THE POSITION REVIEWED.

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

THE POSITION REVIEWED.

MAIN ATTACK ON PORTUGUESE

(Received April 11, 8.45 p.m.) LONDON, April 10. A high military authority, reviewing the position, says: "The situation has improved locally south of the Somme. Tiio Australians are covering the village of Bouzinoourt, near Hamel. Tho French east of the old battlefield carried out a small withdrawal, where they were left, by the retirement of our "Fifth: Army, in an awkward angle north of the Oise. The enemy, however, cut off two battalions, seeming a, couple of thousand prisoners. The French fell back on to [the strong line of the Ailette. The ! general position on tthe main battlefront "is unchanged. "The enemy were fated north of i tho Somm© by the stonewall of the Third Army, against which the Germans bartered without material result ; while south of the Somme they were blocked by the arrival of French reinforcements. The Germans therefore changed the scene to tihe old front between Armentieres and Bethune, where the Portuguese held the ground in the centre, with a. British .division on either flank. The main attack fell on the Portuguese. The enemy gained ! an area of little tactical advantage. Nevertheless, it made an awkward salient in our lines, from which may develop an attack on Armentieres From north of Bbthune. On the south our recovery of Given ehy, which is the gateway towards Bcthune, is of great importance.

"The Germans advanced in the centre to a depth of 5500 yards along a front of ] 5,000 yards. * They wei-e

brought up by the river Lawo. It- is quits certain that the Portuguese lost some artillery and a considerable mini- . ber of prisoners. Tho enemy attacked ; in considerable force. The weather | was foggy and overcast), and aerial j work was almost impossible. Five divisions were identified. The enemy probably used as many as eight. "Tho Germans this morning attacked north of Armentiores as far as the Messines front. They entered our first line between the Lys and the Douve and captured a considerable part of Ploegsteorfc Wood, but were repulsed on the M-essines front. This tunned Armentiertw into a very awkwurd salient. The town itiself has long l>e«n a heap of ruins. Its loss will not be vital, although we hope to retain it. The enemy aro simply carrying out another part of their original programme in tirying to exhaust the British Army, hammering at it wherever they see a favorable chance."