THE SECOND PHASE.

Marlborough Express, Volume LII, Issue 83, 12 April 1918, Page 4

THE SECOND PHASE.

-EFFORT TO DESTROY BRITISH ARMY.

(The Times Service.) t> v- April 11. Mr Robinson says:, "The -second7 phase of the German offensive sX* . JhW - mTf threa^ nin ,S thei north than m the south, where, owing tothe stubborn stand on the flanks, the enemy succeeded only in advancing on a narrow.salient as far as the Lvs and : north-west of Laventie to a maximum of four miles. They overran the advanced line north of Armentieres, near Waraeton. forcing their way up the south end of Messmes ridge, and reached Messmes, where they were driven; back Fierce fighting continues.' lo the southward the enemy penetrated Ploegsteert and reached Vieppo, a maximum advance of three miles over a- bit of groxmd of tactical importance endangering the? possession of Armentieres. Prisoners affirm that the second' great blow is intended to end ther war and destroy the British Army.. * The immediate brunt fell on tho Portuguese in the centre, who,, ■though m considerable strength were quite unablo to maintain "theposition, under the massed attacks According- to prisoners the Germans awfl.it the meteorological experts*' prediction of a misty morning before attacking Yesterday's mist enabled the attackers to approach unseen; and cut tho wires, even to surround! nnd attack advanced posts with flammenwerfew, before being detected. Under the tremendous weiVhfc or the impact the Portuguese first line was forced back, small units - continuing to fight desperately and hopelessly till surrounded/ Ther second and third lines were similarly? pushed back. Battalions of Porfru~ guese clung to their positions at La*

Courfcure till a large, proportion were tilled. The Portuguese artillery did excellent work) .'but lost considerably in,men and guns. Though the majority of the guns were smashed by the enemy's fire^ many continued firing at close range till the masses were close> The majority of the gunners disabled "tlie remnant, escaping after rendering the guns useless. ' British artillery officers loudly praise the way they stucK to it. Although the Portuguese positions were well advanced in the battle zone the breach, intlte centre threw an enormous weight <ou the Fifty-fifth British Division pn ..the oxtreme right, lroHing the Givenchy positions. The Lancashire men threw back their left, flanking that "Then began the "brilliant defence of Givenchy". Thrice the "Germans forced an entry, but were thrown out by most dashing counter-attacks. The Lancashire* took 700 prisoners. We retained Givenchy and the major part or" the original ..line. "The Germans reached Laventie a,t, eleven o'clock, compelling the "troops on ihe Fifty-fifth's reft to swing round and front to the north, where they Tield a lino west -of Laveritie-Estaires-Lys-Sailly-Bac St. Manr. Yesterday tho Germans penetrated Estaires "mikl Lagorgue, Vat counter-attacks threw them out. -Further itp, close to Lys, they reached <3rbix Dv IBac, but were driven "back and penned on th.c east side of a little stream by troops 'thrusting 'southwards from Steenwereke. From here .to below Armentieres the :lines are held intact. intact. *

"Captured map? show that the enemy aimed to capture Bethune. Captured aviators say that the operations are only -flic "beginning-of a great offensive -on a forty kilometres front. "Information from the north is scanty. The enemy reached the village of "Messines, but were thrown "back down the eastern slopes of the ridge. "Fierce, "fighting continues in this sector. The heaviness of the bombardment makes sleep impossible. It Iras not ceased night or day."