ENEMY THRUST ON FLANDERS LINE MAINTAINED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16823, 13 April 1918, Page 7

ENEMY THRUST ON FLANDERS LINE MAINTAINED.

'ATTACKS ON HOLLEBEKE-WYTSCHAETE LINE REPULSED LITTLE GROUND YIELDED NORTH OF ESTAIRES. GAS-DRENCHED RUINS OF ARMENTIERES ABANDONED, fsM£|p By Telegraph—Press Association— AaLliin »nd X.Z. and Renter. (Reed. 7.15 p.m.) LONDON. April 11-11.10 p.m Sir Douglas Haig reports: The enemy pressed attacks strongly all W on the whole of the northern buttle front. ' Fresh divisions conIJ&aUy and heavily assaulted in the region of the Lawe River, between junction with the Loisne and Lestrem. Our Fifty-first Division *eat oS incessant attacks, inflicting great losses, and recaptured 1 positions .by vigorous counter-attacks. There was heavy fighting at ifeaires, and between Estaires and Steenwerck, 4i miles north-west flff Armentieres. In this sector the enemy attacked in strength and Iffushed back our line to just north of these places. The enemy deterMfflinedly attacked this morning north of Armehtieres, and made some tlprbgress in the neighbourhood of Ploegsteert Wood. Our Ninth If Division completely repulsed with great loss another heavy attack in Site neighbourhood of Wytschaete and Hollebeke, on the southern ftpe of ihe Ypres sector. Fighting continues on the whole front Between the La Bassee Canal and the Ypres-Comines Canal. - - An earlier report stated: The battle is continuing along the whole lally and the La assaulted the region of the River, between junction with the Loisne and Lestrem. Our Fifty-first Division t off incessant attacks, inflicting great losses, and recaptured tions by vigorous counter-attacks. There was heavy fighting at lires, and between Estaires and Steenwerck, 4j miles north-west Irmentieres. In this sector the enemy attacked in strength and tied back our line to just north of these places. The enemy deteredly cttacked this morning north of Armentieres, and made some jress in the neighbourhood of Ploegsteert Wood. Our Ninth ision completely repulsed with great loss another heavy attack in neighbourhood of Wytschaete and Hollebeke, on the southern iof the Ypres sector. Fighting continues on the whole front ffeen the La Bassee Canal and the Ypres-Comines Canal. An earlier report stated: The battle is continuing along the whole tt from the La Bassee canal to the Ypres-Comines canal. Severe ting occurred in the neighbourhood of the Rivers Lawe and Lys, If from about Lestrem to Armentieres. We have withdrawn from Arraenfclres, which is full of gas. The situation is little changed north of nentieres. Heavy fighting continued at a late hour last night in • the neighbourhood of Ploegsteert, Messines and Wytschaete. Ipulrsli»n tnd K.Z. Cable- Association. LONDON. April 11. :-. A terrific German onslaught against Hollebeke, four miles southeast of Ypres, was smashed by the defending forces. It is estimated t the Germans in the Armentieres battle usee 1 at least eight divisions against two British and one ( Portuguese. The . Germans oughrjut Tuesday night made desperate efforts to seize the crossing . of the River Lys at Estaires and Bac St. Maur, but the storm troops were all thrown back at dawn, though they forced a passage at some joints during Wednesday, and also crossed the Lawe at Lestrem, I where they were later thrown back. We still hold the crest of the Mcsines Ridge, though on the last part' of the eastern slopes. When Armvoticres was evacuated, the Germans only secured a mass of ruins. A much greater danger is the threat against the Lys River. Fierce fighting occurred all last night. The Germans penetrated La Creche, 2j miles south-east of Bailleul, and also Neippe, 2j miles northwest of Armentieres, where they were driven out. They were also expelled from the western half of Ploegsteert Wood. Determined r hand-to-hand encounters were fought at Messines and Wytschaete, which were taken and retaken several times, but the Germans finally were driven out. Similar scenes occurred at Steenwerck.