HEAVY ENEMY THRUST MADE NORTH OF ARMENTIERES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16822, 12 April 1918, Page 5

HEAVY ENEMY THRUST MADE NORTH OF ARMENTIERES.

BRITISH NOW DEFENDING MESSINES RIDGE. RECAPTURE OF GIVENCHY ON LA BASSEE FRONT. , 'i • GERMANS BEING HELD ON LINE OF TWO RIVERS. -i' By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. •.'' ' '. ' Auitnlian ind N.Z. and Renter. (Reed. 12.10 km.) LONDON. April 11-13.15 a.m. i Sir Douglas Haig reports: Following the bombardment already reported the enemy yesterday morning attacked in strength between Armentieres and the Ypres-Comines Canal. There was heavy fighting : all 'day on this sector, and also on the whole front of Tuesday's , attack north of the La Bassee Canal. The enemy north of Armentieres pressed us back to the line from Wytscihaete to the Messines Bidgeto Ploegsteert. The enemy, who forced a way into Messines village, was driven out by a counter-attack after a prolonged straggle. South of Armentieres the enemy established himself on the south bank of the Lys at certain points east of Estaires and in ' the neighbourhood of Bac St. Maur. The enemy this morning crossed the Lawe at Lestrem, two" miles south-west of Estaires, but was driven 4- •; out of the village and across the river by a counter-attack. We maintained our positions between Estaires and Givenchy. I i An earlier report stated: Fierce fighting continued on the battlefront north of the La Bassee Canal last evening and night. We - hold the line of the Rivers Lawe and Lys, and are heavily engaged with the enemy at Estaires, six miles south-west of Armentieres, •, and Bac St. Maur River crossings. On the southern flank the enemy attacked Givenchy, two miles east of La Bassee, into which at one : time they forced a way, but we recaptured the village by a counterattack, later in the day, by the Fifty-fifth Division, who took 750 9, prisoners. The enemy early in the morning opened a heavy bombard- ■ ment of positions east and north of Armentieres as far as the YpresH ' Comines canal. Fighting is proceeding on the southern portion of this front. Local fighting occurred south of the Somme last evening, f tut the situation here is unchanged.