1918-04-08 — Page 5

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THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS

MONDAY, APEIL

1918.

THE WAR.

DECISIVE BATTLE OF THE WAR:

GENERAL FOCH'S REASSURING STATEMENT.

DETERMINATION OF BRITAIN'S INDUSTRIAL ARMY.

THE NEW MAN-POWER BILL

MR. BALFOUR ON THE "GREAT WEAPON OF COMMERCE,”

Branco Belgian Front.

(THROUGH SHUTER'S 'AGENCY.] BRITISH FRONT,

TEN GERMAN DIVISIONS TAKE PART IN AN UNSUCCESSFUL

ATTACK,

LONDON, April 6th. 10.45 p.m. Field Marshal Sir Douglas

Haig states-There was local infantry fighting in the neighbourhood of Aveluy Wood and northward of Albert without a change in the situation.

Hostile artillery continues active.

main weight of the thrust Beems to be to the West of Bois-de-Vairo. The Gers- mans continue to fight desperately for possession of the main Antiens road. Some fighting yesterday wits of the fereest character. The my

massed

uine thonsand yards with an estimated strength of six divisions. After desperate fighting they enched the railway An attack of considerable strength in the direction of Ablainsville was completely repulsed.

We attacked from the sector of Fon qe Villera. It is reported that we gained tir arst objective nd Bucquoy, taking seven officers and 120 men prisoners. The New Zealanders were in action again, and as the result of a dashing sortie took four officers mad 0 menrisoners. Fighting is pro- gressing on a considerable portion of the front north of the Somme, but not on a grand scale as would indiente a general resumption of the offensive,

SUCCESSFUL AIR RAIDS.

Pauls, April 5th. Recent French air vaids on Karlsruhe, Tailway station badly damaged it and

med 10 and wounded 100 people,

FRENCH FRONT.

ANGLO-FRENCH LINE HOLDS.

way to the summit upon which a most Russian Front. gallant French officer with less than

dozen men desperately attempted to re- LONDON, April 6th.

capture the summit and succeeded in de- Reuter's Correspondent with the

fiance of all probability in installing n. French Army reporta-The result of

machine-gun and holding the Bache, the first two days of the renewed battle have brilliantly confirmed General The flanking attacks on Conny on the Foch's assurances. The enemy are left and on "Thiescourt on the right had not only held, but are held by half their been stopped, bat by 0.30 in the morning number of the Anglo-French troops. the enemy held Plemont Park and the The disproportion on a purely French village of Le Plessier. Then a counter- line from Thennes to Grivesnes is even attack, cunningly prepared, and a rak- greater. Fifteen German divisions, ng fire from the French artillery, drove of which seven were e

were entirely fresh, at the enemy with heavy losses from the tacked on this front and were checked summit. The Colonials, simultaneously by a few French divisions, who bot

sounter-attacking, outflanked Le Plessier had the Park from the north, by it most only held them but were able to counter-

Buy bold sweeping movement, taking 100 pri- attack and rocapture a part of the soners and releasing a number of French ground carried by the enemy on Thurs-

captives. By the end of the day the enemy had lost the whole of his gains. enemy's objective again is Amiens, The following night the Germans re- o railway town. The fifteen attacking attackel Piemont and bombed his way divisions included some of the enemies' to the middle of the hill. The next

The

THROUGH EXTER'S AGENCY.]

RUSSIAN ERONT.

LONDON, April 6th A wireless German report stafes :→ We

have captured Katerinoslov.

General

[TREOUGH REUTER'S AGENDE.]

MR. BALFOUR AT THE

MANSION HOUSE

COMMEMORATING AMERICA'S ENTRY INTO THE WAR, AMERICA WILL GIVE PRUSSIANS

THE SURPRISE OF THEIR LIVES."

LONDON, April 6th.. The Lord Mayor gave a luncheon to a distinguished company at the Mansion House to commemorate the entry of the United States into the war,

Telegrams were read from HM. tho

At Treves a munition factory was blown best troops, which repeatedly returned morning the French gave a four-minute King and Mr. Lloyd George The latter at early morn west of Dernacourt, WP, and at Metz and Sabiens eight locomo to the assault for into the night. bombardment followed up by infantry,

blow up the neighbouring Semme bridges were damaged, a munition train

was blown up and also a gasometer

end a very heavy attack followed in which the New Zealanders eventually repulsed the enemy after a ding-dong battle.

WIRELESS GERMAN OFFICIAL MESSAGE:

LONDON, April 6th.

10.55 p.n.

A wireless German official message

A number of wagons of munitions were Set on fire and exploded, killing 50 people.

SITUATION QUIET.

LONDON, April 5th,

The battle was suspended

day on

the German side owing to the exhaustion of the enemy troops, upon which the French successfully counter attacked the several points; notably on the Mailly |Taineral-Cantigny front,

who in five minutes drove the enemy to the foot of the hill, taking fifty prisoners.

"THE FUTURE WILL SHOW."

LONDON, April 8th. Reuter's Correspondent ac French The line now passes the Avre ense to Headquarters telegraphing on April A War Office eunmunque says: The the junctions of the Luse and from there at says:--General Foch, addressing the heavy attacks north and south of Derose and Rouyrel and around Mailly id All goes well. The Boche, to runk west to Castle; thence, between British and French correspondente,

Germans, since dawn have delivered.

in the course of his telegram, said: "During the next few weeks Americu will give the Prussian military Junta the surprise of their lives.

Mr. Balfour, in a specel, said there was no room on this earth for the ideals cherished by the German Military Party and the ideals of the great and free de- macracies of the world. One or the other must prevail. He scathingly referred to enemy statesinen, who expressed ap proval of the principles enunciated by

At least ten Germen divisions part states: An English thrust against Pancourt, south-west of Albert and in the Raineval. The gain of ground is prac-call, him by his usual name, has bean President Wilson yet simultaneously

pated in unsuccessful attacks yesterday- northward of the Sonime. The fighting was of the severest character on many parts of this front and us far northward as Buequoy,

The weather yesterday permitted a few flights along the battle front. The infan try shot down one enemy Aeroplane. GERMANS FURTHER THAN EVER FROM THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THEIR REAL STRATEGIC PURPOSE

I can be said that the Germans un

daturday were further than ever from the

accomplishment of their feal, strategic purpose. A perfectly cohesive frontal: battle order still faces the Germans from the sea to the wise frontier This front is steadily stiffening; therefore the Ger mans are feverishly fighting nguinst time to get in a blow as soon as possible. The German claims of prisoners and guns are so preposterous that they are

not worth contradition.

Accounts from all sectors continually

sieux failed.

Our attack on the western bank of the Anore extended to the bridgehead posi tions.

The railway establishments -near Amiens were shelled

The French attacks betwen Moreuil,

and Moutdidier broke dowa ^ heavily. Montoidier was subjected to French

fire.

There was increnied artillerying be

fore Verdun.

GERMANS GAIN NO SUCCESS.

LONDON, April 5th.

Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig 10- ports: The activity of the enemy's artilery and trench mortars increased this morning to the north of the Somme, followed by strong infantry attacks he tween the Somme, and in the neighbour hood of Burquoy

region of Moyenne-Ville.

tically all in the northern angle and the

threatened to divido Roumania. between

The Germans gmned a foothold in our bulge has no importance for the issue of been arrested since March 30th Bulgaris and Hungary and to extinguish

defences at. Dernancourt and south-west

of Albert

Our counter attack: restored the situa-

zion at Albert,

The cuciny heavily shelled our line in the region of Mesnil and Beaumont Hana.

There was some infantry fighting neng Monil, where the enemy did not gain any advantage. We repulsed the attack on Moyenne-Ville.

We attacked to the south-east of Gom, nevust, taking 120 prisoners.

The situation is quiet on the British front south of the Somme. CRUCIAL QUESTION CONFRONTS

GENERALISSIMO.

LONDON, April 6th.

battle

OUT-FOUGHT AND OUT-

GENERALLED." The main point is that the German advance has been blocked by munch smaller forces,

completely stopped. His advance has

SW

Turning to a tup, on which the auc cessive lines of the German advance had been daily marked since the beginning of the battle, General Foch pointed out that the last lines of progress shown bore the successivo dates of March 27th, The enemy has been out fought out- generalled. The utmost confidence pre-

28th and 29th, and after the last date vails at the French headquarters The no more progress was shown because the French divisions are being carefully German advance was then held. economised not on account of shortage of men but because the last word will now at April 4th, and it is therefore be not with the side bating the greater

clear that the enemy's rush has been number of divisions at the outset but with stopped. The ways has expired on the the side having the ore divisions tu, because it has broken upon an the end

obstacle. What the result of our success will he cannot be said. The future will show.

VIOLENT BOMBARDMENTE.

Panie, April 6th. A communiqué states: The night was

It is noteworthy that the opening f the second phase of the German offensive marked by violent bombardments north differs markedly from the initial open- ing. The first was a swaying struggle. testifying to the increased firmness of

and south of the Avre, especially in the region of Monchel

General Foch continued:

We are

FRENCH IMPROVE POSITION, PARIS, April Oth

Roumania's nationhood if she did not con- clade

peace.

Alter referring to the territory in excusably ravished by the Central Powers from Russia, Mr. Balfour de clared that the future peace of the world would be jeopardised if such unjust arrangements were allowed to remain.

He looked forward to the time when the Russians would not only be inde pendent and united, but free. We would give them every possible assistance in the painful upward struggle,

Dealing with the war map. Mr. Bat- four said that most of the enemy gain lind been against unprepared and un- resisting nations, but the gains against.

He efficient armies were not great. put confidence for the future in the fact that the forces fighting for right and freedom were greater than the foreaS fighting against them,

THE WEAPON OF COMMERCE. Mr. Balfour s said that President Wil- son had crystallized the Allies idents

Latest reports show that there was

A communique says The Germans practically no success anywhere, result

have not renewed their attacks to-day, ing in further heavy enemy casualties.

There was no infantry attack on the We vigorously counter attacked north of We successfully attacked on the same speak of the wholcople slaughter of the front in the neighbourhood of Hebu the Allied line, but the intensity of the right of the Meuse, and Apremont Wood, Montdidier, improving our positions at in words which had circled the earth Germans. Thus around Hlebuterne seatorterne, taking two hundred prisoners struggle is expected to increase, as it is the artillery duel was sometimes very several points, notably in the region of and found an answering ccho.an every- Mailly, Raineval and Cantigny, of one who knew the meaning of freedom. lively.

THE BATTLE OF LASSIGNY which we hold the northern and western He reminded his hearers that the Allies LONDON, April boutskirts. There is reciprocal vio not only had reserves of militery power

day the Germans were seen thrice ranu- and a few machine guns. toring for an attack. Each time they

The enemy has not attacked to-day on melted away under our machine-gung and the British front south of the Somnie. artillery fire.

HEAVY FIGHTING:

LONDON, April 6th. 2.25 p.m. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re- portsNorth of the Somme heavy fight- ing continued along the whole front and southward of Ayette until late last even- ing. The enemy constantly attacked in considerable strength with no further

success,

In local Ughting yesterday foro-noon southward of the Somme, in the neigh bourhood of Hangard, we improved our Position by counterattack

THERE WILL BE PRECIOUS

LITTLE OF THE GERMAN

ARMY LEFT”.

LONDON, April 6th.

3:10.

Reuter's Correspondent nt British Headquarters, reviewing the operations, states—The German progress is very alow and is purchased at such terrible cost of life as Daly the German High

Command can sanction. As the price of

It is confirmed that yesterday's fight ing was most severe and of a most per sistent nature, the enemy ropeatedly assaulting our positions to the east of Villers and Brettonous.

Bub the

now clear that the German attack by the shortest road to Amiens indicates the enemy intention to capture the city; from which they are now only eight "Beuter's Correspondent miles distant at one point. enemy's losses yesterday equalled those of a fortnight ago, and with thrown in to the Amiens furnace he is not likely to develop an attack elsewhere. The crucial question now confronting material, while the troops in the front General Foch is when and where to em-line at mostly without shelter, ploy the reserves with which the Allies

AERIAL OPERATIONS.

LONDON, April 5th. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haige ports on aviation as follows:-Rain and mist yesterday interfered with opera are better provided. Correspondents describe the German infantry as lying

tions,

The detaip of the battle of March 30th

ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICA'S WAR ENTRY,

HIS MAJESTY'S MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT WILSON.

LONDON, April 5th. The Press Buretu announces that His

at French lent artillery activity betwem | which would develop as the was durelops-

ed, but they had also, the

the grint wien-por Headquarters, telegraphing on the oven- Larsigny and Novom. We gained ground

of commerce. He concluded by toasting the unity of the corporation of great ing of April 4th, stated-The chief news this afternoon north of Mont Renaud. reserves to-day's battle is the volume of artilTwonty-three tous of bombs were drop-nd free nations.

lary fire, especially from the heavy guns. ped on enemy cantenments and railway Fires were observed at the Both sides are busy bringing up heavy stations.

stations at Leon and St. Quentin. Five enemy aeroplanes were brought down.

GERMAN REPORT

LONDON, April 5th the neighbourhood of Lassigny show.

objectives were A German official, wireless message that the German

lemont and Le Plcasion The battle says attacking yesterday south of the was memorable botanso it was the first Somme and both sides of Moreuil, we important engagement during the offen- threw out the enemy from strong posi sive in which the enemy failed to gain tions and broke Up British and French inrich of groundz The centre of the server starting at attack We took it was the village and the Chateau Hamel and the wooded districts north- of Le Plessier cautiful country-house cast and south-east of Villers Bretton in a large square park, which hitherto neux and also Castle and Mahilly on the had been part of the old French line west bank of the Avre. The enemy To the right of the park is Plemont and desperately resisted on the whole front, to the left is Canny-sur-Matz, which on sustaining unusually severe Jesses. We

We brought down reven Garman exposed in the old Somme battlefield machines, and one of ours is missing practically shelterless. Enemy transport Two of tho previously reported

is seriously hampered by the rain.

GERMAN REPORT. as passing have returned.

We dropped 22 heavy bombs at mid- day to-day on the railway station at. Luxemburg. There were many bursts on the railway and a fire. -

Despite considerable anti-aircraft gun- fire all our machines returned.

DETAILS OF ENEMY'S NEW

ATTACK.

LONDON, April 6th. Heuter's Correspondent at the British

small tactical gains, the Geraan infantry Headquarters adds to the message pub ~has been squandered at a rate which can- lished in our Extra yesterday morning ---

not long be sustained. If the German Thus & tragic tale involved unit after losses continue. on the sune scale usunit, and consequently the most extra- bitherto there will be precious little of vagant estimates of the German losses the German army left if it reach Amiens, are possible.

NEW-ZEALANDERS REPULSE

ENEMY.

The weather in wm and misty and an favourable to offensive operations, the At daybreak this morning the Gier troops welcoming the inclemency glee

were attacking astride the fully. Somme valley

mans

LONDON, April 6th.

A Gernian official wireless message, states: Strong French counter-attacks on the west bank of the Avre have failed, GERMANS ECONOMISING IN

MEN.

PARLE, April 6th

It is semi-officially announced that the majority of the fresh German divisions appear not to be drawn from the reserve, but are troops from other sectors, indicat

ing that the German General Staff is now economising in men⠀⠀

French and British aviation has de finitely obtained the mastery of the air on the Somme battlefeld

GERMAN FRONTIER CLOSED

AMSTERDAM, April 5th. The German frontier has been closed for ten days in order to conceal the large transportation, of wounded men. “

March 30th was held by French Colonial troops, Two enemy divisions attacked.

took several thousand prisoners.

General Von Hutier between March

A few regiments in one division from 21 and 20th took 51,218 prisoners, and Lussigny assaulted across the open in captured 728 guns and much booty. To MARANA date he has taken 00,000 prisoners and column of two companies, the men march ing side by side. The first waves dis

over 1,300 guns, appeared under machine-gun fire and the Naval Activities. remainder, led by someone knowing the tebral, crossed a tiny stream and marsh-

(THROUGH ELSTER'S AGENCY.}

GERMAN SEAPLANES BOMB DUTCH VESSELS.

Majesty the King, in a message to Presid ent Wilson, sending his greetings on the Anniversary of America's entry, said

“At this critical hour, when "thio

enemies are not sparing any sacrifica and not counting on the cost to achieve victors, the French and British troops aland" as united as never before în berole resistance, buoyed up with the thought that the great Democracy in the West, in the same spirit and with the same objects, 19 putting forth ever effort to throw in ita supreme force în the struggle which will finally decide the destinies of free nation,

The Americans gallant useds at sea. and on land have already indicated to the enemy that his hope is in vain. Ever-increasing the Americans are poRE. ing into France daily, thus diminish.

ng the enemy's chances of aTopERY, The American people may assured that the British Empire, by nearly four yearn of war, will cheer fully make yet further sacrifices. thought that america is with and soul emboldens us in our de tion, and with God's help, we will in ly destroy the energy's designs and establish the rule of Right and Jars

- REFERENCES IN TRZA

The newspapers of London iflerkult celebrating the anniversary of the time Allies know no apprehension of failur can entry into the war, declare that the

and which the defence had overlooked. Soon Bundreds of Germans had swarmed into the park, and simultaneously the

AMSTERDAM, April eta enemy attacked the French Colonials at Four German seaplanes held op, bomb Canny hey held the village, but the ed and badly damaged a Dutch schooner, Le fatin states that measures are right flank was forced to retire and ren route to. Ymuiden. They stole the siderable aggressiveness. At eight o'clock being taken to destroy the long-range form, facing the north-west wall sur log book. The crew, who had abandoned this morning they attacked in the neigh, gaus. As soon as a shell is fired Erene rounding the park The German diyi the ship, returned when the seaplane backed by the tremedous American resc

artillery concentrato upon the spot and bourhood of Dernancourt on a front of simultaneously airmen raun bombs.

JR

directam the

of Corbit but there is no liews as

to how the battle in progressing. Time

To-day the Germans have shown con

DESTROYING LONG-RANGE GUNS.

PARIS, April 5th

mon which attacked Pleinont foughby tz had left,

voir of strengt

Coutenued in Page 6)