TERRIFIC EXECUTION ANION MASSED INFANTRY.

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

TERRIFIC EXECUTION ANION MASSED INFANTRY.

ADVANCE AGAINST HOLLEBEKE OVER HEAVY GROUNDRETREATING STRAGGLERS PURSUED BY FIELD GUNS. Reuter. (Received 8.15 p.m.) LONDON. April 11. Router's correspondent at headquarters writes: The situation is generally regarded to-day as fairly well in hand, but the fighting continues and is likely to continue on a heavy scale.' The German attack was helped by misty weather. The territory which the enemy overran was very sparsely populated by civilians, and as regards the character of the country was a barren gain. The enemy's communications have been lengthened across long clay tracks. The enemy, attacking in massed waves against Hollebeke over heavy ground, made a great target for rifles and machine-guns, and tho execution was terrific. Comparatively few Germans got to grips, and tho attack was oventually completely. repulsed. The straggling retreat was followed by the field guns until the enemy disappeared in the mist. Large bodies of German infantry are reported to bo massing northwest of Armentieres, in the direction of Ploegsteert Wood, where continuous fighting is proceeding, with a heavy concentration of artillery. The evacuation of Armentieres was conducted very successfully, the enemy not attempting to press our retirement. The whole place was a vast cesspit of mustard gas.