SIR DOUGLAS HAIG’S REPORTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3344, 17 April 1918, Page 13

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG’S REPORTS.

Sir Dougins Haig reports: We advanced our lino slightly during the night of the 7th on the south bank of the Somme eastward of Yaire-sous-Corbio (about

10 miles from Amiens). There was heavy host : le gas-sholling during the night between Lens and tne La Bassee Canal, also eastward of Armentieres. After an intense bombardment from La Bassee Canal to the n. ighbourhood of Armentieres, strong hostile forces attacked the British and Portuguese) holding this sector on the_ 9th. A' thick mist made observation impossible. The enemy foroed their way into positions near NeuveChapelle, Fanquissart, andLacor • donnevrie Farm. After neavy lighting all day long.tha enemy forced back the Portuguese in the centre and the British on the flanks of the line on the Lys River between Estaires and St. Maur. We hold our positions on both flanks about Givenchy and Flurboix, where the enemy were repulsed. In heavy fighting the enemy captured Richebourg, St._ Vaast, and Laventio. We secured prisoners, southward of Arras in minor engagements. In the Somme area 'there is heavy hostile shelling in the neighbourhood of Villers Bar.tonneux and of Mericourt l'Abbe.

Fierce fighting continued on the battle- ' front northward of the Le Bassee Canal on the evening and night of the 9th. We hold" the line of the Rivers Lawes and Lys, and are heavily engaging with the enemy at the Estaires and Bao St. Maur River crossings. On the southern flank the enemy attacked Givenchy (two miles west of La Bassee), into which one enemy line forced its way, but we recaptured it by a counterattack later in the day by the Fifty-fifth Division, who took 750 prisoners. The enemy early in the morning opened a heavy bombardment of our positions eastward and northward of Armentieres as far as the Ypres-Comines Canal, and fighting is proceeding in the southern portions of this front. Following the bombardment, the enemy in the morning attacked in strength between Armentieres and the YpresComines Canal. There was" heavy fighting all day in this sector, and also on the whole front of 'the previous day's attack north of La Bassee Canal. The enemy north of Armentieres pressed us back £o the line Wytschaete-Messines Ridge-Ploegsteert. The enemy, who forced their way into Messines, were driven out by a counter-a'ttaok. After a prolonged struggle south of Armentieres the enemy established themselves _ on the left bank of the Lys at certain points east of Estaires and in the neighbourhood of Bach St. Maur. The enemy on the morning of the 10th crossed the Lawe at Lestrom, but were driven out of the village and across the river by a counter-attack. We maintained our positions between Estaires and Givenchy. The battle was continued along the whole front from the La Bassee Canal to the Ypres-Comines Canal. f Severe fighting occurred -in the neighbourhood of the Lawe and the Lys Canals, from about Lestrem to Armentieres. We have withdrawn from Armentieres, which is full of gas. The situation has but little changed northward of Armentieres. Heavy fighting continued to a late hour in the night in the neighbourhood of Plocgsteert, Messines, and Wytschaete. The enemy pressed attacks strongly all the day on the 11th on the whole of the northern battle-front. Fresh divisions continually heavily assaulted in the region of the Lawe River, between Loisne and Leserm. Our Fifty-first Division beat off incessant attacks, inflicting great losses, and recaptured positions by vigorous counterattacks. There was heavy 'fighting at Estaires, between Estaires and Steenwerck. In this sector Ihe enemy attacked in strength and pushed back our line to just north of these places. The enemy determinedly attacked in the morning north of Armentieres, and made some progress in the neighbourhood of Ploegs'teert Wood. Our Ninth Division completely repulsed with great loss another heavy attack in the neighbourhood of Wytschaete and Hollebeke. Fighting continues on the whole of the front between La Bassee Canal and the Ypres-Comines Canal. There .was severe ahd continuous fightin<r on the night of the 11th in the neighbourhoods of Mervillo and Neuf Berquin (two miles north-east of Mcrville). The enemy, continuing their pressure, made progress in both localities, and captured Merville. During the night the enemy succeeded, after heavy fighting in tho neighbourhood of Plocgsteert, in pressing us back to new positions in the neighbourhood of Neuve Eglise. The situation on tho remainder of the northern battle front remains substantially unchanged. Our counter-attack regained portion of our positions into which the enemy had penetrated northward of Festubert (near La _ Bassee). The enemy's attacks on the Lbisne-Law front and northwards were repulsed. Fighting continues along the whole front northward of tho La Bassee Canal as far as Hollebeke (on tho Yser-Cbmines Canal). Strong local attacks on our positions in the neighbourhood of Neuvillo St. Vaast (near Vimy Ridge) were repulsed. Tho enemy, after prolonged fighting further north, entered a post near Tilloy-les-Mofflainee (oast of Arras), btit were immediately driven out, and the post was re-established. There is Increased hostile artillery firo astride the Somrao. The enemy maintained strong pressure all day on the 12th south-westwards of Bailleul, making constant attacks in great force. We

have been slowly pushed back in continuous fighting to positions in the neighbourhood ol the Bailieul railway, where we- aro heavily engaging the enemy. There is sharp fighting also northwards of La Bassee Canal. The enemy have slightly progressed between the Lawo and Clarence Rivers. Elsewhere our positions are maintained. Over 110 German divisions /"have been so far engaged since March 21, of which over 40 have been thrown into the battle, twice and thrice.

Heavy fighting developed on the nighb of the 12th in the neighbourhood of Neuvo Eglise and Wulverghem. Late-in tho night we advanced our line slightly in the neighbourhood of Festuborfc. The enemylaunched a strong attack, preceded by a heavy bombardment, eastward of Looon, and succeeded in entering our lines at certain points, but were driven out by ft counter-attaok. Wo beat off a second attack later at night, and aiso repulsed an attack eastward of Merville. The situation on 'the remainder of the northern battle front is unchanged. Sharp local fighting occurred south of the Somrne, in the neighbourhood of Hangard, Anglo-French coun-ter-attacks regaining positions into which the enemy had penetrated. The enemy's artillery is more active north of the Somme.

As the result of the fighting oh the night of the 12th inst. in the neighbourhood of Neuvo Eglise the enemy succeeded, after ai prolonged struggle, in forcing their way into the village. Counter-attacks in the morning drove them out. Wo successfully repulsed a later attack, and also a number of other attacks at different points along the battlo front northward of tho La Basse Canal. Threo separate attacks were made on our lino south-westward, westward, and northward of Merville, and each was repulsed, after heavy fighting. We successfully drove back an attempted attack southward of Meteren, arm also beat off four attacks oft our positions south-eastward of Bailieul. Heavy casualties were inflicted upon the enemy. , In tho afternoon of tho 13th a hostile attack in strength developed between Meteren and the Baeque River, south-westf-ward of Meteren and Wulverghem. Sovero fighting is proceeding on the whole of thia - front. On other parts the British front is unchanged. We repulsed, after heavy fighting throughout the evening, attacks from Meteren to Wulverghem (i.e., both west and east of Bailieul). We also repulsed a fourth attack on Neuve Eglise (south of Wulverghem). We beat off in tlfb evening determined attacks near Festubert (north-east ol La Bassee). On this portion of the battle front and north-westward as far aa Loeoa numerous enemy forces were effectively gaged at short range by our infantry and artillery fire. Despite numerous strong attacks at all parts of the Lys battle fronfj our line remains intact. Tho enemy's losses were very severe throughout the operations oa tho 13th. , Fighting reopened in the evening air Neuve Eglise, and the enemy recommenced their attacks in the neighbourhood of Bailieul next morning. After many hours' obstinate fighting during the night and morning of the 14-th about Neuve Eglise (east of Bailieul) we remained in possession of the village. Tha attacks were pressed with great determination, and "tho enemy's losses throughout were heavy. The enemy on the 14th renewed the attempts against the village, and the fighting continues. We repulsed morning attacks in the neighbourhood of Bailieul Merris (south-west of Bailieul). Our artillery dispersed infantry attempting to. attack in the forenoon north-west' of Mer- v ville (midway between Bailieul and" Bethune). Hostile artillery is more active in the neighbourhood of Albert. \ FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORTS. French communiques are to tho following effect: The night of the Bth was marked by violent artillery actions, notably on the left bank of the Qise. Enemy pressure continued north of the Caillette region and in the Lower Coucy Forest. Our advanced elements resisted and delayed the advance of the enemy, who were very superior numerically, inflicting very heavy losses. There was great reciprocal artillery fire at numerous points on the front north of Montdidier and between Montdidior and Noyon; while there are intermittent bombardments on the left (south) bank of the Oise. Our advance elements, in accordance with orders, have withdrawn to previously organised positions south-west of the lower forest of Coucy and south of Coucy-le-Chateau. The enemy troops lost heavily in this operation. North of Montdidier the enemy artillery, fire was violently countered by ours, which bombarded several points. In the region. of Hangard-en-Santerre our artillery*prevented a German attack from debouching. Wa repulsed an attempt west of Noyon, in the sector about Bermont. Our batteries caught and dispersed an enemy concentration in the / region of Coucy-le-Chateau (north of tho Ailette). At Hangard-en-Santerre there were powerful enemy _attacks, with stubborn hand-to-hand fighting, but at 3 a.m. on the 9th the French had mastered the village and the cemetery. There was a violent artillery duel at certain points at Montdidier and in the region of Lassigny. We repulsed on the night of the 10th and next morning two somewhat heavy attacks in the sector Noyon. Thero is an intermittent cannonade on both banks of the Mouse. Our artillei-y dispersed an enemy detachment in the region of Orvillers before it reached our lines. Enemy attacks on advanced posts east of Souain, in the Champagne, and in the Forest of Apremont failed. Following an intense artillery preparation, the Germans in the morning on (he 12th attacked on the front Hangard-en-Santerre-Hourges. A furious fight, lasting all day, developed. The enemy in front of Hourgcs made no progress, but, after several fruitless attacks, ceaselessly fed by fresh troops, . entered Hangard. Counter-attacks brought back to us the western part of the village, where fighting continued desperately. Thero are active artillery exchanges on the Noyon sector. The Germans bombarded Rhejms, where several fires occurred, notably round the cathedral. The enemy at the Forest of Apremont strongly attacked positions at Bois Brule, and gained a footing in advanced eloments, but a sharp counter-attack by a French-American combination ejected them. During the night our counter-attacks in-the region of Hangard-en-Santerre completely threw back the enemy. Wo again possess the entire village, and also tho cemetery. The artillery duel continues violent in this region; between Montdidier and Noyon there are lively bombardments and great patrol activity. Enemy raids north of Orvillers, between Nioppe and tho Aisne,' broke down. The enemy continues to bora*

bard Rheims, and a portion is aflame; -we are endeavouring to restrict the conflagration. The enemy are renewing their attacks on tho Forest of Apremonfc and against Bois Brule. The Americans, in liaison with our troops, shattered most of tht/ enemy attacks. The French west of Lassigny attacked the woods north-west of Orvillers Sorel on a front of 1200 y rds, and advanced several hundred yards. German storm troops attacking in the Noyon sector were caught by our fire before reaching the lines, and sanguinarily defeated. There are fairly lively artillery actions between Montdidier (south of the Somme) and Noyon. Our reconnoitring parties here brought back prisoners We penetrated the enemy lines north of St. Mihiel, on the Ember-Meslin and Bures sectors on the Lorraine, and took prisoners. A German coup do main north of Hill 394 (west of the Meuse), in the refion of St. Mihiel, the Woevre, and Bonommo Hill, was repulsed. A French '• official report states:—On the Bth, between the Oise and the Ailette, we withdrew in order to reduce a salient there, and after fulfilling that mission wo are holding the. enemy while the French main body tako up new positions. The enemy is employing French prisoners to work three kilometres behind the firingline. The Frenoh had a sanguinary encounter with the Germans for the possession of Hangard, which changed hands several times, the French finally remaining masters. GERMAN REPORTS. German official reports state: "Wo drove out the enemy from a strong position on heights eastward of Couchy-le-Cbateau. Troops advancing on the eastern border of Oouchy Wood and via Larises stormed a hill north-cast of Folembray, and advanced as far as Verneuii. The prisoners now total 2000. We captured Quincy, Landalcourt, and Coucy-le-.Chateau. Between Armentiorts and tho La Basseo Canal we attaoked the Anglo-Portuguese and took the first, line, with 6000 prisoners and about 100 guns. Wo penetrated the English lines' astride Waxnetoc. Tn the capture of Armontieres. an English garrison of 50 officers and 5000 men itud down their arms after a bravo resistance. Wo captured 45 guns and other booty. Our total prisoners in tho battle 'n the Armenticros area are now over £O.OOO, including a British general, and 200 guns. A French asault westward of Morouil broke down, leaving 300 prisoners, who wero subsequently killed by tho French artillery. On the batlefield of the Lys our attacks against British divisions progressed. From tho heights of Mcssincs we pushed forward across Steebach and reached tho eastern border of Wulverghem. We surrounded and captured Ploogsteort Wood, took the fortified height of Rossignol (between railways leading from Armentiercs to Bailleul and Mervillc). Wo carried tho attack forward as far as the railway leading from Bailleul to Morisand and as fnras the cnst o rn hordcr of Nieppo Wood. Southward of Merville wo captured the Clarence River, took Locon by storm, and reached La Basseo Cinal northwestward of Bethune. Wo took 4-00 prisoners on both sides of Lxicc Brook. On tho battlefield of Lys we gained ground, penetrated an enemy position southwest of Wulverghem, and stormed and captured Niouwokerko. After a desperate strugglo with British counter-attacking troops we took possession of a height westward of Nieuwekerko. Fighting took placo with variable results near Bailleul. Wo cap-

tured Meris and iVieux Berquin. Enemy forces pushing forward towards the battlefield sustained heavy losses. An attack by several Frenoh battalions against TJr ainvillers anguinarily collapsed. We took many prisoners. We carried _ out a successful thrust against tho Americans north of St.. Mihiel, inflicting heavy losses, and brought back prisoners. We have shot down 37 enemy aeroplanes during tho last few days. AMERICANS FIGHTING. The United Press correspondent at the British front reports that American troops have arrived, and are reinforcing the British. iho American engineers participated in the recent fighting in the great offensive. Tho Germans advanced in waves 12 men deep and 100 yards apart. The Americans poured a deadly fire into the Germans, mowing down thousands, until their rifles got hot. Tho unusual and terrific carnage was sickening; but the Americans held the enemy for days in one sector. Germans attacked the Americans northwest of Toul. Extremely heavy artillery and infantry fighting is in progress.' It is officially announced that the American casualties in six days totalled 44-7. THE CAPTURE OF ARMENTTERES. Mr Philip Gibbs reported on the 10th: Tho front of tho enemy's- attack extends over about 11 miles, between Armentiercs and the La Bassee Canal. The enemy used poison gas in immense quantities. It is estimated that they fired at night over 60,000 gas shells. The enemy on the 10th and 11th exerted all their strength of men and guns between the Lys River and Wytschaote, and our troops, fighting without respite, hold them on our main defensive positions, while thrusting them back from important ground by repeated counterattacks. Once again we were outnumbered. Only the courage and stubborn will of battalions weakened by_ casualties prevented the enemy from making rapid progress. Instead, they wero flung back from Wytschaete and Messines with most bloody losses. We have given ground along tho Lys Canal. South of Armentiercs the Germans put up temporary bridges, which wo shelled to pieces. We have also given up Armontieres, with its gay little restaurants and teashops. Tho enemy on the 10th reached Wytsohacte and Messines, where British forces came up at a great pace, drove the enemy off the crest of the ridge, and dealt them a deadly blow. German dead now lie thick on the ground' which English, Irish, and New Zealandcrs won in June. Tho Germans came on wave after wave. At the end of a day's agony they had not gained a yard of the crest, but had been beaten back to the reverse side of the slope. After the reverse of Givenchy tho enemy attacked Lys Canal, north and south of Estaires. Tho water is sometimes shallow enoiurh for troops to wade, but Scotch machine-gunners caught tho enemy in the ditch and heaped it with their bodies. iSome Northumberland Fusiliers and Royal Scots, after desperate fighting against overwhelming odds, were forced to abandon Houplines. A MAGNIFICENT STAND, Mr Philip Gibbs writes: — It is certain that the German High Command has decided to throw tho full weight of the armies against the British, instead of dividing their efforts by striking also against tho Frenoh. The plan is to edge off as much as possible fromthe Frenoh, holding them in chock meanwhile by defensivo fighting, in order to concentrate their ™«n and

guns opposite the British lines, hurling them in a series of blows, now on the right, now on the left, and following up each success as far as the possibilities admit. This menace calls for a supreme effort by the Allies. On the 10th the enemy made the flat ground opposite Neuve Chapelle the centre of their thrust, On the 11th the attack was on the Messines Ridge. The enemy succeeded in pressing back parts of our first systems, the attacks being most vehement in the of Messines. Our counter-attacks have since driven the enemy back part of tho way. Their bombardment throughout was without a pause. Our great achievement was the magnificent stand by the Lancashires of the Fifty-fifth Division, who held our southern flank firm against fierco repeated attacks, though outnumbered fourfold. The enemy's waves of men ho shattered before Givenchy. We hold 750 prisoners. It is a tragedy that the Portuguese suffered the hcaA'iest blow. The bombardment annihilated their outposts, smashed their front line, and forced them to fall back to their second system, which was then attacked by enemy assault troops. By 11 o'clock the Germans had taken Laventie. The German advance at Laventie put up a _ severe strain upon the Fifty-fifths at Givenchy. The enemy, attacked in crowds, and captured tho village in the morning, but were hurled out by our bombers and riflemen, who regained half the village. The Lancashire lads attacked again, and drove the enemy back to their original positions. German prisoners are very crestfallen, particularly a- a captured document showed that tho German army orders, read out before the battle, stated that our Fiftyfifib Division was very weak and tired, and the capture of Givenchy would be no trouble. Tho British holding Armentieres drew back northwards when the town was evacuated, leaving a dangerous gap on the left of the Northumberland Fusiliers and Royal Scots; but tho gnns wore filled hv a thin line, supported by trench mortar eom.panics and a cycle corps. i no battle spread northwards in the afternoon, and there v' n ' R~iv>e fisrMinp ■>vcr •• ' '•'"■' ' and Hollebeke (on the Tpres-Comines Canal), the enemy chief objective bemg tho Wytschacte-Messines Ridge. Tho sufferings of non-combatants stricken by tho enemy's ruthless, method* *re inscription. _ The enemy flung hundreds -of gas shells into. Bethuue, wlnon was luowdecl with civilians, and many women and children lie in our hospitals suffering from gaspoisoning, while there are many others wounded by the harassing fire of shrapnel and high-velocity shell* flung on the remote hamlets. Tho enemy is flinging his all into the hazard of war. He has a stupendous number of men. While holding his lines on the Somme he has moved up to the north silently and rapidly large concentrations of troops and guns in orrh'r to crush tho British before Franco and America are able to draw off their divisions bv ooimt-r-off m-m- <*. There are 30 German divisions at Wytschaete and La Bassee, and the northern offensive is now as menacing as was that of the Sommo. We are greatly outnumbered, and only the supreme courage of the men is snving the situation. Hundreds of stories could bo given as proof of this. In some cases guns were burled by shell-fire, but our men dug them up and served them again. Unoccupied officers and men belonging to machine-gun companies fought with revolvers and bombs, while their comrades kept the guns going. The Liverpool troops showed great skill in utilising their know-

ledge of the ground, cutting off parties of attackers. They rounded up 300 Germans in a single attack, of whom 50 surrendered to a British brigade major and his orderly. Reserves oamo up to strengthen the line, riding London omnibuses and lorries. The Germarvj on Thursday night drove in a wedge between Lcstrem and Mcrville, and gained the position of Oalonne-sur-Lalys, where they are trying to force their way to-day with a big concentration of machine-gunners and riflemen. A bloody battle is also being fought below the Forest of iSieppe. Old French peasants and young girls and boys continued working in tho fields until shells began to fall. However, our men are full of confidence. If they are forced back they arc glad to know that they have made tho enemy pay a heavy price, and our lino is still unbroken. They are full of faith that against all odds they will hold their own in the last battle of all. In the heart of every man is tho thought that these days are deciding the fate of the world.