THE WESTERN FRONT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3348, 15 May 1918, Page 13

THE WESTERN FRONT.

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORTS. The official reports of Sir Douglas Haig for the past week have been to the following effect:— . Sir D. Haig reports: A minor operation on our lino westward and south-westward of Morlancourt, between the Somme and tho Ancre, advanced our line on a _ considerable front despite strong opposition. The enemy's losses were heavy and our casualties slight. Local fighting improved our positions in the neighbourhood of Locre and the Lawe River. In a successful local operation during the night of the sth, in tho neighboured of. Morlancourt, we took over 200 prisoners. The French repulsed attempted raids southward of Locre Reciprocal artillerv activity continued all.day on the battle fronts. Our artillery caused several fires behind the enemy's lines northward of Lys. ■ _ . - On the morning of the Bth mst. the enemy launched a strong local attack against the Anglo-French forces between La Clytte and Voormezeele. After heavy righting the centre attack entered the allied front line at certain points, and fighting continues in these localities. The attack was repulsed at all other points. A successful French local operation advanced the lino during the night southward of La Clytte, taking a number of prisoners. As a result of minor operations we advanced our line a short distance in three localities between the Somme and the Ancre, taking some prisoners. Hostile artillery was active at night between Lacon and Robecq (northwest of Bethune) and in the neighbourhood of St. Julien (north-east of Ypres). The enemy also developed considerable artillery activity in the Moteren-Kemmel sector (south-west of Ypres). The situation on the La Clytte and Voormezeele sector has been restored. The Germans northward of Kemmel pressed us back slightly at one point. The first successful Anglo-French counter-attacks in the La Clytte-Voormezeele sector drove the enemy out of portions of the front line where they had obtained a footing and re-established the original positions. "We took several prisoners. The enemy, reattacking northward of Kemmel on the morning of the Bth, pressed our line in slightly at one point, where fighting continues. Two German divisions participated in Wednesday morning's attack. Our artillery and infantry inflicted heavy casualties on both during a counter-attack. We further progressed between the Somme and the Ancre (north-east of Amiens) and improved our new positions there. We repulsed raids at Lens and Merris. The enemy artillery has developed considerable activity in the Albert sector. . At the conclusion of the fighting on the morning of May 9.in the La Clytte-yoor-mezeele sector the Franco-British positions wore completely re-established. The enemy, after as artillery preparation, launched two early local attacks in the neighbourhood of Albert and Bouzancourt (north-west of Albert). Our rifle and machine-gun fire broke up the latter attack, the enemy not reaching our The enemy, after suffering heavy casualties from our fire at Albert, effected a lodging in our advanced positions on a front of 150 yards, but our cotinter-attack recaptured a small portion of the front trench. Local fighting took place at Aveluy Wood, northward of Albert. Hostile artillery was particularly active on the Vimy and Robecq sectors, southwards of Dickenhusch.

The French advanced their line slightly north-oastward of Locre. We made successful raids westward of Merville, and stopped an attempt at a raid ea-stward of Ypres. We repulsed a raid in the neighbourhood of Neuville Vitasse. In a successful local operation the French improved their positions northward of Kemmel villail?. We repulsed a raid on the Ypres-Compes Canal. The enemy artillery is active on the Ancro sector, southward of Albert, and against our forward positions eastward and southward of Voormezcele. Nothing is happening, except reciprocal artillery activity. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORTS. French communiques for the week are to the following effect: An enemy attemnt. after a violent bombardment, to reach our line south-west of Anchin Farm, failed completely, and many of the enemy were killed. A detachment of our troops penetrated German ogranisations in the Tegion north of Locre, west of Rheims, and inflicted serious lo3ses._ There was great reciprocal artillery activity during the night on the north and south banks of the Avre. Enemy raids west of Montdidier and in the regions of Hangard and Grivesnes failed. After an intense short artillery preparation on the Bth we captured the park of Grivesnes, an important part of which the Germans had occupied. We brought baok a largo quantity of material, despite lively enemy artillery and reconnaissances in attempting to reach our new line. We maintained the conquered positions, which we have organised. We conducted success-

ful local operations. We repulsed raids on the right bank of the Ailette, the region of Massigo, north of Rheims, and at the Forest of Ailly. During the night of the 10'th the artillery struggle was very lively throughout the region of Grivesnes and Mailly-Raineval. A minor operation against Rois de Moreuil, north-west of Orvillers, enabled us to gain an appreciable amount of ground. _ A counter-attack completely failed. We raided south-cast of Montdidier, north-east of Thiepscourt, and the Woevre. After a most violent artillery preparation on the ll'th German shock troops gained a footing _ on Gaune Wood, south-west of Mailly-Raine-val, but a cour'ter-attack _ drove them out with heavy loss, the position being completely restored. There is a violent bombardment west of Mailly-Raineval. An attack on our new positions north-west of Villers-Sorel was completely repulsed with heavy losses. There is a lively artillery duel on the right bank of the Meuse. AMERICANS IN ACTION. The American Headquarters reports that the Germans, using gas, heavily attacked the Americans in Picarcly. The attack was preceded by a bombardment by 15,000 mustard. shells. The attack was completely repulsed, 'the Americans returning blow for blow. German heavy artillery was fired for the first time north-west of Toul. CANADIAN LINE EXTENDED'. Canadian Headquarters report that • the Canadian urtay has taken over three more miles of front in the vicinity of NeuvilleVitasse, Mercatel, and Boisleux-St. Marc (south of Arras). TWO ATTACKS BY AUSTRALIANS. The Australians gained 500 yards at Sailly-le-Sec, east of Amiens, and gained 300 yards west of Morlancourt (south of Albert), where they advanced despite a heavy enemy barrage. The United Press correspondent on the British front says that the Australians brilliantly advanced 700 yards on a 1500 yards front, between the Ancre and the Somme. Later they further advanced 500 yards. Many Germans were killed, and 150 were taken prisoner. In the Morlancourt attack the Australians reached the lower elopes of a ridge in the neighbourhood of Vaux-sur-Somme, an important tactical point. The Australians swept forward silently in the darkness early in 'the morning, surprising a thin garrison holding the front lines just. northward of the Somme. The Australians established themselves in the position. Similarly in pitch darkness next morning the Australians pushed on another 500 yards on a 2000-yard front. They met with obstinate resistance this time, but they killed many and took 150 prisoners. The weather is now showery. The Australians' first move a't midnight was a feint, with a heavy bombardment. Tho second and third blows were delivered simultaneously. Meanwhile the enemy put up tremendous machine-gun and shrapnel barrages, but the Australians held on. The New York newspapers make a feature of the Australian advance with cross-page headlines, and pay tributes to the Australians', dash and courage. THE NEW ZEALANDERS. During minor operations on tho night of tho 6th tho New Zealanders advanced into the Gorman trenches, and, after killing between 30 and 40, took back 10 prisoners. Our position was very slightly _ improved. Prisoners state that our preliminary bombardment killed several, and our trench mortars did effective work. . GERMAN REPORTS. German official: A _ local enemy attack southward of Lccre failed. We took some prisoners during reconnoitring engagements near Hangard and south-west of Brimont; also with the _ Americans southwest of Blamont und with the French at Hartmanns Wcilerkopf. British _ advances on the north bank of the Lys_ failed. The enemy employed Australians Tor a night attack between the Ancre and the Somme, which succeeded in reaching our foremost line on both side of the Corbie-Bray rood; otherwise their twice-repeated attack broke down heavily before our posts. Artillery activity continues here with 'the greatest intensity, being heaviest at daybreak. 'Our storming detachments south of Brimont brought back prisoners. A successful reconnoitring operation southward of Nicuport. We took some Belgian prisoners. Local engagements on the Somme resulted in British and French prisoners. The enemy, after strong mining preparations, unsuccessfully attacked both sides of the CorbieBray road. Our fire effectively caught the troops which were being kept in readiness. After a further attack at night southward of the road our counter-attack drove tho enemy back. Our local attacks southward of Dickebusch Lake were completely successful. We stormed strongly-fortified positions on the east bank of the Yyverbeek on a -width of two kilometres. We ran into

a Franco-British attack, which vva3 dissipated, the enemy's attack being fully developed only astride- the Reninghelst-Kem-mel road, and it was repulsed, together with counter-attacks against our new positions. Wo took prisoner 675 men belonging to six French and two British divisions, which sufi'eicd heavily. We repulsed British advances on the south bank of the Lys and near Bucquoy. The French obtained a footing at Grivesnes. Wc stopped an attack on our lines northward of Kcmmel. BRITISH CASUALTIES. The British casualties in the week ending on the 7th totalled 38,600. GENERAL FOCII'S RESERVES. Official advices state that 2,500,000 Italian soldiers are now at the disposal of General Foch for his reserve. The British war Mission to the United States states that, with the French and British reserves now available, the situation on the west front is considerably improved though it is certain to bo an anxious one for some time. Despite their terrible ordeal, 'the behaviour of the drafts who for the first time came under a deluge of shells and gas was splendid. The mission forecasts the almost immediate resumption of the German offensive. THE GERMAN STRENGTH. The New York Times's correspondent with the American army in France States that authentic figures show that the German army now comprises approximately 5,400,000 men, exclusive of the Austrian army. This year Germany has been able to add 600,000 men to her army. The Allies, from the Channel to Belfort, are facing 3,654,000 Germans. Ho points out that the great task before the Allies requires every available American soldier. Ihe estimated rate of German losses is more than a million annually. Frontier reports state that large contingents of Bavarian cavalry from the Flanders Front traversed Liege, their supposed destination being Ukrainia. Refugees from Riga state that numerous bodies of German troops have recently been hurriedly sent to the west front. It is reported that Marshal Von Mackensen is in command of the German armies between the iSomme and Arras. The United Press correspondent at the American front says: Information obtained by aviators flying above the German lines indicates that the Germans have thinned their ranks in Lorraine, and the German lines opposite Verdun are sparsely occupied. Prisoners report that the lowest grade German soldiers are holding the positions. SUCCESSFUL BRITISH ATTACK. The United Press correspondent writes: Counter-attacking stubbornly on the Bth, the British recaptured their' original line south-westward of Dickebusch Lake, whence they had been driven after all-day fighting on Wednesday. Next day, however, they were compelled to retire slightly on the extreme of this small battle front owing to much machine-gun fire. Fighting continues about a small pocket constituting a German strong point oastward of Mille Kruysen, otherwise the situation thereabout is unchanged. The French withstood an attack almost completely on the British right, stopping enemy storm troops on part of the bank of the Vyverbeek, which they were unable to cross owing to field-gun fire. After the first attack the Germans did not renew the struggle against the French. The whole line, according to latest advices, was intact. The Germans undoubtedly hoped that these operations would enable them to gain ground from which they could launch a bigger attack to turn Scherpenberg. The Germans at 3 a.m. barraged an area north-eastward of Amiens, but an hour later this had apparently quietened down without an infantry engagement. Machine guns forced back the British slightly from positions won on Wednesday, when they, advanced northward from trenches in the cemetery near Bucqoy. Tho British gunfire in Flander3 for three days completely prevented any enemy movement. The enemy undoubtedly had prepared an attack for Saturday, but the British gunners smothered it before it could be launched. Following a heavy and continuous bombardment along a wide front in Flanders, the German infantry on the morning of the Bth attacked south of Dickebusch Lake. It was not a very big affair, apparently only of divisional strength. The enemy penetrated our front line between the lake and Ridge Wood, and some enemy parties arc reported in the eastern fringe of the wood, the greater part of which we hold, and which is likely to prove very costly to tho enemy if he attempts to push on. We also hold "Kleinevstraat. The tactical objective of the operation is apparently an attempt to clear the way for a thrust towards Scherpenberg from the north-east, and may prove the beginning of further - " fierce fighting in this rearion. THE GERMAN ATTACK FRUSTRATED. Mr Peroival Phjllips states that the German attack on the 7th was planne'd on an ambitious scale between Locre and the Ypres Canal on a five to six mile front. It was conpletely frustrated. It is believed that five German divisions were employed for the attack, hoping to separate the allied forces; but our fire prevented many of the enemy leaving their trenches. The bombardment of our ridge and wood defences completely destroyed our outpost lines, so we fell back behind the wood, wherein tho Germans attempted to establish themselves. We barraged the eastern edge of the wood nt dusk, and the Seaforths with the bayonet cleared the wood before dark. The Australians further improved their line between tho Somme and the Ancre. Everywhere from Albert to Amiens men are wiring and strengthening the defences. PREPARING FOR A NEW OFFENSIVE. THE ALLIED TROOPS CONFIDENT. The United Press correspondent, at British Headquarters states that the delay in the German offensive is less due to tho difficulty of bringing up heavy artillery into position than to restoring the devastated communications. The enemy are desperately busy making and mending tho roads, which our gunners and airmen are constantly damaging. French aviators > report that the German reserves of munitions continue to accumulate between the Somme and Arras. Mr Philip Gibbs > wrote on May 5: The enemy are reorganising their divisions pre-

paratory to another offensive. They have many divisions in tho Flemish fields and on the Sonime. Also German divisions aro crowded in reserve; but there are few roads for marching, not much room for their masses to assemble, and little cover in, their trenches and dugouts. So we pound many Germans to death. Their reliefs coming up get wildly mixed up with divisions returning, and thero is mad confusion during tho night in the ranks of the marching men and transport columns, while their Red Cross convoys are overloaded with wounded. These things are upsetting ths plans of tho German High Command, but the latter will continue to pour out the blood of the infantry in this great gamble, Tho only chance of 'tho onslaught stopping is that the German people may bo horrified and. rise in passion against the spilling of their soldiers' blood. Mr Philip Gibbs wrote on the lltli: Our armies aro waiting expectantly for another violent blow by masses of Germans. They believe, as far as I know from the talk of officers hero *,nd there, that the enemy ! this time will bo held and shattered. Tho J Germans have nothing like the same chance as on March 21, when they had greater numbers, the first fever of enthusiasm, and a wider line of attack, which we held thinly in proportion to strength brought against us. If tho enemy fail this time our armies believe that Germany's great hopes will be utterly destroyed. Meanwhile, possibly where the front is quietest the menace will be greatest. The t Germans as far as possible are secretly in ! the night time arranging every detail for a colossal battle. The present quietude ' „means that the Germans are preparing' ' another violent blow. Our guns are doing ; most of "Jie firing. On many parts of the ! front the enemy gunners are. - ■ plying, and arG economising ammunition, filling up dumps, and unloading shells from': light railways. Our airmen report unusual i railway activity behind the German lines. I There is a constant tide of rolling stock, ■ and sometimes long columns of marching men, but the movement is greatest at night, when it is unobservable. We may assume | that fresh divisions, with field batteries and heavy guns, are taking up positions nearer our lines in readiness for an assault. i Our armies are awaiting expectantly, believing that if the enemy again fails Germany's great hopes will be utterly de- 6 stroyed. THE GERMAN TIME-TABLE. !. Reuter's correspondent at the British. Headquarters writes on the 12th inst.: The weather is grey and cheerless on most or the battle front. The enemy have fallen considerably behind their amended timetable. In a diary found upon a captured German officer" is an entry stating that the big attack planned from Albert had been abandoned becauso the 'Second Naval Division had broken into Albert and indulged in wholesale riot. The diary added that the division had been dealt with for disorderly behaviour and pillage. t The French troops -operating along the gully of the Wyverbeek, running south of Dickebu?ch Lake to the eastern foot of Mount Kemmel had considerable success. 1 TRIBUTE TO THE TWENTY-NINTH I DIVISION. 1 Mr Robinson wrote on the sth: The I auiet on the front becomes om.inous that die devil's dance is about to recommence. Continued rain delays the enemy s plans, but another great blow is surely impending. The Srafians' fine adWe between . sSllv Le Leac and Morlancourt not* only reHeves the immediate pressure upon XKS from Corbie, but additional observation over the German b«sk areas paqtwards of Bretonneux. The AustraHans besides inflicting heavy casualties tool about 200 prisoners and captured m Tt' n Tw R en n ty-ninth Division, recently mentioned by Sir Douglas Haig, is as famous NovSer, 1917 At the beginnmg of the nrcsent battle the division saw hard ser S Passchendaele and took up tion at Merris. It has done conspicuously great service since. UNITY OF CONTROL. qirrnnr Orlando, Italian Premier, wai infeiewed at an Italian port after his : E om France. He- said he found ' all the allied military chiefs convinced that the German rush had been stopped and that the Germans would neither the Channel ports nor separate the Urrtisn ana French a?mies. General Foch 1b m.aater of th« rime Orlando emphasised thffi fact thSf'lta§"has associated herself with he intimate 'military and political union ; between the Entente nations Abhevilla Conference recognised the unity or ! the front from North Sea to the Adriatio • as a concrete reality. , Mr Winston Churchill says that tha Anglo-French armies, are prepared to reI main on tho defensive during the coming I summer until adequate United States rein- ! forcements arrive. ! LUDENDORFF IN FULL COMMAND. The Daily Telegraph's Rotterdam correI spondent states that the Austro-Germans ! are being regrouped, and that fresh artil- ' lerv is massing for a resumption of the 1 battle at at least three points. These are i Flanders, the Amiens salient, . and tho ' Italian front, There are indications of at ; least two attacks simultaneously. Although : there are few Germans in Ludendorff • ; is master of the Austrian armies, and has ! imposed his will upon the war-sick poll--1 ticians regarding the part the Austnans i must play. „ t . , The German Staff's energies are now de- ! voted to tho problem of developing greater 1 speed following up any initial success. The eenorals responsible for the St. Quentin attack attribute their final failure to incomplete co-operation between the artillery and infantry. Contrary to expectations, the further the infantry advanced the more essential artillery co-operation became, as the retreaters were always drawing nearer l their own fixed batteries. The Germans are seeking fresh devices, including the application of tho 'tank principle to shifting batteries. Fresh troops aro being subjected to _ extraordinary inten-"' sive training, with special attention to openorder workl- All soldiers aro using fire bombs, and there are some casualties, but 1... ' - =g

they are justified in accustoming the men So handling fire missiles.