intervals of a quarter of an hour. After the first hour or so numbers of people began to reappear in the streets, and the balconies and windows on the . boulevards were lined with faces, all turned eagerly towards the sky in search of the assailants. To the universal mystification there was no sign of an aeroplane of any description. SAID TO BE AUSTRIAN GUN. It was a lovely spring morning, with bright sunshine and warm light, westerly wind, and before long joyous parties of young people emerged from the cellars and began promenading the boulevards in true Parisian fashions. Every quarter of an hour for six hours the report of a falling bomb or Bhell was heard with the regularity of clockwork from 8.20 till 2.30. A little procession of young people paraded the boulevards shouting "Vive la semain anglaise" in recognition of the unexpected holiday which had arrived. When the Temps appeared soon after four o'clock the population were electrified to read an official communique stating that the explosions of the morning were .dtift to the fp.ct that the Germans had been bombarding Paris with a. long-range camion, which had fired 10-inch shell upon the capital and suburbs every quarter of an hour, and that there had been a dozen people killed and fifteen injured. The Temps only added to the universal astonishment that the nearest point of the enemy line is more than sixty miles from Paris.

The gun is believed to be an Austrian gun of 240 millimetres calibre, and every shell discharged must co3t £BO. Twenty-four shells were sent into (Paris, at a rate of one every 20 minutes, and the day's bombardment therefore cost £1920. The mystery may be explained in two ways, says the journal, either by the employment of a secret mechanical device or by the use of an explosive of an expansive power hitherto unknown. The mechanical device might be any of various kinds. One can imagine a shell in some way dividing in two in" the course of its journey, and at a given moment releasing a new projectile or even a projectile with a propeller; enabling it to continue its journey when it is no longer driven by the projecting force from the gun. Again, it is possible to conceive an altogether original ballistic method, such as a machine using simply centrifugal force. The employment of an explosive infinitely more powerful than any yet in use is quite possible, for we are far from having found the maximum of explosive "force which it is possible to reach. CANNON INVENTED IN FRANCE. The Echo de Paris rec.lls ih».t a French professor last year submitted to the French Inventions Department an impracticable invention which he had just completed, baaed on an idea conceived by a Russian. I't was intended to increase the range of guns three or even four times by the use of a special .fuse, which was to surround the shell during the whole of its fight ' with a layer of warm air, thus reducing; the resistance of the air. Thus a 240-mil!i----metre shell with an initial velocity of from 900 to 950 metres a second, would be able, it was claimed, to throw the shell nearly 100 kilometers—62J miles. The professor, whose invention was at that time rejected, is now reported to have obtained the promise of an interview with M. Clemenceau. , According to the cannon was invented in France. The paper adds: "A friend of ours, who is a technician, tells us that the projectile is grooved into its steel envelope, or cover, ,on all, or nearly all, its length. Further, it contains a second shell, which at 24 'miles from its starting point shoots out, and by means of propellors, the arrangement of which we know, may travel another 50 miles till it is spent. Of course, such a gun is soon worn out.