PREPARATIONS FOR NEXT PHASE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14567, 1 April 1918, Page 3

PREPARATIONS FOR NEXT PHASE.

STEADY PRESSURE SOUTH OP THE SOMME. EXPERT HANDLING OF MACHINE GUNS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, March 30. Mr. Percival Phillips states : — Steady pressure has continued on our right and southward of the Somme. By crossing the .Somme from Chipilly to Cerisv the enemy succeeded m getting about 2000 yards m our rear. He was held up, however, until all the guns were removed and we took a fresh line further west. "This was the position this morning, hut the Germans are still bringing up guns and fresh divisions, though a great attack has not yet materialised. There were strong concentrations .today around Guillancourt, on the AroiensNesle railway, a short distance behind their present front. The situation generally is one of comparative calm, obviously due to German preparations for the next phase. Much rain has fallen during the night. We have the advantage m the maximum shelter possible m open warfare, whereas the enemy is lodged m a region stripped to the last Toof. without projection from the rain or the deadlier ihail of our machine guns.' ;V notable feature of the fighting was the extraordinary weight of the German machine gun offensive. He is amazingly swift and expert , at handling the newer weapon, and makes each attack under an intense machine gun barrage, which appears to rise out of the ground. What is No Man's Land one moment, appears to fairly sprout with machine guns the next moment.