COLONEL REPINGTON'S VIEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 9263, 8 April 1918, Page 6

COLONEL REPINGTON'S VIEWS.

LONDON, April 6. Colonel Repington states that 'the enemy's .strategic, objective remains unchanged, namely, to separate the | British and the French, to drivo the latter south and bo hold the Sonime 1 defensively against the British, cooping the British to a limited area northward and cutting them off from their Seine ha,9os. Probably an inferior German force could hold .such a position.' Colonel Repington assumes that there is now no risk of this, particularly in viow of General Foch's guarantee of the security of ' Amiens. % Colonel Rirfpingtori considers that the relietf of tho British Fifth. Army by the French was a splendid achievement and should be publicly recognised. He says that the climax of the battle is vet bo come. The Allies must expect the enemy to bring every available man in again and seek to overwhelm them, believing that success will be worth tho sacrifice- of another 300,000 men.

I VALUE. OF THE ANCKE. ! LONDON, April 6. ! Air Philip Gibbs states:—The Germans between' Albert and AvbJing [ VV ood employed six divisions on a nine • thousand yards trout, it became apparent this morning, that they had been ■ ousy during the past few days getting lup guns, uecause their barrage was j heavy and deep, extending lor some i miles behind our front. Our troops deiended tlieir positions resolutely. The i spilling of German blood goes on apace. It is obvious that if the Germans are aiming at Amiens along the Sonnue and are suiiung at the Anglo-French junction, they must cross,the Ancre north of Albert at all costs, in order to avoid an acute salient.' %v , This undoubtedly was his object in attacking there today, since the salient south of the bomme already is so dangerous. Our held guns are shooting the Germans in the baclT. it seems at present that today's action was merely a straightening process and not a drive, . winch win come later, if the straightening is suecesstul. Meanwhile we hold the enemy pmned across the Ancre and hold our Hank lirmly on the north bank of the Somme. Our men are fighting with the dogged resolution to foil the enemy's plans.;- _ .;, ;■■>■■ | i The New Zealaudcrs made .two at- 1 tacks tins morning with splendid spirit, and captured 120 men_