A STRAIGHTENING PROCESS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14578, 8 April 1918, Page 5

A STRAIGHTENING PROCESS.

ENEMY PINNED ACROSS THE ANCRE. NEW ZEALANDERS' DASHING ATTACK. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.. LONDON, April 5. Mr.,, Philip Gibbs states:— The. Germans between Albert and Aveling Wood employed- six divisions on nine thousand yards of front. It became apparent this morning that they had been busy during the past few days m getting up ''guns, because the barrage was heavy and deep, extending for some miles beyond the front. Our troops defended the ground resolutely, and the spilling of German man blood goes on apace. It is obvious that if the Germans are aiming at Amiens along the Somme. they must cross the Ancre. north of Albert at, all costs m ordeiv. to avoid an acute salient. This is undoubtedly his object iii attacking there to-day. His" salient south. -of the Somme is already so dangerous that our field guns are shooting | tho Germans in* the., back. It seems at present * that to-day's action is merely a straightening process to a drive, which will' come later if the , straightening process is successful. Meanwhile we .'are holding tho enemy -pinned across tho Ancre and hold our [ flank, firmly on the. north bank of tho I Somme. Out- men are fighting with most I dogged resolution to foil tho enemy's ' plans, I The New Zealanders made two attacks this morning m splendid spirit and took 120 prisoners.