THE GREAT OFFENSIVE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1339, 29 May 1918, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE GREAT OFFENSIVE.

HEAVY GERMAN ATTACK.

SLIGHT GAINS MADE. DEFENCE FIGHTING WELL. (A. & N.Z. & Router) LONDON. May 27. Sir Douglas Haig, reporting at 3.30 a.m. on May 27, states:—The British division holding the sector of the French front astride the Aisne at Berry au Bac, between Bermericourt and Craonelle, was heavily attacked. At the same time hostile attacks in great strength were made against the French divisions on our right; also against French divisions on our left, along the high ground traversed bv the Chemin des Dames. In the British sector the enemy's attack was supported by tanks, and was accompanied by an intense bombardment of gas shells. Our troops on the right maintained their battle positions, and are in close touch with the French. On our left the enemy succeeded after heavy fighting in pressing us back to our second line of prepared positions. Severe fighting continues all along the front.

Strong enemy attacks this morning on the Locre-Voormezeele front were repulsed by the French after fierce lighting, in which the enemy sustained great losses. The enemy penetrated a short distance into the French positions in the neighbourhood of Dickebusch Lake, where the fighting continues. Other localities into which the enemy penetrated in his first attack have been regained by French coun-ter-attacks, a number of the enemy being taken prisoners. FRENCH DOING WELL. (A. A N.Z. & Renter) LONDON, May 28. A French communique stales: The battle continued throughout the day with extreme violence on a front, of over 40 kilometres between the region of Vauxaillon to the outskirts of Brimont. The enemy masses coming to grips with our front-line troops, and regardless of losses, pushed towards the valley of the Aisne with some of their elements, and reached the neighbourhood of Font Arcy at the end of the day. The French and British troops, in echelon, are retiring methodically and in perfect liaison, making the enemy pay very dearly for his inevitable success and assuring, by their resistance, inch by inch, the efficacious use of our reserves. Artillery activity continues very lively on both banks of the Meuse, in the region of St. Mihiel, and on the Lorraine front.

BIG EVENTS NEAR. ! (A. & N.Z.) LONDON, May 27. J Mr Philip Gibbs states:—The Ger-j man artillery fire on several sectors; from Flanders to the Somme intensi-j tied this morning, as though prepara-) torv to infantry attacks in force, j Warning signals were sent up by our troops in some sectors, but infantry attacks have not followed thus far. A German assault commenced at dawn upon the French beyond the hospice of Locre, with the object of regaining the ground which the! French won on May 20, but if would be unwise to exaggerate the importance of the fighting, winch perhaps is designed to divert attention from; the main blow. The German attack in the neighbourhood of Locre is not j a battle on a big scale, but great! events must be near. The weather remains good, and; there is universal activity in the air, our -fighting 'planes going eastward in flocks. I

The United Press correspondent says: The long-delayed German offensive seems to be «t hand. '! he enemy attacked this morning the British along the Aisne, westward of Kheims, and the French on both the British Hanks simultaneously, with thrusts against the Allies in the region of Montdidier v.nri amongst the hills south-west of Ypres. The Germans made slight progress at some places, and were held up at others. Apparently the Montdidier attack was stopped easily, but the Crown Prince's thrust between Noyon and i'heims seems heavier. The British are reported to be holding the line Cormicy-Cource-vreux on the Aisne, a little south of the old advanced line. The French are apparently holding the line along the Aisne, in a north-westerly direction, while the French and British on the right of Cormier are reported to have taken up their appointed battle positions. The French re-established their line on the Lys battlefront, where the Germans penetrated early in the morning. The lighting continues. The Germans south of Diekebuseh apparently still hold 800 yards of the French trenches; also part of our front system in the same region, but the French are lighting vigorously. They have already taken 100 prisoners. Fine weather prevails, and our aeroplanes are very active. The enemy is heavily massed. around Peronne, Hove, Ham, Nesle, and Noyon. There is every indication that the enemy is ready to throw everything | into the third, and perhaps the. ultimate, phase of the oilcnsivc.

VERY WIDE FRONT. (A. A N.Z. & neuter) LONDON, May 27. I A French communique states: During the latter half of last night, the Germans very violently bombarded the entire region between the Forest of Pinon and Rheims. The enemy this morning attacked on a very wide front. The French and British troops are resisting with their customary gallantry. There was lively artillery lire at night lime in the Champagne, on the; right bank of the Meuse, at the; Forest of Apremont, and in the j YVoevrc. • | Focal enemy attacks in the Forest! of Apremont region and north-east I of Badonvillers were repelled. GERMAN CLAIMS. Admiralty per Wirthan Press. LONDON, May 28. A German official report this even- 1 ing claims the capture of the whole; of the Chemin des Dames Pudge. j BELGIAN REPORT. (A. & N.Z.) LONDON, May 28. A Belgian communique states:; Long-range guns tired on our back; areas yesterday.

RECKLESS ATTACKS. (Ceutcr) LONDON, May 27. Renter's correspondent at British Headquarters, writing on May 27, in the evening, states:—The German bombardment this morning was scarcely less violent than those preceding the attacks on March 21. Gas shells were prodigally employed, a north-easterly wind diffusing the gas widely along the Allied front. There was' an intensive fire between the Ypres Canal and Nieppe Forest, while the areas west of Lens and the Scarpe Valley were also heavily bombarded. The enemy is heavily shelling far-back areas with high velocity guns. His airmen are being unusually venturesome.

' The British on the French flank have been engaged. The Germans! came in the familiar formation,! dense waves keeping close up to their I barrage. Against the first heavy! shock the French stood stoutly on the left and in the centre, but were pressed back slightly in the vicinity, of the farm on their right. During the morning the Germans,; jwith characteristic recklessness of i the cost, continued to push forward; j fresh troops, and the French were! .obliged to yield more ground, but,i [subsequently, counter-attacking, they restored their line at most places.! J The Germans at present have a footing in the French front line south of j I Dickebusch for a distance of 800; yards and also some hold at another! point of the front-line system in this region. The situation, however, appears to be well in hand, and the reports from the battlefield breathe confidence. I Our artillery and the French are Ibarraging the German positions intensely. The enemy casualties must) be verv heavy.

A POWERFUL BLOW. (A. & y.Z.) LONDON, May 27. The United Press correspondent stales: You Arnim this morning struck a powerful local blow towards Scherpenberg, which seems a determined further attempt to regain lost ground. The battle began with a heavy bombardment from the canal bank near Ypres. The* German infantry advanced at dawn. Meantime the German artillery was furiously pounding several sectors more to the southward, between Arras and Albert, but all was quiet there at 7 this morning. There was also quiet in the Somme area, except for some gas shelling about Corbie and Fonilloy. ALLIES WATCHFUL. (Heater) LONDON, May 2.5. Renter's correspondent at French Headquarters, telegraphing at noon on May 27. describing the German renewal of operations, says:—The Crown Prince's forces, probably commanded by Generals Franz von Beiow and von Boehm, at dawn launched an attack after a liberal bombardment throughout the first part of the night.

The Allied commanders have the situation well in hand, and are waiting to see whether the atlack is I purely a demonstration in force or whether it will develop into a genicral battle. Possibly the enemy is merely endeavouring to attract the lAllied reserves while concentrating his forces for bis main attack else- | where.