REPINGTON CONFIDENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4827, 26 March 1918, Page 5

REPINGTON CONFIDENT.

OUR RESERVES READY SOON.'

WILL RETURN BLOW FOR BLOW.

ENEMY’S SUCCESS TACTICAL, BUT NOT STRATEGICAL.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received March 25, 8.40 p.m.) LONDON, March 24. Colonel Repington, the Morning Post military critic, writes:— The Germans have gained eight miles, in two days, being half their first day’s objective. They have also gained an indisputable tactical success, but no strategical success. The prisoners they have captured are far below the number of wounded who might be expected to be left behind, and the guns captured .are only a fraction of the divisional artillery supporting the first lines. Their loss will not incommode us.

The ground won is a portion of that which the Germans voluntarily surrendered in 1917. They employed fifty divisions in re-taking it after severe losses.

> Our reserves will soon be ready to return blow for blow. The deployment of considerable reserves, accompanied by artillery, is not a matter of a few hours. The Germans took ten days in bringing up the reserves to retrieve their Cambrai losses.

BATTLE PRESSES ON.

GERMAN CLAIMS RIDICULED. The Times. (Received March 26, 1.10 a.m.) LONDON, March 25. Mr. Perry Robinson, writing on the 24th. says:— The battle is raging with unabated violence and the Gremans. are pressing on despite terrific losses. The enemy claims regarding prisoners are absurd. Tlie German casualties are estimated at two hundred thousand, this being based on calculations not easy to dispute.

HAIG’S LATEST REPORT.

AN ENCOURAGING MESSAGE

GERMANS OYER THE SOMME BEING DEALT WITH.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter's. (Received March 25. 8.15 p.m. LONDON. March 25.

Sir Douglas Haig reports:— There were fresh hostile attacks this morning in great strength on the whole front and they continued all day. Southward of Peronuo the enemy cro-ssed the Somme at certain points. These are being dealt with. The enemy’s attacks north of Peronne were of the greatest violence against the line of the Tortille river. Our troops in this area were withdrawn fighting to a new position. Further north we repulsed repeated assaults by large bodies, inflicting heavy losses. In this fighting the 7th and 40tli Divisions greatly distinguished themselves, heating off many attacks.

CHEERY AMERICAN VIEWS

OFFENSIVE DOOMED TO FAILURE. ALLIES WELL PREPARED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received March 26. 12.40 a.m.) NEW YORK, March 25. The newspapers, commenting on the offensive, point out that the Allies are well prepared to resist and return Germany’s heaviest blows. The New York Times says “Whether the Germans are making a final cast or not, a great offensive has begun. Unless the Germans break through on a wide front quickly, the offensive will be doomed to failure.” The Tribune says: “The attack looks like an endeavor to disrupt the Allies’ Supreme Council’s plan for the coming campaign. So far the offensive lias certainly not met Germany’s expectations.” The New York World says: “Accepting the attack as the much advertised offensive, the Allies welcome rather than fear it. They prefer an offensive made.on the West Front.”

THE GERMAN TIDE.

HOW THE WAVES TOLLED ON. LINE AAFTER CLOSE-PACKED LINE. United Services. (Received March 25, 11.30 p.in.) LONDON. March 21. Mr Hamilton .Fyfe states: The first German wave consisted roughly of 250 men with machine guns marching shoulder to shoulder, their steadiness bespeaking discipline and morale. At intervals of a hundred yards came a similar -'ave. The next interval was from two to three hundred yards with trench mortars and the battalion staff. Aba further interval the field: artillery in open column, forming into line batteries. Everywhere our machine guns played havoc. The British describe the German‘gas shelilng as the heaviest of the war. Prisoners in some sectors state that their battalions had from 30 to 50 per centum of casualties. The rankers were kept in plete ignorance of the date of the offensive and the officers were equally entrusted, being given sealed packets and ordered to open them at a certain hour. The British drenched St Quentin in gas two days prior to the attack. FRENCH FRONT ACTfVE. ENEMY ATTACK SMASHED. AIR RAIDERS DEFEATED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter s(Received March 25, 7.50 p.mA LONDON, March. 24. A French communique states: — After a violent -bombardment, the enemy unsuccessfully attempted a surprise attack south of Jastmcourt. Somewhat lively artillerying is proceeding in the regions of the Bois le Pretre, in the Vosges, and near La Fondnelle and Hartmannswielerkopp. A later French communique reports intermittent artillery activity, north of Chemin des Dames, occasionally violent. „ There is a duel on the Champagne heights on the right of the Meuse and between Caurieres Wood and Bezoiivaux and Hartmaunsweilerkopf. Enemy aeroplanes crossed our lines at 8.40 last night and bombarded several localities behind the front, not causing much damage. The raiders failed to reach Paris. THE FRENCH FRONT. VIOLENT ARTILLERY ACTIONS. COUP DE MAIN REPULSED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association PARIS', March 24. A French communique reports: Artillerv actions were sometimes violent south of the Oise, also in the region of Rheims and Lorraine, between Hanacourt and the Vosges. An enemy coup-de-main was attempted at Hertzdach wood.' Upper. Alsace, and broke down under c'ir fire.