NEW ENEMY ATTACK OWING TO RESISTANCE IN SOUTH

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

NEW ENEMY ATTACK OWING TO RESISTANCE IN SOUTH

« MAXIMUM ADVANCE A DISTANCE OF 5500 YARDS. ... ARMENTIERES MADE INTO AWKWARD SALIENT. imliilisn and N.Z. (Received 8.45 p.m.). LONDON, April 10. A high military authority, reviewing the position, says it has improved locally. South of the Sorame the Australians are covering the little village of Bouzencourt, a mile north of Hand. The French east of the old battlefield carried out a small withdrawal where they Somme by the stone wall of the Third Army, against which the Gernorth of the Oise. The enemy, however, cut off two battalions, securing a couple of thousand prisoners. The French fell back on to the strong line of the Ailette. The general position on the main battlefront has not changed. The enemy was faced north of the Somme by the stone wall of the Third Army, against which the Geri mans had battered without material result, while south of the Somme ■ / he was blocked by the arrival of French reinforcements. The Germans therefore changed the scene to the 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 there may develop an attack on Armentieres in the north or Bethune in the south. Our recovery of Givenchy, which is the gateway towards Bethune, is of great importance. The Germans advanced in the centre to a depth of 5500 yards along a front of 15,000 yards. They were brought up by the River Lawe. It is quite certain that the Portuguese some artillery and a considerable number of prisoners. The enemy attacked in considerable force. The weather was foggy and overcast, and aerial work was almost impossible. Five divisions had been identified. They probably used as many as eight. The Germans this morning attacked north of Armentieres as far as the Messines front. They entered our first line between the Lys and the Douve, and captured a considerable part of Ploegsteert Wood, but were repulsed on the Messines front. They turned Armentieres into ft very awkward salient. The town itself is a long heap of ruins. Its loss would not be vital, although we still hope to retain it. The enemy is simply carrying out another part of his original programme Of trying to exhaust the British Army by hammering at it wherever i favourable chance presents itself.