THE ENEMY CONCENTRATING.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11501, 2 April 1918, Page 5

THE ENEMY CONCENTRATING.

FOR ANOTHER OFFENSIVE. BIG USE OF MACHINE GUNS. London, March 20. Mr Perciv-d Phillips states; The steady pressure has continued on our right. Southward of the Somme, by crossing the Somme from Chipiily to Cerisy, the enemy succeeded in getting about'2ooo yards to our rear. He waa held up. however, until all our guns were removed and we took up a fresh line further west. This was the position this morning, but the Germans are still bringing up their guns and fresh divisions. Though the great attack has not yet materialised, there are strong concentrations to-day around Guillaucourt on the Amiens and Nesle railway, a short distance behind their present front. The situation generally is one of comparative calm, obviously duo to the German : preparations for the next phase. Much rain has fallen in the night. Wo have an advantage in having the maximum shelter possible in open warfare, whereas the enemy is lodged in a region stripped to the last rool] and without protection'against the rain or the deadlier hail of our machine guns. A notable feature of the fighting was weight.of the German machine gnu offensive. He is amazingly swift and expert in handling his newer weapons, and makes each attack under an intense machine gun barrage, which appears to rise ®ut of the ground. What is “No Man’s Land” one'moment, appears to fairly sprout with machine guns the next moment.