THE FIGHTING IN FLANDERS

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13750, 25 April 1918, Page 5

THE FIGHTING IN FLANDERS

HOW THE ENEMY'S ADVANCE WAS CHECKED. POSITIONS HELD UNTIL THE FLANKS WERE THREATENED. RETIREMENTS MADE DELIBERATELY AND IN GOOD ORDER. Australian anil N.Z. Cable Association.) Received April 2-4, 7.4.") p.m. LONDON. April 23. i?ir I>&uglas Haig, continuing his supplementary despatch, states that during the first two days the enemy's offensive southward necessitated a withdrawal, but before withdrawing we inflicied great loss oo the enemy, and the German official reports acknowledge Ihe bitterness of the fighting. The 25th Division was in close support when the attack opened, and was sent immediately ir.io tiic battle in the neighbourhood of the Bapaunie-Cambrai road. They were rut dislodged from any position, though constantly attacked. The 34th lirvwsion, after severe li the commencement of the battle, look over the Armentieres sector on April 9th, and mainUiiDed these positions intact for Ihe first two days n? the Lys battle, and when the enemy's advance on either flank necessitated the evacuation of Armentieres., they were withdrawn from the town on the of the 1 Oth-1 itli deliberately and in good older. Since then it has been continuously engaged, and finight torooghout with the greatest pallantry, yieh'm ; ground reluctantly and counter-attacking frequently. The i-?nu East Lancashire and 02nd West Riding tlivis'ons participated in fierce Ii at the end of March and early in April around Bucquoy and Ablainzeville. They beat off iiianv attacks and contributed greatly to the successful maintenance of the line. The r>oth Division, though but recently withdrawn after a weed's continuous fiiditing southward of the S me, held up the enemy along the Lys line mi April Oth and subsequent itlay*, and by stubborn resistance at Eslaires and Merville checked the enemy'* advance until our reinforcements arrived. r BRITISH POSITIONS IMPROVED AND PRISONERS CAPTURED. (Australian and. New Zealand and Renter.) Received April 2i, 1 l.i.'> p.m. LONDON, April 23, 11 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports that a minor operation eastward of Robecu; was successful In addition to the :round trained we took 120 prisoners and a number of nncliiae-guns. We also siiglitly improved our position this moining in the neighbourhood of Meteren. taking prisoners and machine-guns. There was considerable enemy gas-shelling at Villers Rretloneux. (Admiralty per Wireless Press. ) German official: The English are active between Lens and Albert. Die erjemy lost prisoners in repc ited attacks to recapture ground at Avelung and lr» rapture the taihvay noiihwaid of Arras, on both sides of the BnulincuurlAvclimg road.