NO CHANGE IN THE SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 182, 22 April 1918, Page 5

NO CHANGE IN THE SITUATION

RESULTS OF ENEMY'S LATEST EFFORT REVIEWED

GERMANS' HUGE CASUALTY LIST HAS GONE

FOR NOTHING

By TeleSgra.ph-'-Press Assbciatfon-Copyrlght

a- t> ■ ,---rr : '.J " !•■ -London, April 19, 1.35 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports:"We repulsed..the. hostile attacks reported to be » progress yesterday morning south of Mount. Kemmel. Our artillery and maCMne-gnn fire brdko. up attacks in the evening in the same locality. The night was comparatively quiet on tho whole British-.front, sate for reciprocal artillery actions on the-battle-sectors;. Eegimens. of .six German divisions took ff/j fo unsuccessful--attacks yesterday-on the .Venant sector, ine fighting at biyenohy, as ekewhere, ended in tho. complete Tepulee of the l' t det * rmine a and most costly, assaults, only secured a limited ' iflT j S , at oie or t *° P° inta in our moi ß advanced defences'. Our artillery iiy. flicted heavy casualties before tho attacks opened. The enemy's losses in the ! day's fighting Were equally sevorV'-Aus.-N.Z. Cabls Assn.-Eeuter.

, . (Rec. April 21, 5.5 p.m.) c- T. i rr • ~m , London, April 19, 9i5 p.m. bir DouglasHaig reports: 'There is ho change in the situation. The enemy's artillery is active-at various points, and shelled our positions this morning in the neighbourhood of Caudescure, northward of Merville. Our artillery effectivelyengaged,enemy.troops and transport which were moving along the reads behind the Lys battlefrdnt.

"Last night we dropped nine tons oi bombs on Bapaume, Armentiores, Warneton, arid,tlra.Chaulnes. railway junction.- All our aeroplanes returned.'-lAus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. ,

(POSITIONS AT GIVENCHY AND FESTUBERT RE-ESTABLISH-

(Eec. April 21, 5.5 p.m.)

c- -n i -tt •- , ,„ . London, April 20,-2 p.m; Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Our counter-attack threw-.the enemy from- tho adTanced defences.around Givenchy and Festubert, re-establishing our positions." —•Aus.-N.Z. Cable. Assn.-Eeuter.

(Eec. April 21, 11.20 p.m.) '„.,■.. London, April £0, 9.50 p.m. &ir Douglas Ha'ig-reports: "South of Hobuterne and south of the Scarpo wo owned out successful minor advancing our lino slightly and taking thirty-seven prisoners and three macbiho-guns. .The hostile artillery is activo at Ayette and south of the La Bassee Canal.' '-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn.-Router. (Rec. April 21, 11.5 p.m.) ( . •....' London,' April 20, 10 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "We captured a few men and nine machine-guns in successful enterprises south of the Scarpo Eiver, and also repulsed a counterattack oh this sector.. In a Successful counter-attack last night the First Division threw the enemy out of points in the advanced defences around Givencliy and Festubert. gained by-him on Wednesday /at a. cost of heavy losses. We gained all our .objectives.and ..re-established our position; Wo'drove back tho attacking enemy after sharp fighting south-east of Eobecq. Despite the neathcr, 4J tons of bombs we're dropped oh the railway station at Thorout, a dump at Engel, atid other targets ■_. Onr night-fliers were most active, dropping sixteen tons over Armentieres/ Wameton, Estaires, and Bapaume, and the railway junction at Chaulnes, directly hitting four trains, one of which, judging by the explosions, was full of. ammunition. All our machines returned."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. '

FRENCH ON THE AVRE

SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS MADE

-- London, April 19, i 1.35 a.m. A French official communique states: "Wo attacked tho enemy's positions this m6rning on both sides of tho Avre, on a front of two and a half miles, between Thennes and Mailly-Eaiheval. We appreciably progressed east, of the Avre, while west of the river we carried the greater part of the Senecat' Wood, adTancing our lines to the outskirts of Baatie. To tho southward we reached the western slopes of the heights dominating the Avre. We took five hundred prisoners, including fifteen officers."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Eeuter. i SUCCESSFUL SURPRISE ATTACK. ' -~.,.' ' London, April 19, 4.10 p.is. •— otficial communique states: "There was a violent reciprocal bombardment in the Castel and llailly-Eaineval region. During the night v.e destroyed some machine-gun nests en the front of yesterday's attack. We made a successful surprise attack north of Bedonvaux.'—Aus.-N.Z. Cable AssnEeuter. (Eec. April 21, 5.5 p.m.) ■ ' , ' London, April 20. A. French official communique states: "There were no infantry actions to-day. The artillery duel was very lively in the region of Castel and Grivesnes, and on the right bank of the Meuse."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. (Eec. April 21, 11.20 p.ih.) London, April 20. A French communique states: Reciprocal artillery activity is most lively between Lassigny and .Noyon. We carried out several raids and captured prisoners. Similar enemy attacks were repulsed.. East of St. Mihiel the enemy yesterday morning delivered an attack on a front of one kilometre, near Lutcheprey, and gained a footing in some ■of our elements and advance dtrenches, but immediate counter-attacks partially drove him out. Our airment dropped four tons of bombs on the landing ground at Champion and in bivouacs in the region of Ham, Guiscard, and Noyon, on the night of April'l9-20. Seventy of our machines effectively bombed tho railway station at St. Quentin' and the railway lines in the Jussy region, also the aerodromes."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eoutei l .

THE ATTACK AND THE RESULTS

A SWIFT AND SUCCESSFUL STROKE.

(Rec, April 21, 5.5 p.m.)

London, April 19. Heuter's correspondent at French Headquarters, -writing on April 19 y says: "The French attack yesterday on the west bank of the Avre was noteworthy for Its complete and speedy success, showing that the superiority of the French infantry over tho German is still retained. It also deprived the enemy of soveral useful departure points for his next push past Hangard towards Amions, along the Luce Valley. Starting shortly after 4 o'clock, the objectives were obtained in two hours. Anchih Farm, crowning a. 3Mft. hill, with a lower height to the southward, was captured. The French line was established on or immediately below a line of crests dominating the Rouvrel-Hailles/ Road. Over eight hundred prisoners were taken, and therefore the total German casualties woro equivalent to tho entire attacking strength. Tho ground gained was about a mile on a front of three miles. That the operation was embarrassing to tho enemy is certain. Tho Germans have on a seven-mile front on this sector a mass of divisions waiting for the opportunity to push on to Amiens. Threo German divisions were engaged in yesterday's engagement."—Renter. HEAVY BOMBARDMENT BY THE FRENCH BATTERIES New York, April 19. The United Press Agency's correspondent on tho French front says tho French aro heavily bombarding the Gorman lines on a fifty-six-milo front in tbv Sommo and Oise sectors— Aus,-N.tf. Cable At>m.

OPERATION SMALL BUT OF GREAT VALUE. (Rec. April 21, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 20. The "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent at tho French i'vonl says: - "Yesterday's attack was only a small operation, but it pushed forward our lino on a four-mile front, about half a milo on the loft, and one and a half miles on the right, tints improving' the position on tho Avro and' bit the roads between Amiens and the Somme, also enabling us to dominate the Avro crossing up to Moreuil."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FRESH POINTS OF ACTIVITY (Rec, April 21, 5.5 p.m.) ■ London, April 20,' 4.35 p.m. Renter's correspondent at British Headquarters states: "There is more Activity south of Arras, where yesterday morning we succeeded in advancing our lilies over fifteen hundred yards on a front eastward of Beaurains. Last night the enemy delivered a heavy assault from the direction of Telegraph Hill. This ■was repulsed after hard fighting. Tho bombardment so pounded our 1 new trenches that we decided to withdraw to the line we held yesterday morning. The enemy heavily 6helled Bailleul AVood. There is also a general increase in the artillery activity in the Scarps Valley."—Renter. CONGRATULATIONS TO A GALLANT CORPS. (Rec. April 21, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 20. The Press Bureau states: "Sir Douglas Haig lias congratulated LieutenantGeneral Holland and all ranks of tho First Army' Corps, on the gallant and successful way in which all the enemy's attacks wero repulsed yesterday."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reiiter. fSir Arthur Edward Aveling'Holland, C.8., M.Y.0., "D.5.0., was promoted to hfe. present, rank of lientonarit-seiiertfl this year. When war broke out lie was Commondiint (it the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich In Septemljer, 19M, he became brigadier-general, Royal Artillery, Bth Division, which, . after the first Battle of Ypres, went to the front to complete Sir Henry Rawlinson's corps, and 6ervetl with distinction in the battle near Fromelles, in May, 1915. For distinguished services he was created C.B. in 1915- and promoted majorgeneral early in 3916. He ,'as knighted in January, 1918.1 OUR LINES MORE SECURE THAN FOR DAYS. (Rec. April 21, 11.10 p.m.) ' . , Ottawa, April 20. Dispatches from Europe say' that thr British lines aro now more secure than they have been for days.—Aus.-N.Z. Cn.ble Assn. THE GERMAN REPORT (Rec. April 21, 5.5 p.m.),-. • ■ . i London, April 20. A wireless German official report states: "We Tepulsed stroflg attacks against Wytechaete. Our fire caused the heaviest 'losses whilst, the attackers were ' assembling. As the result, of our infantry's thrust north-west of Bethune we captured some guns. Fighting flucliial.es at Festubert arid Giverichy. We took prisoner over six hundred. In a bitter stuggle at Morisel and ii'loreuil we sanguinarily drove back strong French attacks."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ' GERMANY'S RESERVE STRENGTH IN THE WEST. * Washinnton, April 1!). British military officials estimate that. Germany has still 840,000 fresh troops on the West front.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Awn. SEVENTY COMPARATIVELY FRESH DIVISIONS. (Rec. April 21, It p.m.) New York, April 19. British officials state that Germany 'still has approximately seventy divisions of comparatively fresh reserve forces on tho AVest front.—Aus.-N.Z. (.'able j*ssn. _ FRESH GERMAN DIVISIONS FROM RUSSIA. (Rec. April 21, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 20.. The United Press correspondent states that the Germans a.ro still transferring troops from Russia to the Western front. The French Sta/f has identified several divisions.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. COMMENTS ON THE SITUATION BRITISH LINE MORE SECURE THAN FOR DAYS. London, April' 17. ..The charigd of front of'tho German attack to the .region .between Oivenchy and east' of Rdbecq has foitnd no weak spot in' tho British resistance, and the close of yesterday's fighting found the British Rn« still intact. Thero, was. only one point in the new battlo area where this 6nemy gained, anything-oipposito. the hill of Hinges, where ho succeeded in bridging tho La Bassee Canal* but tho only Germans who crossed caiiio as prisoners. ' This new.attack".in- tho direction of Bothune was obviously intended to protect the enemy's flanks in caso' he wishes to drive further north. Tho enemy is trying to se6urei-tho La ; Bassee Canal with the object of safeguarding hU troops round Bailleul,. nnd simultaneously of imperilling the British in tho French coal fields near Bethune. Generally speaking, tho. British line is more secure than it has been for days, "arid this justifies the belief that the enemy may bo held in his present positions. Tho British withdrawal east of Ypres was duo to tho German advanco from the south along tho Lys valleys threatening tho communications of tho Ypres army. —Router. THE WITHDRAWAL FROM ARM ENTIERES. (Rec. April 21, 5.5 p'.in.) London, April 20. Mr H W. Massingham, writing in tho "Nation," asserts that the British did not withdraw from Armeritiores. "Tho garrison," ho says, "surrendered after fighting bravely when cut off after all hope of retreat or relief was ended. '— "The Times." « gig MOST COMPLETE AND UNMISTAKABLE KNOCK TO DATE" (Rec. April 21, 5.5 p.m.) , , . London, "April 20. Mr Hamilton Pyfe writes: "Givenehy is the most complete and most-un-mistakable-knock the enemy has had since the offensive "began. It was less costly than Anas, but there he gained some griund. Horo he gained nothing. He was squarely and solidly beaten. His attack on thd canal line was met by a tremendous hail of machine-gun fire, which swept tho woods, mowing down the attackers. —United Service. FOCH'S MYSTERIOUS TRUMP CARD < COUNTER-OFFENSIVE ON CONSIDERABLE SCALE. ■ . New York, April -19. - The New York "Times", says that it still. remains a secret, what General Foch's resources are, but indications are that Foch has planned a strategical counter-offensive of considerable scale. Fo'ch'a counter-design, should take definite form within forty-eight hours—Aus.-N.Z. Cable'Assn. MESSINES AND WYTSCHAETE "ONLY EPISODES-.'-' ■ London;- April -19. The "Daily Chronicle's" Paris correspondent' interviewed - a French general who intervened at Noyon on March 23 and blocked the road to Paris when-tho British right broke down. .The General said: "We have husbanded our strength and arrested the enemy. We now -hold him firmly. Thanks to our .superior artillery and greatly superior aviation, wo are wearing hini down. Messines and Wytschaete are only episodes. The German armies made an effort to secure an immediate decision by dividing the Allies, and therefore slaughtered their best forcc-3. If the enemy's effort has not succeeded in a mouth, what is the-future prospect? The enemy can yet strike severe blows, but wo are daily better prepared, while their caso is daily becoming worse. Many German divisions now in the line are in a lamentable condition. Others which have been brought back the second and third time are little better. For the first timo the German 1919 .class is now being used to a considerable extent in order to complete tho effectiveness, Very soon, with the British and American reinforcements, we shall have the margin we want.''—-Aus.-N.Z. Cable ASsn.

ITALIAN TROOPS FOR THE WEST

ARRIVAL IN ALSACE,

i New York, April 19. Rome announces that Italian troops are to be sent to France. London, April 19. Italian troops have arrived in the Alsace sector. Washington, April 19. Tho Italian army going to France exceeds in number the United States troops in France.—Ans.-N.Z. Cable issn. TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND TROOPS EXPECTED. (Rec. April 21, 5.5 p.m.) Washington, April .19. The Italian Embassy states that tho advance guard of tho Italians reached tho Western front some days ago.. A high Italian officer says that tho Italian force in Franco ,will approximate 200.M0.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. STATEMENT BY THE ITALIAN PREMIER, '- ' (Rec. April 31, 5.5 p.m.) London, April"l 9. A wireless Italian message states: "Signpr Orlando stated in tho Chamber of Deputies yesterday that Italian regiments would shortly participate in tho French battles. The declaration was received with tho greatest enthusiasm. Many officers and soldiers have asked to bo incorporated with tho regiments going to France."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Rcuter. "HIGH MILITARY AUTHORITY" CRITICISED LATEST REVIEW ANNOYS NEW YORK PRESS. Now York, April 10. Tho Now York "Times" condemns General Maiwico's (the "High Military Authority") expression. "What has happened to Blucher?" as peevish and in bad tasto. Tho "Times" adds: "References to Waterloo are an unhappy parallel." The Now York '"Times"' refers to General Maurice's "Mundoring expression," and hopes that there will not bo a repetition,—Aiis.-N.Vj. Cablo Assn.

THREE TO ONE IN AIR SCALPS.. n „, . , , . „ Washington, April 19. i' c A afl y'ees say that three enemy aeroplanes are brought down lor ovory i 11 i , in great offensive. Scores of German aeroplanes are biouglit down daily—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. BRITISH NAVAL ATTACKS OFF THE COAST' mi . , , , London. April 19. ,'n u, . c f D lJ ra lty reports: "British monitors bombarded Ostend and batteries i,no-!lv V ! CI ' U .l' - on night. Owing to the bad weather it is not yet possible to obtain accurate information as to the results. The enemy's batteries replied without hitting ou/r ships. One or two enemy destroyers fired in the (modioli ot Adinkerke yesterday morning and then retired (luicklv. Our destroyers, during a sweep of Heligoland Bight on March 28, captured and sank Assn° ai ' n ou tpcst trawlers, and took tlio crews prisoner.—"—Aus.-N.Z. Cable REIMS IN RUINS AND BURNING Aasif WmS ' S C ° mpletely ruinotl ' and tho oi,y is in Cable A PREDICTION FOR JUNE ri ,„ •, , New York i April 1!) beneral Bridges has arrived here. lie predicts a German olfonsivo in June either m. th® Wart front or in Italy. Ho expects a serioiH crisis in l!' 18 'iiirt i , TY 6 , n \V' slll 't «nything' final from tk> present drive. If the Germans iiftvo halted they Will entrench, preparatory to another offensive. Tlio war lias resolved itself into a question of manpower. Tlio Germans aro striving for a decision bofore wo draw our trump card, namely, the American Armv. Tlin British Army hoe its back to the wall, and Haig will "fight it out to a finish."