AMERICANS ANXIOUS TO FIGHT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 165, 2 April 1918, Page 5

AMERICANS ANXIOUS TO FIGHT

DESIRE TO BE ENGAGED IN PRESENT BATTLE TROOPS MARCHING TO THE FRONT i Paris, March 31. | During a conference between General Petaui, M. Clemenceau, and Gen- ! eral Foch on March 24, General Pershing (Commander of the American troops in France), approached General Foch and said: "I come to uay that ■ America will bo greatly honoured if our troops are engaged in the present battle. Wo ask this favour in our own and our country's name. The only question at the present moment is to iiglit. All wo possess is at your disposal. The Americans will ho proud to participate in the greatest battle iD history."—Aus.-N.Z.' Cable Assn. (Rec. April 1, 11.45 p.m.) Paris, March 31. It is reported that American troops are marching to reinforce the French and British.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BRITISH COURAGE EXTOLLED BY FRENCH OFFICERS TIMELY INTERVENTION OF FRENCH TROOPS. Paris, March 31. French officers speak in glowinsr terms of the stubborn courage of the j British. One describes how, when General retain thrust in his troops, the ! British were outnumbered by four to one. Tho French colonels told their i troops of the seriousness of the position of their bravo British friends, who j were in danger of being overwhelmed. The one anxiety of the Poilus was: j "Shall we get there in time?" When they crossed tho edge of the Oise '. Plateau the French found themselves in the midst of a hand-to-hand struggle j between the Germans and the British. The newcomers deployed and got among . the British. No orders were necessary. The English and French charged, and j though sometimes fighting eight to one, forced back the Germans, and the ! original positions were temporarily von back. The Germans resumed tho • battle at 4 o'clock in the morning, without artillery preparation. Ten times \ in rapid succession the waves of men .swept forwards; and ten times .they j were hurled back in disorder. Twice the British cavalry, who made a splen- j did spectacle, intervened, charged the enemy masses with superb contempt for ; death, and broke up the German column. Tho Allies, who had withstood the j terrible assault, then saw French reserves coming up with magnificent ardour '; and eager for the fray.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMAN CLAIMS OF GUN CAPTURES IMPOSSIBLE. ; (Roc. April ], 9 p.m.) : London', March 31. It is authoritatively stated that tho German claims of gun captures are ; impossible. Under 600 guns were on the front (presumably in the advanced j front),—United Service. POWERFUL GERMAN THRUST TOWARDS AMIENS | EXPECTED. ■ - \ i London, March 31. ! There is intense activity behind the German lines. Apparently a whole- j sale exchange of divisions is being made. Many signs indicate that the Ger- -i man celebration of Easter will take tho form of a powerful thrust towards ; Amiens by the most direct route. It is not expected that tho Allied com- j manders will tako the initiative until this new strong effort has been broken. ' —"The Times." . ! VILLAGES CAPTURED BY THE GERMANS. ; i (Rec. April 1, 11.45 p.m.) : London, March 31. '•; The Germans have captured Achicourt (? Acheville) and other villages ; in the Arras neighbourhood, also Aubvfllers, in tho neighbourhood of Mont- I didier.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. j GERMANS CONSIDERED TO HAVE VIRTUALLY LOST THE ■ BATTLE. i Undon, March 31. The battleline covers seventy miles. . The general feeling in London and ! Paris is that the Germans have virtually lost the battle.—Reuter. MESSAGE FROM JAPANESE MINISTER FOR WAR COMPLETE BELIEF IN ANGLO-FRENCH TROOPS' FINAL VIC- ' TORY. i London, March 31. ! Official.-—The Japanese Minister for War (General Oshima) has telegraph- ; ed to Lord Derby: "I cannot but admire the gallant stand of tho English and j French troops against the enemy's reckless onslaught with superior strength. ; I rely on the bravery of the Anglo-French troops, and I completely believe in ; their final victory." Lord Derby replied i on behalf of tho British Army: "I : hasten to express the sincerest thanks ot the King for your message. We ate j grateful for this further mark of interest and sympathy. The fact that the ' gallant stand of the French and British armies is appreciated by our \ Japanese Allies will be an incentive to even further efforts."—Aus.-N.Z. ■[ Cable Assn.-Reuter.' BOMBARDMENT OF PARIS CONTINUED ! Paris, March 31. A French official'message states: "The German long-range gun continued : to bombard the region of Paris in tho daytime to-day. Eight persons were , killed, including four women, and thirty-seven were injured, including nine .: women and soven children.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Rcuter. i