BRITISH LINE READJUSTED ON YPRES SECTOR

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9958, 30 April 1918, Page 5

BRITISH LINE READJUSTED ON YPRES SECTOR

Ry Telegraph—Press Association—-Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received April 29, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 28. It is fairly certain, that the enemy, thwarted at Amiens and Arras has now decided to hurl Ilia fullest, weight northwards, striking towards the Channel through Flanders. By developing his capture at ixemmel toe will ondeavour to pinch off 'the throe remaining hills fecherpenbcrg, Mont 4-t-ougo, and, Mont Noir—dominating the high ground southwards of 1 o'pennghe. The enemy was feeling his way towards Schevpenberg on hnday until he bloodily repulsed by the Frenoh. Hh will now attack more mnously, hoping- to capture the high ‘ground, making the Yprcs salient and the country round Paperingha untenable. • . . x ... -.m- . Oho of the enemy’s most desperate efforts was against tho brench holding I’Ocre YVitegs/ bolow- Soherpenboi'g, whore distinguished visitors, including kings and, formerly watched the British shelling Wytschaete. 4-he enemy’s storm troops three times attacked FO'cre -on briday, put were flung back wjth heavy casualties. At the fourth attempt with frosh resei ves, he entered the ruins of the village. Tho French, in tailing back, deuvcrptl a counter-attack early on Saturday recapturing the village. ' ‘ The Germans have mado little progress since tho capture of ivemmel pfl Thursday,' which’haa broken th© fighting qualities of some of theiy qiost renowned rogixnonts, which must bo taken out to bo rcorgcimsed. NO SIGN OF EN£RfIY SLACKENING Published in “The Times.” . (Received April 29, 7.30 p ; m.) (LONDON, April §8- , General von Ludendoyff, having undertaken to crush the British and reach the Channel with losses not exceeding one and a-half millions in casualties, has already consumed a measurable proportion of that number with still twenty-five miles to go. to reach Dunkirk. Nevertheless it would bo idle tp deny that there is not. the smallest sign or the Germans as yet slackening nr regarding their resources in men a# limited. Boys of seventeen are being mu stored. , STATEMENT BY HIGH MILITARY AUTHORITY Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received April 29, 11.15 p.m.) . j v . PARIS, April 2f>. The High Military Authority, interviewed, said tho present phase of the battle was expected to continue for three weeks. Foch’s strategy was unshaken, hia plan being to thoroughly wear down the Germans before he launches his main counter-offensive. COM PA RAT IY E CALM IN FLANDERS OHjIEP FIGHTING IN THE KEMMEL AREA. EVERYONE PRAISES AUSTRALIAN VALOUR, Published in the “Times.’’ o (Received April 29 11-3 p.m.) LONDON, April 29, Mr H. Perry Robinson, “The Times” correspondent on the West front, writes: * No operations on a largo scale have occurred during the past forty-eight hour©, though there is continuous fighting in the Kemmel area of which the chief centres are Meterem, I’Ocre and Voormezeele. Each of these places has changed hands more than once. Generally the results favour us. The Australians are fighting splendidly around Meterem. Everybody, is loud in their praise, while they themselves are modest. They worked their way into the, very outskirts of places too strongly held and full of machine-, guns fdr direct attack; but Australian parties have been scouring the neighbourhood and by ©loverly working'have perceptibly .pushed back flic 'Germans along this sector of Hie front. Since the enemy occupied I’Ocre the French have driven them out again and again. Apparently the Germans still partly hold it. The fighting is going on. There have been similar oscillations at Voo’rmezeelo and also in the wood southwards, where the Scotsmen, made a heavy attack and flung the enemy bankWe have taken a considerable number of prisoners. Some are notably despondent concerning the offensive. Their moral is evidently bad. This varies with different units, and depends Upon the amount of hammering suffered before capture. A very hard Struggle in the Kemmel area are still expected. New German divisions continue to appear, and a prodigious number of guns is now massed. Both sides of the roads and tho villages in tho roar are being continuously shelled. The Germans have shelled all the successive heights behind Kemmel and the townlets beyond, and have drenched Yprcs ruins with fas. It is dreadful tty gee new places gradually drawn into the sphere of ©eolation, peaceful lands tom to hits, and villages pounded to dust. Meanwhile there is fierce and almost continuous fighting about .Givenchy. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. . (Received April 30, 12.10 a-m.) LONDON, April 29. Mr Peroival Phillips confirms the statement that the British line has been readjusted da the Yprea sector. ENEMY CAPTURES VOORMEZEELE § ALL NIGHT FIGHTING ON YPRES-COMINBS CANAL. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Renter. I LONDON, April 28. Sir Douglas Haig reports: —Tho enemy captured Voormezeele yesterday evening hut our counter-attack early in tho night drew© him out. Tho enemy reattached later in the same locality. There was local fighting all night on both sides of the Ypres-Cominos Canal. Wo made a raid south of Gnvrollo and on tho Lens-Hill 70 sectors, and repulsed an attempted raid north of Bailleul. There is aetive reciprocal artillery fire on tho hattlefront. HOSTILE ATTACK DEVELOPING IN NEIGHBOURHOOD OF L’OCRE (Received April 29, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 28. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—A hostile attack ia developing this afternoon in tho neighbourhood of I‘Ocre; otherwise there have been only local engagome°Tho enemy heavily bombarded our positions on tho Yprcs sector. There wore only two flights yesterday owing to fog. Wo brought down two ©nomy machines. SUCCESSFUL FRENCH RAIDS NORTH OF CHEMIN * DES DAMES (Rooeived April 29, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 28, 4.30 p.m. A French communique states: —There was violent artillery activity during tho night north of tho Avre, and between Lassigny and Noyon, ° We mado two successful raids mirth of Chemin dca Dames, and repulsed attempts north-west of Reims. Australian and N- • z—l- 1 ' f-ri-.itinn and Router, (Received April 30, 12.10 a.m.) LONDON, April 29. A Frenoh edmmuniquo states: —There are furious bombardments in Villers Brotonnoux and on tho Luoo and west of Noyon. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT Admiralty—For Wireless Press. LONDON, April 28, 1.30 p.m. A Gorman wireless official message in tho evening stated; —Tho English hare abandoned further parts of Flanders. Wo lmvo-roae)»etb.» .linepßoathwest of Langoroaroki’-Verlorettherii, Hoogdr-,'-and SUUohekrtni/xa “dj sJoenxo n/.

GENERAL VON . LUDENOORFF’S MANOEUVRE ; TO.ATTRACT ALLIES' RESERVES TO FLANDERS. J.U • • Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PARIS, April 23. M. Marcel Hutin, writing in the “Echo do Paris,” that yon Ludepdoril is manoeuvring to’ draw the Allies* reserves to points he selects. General Eooh is unlikely to bo caught in that way. Elandors is secondary in relation to the battle as a, whole- Ludondorff is concentrating his masses elsewhere while trying to attract cur reserves towards Flanders. coinmajids several rcuids. Tlio situation at one tinio was suph it* became a question of having reooursQ to inundation to impede tho s advance, At present this is unnecessary. The Germans have not found, tho way as easy as they expected after the capture of KommeL ENEMY MAKES -SLOW PROGRESS PAST KEMMEL Australian and 'Sew Zeal pa a Cable Association. i LONDON, April 28. Military critics find satisfaction in the fact that the Gormans are not pro* grossing rapidly past Rommel. , The enemy will find increasing difficulties if he endeavours to continue tfie thrust directly to the west, as ho will on* counter the next height ip tho chain of hills, Mont cles Gattex, where there is a Trapnist Monastery. It is more likely that ho wifi endeavour to advance to , the north-east, which movement 'would make Ypres untenable, hut olw resist* anoe, like a buffer, is becoming stronger as it is pressed back, , The Australians and Now Zealanders know every ipoii of this country.* - Practically the whole of the Australian and New. Zealand forces raided and fOught for many months past along the lino which is np,W in the enemy' B hands, between Armontieres and Ypres. “OUR ENEMIES ARE DIGGING THEIR OWN GRAVES ” SPEECH BY KAISER TO TROOPS AT FLANDERS. . • Australian and New'Zealand Cable Association, , “ •“•• • AMSTERDAM, April 27. The Kaiser, addressing the troops in Flanders, said“Clur' victories should convince qur euomi es that we canpot fie subdued by arms <jr blockades. Our enemies are digging their own graves.’’ FRENCH POSITION IMPROVED IN NORTH AND SOUTH SECURITY OF CHANNEL PORTS INDEPENDENT OF YPRES. Reuter’s Telegrams, V •PARIS, Aptil ?8. ’ “A semi-official report states that the French have now extended their front to the northward as far,os Tillers Bretrmneus. The report says the situation hag hfeen 1 reestablished An tiie south, while it is huntiy improving in tfie north. “"f ■ . , ♦ “La Journal” -declares it is questionable whether the retention of the ruins of Ypreg is desirable, as it does not affect the security or Dunkirk and Calais, the defence of which has gained depth, and hag found point's of support on the Yscr, at Ppperiugho, and the Mont ChssjffhHazebj hglekbarrier j sufficiently strong to stop tire German rush- • > • • GERMANY’S COLOSSAL LOSSES DISCUSSION .IN THE REICHSTAG. FRESH DISQUIET EVERYWHERE EVOKEDAustralian and New Zealand Cable Association. - ' ' OQRENHAhGEN. April 38, Captain von SaJzmann, writing in the “Vossisches ZeitungJ* says that rumours are current that the German losses' are sp cp’lossftl timt Germany will he unable to continue the offensive. Th© rumour was even apraad hs members of the Reichstag, General Krisherg stated in the Reichstag that up to March 31st tbs number of Germans missing and'taken prisoner wag 661,101, of whom 2'dß.fi76 were prisoners in France, 119,000 in England, and 167,000 in Russia Wd Rpi}r mania. General Wrisberg was unable to state the losses in tire present offeii* sivo. Herr Gtueekleu, a Socialist member, declared that the BOcialigt soldiers were placed in the most dangerous posts, and were nqt allowed to read So* cialist newspapers, Herr Groeher, a member of the Centra Rarty, expressed dissatisfaction at the ti'Catmept of the Alsace-Lorraine soldiers., •' - . .“.■General WrisberS admitted, that strictness with the latter wag necessary, because so many were traitorous. AMSTERDAM, April ?8, The latest advices from Germany indicate that the ghastly losses in tho Western offensive are arousing feeling against militarism, The “Tyd’s’’ correspondent in Germany, referring to the position in Hoi* land, says it will depend on the course of events how far the reaoticp against 'the increased powers of militarism will make itself felt. As the extent of the “huge.sacrifices ip the West becomes gnown, they evoke everywhere fresh dis* -quiet.’ ' Whou thef'energetio participation of the Americans falsifies the Gey* ernmciit’s prophecy that the submarines will prevent the transport of the Americans, the disappointment will assume a sharper form-

RUSSIAW-OTIRS RUMOURS OF A COUNTERREVOLUTION. - H.V Tcleirarli-rt 1 ApjoclnMnii—DeuTflo''* .Australian and l- Tf-Z (Jaltlo Association COPENHAGEN, April 27. There have been no rooont telegrams from Petrograd. There are rumours of serious 'riots, and it is even suggested that a.-- counter-revolution has 'started. , Transport of Russians from Finland was stopped three days ago owing to riots, ALEXIEFF AND KQRNILOFF MASTERS OiF PETROGRAD. . ,\pFrrnHr*n an?) N. 7, nn.V>)" (Received April 30, 12.10 p.m.) STOCKHOLM, April SO. It is reported that Alexioff and Korniloff have arrived at Petrograd, where they hove become master's 6f"th'/situaV tloßvr..: CONDITIONS IN PETROGRAD ' * INTOLERABLE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received April 29, 11.15 p.m.) 1 NEW YORK/April’29/ 1 A prominent American just returned from Petrograd says: “Wo left because tho conditions there wore intolerable. Murder and robbery are rife, and many of tho wealthier class are openly urging Germany to come and establish order. There is a tremendous labour upheaval ‘ throughout Russia. ' The workers;.fire (demanding *a maximum wage ahd, The Reds and Whites, ..who hav© hohn continuously fighting in Finland, declared a truce for seven hours to allow us to pass through tho lines TURKS CAPTOfiE KARS Australian nnd t, V. Cabla Association. /Received April 30, 12.10p.nv.) LONDON, April 20. A Turkish official message states; Wo have occupied Kars. Wo captured eighty-six guns, and a largo quantity of war material. TURKS IN CAUCASUS PERPETRATING INDISCRBUNATE MASSACRES. Published In "Tha Timas.” (Rcoivod April 29, 7.30 p.m.) ATHENS, April 28. Tho Turks advancing in thoCaucaaus are perpetrating wholesale massacres of Christians, killing indiscriminately Armenians, Greeks and American missionaries.

KEIGHLEY BY-ELECTION DEFEAT OF A PACIFIST. By Velegranb—Proa* Af»oclr Urn —Copy r-13111 Australian and N.Z Cable Amioetatloa. LONDON", April 2g. The Keighley (West Yorkshire) byelection resulted in the return of Mr Somerville, a Government supporter, with 4873 votes. Mr Bland, a, peace advocate, received 2349. LORD RHONDDA ILL TEMPORARY RESIGNATION. By TeleeranU—Press J.«sool»tian—Copyrlitlu Australian and X.Z. Cabls AMnrintlon LONDON, April 88. Newspapers pay a tribute to Lord Uhonddais work,- and urge the withdrawal of his resignation, which is duo to an attack of pneumonia, Lord Rhondda has expressed his willingness to resume office after his convalescence, aurtraltan and N.Z. Cable Ae«ocia»lo»(Roceived April 30, 12.10 a.m.) LONDON. April 29. The “Daily Telegraph” understands that Lord Rhondda, Food Controller, has withdrawn his resignation. TREASON IN FRANCE A MARQUIS ARRESTED. - Te'.cijrapU—Pro«» Association—Copyrljlu Australian and N.Z, Cable AMOoiation. PARIS, April 27. Marquis Decquovilley hos been arrested on charges of treason and espionage. Ho served for several years in shipyards, notably with M. Goubet, the submarine inventor. It is alleged ho eent plans of submarines to Germany, enabling her to build similar vessels. It is also alleged that the Marquis was for some years in Krupp’s pay, and frequently visited Kiel before the war. ESPIONAGE IN PERSIA SYSTEM OF GERMAN SCHEMES REVEALED. By Toletrraph—Press A««oolatlo»—Copyright Eeuter'* Telegram*. LONDON. April 27. Documents have been discovered ih Persia, revealing a system of German espionage schemes for stirring up agi- , bations against the British. The Ger■'man agents speak of the Persians as “swine” and “jellyfish.”