THE OFFENSIVE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17327, 29 May 1918, Page 5

THE OFFENSIVE.

GERMANS RENEW THEIR ATTACKS MASS BLOWS ON A WIDE FBONT THE INEVITABLE INITIAL SUCCESS ALLIES GIVE WAY SLIGHTLY RETIREMENT TO SECOND LINE POSITIONS ADVANTAGE OF UNITY OF COMMAND APPARENT EESEItVES AT ONCE AVAILABLE ENEMY SUFFER VERY HEAVY LOSSES VON ARNIM'S STRONG LOCAL BLOW. TO REGAIN LOST GROUND. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. . , LONDON, May 27. (Received May 28, at 7.15 p.m.) The United Press correspondent etates: Von Arnim this morning struck a powerful local blow towards Scherpenberg, which seems to be designed as a further attempt to regain lost ground. The battle began with a heavy bombardment from the canal bank near Ypres, and German infantry advanced at dawn. Meantime the German artillery was furiously pounding several more southerly sectors, between Arras and Albert; but all was quiet there at 7 o'clock this morning. It was also quiet in the Somme area, except for some gas-shelling about. Corbie and Fouilloy. FRENCH REPORT OF ATTACK. THE BATTLE PROGRESSING. Australian' and New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, May 27 (3.45 p.m.). (Received May 28, at 7.15 p.m.) A French communique states: During the latter half of last night the Germans very violently bombarded the entire region between the Forest of Penon and Rheims. The enemy this morning attacked on a very wide front. The FrancoBritish troops are resisting with their customary gallantry. The battle is progressinc Ihe Franco-British troops, in echelon, retiring methodically and in perfect liaison, made the enemy pay very dearly for the first inevitable success, and assuring by resistance inch by inch the efficacious use of reserves. Artillery activity continues yerv lively on both banks of the Meuse, in the region of St. Mibiel, and on the Lorraine front. There was lively artillery activity at night time in the Champagne, on the right bank of the Meuse, the Forest of Apremont, and Woevre. Local enemy attacks at the Forest of Apremont and in the region of Vimy, north-east of Badonvillers, were repelled. NOT THE BIG BATTLE. GREAT EVENTS NEAR. PROBABLY TO DIVERT ATTENTION. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. ~ . LONDON, May 27. (Received May 28, at 6.50 p.m.) Mr Philip Gibbs states: The German attack in the neighbourhood of Locre is «ot a battle on a big ecale, but great events must be near. (Received May 28, at 8.40 p.m.) The increased German artillery on several sectors from Flanders to the Somme was intensified this morning, as though preparatory to infantry attacks in force. Warning signals were sent up by our troops in some sectors, but infantry attacks have not followed thus far. A German assault commenced at dawn upon the French beyond the Hospice at ££ c i5 6 , object of re S ainin S tn ° ground which the French won on the 20th of May, but it would be unwise to exaggerate the importance of the fightine which is perhaps designed to divert attention from the main blow. The weather remains good, and there is universal activity in the air our fifrhtine planes going eastward in nocks. fa BRITISH OFFICIAL REPORT. PRESSED BACK TO SECOND LINE. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. LONDON, May 27. (Received May 28, at 10 p.m.) Sir D. Hdg, reporting at 3.30 p.m. on the 27th inst., says: British divisions holding a sector of the French front astride the Aisne at Berry-au-Bac between Bermericourt and Crayonelle, were heavily attacked. At the same time hostile attacks m great strength were made against French divisions on our ri"ht and also against French divisions on our left, along the high ground traversed °by Chemin des-Dames. In the British sector the enemy's attack was supported by tanks and accompanied by an intense bombardment of gas shells. Our troops on the maintained their battle positions, and are in dose touch with the French "On our left the enemy succeeded, after heavy fighting, in pressing us back to the•ccond line of prepared positions. «-«■«> nuo EARLY PHASES OF ATTACK. ENEMY'S PRINCIPAL CONCENTRATIONS. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. * (Received May 28, at 8.40 p.m.) D ° N ' M&y « WSS U T^ d P 'f s .< :o "eßpondent saye: The long-delayed German offensive seems *t hand. They attacked this morning—the British along the Aisne westward of Rheims, and the French on both British flanks, simultaneously, with thrusts against the Allies in the region of Montdidier and amongst the hills south-west of Ypres Ihe Germans slightly progressed at some places, but were held up at others' Apparently the Montdidier attack was stopped easily, but the Crown Prince's thrust between Noyon and Rheims seems heavier. The Brtish are reported to holding the line Cormicy-Bouffing-Neureux-Courcevreux, on the Akne, • little south of the_ old advanced lines. The F ench are apparently holding a line alon* the Aisno in a north-westerly direction, while the Franco-British on the right of Courcv are reported to have taken u# their appointed battle positions The French re-established the line on the Lys battle-front where the Germans penetrated early in the morning. Fighting continues. The Germans south of Dickebusch are apparently still holding 800 yards of French trenches and also part of the front system in the same region, but the French are fighting vigorously. The French have already taken a hundred prisoners Fine weather prevails, and the aeroplanes are very active. The enemy are heavily massed around Peronne, Roye, Ham, Neste, and Noyon. There is every indication that the enemy are ready to throw everything into the third and perhaps ultimate phase of the offensive. FRENCH LINE SLIGHTLY DENTED. SOME OF FRCNT LINE TRENCH TAKEN. SITUATION WELL IN HAND. ALLIED CONFIDENCE UNSHAKEN. Reuter's Telegrams. LONDON, May 27, (Received May 20, at 9.15 p.m.) Reutor's correspondent at the British Headquarters, writing on the evening of the 27th inet., states: The German bombardments this morning were scarcely leea violent than those preceding the attack on the 21at of March. Gas sheila were prodigally employed, a north-easterly wind diffusing the fumes widely along the Allied front. There was an intensive fire between the Ypres Canal and Nieppe Forest, while the area west of Lena, in the Scarpe Valley, was also heavily bombarded. _ The enemy are heavily shelling far back areas with high-velocity guns, «ud their airmen are unusually venturesome. The, British on the French flank have been engaged. The Germans came in the familiar formation of dense waves, keeping close to their lifting barrage. Against the first heavy shock the French stood stoutly on the left and centre, buu were pressed back slightly in the vicinity of a farm on the right. During the corning ui Gceeaaa. with characteristic recklessness of cost, continued Ui ptiah forward

fresh troops, and the French were obliged to yield more ground, but subsequently counter-attacking they restored the lino in most places. The Germans at present have a footing m the French front lines south of Dickebusch for a distance of 800 yawls, and have also some hold at another point of the front lino system in tius region. Ihe situation, however, appears to bo well in hand. Reports from the battlefield bi-oatho confidence Our artillery and the French ere barrftgmg the German positions intensely, and the enemy casualties must be very heavy. SUCCESSFUL FRENCH COUNTER-ATTACKS. NUMEROUS PRISONERS TAKEN, Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. ;_ . n „„ LONDON, May 27. (Received May 29, at 0.5 a.m.) Sir Douglas Haig Teports : Severe fighting continues all alon~ the front Strong enemy attacks this morning on the Locre-Voonraezeele front were repulsed by the French after fierce fighting, in which the enemy sustained great losses. The enemy penetrated a short distance into the French positions in the neighbourhood of Dickebuscn .Lake, l< ighting is continuing. Other localities into which the enemy penetrated in the first attack have been regained by French counter-attacks, and a number of the. enemy have been taken prisoners, A GERMAN CLAIM. Admiralty, per Wireless Press. ,„ . , ~ LONDON, May 28. . (Received May 29, at 0.45 a.m.) A German official report last evening claims the capture of the whole Chemin-des-Dames llidge. FRENCH AND BELGIAN REPORTS. ENEMY ADVANCE TOWARDS AISNE VALLEY. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. _ . LONDON, May 28. (Received May 29, at 1.30 a-tn.) Belgian communique: Long-range guns fired on our back areas vesterday French communique : The- battle was continued throughout the day, with extreme violence, on a front of 40 kilometres, between the region of Vauxhaillon and the outskirts of Brcmont. Enemy masses came to grips with frontline troops, and regardless of losses, pushed towards the valley of the Aisne, which some of their elements reached m the neighbourhood of Pontarly at the end of the day. REUTER'S CORRESPONDENT'S SPEGULATEONS. PROBABLY MERELY A FEINT. Renter's Telegrams. . LONDON, May 28. (Received May 29, at 1.30 a.m.) o-» il . Rell J ter 'j co "espondent at the French Headquarters, writing at noon on the 27th inst., describing the German renewal of operations, says: The Crown Prince's forces, probably commanded by Generals Franz von Bulow and von Boehm, started at dawn. They launched an attack after a liberal bombardment throughout the first part of the night. The Allied commanders have the situation well in hand waiting to see whether the attack is purely a demonstration in force or will develop into a general battle. Possibly the enemy are merely endeavouring to attract the Alued reserves, -while concentrating their forces for the main attack elsewhere.