WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 April 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

GERMANS' SULLEN PERSEVERENCE.

ENEMY BAKED BY BRITISH FIRE,

BRITISH LINE REMAINS UNWAVERING.

Received April 18, 5.5 p.m.

London, April IS. The United Press correspondent, writting at 3.30 in the afternoon, says that with sullen perseverance Germans continue to throw troops against the northern flank of the Lvs salient. There was a ceaseless struggle all day on Wednesday. The enemy was raked by British fire from a cluster of hills southwestward of Ypres. General Marschall and General Zudohna's troops who were attempting to ad> vance over the evacuated area of the Ypres salient were caught and smashed in the old shell-torn battlefield. Northward and southward of Zonnebeke, General Haig'a high explosives dispersed three successive waves that were endeavoring to reach Kemmel Hill. The British line remained unwavering. Another assault in the same region was pressed back and a. British counter* attack restored the situation.

BATTLE PANORAMA.

A UNIQUE SPECTACLE.

London, April 18. Tile United Press correspondent says: The battle now in progress is the most Bpectacular show of the war. From a hilltop near Bailleul it is observable like a panorama from a balcony seat. For miles upon miles, from around the Passchendaele salient, whence the British have voluntarily withdrawn, to far to the south-east of Bailleul the fighting is visible to the naked eye, while with field glasses the infantry can be seen on the move.

The view is unique. The former battles at \ erdun, in the Champagne, at Arras, Messines and Cambrai were fought till the country wa 3 practically unseen even by the generals. To-day they can see the men going into action across the fertile Flemish farms.

The unbroken panorama is like an unreal impression, suggesting a i>onster open-air spectacle commemorating some important centennial.

BRITISH LINE INTACT. ENEMY ATTACKS REPULSED. London, April IS ;12.45 p.m.). Sjir Douglas Ilaig reports: There is no change on the British front.

During the night there was great activity of hostile artillery at Givenchy to eastward of "obecq. The heavy bombardment of our positions between Lacon and Robecq was still continuing at dawn We repulsed local attars last night on the Merris sector. Details of yesterday's fighting on the N'ieppe Forrest-Wytschaete front establish the severity of the enemy's losses. Three waves of German infantry attacking south-eastward of Kemmel Hill pressed back our line slightly _jt one point. Our counter-attack, restored the situation and the attack was repulsed at all points. Three enemy attaeks on the Bailleul sector were completely repulsed. Our line was intact on the whole front yesterday morning.

A FRENCH BOMBARDMENT

INFLICTS HEAVIEST LOSSES. Paris, April 18. A vast French artillery concentration southward of the Somme is bombarding a 60-mile front as far as the Oise and for miles in the rear, preventing the Germans entrenching and inflicting the heaviest losses.

| GERMANS' POSITION. . MUST SECURE GAINS OR BE EXHAUSTED. London, April 13. A great attack was launched this morning from Robecq to Givenchy. According to the first reports the enemy Was repulsed everywhere, excepting at Givenchy, where the Germans entered at certain points. Correspondents with the French army claim that the battle is reaching aji absolutely decisive stage. The Germans must secure further gains or fall back exhausted, thereaiter permitting the Allies to build up a crushing numerical superiority. The battle is becoming a gigantic trial of endurance, and victory will rest with the most resohite and best generalled army. A demand is proceeding from some quarters in England that Sir William Robertson be brought back to advise the Government.

FRENCH ARTILLERY WORK,

GETTING READY FOR THRUST. London, April 18. Freneli headquarters, reporting on Tuesday says: Although there have been no important battles from Hangard to Noyon for several days, the artillery is active ou both sides. The enemy concentrations north of the Somme indicate that the Germans have not abandoned the hope of breaking through to Amiens. The French have maintained an artillery superiority, and the enemy front lines and communications are being continuously bombarded, paralysing attempts to fortify the positions and breaking up the r ■•ya and impeding the establish-

iiienl i hostile batteries. Meanwhile we are organising our positions in readiness for gMtenght-

ENEMY PRESS HARD.

PRODIGAL EXPENDITURE OF MEN

| 'IRITLSH HGHT WITH HOMERIC I VALOR. Received April 19, 10 30 p.m. London, April 19. Reuter's correspondent at British headquarters, writing on the ]Bth, says: The Germans this morning developed an attack on a long front between Oivenchy and Robeek, pressing hard towards Givenehy. They are apparently drawing in fresh reserves in the course o£ the great battle. More than 30 enemy divisions have so far appeared. It is certain the German command is exploitng every success by the most prodigal expenditure of man-power, not counting the cost. In the great German attack yesterday our troops fought with Homeric valor against' tremendous numerical odds.

GERMAN COUPS.

REPULSED BY THE FRENCH. Aus. and N.Z- Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received April 19, 7.55 p.m. London, April 18 (4.10 p in.). A French communique states: In the region of Corbery our fire dispersed strong enemy detachments which wer& attempting to reach our lines. After heavy artillery preparations the enemy launched several coups-de-main in tho campaign on the right of the Meuse, east of Caurieree Wood, and in the direction of Damloup. We repulsed all, and made several successful attacks norths east of Rheims and in Lorraine.

THE PASSCHENDAELE WITHDRAWAL.

OPERATIONS DESCRIBED. London, 'April _lB- - Percival Phillips says the withdrawal from Passchendaele has not discouraged the soldiers, who know that trench will lose their former value owing to the return to open warfare. ' '

The abandoned slope is a desert moro ! difficult to occupy than the Somme wastes. We destroyed the roads and left no shelters. The Sermnns must come into the wilderness across the skyline plainly observable by the gunners. The first advance patrols came over the crest hours after the withdrawal iiad been accomplished. They attempted to attack in the region of Zillebpke Lake. We waited grimly and withheld our fire until the first wave was at close range and scattered it into tlio craters. The flanks of the attack, seein-r the destruction in the centre, tried to retreat and were nearly annihilated. Stragglers dropped to the ground and crept back to their old lines.

During the night we withdrew all tlio guns and removed or destroyed all the ammunition. We have not left any valuable material, and have blown up our comfortable winter line.

Reports from all parts of the front state that piles of enemy dead are strewn in the fields and villages, but the slaughter of Meteren was unprecedented. Bodies were piled up on the roadside and lined the hedges. What Ivas formerly a stretch of farmland ig now a, shambles.

Prisoners taken at La Bassee admit the failure of the German plans, which included the capture of Arras on March 28 and Bethuno by April !()■ Try as they will the Germans are unable to loosen our grip on Givenchy.

Heavy fighting occurred near St. Venant on Tuesday. The British and Germans delivered attacks simultaneously, and the impact Ibroke the Germans, Enemy field batteries, slipping out at night from Pacaut Wood, fired point blank at our men, who charged, killed or took prisoner all the gunners and destroyed the guns.

LOST GROUND REGAINED. London, April 18. The Germans gained ground at Mount Keinrnel, but the British recovered it in counter-attacks.

The French are heavily engaged in the new battle on the northern front. CANADIANS AT LYS. London, April 18. The Canadians aro engaged in the battle on the Lys frontSMALL ENEMY GAINS. London, April IS. A' new German attack between Givenchy and Robecq secured small German gains. i»

REPINGTON'S VIEWS. London, April 18. Colonel Eepington says that the German divisions are mostly jvithdra-wn before they are exhausted, and tho ranks filled up from the field depots. Ottier features of the attack include tlie lavish use of machine-gun companies with the leading troops and the employment of large numbers of mobile trench mortars, also field artillery accompanying the first lino where possible.

REINFORCEMENTS TURN THE SCALE.

London, April IS. The newspapers give prominence to the news of the arrival of the French reinforcements at Meteren and attribute Tuesday's turn of the battle to their presence. It is going out; hut comtinuous fluctuations must be expected.

CONTINUOUS FIGHTING. BRITISH STANDING UP HEROICALLY SEVERE ENEMY (LOSSES. Received April 20, 1 a.m. London, April I!) (12-30 a.m.). Sir Douglas Haig reports: There has been severe lighting on the greater gart of the Lys battle-front. .Strong followed a bombardment from-La I3ass6e canal to the Lys river eastwards of St. Venant. All were repulsed with extremely losses. | We took 200 prisoners. '

The struggle was particularly fierce in the neighborhood of Givenchy, where determined enemy efforts failed. The fighting here is continuous, The enemy's artillery is active on the whole of this front. Further attacks developed later in the morning southward of Kemmel, but they were repulsed.

STOPPED BY SHELLFIRE,

TWO GERMAN ATTACKS. YPPi.ES SHELLED. Received April 19, 8.30 p.m. London, April 18The United Press correspondent continues: Two attacks, which were made in quick succession north-westward of Wulverghem, near the scene of the attempt to reach Keinmel, were stopped by shellfirc, as was a charge northward of Neuvo Eglise towards Dranoutre. Tho enemy's losses in all these efforts were heavy.

General von Quast'g guns, which had freshly arrived on the scene, were pounding to-day the villages at the back of the areas. The area about the La Bassee canal was gas shelled all night, and the lines of communication northward of the Lys were under constant indirect lire from machine-guns. The British guns were likewise busy with an intense harassing fire. The Germans are shelling Ypres intermittently. A British patrol entered Bailleul on Tuesday night and f&und no Germans until it reached the square in the centre of the town. A sharp light ensued, six Germans being killed, while the remainder fled into the side streets. The British returned safely.

BELGIANS ATTACKED,

ENEMY DRIVEN BACK IN CONFUSION.

COO 'PRISONERS CAPTUREDRenter Service. Received April 19, 8.45 p.m. London, April IS. The British headquarters correspondent says it is specially noteworthy at this stage of the campaign that an attack by four German divisions, including marine infantry, was made yesterday on the Belgians on a six kilometres front, between Ivippe and Langemarck, after an all-night most intense bombardment. The Belgians put up a fight ranking as one of the epics of their splendid, story. They drove back the enemy in confusion, taking over 600 prisoners.

A DAY OF DEFEAT.

FOR THE GERMAN'S ! ANGLO-FRENCH COHESION NOWHERE EhOKEN. Received April 19, 7.55 p.m. Paris, April 18-Semi-official: Yesterday was a day of defeat for the Germans, who hoped t<J overwhelm the British. This plan was baffled. The French are now effectively co-operatng. Half the German divisions available on the Western front have already been engaged, and after twenty-six days the Anglo-French cohesion has nowhere been broken. We are justified in asking whether the tactical advantage gained by the Germans are not disproportionate to their effort, and whether tliey are able to continue to the fi»ish.

HAMMER BLOWS WEAKENING,

ENEMY MORALE EBBING. United Service. Received April 19, 7.55 pin. London, April 18. The Pall Mall Gazette's war correspondent states that the enemy's hammer blows are weakening and his morale is ebbing. He is withdrawing men and munitions to distant sectors and fighting with the energy of despair, but no admission of failure is to be expected from General Ludendorff until every shred of hopo has vanished, because the consequence of the gambler's throw was foreseen.

ENEMY'S COSTLY GAINS.

A SHEER CONTEST OP MAN-POWER. J WEARING DOWN REPEATED-WLC--I j HUSHES. Received April 11), 11.5 p.m. London, April 10. Renter's correspondent at British headquarters, continuing Kays; Our troops are lighting iii the same irresistible manner in the battle between Uiyenchy forest and Nieppe, which has now been progressing for nearly a we«'k. German gains in tlio battle of Flaudgrs are limited to the smallest, and have proved a terribly costly advance at certain points. If he, measures the extent of his gains by the price he lias paid he certainly must be looking gloomily at the bold contours from Cassel to Messines, which he is practically bound to attempt to break through, and the Belgian front south of the .forest of Houthulst. Probably inspired 'by the discovery of our withdrawal from the Passcheiidaele region, and consequent on the assumption that there would be some disorganisation in this part of the line, the attack was repeated to-day, the enemy doubtless being mortified at being defeated by about half his own numbers. The past week's struggle has been more purely a battle of infantrymen than might be anticipated in such a war of movement. Apparently the tanks, armored cars, and cavalry have not been in action on either side. Wo are n'ow down to a sheer contest in which manpower is swaying in ceaseless attack and repulse, while the vital issue is carried in the anxious problem of whether our powers of endurance will wear down the repeated bull-rushes of tho vastly superior numbers before a decision is reached.

BATTLEFRONT MORE SECURE. THAN FOR SEVERAL DAYS PAST. ENEMY ATTEMPTS TO BREAK THROUGH T<j> KEMMEL. Received April 20,1-2.25 a.m. London, April 19. Mr. Philip Gibbs says the whole of our battle-front is more secure than for several days past. We may be justified in believing the enemy is now held in liis jpreserit positions, although he may yet 'concentrate more men and guns in tliis northern sector.

There were severe actions to-day in Flanders, from Wytschaete to the forest of Nieppe- The battle goes as far south as Givenchy, strong forces persistently attempting to break through with a view to taking Kemmell hill. The enemy troops were ordered to reach this commanding point regardless of sacrifices-

There were other very heavy attacks beyond Meteren, westward of Bailleul, and the ridges northward. The Belgians, in a gallant counterattack, took prisoners belonging to six different German divisions.

GERMAN VERSION,

CAPTURE OF ZONNEBEKE. ITiATMEU. Received April 20, 1 a.m. London, April 19. Wireless German official: Following the retreating enemy, we captured Zonnebeke and drove back tie enemy behind Steeiibrook- A counter-thrust south of Blankaert Lake checked our forward movement. We gained ground north of the Lys. We took 2500 prisoners during the last few days, also numerous machine-guns. A strong French thrust north of Fleurey sanguinarily failed. French attacks north of broke down.