1918-04-03 — Page 5

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THE WAR.

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS,

THE KING'S TRIBUTE TO THE ARMY:

“I AM PROUD OF THE BRITISH RACE

SEVERE BLOW TO THE ENEMY BETWEEN LASSIGNY AND MONTIDIDIER.

GENERAL FOCH GUARANTEES AMIENS.

Franco-Belgian Bront,

LATEST CABLES. (THROUGH RACTER': AGENOT.Į

BRITISH FRONT.

COMPARATIVELY QUIET,

LONDON, April 1st. 10.25 p.m.

“Our counter-attacks north of the river Luce re-established the line between Aubercourt and Marcelcave, although we did not quite reach Aubercourt, which, with Demuin, the enemy still holds in

force:

อ!

Was

DETERMINED ENEMY ASSAULTS BEATEN BACK. The extreme south of

line Field Marshal Sir Douglas Baig repressed back on March 30th, since when ports :-The day was comparatively quiet, our new positions, apparently, have been

We repulsed small local attacks this morning in the neighbourhood of Albert, the majority of the attackers being casualties.

Local fighting occurred at Moreul and Hangard, where we gained ground by successful counter-attacks.

BRILLIANT CAVALRY COUNTER- ATTACK.

Lospon, April 1st. 8.40 p.m.

maintained.

COSTLY ENEMY ATTACK.

LONDON, March. 31st

11.50 p.m.

Receiving reinforccunts the enemy again attacked, and was again repulsed, near Lasigne Farm,

At 2 o'clock to-day, we assaulted cherry positions, and after a chort and ob stinate struggle we returned to our own lius with over 200 prisoners, 40 machine guns. Over 50 dead were counted at one

spot alone.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3RD

LATEST CABLES.

FRENCH FRONT. THE SEVEREST BLOW THE ENEMY HAS SUFFERED,

1918.

OUR LINE REMAINS FIRM.”

Our line remains brm. Passing east of Moreal it follows the heights, to the west of the Avre, west of Cantigny, then

Naral Activities.

LATEST CABLES. (THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

north of Avencourt, and south of Orv. ARMED BOARDING STEAMER lors to Blermont, Roye-sur-Matz, Le Blenenu.

VICTORY WILL BE OURS." On this the tenth day of the battle

the unflinching defence of our first re The enemy may resume his at serves. tempts to break: our line at certain points, but victory will be ours."

LONDON, April 2nd. 7.65 p.m... Reuter's Correspondent at the French

The battle the violence of which has Headquarters, writing on the 1st instant, states:-The repulse of the German hitherto been unequalled and which was assault yesterday between Lassigny and intended to bisect the Allied arraics and Montdidier was the severest blow the give the Gorniane possession of the rail enemy has suffered since the beginning of way at Amiens was a sanguinary defeat for the endiny. The Crown Prince ENCOURAGING SYMPTOMS. the offensive. The attack was conducted

squandered thousands of lives upon the LONDOS, April 1st. in the familiar manner by dense aggrega momentary conquest of three or fou:

tain..

tions of troops marching up to the assault

villages.The kecatomb will make a Perhaps the enemy's hopes of advancing in battalions, which literally melted away tremendous sensation in Germany. further, depend upon the impression be under the fire of the French and Canadian can make upon the resistance of the Alliesoldiers, charging together. There is in the north and south. With each suc doubt that the enemy suffered terribly the German offensive was broken against cessive blow the enemy's power becomes and did not gain a single inch of ground. weakened out of all proportion to his CANADIANS AND FRENCH FOUGHT

LIKE LIONS. capacity for continued resistance, hat per Laps it is chiefly on mere weight of num.

seventy-fives" Batteries of

FRENCH NOTABLY ADVANCE, bers the enomy is staking upon a brought inte action a few minutes after detraining at the battle-feld stations.

Panis, April 1st. desperate gamble.

A communiqué states:-The Germans, Often columng advancing to the assault stopped and broke under our machine exhausted by yesterday's bloody defunt, gun and rifle fire. The fight for Moreuil confined themselves to violent locul at lasted all day. The Canadians, inter-tacks at certain points of the front. The mingled with their French comrades, only success he scored north of Moreuil fought like lions to keep the place, which was twice captured by the Franco

the Canadians and twice lost. Finally, khaki and blue triumphed, and the village the pearest point the enemy had reached to Amiens, which the German Staff particularly coveted remains in our hands.

One of the most encouraging symptoms is the extent to which our troops are now assunning the initiative.

In addition to the successful affair at Lasigne Farm, lying midway between Hebuterne and Auchonvillers, wo attacked at three o'clock this morning near Fouchy Copse, cast of Arrus, and drove back the enemy to a depth of 200 yards on a front of 1,500,

ENEMY MASSES DISAPPEARED." Near Bouzincourt, north of Albert, we attacked & strong advance poet, im- proving our position here.

FURY OF FIGHTING INDESCRIBABLE

were

Masses of the enemy yesterday after. no advanced from the direction of Vrely and Bouchmir. Although our artillery was concentrated upon the they penetrated the wood north-east of Morcuit. A few hours later big enemy formations west of Albert launched deter

mined assaults, but were repeatedly beaten back, with heavy losses.

Our armoured-cars wore magnificent in The War Office announces that the situa- the recent fighting, their machine-gun tion north of the Somme is unchanged. fre adding heavily to the enormous There is hard fighting south of the casualty list, which has not yet been pie

In today' aghting in the Moutdider Some in the neighbourhood of Moreuil.sented to the Gernian people.

British cavalry, brilliantly counter- The more one bears regarding the n-Our artillery and machine-guis concen. Lassigny sector the Germans used six attacking, retook the wood between slaught at Arras the more one admires trated such a furious hombardment thatch guns for the first time.

Eye-witnesses say that in the fighting on Morena and Hangard,

the great resistance of the storm troops. the enemy masses disappeared. The French beat off an attack south of All carried six days' iron rations and

Mareuil.

an extra pair of boots. They evidently

EARLIER CABLES.

ATTACKS AND COUNTER ATTACKS.

LONDON, April 1st.

1-10 D.. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re- ports: We completely repulsed two at tucka westward of Albert last evening.

success.

Fighting is expected to continue. The total number of machine guns cap. tured in the neighbourhood of Serro was

meant to stay.

CAVALRY JUSTIFYING

EXISTENCE

LONDON, March 31st.

11.30 p.m.

The following messages are additional to those from Reuter's Correspondent at Headquarters which appeared in yester- day's issue:-----

The enemy persists in his attempts to idvance along the valleys of the Luce and The previous evening the enemy secured the Avre, but has progressed but little.the large wood north-east of Moreuil, but There were attacks and counter attacks at dawn Yesterday our cavalry were all day long in this sector, with varying thrown into the wood before the Germans had consolidated, driving back the ency into the open, with severe casualties."

Our cavalry work in this open fighting is beyond praise. They are splendidly justifying the existence of this arm.

THE BATTLE SITUATION.

LONDON, April 1st.

8.30 a.m. LONDON, March 31st.

The latest British and Freach 9.30 p.m.. The War Office reports:The day was muniqués are regarded as the most heartoning since the beginning of the quiet north of

of the Somme. Immediately south of the Scarpe our offensive. The firm continuance of the line has been advanced eastward of strong Allied resistance and the success Teachy

100:

DEMUIN AND MOREUIL RECAPTURED.

com-

Yesterday evening a very heavy con centration of the enemy was spotted in the centre of the battle-front, north of the Somme, evidently preparing for attack.

LONDON, April 1st. 8.25 p.m;

Was in the region of Hangard-en-- Santerre, where he gained a footing after | a desperate struggle.

Between Moreuil and Lassigny we ro captared yesterday evening Avoncourt and Le Monchel, capturing 100 prisoners and 14 machine-guns.

Today we notably advanced in the rogion of Oivillers, after heavy fighting. GERMAN ASSAULTING DETACH-

MENT ANNIHILATED On the Oise front the enemy assaulting The enemy also is hurrying up his detachment which crossed the river near Channy and tried to establish a bridge. heavies,

head on the left bank was entirely anni hitated or made prisoner. Over one hundred prisoners

were

captured. Long-range guns destroyed an enemy ain and heavy artillery in the Laon

I continue to hear the same story of Friday in this sector our infantry fire appalling slaughter on all hands in caused terrible destruction among the |Germans, who attacked division after yesterday's fighting between Morlanecourt division in dense waves for twenty-four and the Somme, the enemy losses being hours, and the fury of the fighting in estimated at 3,000.

indegribable

GERMAN ÄTTEMTT TO CAPTURE ARRAS AND VIMY RIDGE

SMASHED.

LONDON, April 1st.

8.25 2.0.

Mr. Philip Gibbs, the War Correspon dent, says: It is now known that the German attempt to take Arras included simultaneous effort to capture Vimy

M

train

region.

There is nothing to report elsewhere. SLACKENING OF ENEMY ADVANCE.

Londos, April lat,

1a.m.

SUNK.

LONDON, April 1st. The Admiralty report that & submarine torpedoed and sank the armed boarding steamer Tithomus on March 18th.

One officer and three men were lost.

General.

EARLIER CABLES. {THROUGH ELUTER'S AGENCY.] THE KING'S VISIT TO THE FRONT.

.........

"I AM PROUD OF THE BRITISH RACE."

LONDON, March 31st. The Press Bureau announces that H.M. the King has written to Bir; Douglas. Huig as follows:-

My short visit to the battle-front afforded me an exceptional opportunity

· of obtaining personal testimony of the indomitable courage and unflinching tenacity with which n'y splendid troops withstood the supreme effort made by the greater part of the enemy's fighting power.

"The whole Empire will join me 271- expressing gratitude to the Army for its skilful and unswerving nuaner in dealing with the formidable attack Though obliged to give ground against sheer weight of numbers, ne Army could be in better heart, or braver or more confident

I am proud of the British race and

of that unconquerable spirit which will, please God, bring us through our pro--

sent trials.

Those at home must ensure that cur man-power is adequately main- tained, and the workers will nobly con- tinue to meet all demands."

PUT IT RIGHT THERE." The following is additional to the inessage from Renter's Correspondent at

LONDON, March 31st. 9.30 p.m.

Aviators say the fighting whe stormy sea in which awcoping up waves The following message is additional Headquarters which appeared in yester-

day's issue: of infuriated men were rolled back into those from Reuter's Correspondent at disorder, and villages were

ro conquered Headquarters which appeared in yester-

day's issue:-- and reconquered again and again.' :-

BRILLIANT ERITISH COUNTER-

ATTACKS

PARIS, April 1st. 5.20 p.m.

A hommunique states Yesterday even Ridge.

The severeness of their defeat may being and last night extremely bitter fight judged from the fact that they employed ing continued sort of Montdidier. 10 divisions, backed by a bombardment equalling in intensity that of the opening day of the offensive. The London troops ewept the advancing waves to pieces, until the massacre must have sickened the German Command and led to a suspen sion of the operations in order to collect the wounded.

CERMAN WIRELESS REPORT.

Lornox, March 31st.

9.45 p..

of the counter-attacks are regarded as A wireless German official message, Although there is no dealing with Saturday's operations, It is confirmed that the enemy's losses upeful features. in yesterday's fruitless attacks were disposition to overlook the crucial fact states:We repulsed English counter. heavy. Our successful counter-attack that vast new assaults are to be expected, attacks on the upper Aucre, and stormed south of the Somme on Saturday regained unabated confidence, however, is reposed Aubercourt, Hangard, and Demais, in the High Command under General-

Dewulin.

throwing back the enemy on to Moreuil,

Despite very violent counter attacks, we The Canadian cavalry and the Britishissimo Foch, whose appointment is un-

attacked the newly brought up French infantry, in conjunction with the French, animously and rmly greeted

Moreuil and Neyon and troops between carried out briliant operation on Exanining the le situation the

MERA Tepulted the enemy northward: o Saturday, recapturing Moreail and the papers point got that north of the Somme Mentdidier We storied the heights en wood to the northward,

the position this abilized, and, thanks to the the west bank of the Avre 72 A heavy German attack developed the tentable achievements of the Fire and afternoon, in the angle between the river this A under General Home and Lucs and Avre. The fighting continues, General Bying, respectively.ho ankie the Germans attacking southward of is felt respecting that part of the battle Moreuil in the direction of Mailly and front. Rameva

The French this morning had progrese ed from soula I Montdidier to Laeigny, retaking several villages which were lost on Saturday.

LINE RE ESTABLISHED.

DELGIANS BREAK ATTACK

LONDON, April 1st

1.50 p.m.

A Belgian communique states that a

The

he oft-repeated French counter-at- tacks westward of Montdidier, against Memil failed

We stormed Fontains and thre put the enemy from freshly constructed trenches beyond Asainvillers, Rollat, Hainvillors and Theiscourt Ville. Strong French counterattacks collapsed.

We stormoed Renaudfort, dominating ie Oise south-west of Noyon.

Later, meeting a certain regiment on So far, the enemy's quick advance is his departure, His Majesty cried out due to his employment of masses of infan-

"Are we downhearted ?'' The reply try and infantry arms, but the costliness was an enthusiastic uproar of thus fighting without bringing up

Many pathetic and humorous incidents artillery is far too great for him to do occurred amongst the wounded troops

The enemy advance has slackened dura Red Crotrain, leaned forward when

for any length of time.

ing the last few days, and his gains were the King opened the carriage-door," "The only made upon narrow fronts.

One wounded Colonial, lying waiting in

The enemy directed his effort partics larly between Montdidier and 'Peronne

Meantime, our artillery reinforcements Colonial looked critically at the King, the Amiens road, and throw in large are arriving, and the opinion is growing then painfully extended his hand and fdreas with the intention of widening his that General Ludendorff's plan of a swift, said, I've often heard of you. Put it Aging west of Hangarden-Santerre. bloody passage through the junction of right there.” * -

The King immediately did so. The French and British troops smashed the British and French will degenerate up the attacking waves, which were uninto a long battle on the fronts. able to emerge into the open.

A brilliant counterattack, in which the British troops displayed irresistible dash, enabled us to completely drive back the enemy and recapture this village ::

FRENCH STILL RETAIN

GRIVESNES,

FOCH GUARANTEES AMIENS. Generalisaimo Foch had declared that

there was nothing to fear as regards Amiens. Indeed General Foch was pre- pared to guarantee Amiens.

BOMBARDMENT OF PARIS. The bombardment of Paris was

One person

The struggle was equally violent farther sumed on Sunday.

south.

Grivesnes, which was the objective of unceasingly renewed attacks which led to had to hand fighting, remained in our kards, despite considerable German losses. change is reported between Montdi- dier and Lassigny,

EARLIER CABLES.

GERMANS RECEIVE THE MOST SANGUINARY CHECK OF THE WAR

LONDON, April 1st.

1.10 p.m.

A semi-official message from Paris nu pening of the 31st ult, dealing with the great battle on the Moreuil-Lassigny rut says: At cortain points yester

German attack after a violent bombarde enemy's losses were heavy everyday ur divisions were successful against ment east of Nieuport on the night of where March 30th was completely broken, ... ́... ́

DENSE ENEMY WAVES HELD UP,

Between the Warfuse and Marcelcave

killed and ons injured.

ALL TROOPS CONFIDENT.

THIS BRINGS HOME THE MEAN-

ING OF THE OFFENSIVE, At another alage the King remarked to his aide-de-camp, "This bringe home the

meaning of the offensive indeed."

At a vast casualty clearing station the King, as he walked among the lines of stretchers bearing huddled figures, order-. red the medical officer to " Carry on. Let was there be no pause on my account."

ROYAL CONGRATULATIONS TO AMERICAN AVIATORS.

At a certain aerodrome His Majesty inspected an American section and con- gratulated them upon their smart ap-

pearance.

PARIS, April 1st. M. Abrami; Under-Secretary for Pen siena, on March 31st, stated that Generals who have returned from the front de clared they had never seen so many Ger

His Majesty announced, amidst ap man corpses within a space of two plause, that ho bad bestowed the Vic kilometres. The Garman soldier fought teria Cross upon Capt. James McCudden

well, but he did not know how to take tactical advantage of his success. The Allied artillery had been enfilading the enemy's rear lines for 24 hours, Allied reinforcements, also supplies and ammu- nition, continue to come up. All the troops were confident and completely trusted their leaders.

THE AMERICANS' REQUEST:-

PARIS, April ist. The French Government has decided to accede to General Pershing's request bat the American troons be allowed to fight in the present, batile. The Near East.

LATEST CABLES. THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.)

on Saturday.

The

King talked with motor-bas drivers, some of whom helped to frus trate the enemy attempt to recapture Vimy Ridge with seven picked divisions including Prussian guardamen.

His Majesty visited a resting battalion and heard the valorous tale of how they hdp up a tremendous onslaught for. three hours until the German commander sent back a message which fell into our hands stating that he was unable to make beady owing to the resistance.

A CROWDED FIFTY HOURS.

LONDON, March 31st.

+

His Majesty the King spent a crowded

to three times their strength. The intense mass of cffectives employed GERMAN CLAIMS EXAGGERATED Lordon April 1st

3.20 p.m

South of the Homme the French reservesaggist as proved the importance which which are pouring in are having a mark

enemy attached to breaking out front. Reuters Correspondent at. Headquar-

ed effect in upsetting, the Germar, plads. The latest supcesses at Moreuil and It was noteworthy, however, at several ters telegraphing to-day, statesi Between geors, where the conflict was crasant, Plesont are significant as being on oppo point-actably in the region of Lassigny

chemy

intensely bombarded yesterday site flanks of the insecure Germga salient, the Somme and the pere there was comendon, after which a considerable force whose anex is at Montilidier-where there the enemy started entrenching \ OPERATIONS IN MESOPTAMIA | fifty hours in Erance.

immediately paratively quiet yesterday and last night, infantry temporarily gained some Allied position may be restored 'nt say great haste not only

on the ground, but by ten o'clock the line was momenti

fingine but also on the second line. Southwards there was machulfory wholy restored here. A few hours later Military writers point out that the and often fierce open fighting We found dones waves of the enemy re attempted to Allied heavy artillery is still superive for Eubtless the Germans in doing this have

sdyance between Warfusce and the Somme, the chemy at Boarincourt massed in but were held up and forced to retire, great strength, supported by machine leaving the ground strewn with casual tie from the withering rifle and machine gan fire coming from Albert

gun fire

BRITISH PROGRESS.

LONDON; April 1st

the enemy's. Furthermore, the German in view warding of our counter- A Mesopotamia official report states: claims of captaren prisoners, and was offisi The horole French soldiers, We are now 73 miles beyond Ana.

Finkour gallant British comrades, have, are greatly exaggerated.

upon the Germans the most. We captured a few more Germans, also inda check of the war."

two 5-inch guns mounted on river-beata.

For instan

the former include male French civi in the abandoned area.

He moved freely among the troops who resisted the first enemy onslaughts, No othcial programme had been arrang ed, the King desiring a quiet informal visit in order, not to interfere with the great flow of military movement,

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