1918-04-02 — Page 5

Page

THE

WAR

GERMANS CHECKED ON FRENCH FRONT

WHOLE COLUMNS DECIMATED

PRIME MINISTER'S MESSAGE TO THE EMPIRE

APPOINTMENT OF GENERALISSIMO ENDORSED BY MILITARY OPINION.

HIS MAJESTY VISITS THE FRONT.

Franco-Gelgian Bront.

LATEST CABLES.

THROUGH DEUTER'A AGENOX. }'

BRITISH FRONT: ENEMY ATTACKS NOT RENEWED.

LONDON March 31st.

9.55 p.m.

Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re ports: The enemy did not renew his attacks northward of the Somme on Sun day, but there was heavy hostile shelling at different parts of this front.

Local fighting segured us a few soners and machine-guns.

AERIAL OPERATIONS.

THE

LONDON, March 31st 12.10. pm. Our aeroplanes concentrated yesterday on the battle-front southward of the Somme, where large columns of the enemy were advancing, and upon whom we dropped many bombs and fired thou | sands of rounds,

There was a good deal of air fighting, and the enemy's low-fliers were par cularly active,

We brought down nine and drove down pri-two others.

A hostile attack developed with con siderable force at mid-day southward of

the Peronne--Amiens road..

Fighting continues in and between the Luce and Avre valleys for the possession of tactical features, woods and villages.

AERIAL OPERATIONS.

Losos, March 31st.

11.30 p.m The weather completely broke at mid- day on Saturday, but despite a driving rain our pilota, continued to participate in the battle south of the Bomme, bomb ing and machine-gunning until a late bour

Two of ours are missing.

Last night we dropped 12 tons of bombs on Bapaume and roads in the vicinity. We also dropped bombs upon roads and villages eastward of Arras, directly hitting dumps, transport, and railway line.

One of our machines has not been located

"LATEST CABINS.

GERMAN REPORT.

LONDON, March 31st. 11.50 p.m.

A wireless German official report states-There were local successful

There was heavy air-fighting between battles between the Luce and the Avre, Tow-fliers.

We brought down 12 Germans and drove down three others. Our anti- aircraft guns shot down two. Five of ours are missing.

BARLIER CABLES.

LINE RESTORED..

LONDON, March 31st

1.10 p.m. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re ports:-A vigorous counter-attack reator: ed our line in the Luce Valley, t

We repulsed heavily two attacką on the front from Marceleave to the Somme. The enemy's infantry in yesterday's attacks immediately northward of the Bomme were delivered in four waves, but were repulsed at all points by our outpost line:

French counter-attacks west and south- west of Moutdidier heavily failed.

BPELL OF COMPARATIVE REST.

HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, APRIL 2ND,

ncounters we had much the better of the exchanges, This being conspicuously true of the area from Arras, Albert and. about the aners, where the Germans re peatedly made victorious drives to capture local strategical positions

How great-their losses during the whole ten days has been it is impossible to compute. The Germans have now put into the crucible of battle over 80 Divisions of infantry, and all have been avore or less unmercifully hammered.

GERMANS PREPARING SECOND GREAT BLOW. Within the last few days comparatively few new Gorman. Divisions have been thrust into the line, which probably means that the enemy is preparing for a second great blowhich may fall at any line with all the tremendous might that was behind the Germans first blow. It failed, and nowhere did the Germans make that gap which was the whole end of their endeavour, and to day we stand unshaken across their path.

Seven Divisions of good troops tried to take Arras and tiled. The decisive check

to the German advance at Arras is im

purtant, for it further delays the enemy's plan of campaign:

KING GEORGE AT THE FRONT. LONDON, March 31st.

1.30 am. His Majesty the King left London on Thursday and visited the troops on the Western Front.

His Majesty returned to London : un Saturday evening,

LATEST CABLES.

THE KING'S MISSION,

LATEST CABLES.

FRENCH FRONT.

FURIOUS BATTLE RAGING:

LONDON, April 1st.

3.2.

1918

--3

Between Montdidier and Moreuil in--

fantry fire mowed down enemy battalions which returned incessantly to the assumit.

of a creeping barrage. On the backs of ENEMY BATTALIONS MOWN DOWN, the Diaps are reports prepared in

Pants, March 31st, advanes corresponding to the anticipated

A communiqué says The fights which stages of the attacks, which were to be enntinued last night with the same vit sent to the rear by messenger as each successive objective was reached, with lence confirmed a check to the formidable Renter's Correspondent at French Head drafts of requests for reinforcements, attempt to break through, undertaken by quartare, telegraphing yesterday, atutce - ammunition, etc, corresponding to the the Germans yesterday. Yesterday the battle between the Oise and anticipated needs at each stage. The the Avro redoubled in intensity. The Ger-progress of the infantry was calculated mans, following their habitual tactics of at 900 metres per minute, which is twice alternate blows, have transferred the the rate allowed in previous offensives. Trench-mortar detachments, according to weight of their attack from the Somine

prisoners, followed the first waves of sector, which has been the scene of the infantry were halted and opened fire heaviest fighting since Thursday, to the

As soon as the open combry was reached line of the Avre, where a furious battle ía

the enemy advanced by means of henvy now raging as a result of the day's fighting blows delivered in rupid succession, involving apparently even heavier losses massing troops assaulting quickly in The woods north of Moreui! were also than yet suffered in any battles since the order to bring about a local retirement wrested from the enemy after ferea beginning of the offensive:

of our line. The moment our men fell fighting--

The Germans fought their way down to hack the Germans would follow, thus the bank of the Avre at Morcul

FRENCH - MACHINE GUNS DO

TERRIBLE EXECUTION. The enemy is still held on the cast bank of the Avre, and except that he has enlarged big position along the course of the stream he has nothing to show for his losses.***

The French machine-guns did terrible exccution: in today's fighting, and veteranente amazed at the numbers of enemy dead lying before the positions.

The gallantry of the troops was officially recognised for the first time to-night.

A certain corps, consisting of die mounted cavalry and infantry divisions, (ware the Best French troops to be thrown into the battle, and it was they who on the following days man fully barred the Oise Valley against the passage of the Gur maus, refusing to be relieved when relief was offered after a week of uninterrupted:

battle,

On Friday night the weather broke and

rained rained continuously yesterday. The enemy's ronds must be rutted deep and transformed into quagmires.

LONDON, March 31st. 8.45 p.m. Reuter's Correspondent at Headquarit ters reports: --I accompanied the whole tour of His Majesty, who congratulated the hale and cheered up the wounded

troops

The Germans are now bringing up. heavy

artillery, which has not yet parti. The Royal Mission throughout was cipated, and the breaking of the weather ndwirably fulfilled.

The King had 2 rough sea passage His Majesty commenced the tour út a small town in northern France, where various Staff Officers and Corps Com manders were presented,

The King moved amongst the Divisions route to and from the Front and chatted animatedly about their adven

threatening the French units which had not retired and were then subjected to a fresh frontal attack. If these prisoners' ovidence is to be trusted the troops who hesitate to follow up the retiring enemy time are driven into the breach with the Task.

ENEMY FIRMLY HELD.

LONDON, March 31st.. 1.30 nami. Reutor's Correspondent at French Headquarters reports: The enemy is firmly held west of Montdidier, where the broken ground facilitates the de fence. His nearest point to Amiens is 15 miles All accounts agree regarding the severity of his losers, but it must be remembered that of the 80 or 90 Division thrown into battle probably only one fth has been withdrawn He, therefore, has still huge numbers, to throw in the attack, and the battle promises to be of long duration.

1.

· ENEMY CAVALRY, German cavalry have been reported repeatedly in the districts of Ham, Nesles, and Peronne, but never in numbers exceeding one regiment. Mount ed troops seem to be employed chiefly for the conveyance of information and as supports to infantry advanced posts.

AERIAL WARFARE. The German air service has taken must delay its appearance on the battle-ittle part in the battle, and the enemy

field.

MOREUIL RE-TAKEN. Morel, taken by the Gormans, was retaken by us, lost again and finally captured in

a bayonet charge carried out with incompable bravery by French and British troops fighting side by side in tho enne ránka

LATEST CABLES.

CHECK TO ENEMY COMPLETE. PARIS, March 31st, We took numerous prisoners in. this region.

It is conbrmed that the check to the enemy between Moreuil and Lassigny was complete.

We succeded in making progress, to the approaches of Canny-Surmata.

The picked division which re-took. Leplement and retained it against all assaults captured 700 prisonera.

WHOLE GERMAN COLUMNS DECIMATED.

PARIS, March 31st, A semi-oficial statement, issued on the evening of March 30th, contain Among the glorious episodes of the formidable. battle

the Moreuil- assigny front, which is being waged in open country, must be mentioned the hits ter fighting at Orvillers, 12 kilometres south-cast of Montdidier, as well as at Le. Plement and at Plessia-de-Roye, little village bordering on Lassigny, which, were taken and retaken several times. As a result, these villages finally remained in our hands.

Two German divisions which obtained a fogtinu at Le Piemont and in a park south of Plessis de Roye were driven off with splendid Han by our infantry. columns being decimated by our barrage The enemy's losses were terrible, whole fire. It was a veritable hecatomb bloodier. even than any so far experienced by the Germans

aeroplanes make very few long-distance flights by day, and have done little more than make a few flights over the battle-g field to report the progress of attacks or to execute bombing raids close to our

front.

The French air service is taking an important part in the work of harassing the enemy, troops and dislocuting com-

munications.

A FEATURE OF THE BATTLE.

An extraordinary feature of the battle LONDON, March 31st.

y that has so far been fought on the 11.30 p.

German side almost entirely by infantry Heuter's Correspondent at Headquar

So far the Germans have only been able, tem, telegraphing this evening, says:

to use field-guns and light field bowit. The week-end closed with a spell of com

zers; they have not kept their heavies in parative rest, although the Germans fretures. quently attacked at various points be

When His Majesty visited Sir Douglas active from cholce, but because the se

Reports as yet are incomplete, but it tween Arras and Amiens and the St. Haig ho was received by guards-of-honour treating British methodically blew up the Quentin road in fruitless efforts to cd-composed of the 17th Lancers and the roads and bridges. During the past few is known that in three days during the vance, thus enabling our dispositions of Headquarters troops, and His Majesty days the enemy used light mortars but past week the French Frought down be proceeded to the Headquarters of the little, probably due to the inability of tween 20 and 30 German aeroplanes. Royal Air Service, where the King heard the munition convoys to keep pace with On March 22nd. French bombing squad- Majest band of their snderful feats is the demand of the gunners owing to the Majesty inspected the machines and work.

tvergrowding of the roads skops.

Proceeding in a motor-ch, the King THE NEXT BIG ENEMY ATTEMPT chanced upon a Scottish regiment resting

LONDON, April 1st. by the wayside, and chatted with the officers His Majesty evinced a great in Barbog years service. is Majesty next visited, terest in a veteran Pipe Major with 33 inspected and chatted with a Labour a machine-gun company.. Battalion, and thence unexpectedly met

troops to proceed smoothly.

The weather remains very unsettled aftor the raina, which made the country- side benvy,

WEIGHTY ENEMY ATTACKS LAUNCHED."

The enemy launched weighty attacks

The enemy's casualties here are yesterday morning at Aubecourt and timated at a thousand,

Demain, respectively north and south of the River Luce Under the pressure of numbers we fell back a little.

DETERMINED GERMAN ATTACK.

LONDON, March 31st. 11.50 p.m.

We carried out a local operation in the neighbourhood of Serre, advancing our line a short distance, capturing 230 pris- oners and 40 machine-guns,

We also advanced our line slightly elsewhere, taking prisoners.

After mid-day the Germans in con- siderable strength attacked between the

GALLANT NON-COM.

1,00 m

10,000

frons upper 100 kilogrammes of explosives on German depots, railways, and stations; on the 24th, 14,000 kilogram- rus of bombs were dropped, and night raids continue From March 23rd French

ENEMY RESULT NIL The result for the enemy was absolutely Our line every where is being main- tained absolutely intact.

The German encircling. movement against the French between Moreuil and Lassigny no mors succeeded to-day than the similar movement on March 2sta against the British before Arras.

Probably the German General Staff will continue its effort some days longer with the same desperate fury, but be first day's fighting justifies us in expecting a favourable issue to the struggle.

EARLIER CABLES.

BOMBARDMENT OF PARIS.

Pants, March 31st.

1.36 p.m. An official report states that on March oth the German long-range gun con tinued to bombard the Paris region in

Paris region the day-time Me FRAN On the right flank the French are being squadrons have flown over the jenerny

Eight persons were killed, including positions by day at low altitudes, using four women, and 37 were injured, includ- very heavily engaged.

There is little likelihood that we shall bombs and machine-guns against troops ing nine women and seven children.

FRANCE'S GALLANT ARMY. be left in doubt where and when the marching and in bivouac, and attacking troops and trains, obtaining excellent

LONDON, March 30th. The Preus Bureau announces:-Mr. next big attempt to break through will results. Since March 25th our mastery

Lloyd George despatched the following occur against ourselves. The Germans of the air has been complete Important to M. Clemenceau * Great Britain is probably have already thrown in 90 Divi-roads from Chauny and Guistard to Ham calm and resolute, relying upon the sions and many fresh troops are now in have been kept continuously under fire.justice of our cause and the valour of our men who defend it. Our confidence On March 27th, a big air attack was grows as we watch the steady march, of

Hostile artillery were active yesterday Somme and the Anere, covered by many machine-gun and ploughed a way through eremy, the Germans may be expected to carried out against enemy troops behind France's gallant army to repel the in

evening in the neighbourhood of Buequoy

BATTLE BREAKS OUT AFRESH,

LONDON, March 30th. 11.45 p.m. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re- ports: North of the Somme, after a short hill yesterday, the battle broke out afresh this morning. The enemy repeat-

ed his costly and unsuccessful assaults

A non-com, was called out and present ed to as Majesty, who had heard of his daring deeds. This non-com. had main tained a position whence we could en filade 1,500 yards of trench packed with the enemy until the Germans were behind him, when the non-com, swung round a line. As time is operating against the low-flying aeroplanes, which promptly and took up a fresh position and continu birike as soon as possible.

ed firing until the rest of the team were attracted own airmen to the spot. This casualties and all the ammunition was The first tremendous clash having failed

spent, attempt was completely repulsed.

in its purpose, all north of the Somme the LEFT PLEASANT MEMORIES.

onery is now confronted with the alter- LONDON, March 31st.

native of making another effort on this 9.30 p.m. To all throughout the tour the King front or extending the battle further. had words of sincere admiration and The ground on which the enemy thus far encouragement. His Majesty gave the

has met any appreciable success is re men the latest news. The resting men told the King their greatest need was stricted by the marshes and swamps of the

This morning the Germans attacked determinedly near Arras, but were re pulsed after Serce fighting with some of our most famous troops,

BARLIER CABLES.

in the region of Boiry and Boyelles and EIGHTY ENEMY DIVISIONS UN sleep, Finally, the King inspected & Avre and Somme valleys,

immediately northward of the Somme, all

of which, though delivered by fresh troops in considerable strength, were thrown back, with heavy losses. Our positions are inthet:

We captured a number of prisoners. Heavy shelling of our defence eastward

MERCIFULLY HAMMERED.

LONDON, March 31st."-

2.20 a.m. Reuter's Special Correspondent at the British front telegraphr the tenth day of the battle we can regard the situa Lion with more confidence than a week

of Arras accompanied the above attacks, ago. During the last few days the

company of Royal Engineers, who did splendid work on the opening day's offensive.

The visit will long leave bright and pleasing memuries in the minds of num- bers of war-jaded soldiers.

EARLIER CÂBLES

GENERAL BOTHA'S MESSAGE

LONDON, March 31st 33.35 p.m. Replying to General Botha's message,

EARLIER CABLES.

MECHANISM OF GERMAN ATTACK

LONDON, March 31st.

12.55 am.

the front machine-gung being used with striking success. COUNTER ATTACKS STOP FURIOUS ENEMY THRUST,

PARIS, March 31st.

3.20 am

A communique states-The battle begun on the Moreuil-Laigny front continued the entire day, increasing in violence and extending on a front of Co kilometres.

The Germans, despite their enormous multiplied their assaults, Inces sant French counter-attacks everywhere

stopped the furious thrust.

The region of Orvillers, Le Plement, Reuter's Correspondent with the French and Pressis-de-Roye was especially the

Army in France telegraphs-From Be of desperate fighis, villages chang statements by prisoners and military ing hands several timca.

vader.

Italian bront

LATEST CABLES. [THEOUGH REUTER'S AGENCY,]....

BRITISH AT MONTELLO RELIEVED.

LONDON, March 31st. A British Italian official report states::. The British at Montello have been re lieved and transferred to a new sector in the Asiago Plateau

Three British aeroplanes on Saturday attacked 19 enemy machinca over an aerodrome eastward

destroy ing tlxrd of the Piave, o

The Flying Corps since its arrival has, destroyed & enemy machines and lost 10 Naval Activities,

LATEST CABLES. (THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

AMSTERDAM, March 31st.

South of the Somme and between the German progress in front of the British cabled on March 30th, Field-Marshal papers captured during the battle it is Two German Divisions gained a foot- Somme and Avre fighting continued in Armies has been almost trifling, except Douglas Haig telegraphed as follows now possible to reconstruct the German ing at Le Plement and Plessis-de-Rove, GERMAN WARSHIPS CRUISING

Hearty thanks for your message. All plan of attack east of St. Quentin. It but were swept out by a magnificent

counter-attack, which restored the line. cessantly, attacks and counter attacks for a determined attack with the object of ranks of the British Armies in France are had been ordered that a mass of Germans

The attacking masses at certain points cheered your occurring at frequent intervals. The capturing Arras and turning our dark great card by fort on this great should pass the line ss, coon as our second were caught by a terrible artillery five, enemy forced his way in at Demuin (his in that direction.

The Germans at struggle, and are very proud of the position was captured Maps were issued and they retired in disorder, leaving the morning, but he is held up in the western tempted no operations on a large scale, confidence which the people of our greators and under-officers showing the ground covered with corpses..

The enemy losses exceed those of the Empire place in their Armies' ability to cutskirts of the village.

majority of minor

mechanism of the attacks and the progress preceding days,

and in the

win.

A telegram from Ameland states that 20 German warships, including torpedo boaty and submarines, were cruising to- day off the cast of Ameland.

(Continued Page 6)