BRITISH HOLDING EVERYWHERE.

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

BRITISH HOLDING EVERYWHERE.

CRITICAL PERIOD AHEAD.

ENEMY’S FEARFUL LOSSES CONFIRMED.

HEROIC BRITISH BATTALIONS.

Renter's Telegrams,

(Received March 25, 10.10 p.m.) LONDON, March 25. Reuter’s British Headquarters correspondent states: — j 'the enemy is now throwing bis las* ounce of weight and resource into the struggle. Upon the course of the immediate future hangs the issue of the war A captured airman stated that “The offensive is the result of desperation. We must have peace quickly now. Our troops throughout Saturday were very hard pressed by the English rolling oil legions through whose, weary ranks fresh divisions were continually pouring.” The magnificent defence which the slowly-retiring British line has thus far made assuredly constitutes one of the greatest epics in Id,story. I find Higli Quarters to-day in unbroken serenity and confidence, satisfied with the general position. During the afternoon cf Saturday in the region of Ham things ' •-uiporarily looked ugly, when the enemy outflanked us and huiTied up cavalry in order to extend his enveloping movement, but vigorous counter-at-tacks restored the position. When reading the German claims remember the extent of the battle front and do not forget the enemy’s concentration of guns, which -is the greatest ever. Recollect the awful , hecatomb marking the .wake of his i advance. j The French troops on our right, after a lengthy rest, are at the top of their dashing morale. ! Yesterday ther was homcric lighting in the centre of the battlsT-mt, where our machine-gunners a ..umber of times had to cease from the sheer exhaustion of killing.

Never have the British arms so superbly met such an overwhelming test, including the South African contingent and the Newfoundland battalion, both of which have been fighting magnificently. The fourth day of the offensive brought no surprises.although enem. long-range guns were doing their utmost day and night. Between Lagnicourt and Hermes the British were confronted by from eight to ten divisions with 700 guns. The preliminary bombardment of the whole front on the first day was the heaviest ever experienced anti ranged to an exceptional depth, probably owing to the German gunning not being so accurate as ours Before the infantry advanced, the barrage lifted a considerable distance, as the Germans will not hug the barrage as do the British. Otherwise the advance was similar to our attack, except that the enemy waves were far denser. Since the preliminary bombardment, the enemy artillerying has shown a tendency to decrease.

The situation at present appears to be that vve are holding the enem> virtually on the whole front, although he is pressing his attacks very heavily. Fer example, one village was taken by the Germans and retaken by us, again retaken bv the Germans and yet again recaptured' by the British, and at present it is not definitely known to be occupied by either side. There are wide m No Man’s Land with pockets of the enemy intersecting. Our posts covering the actions of brigades and divisions fought- with a view to securing orderly «’tcrlrnwal. There are magnificent episodes. Two battalion sustained flank attacks until their object was attained, though the battalions were reduced, to- 70 men apiece. Enemy cavalry was reported at various places, but usually vere oni\ screen patrols. There is not yet any sign cf German tanks, although picke : men have been trained to operate them.. The heaviest fighting has been on the flanks of the battlefront, the southern flank yielding the most ground. The withdrawal in tlie centre has been very slow and was carried out in most places under tlie necessity of maintaining n good line.

BRITISH AIR OFFENSIVE.

RAIDS FAR INTO GERMANY

" GREAT SUCCESS ALONG ’THE BATTLE FRONT.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association

and Reuter's. (Received March 26, 12.10 a.ui.) LONDON. March 25

Sir Douglas Haig reports:— Fifty-four enemy aeroplanes were downed on Saturday on the battlefront. . , , , , Our night fliers all night bombed hostile concentrations, dumps, and large guns, and over 14 tons •of bombs were dropped, of which two and a-half tons were on Bruges. All our machines returned. Also ten heavy bombs were dropped on an important railway bridge and works at Kony, southward of Treves. Eight of these bombs burst among the railway works. Nearly two tons of_bombs were dropped from a low altitude on an aerodrome southward, of Metz and six of the bombs burst among the hangars, which were set afire. All our machines returned. Our aeroplanes yesterday made a very successful raid on factories atMannheim, and nearly two and a-half tons of bombs were dropped. A burst was seen on et soil a factory and the railway docks, .and several fires were started, one of great size being visible for 35 miles. Thirty-two hostile machines attacked our bombers and - a fierce fight ensued. We brought down in flames an enemy machine, and. another was downed 1 in. the centre of^Mannlieim. We also drove down five others. Despite the severe combat and heavy gunfire, all our machines returned except two. °

BRITAIN’S GREAT CALL.

MEETING HALF THE ENEMY HORDES. ' 97 DIVISIONS IDENTIFIED. Reuter’s Telegrams. (Received March 25. 9.10 p.m.) LONDON. March 25. Ninety-seven German divisions have been identified against the British and others are coining in. Thus, half the forces on the Western front are concentrating against the British.