1918-04-20 — Page 5

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THE WAR.

FLANDERS. FRENCH REINFORCEMENTS IN LINE, ROMERIC VALOUR OF BRITISH TROOPS.

THE STRUGGLE IN

GERMANY AND SUBMARINISM.

NAVAL MINISTER ASSERTS CAMPAIGN SUCCESSFUL.

ranco delgian Front

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BRITISH FRONT HOSTILE BOMBARDMENTS,

LONDON, April 18th- 12:35 am.

Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig ports:There were intense hostile bom- "bardments this morning on the whole of the Lys battle front, followed by attacks from Foret de Nieppe to Wytschacte

All were repulsed, inflicting consider. able losses.

Our counter-attacks are reported this morning to have succeeded in entering the villages Mcteren and Wytschsete, but we were unable to maintain our posi- Lions in face of continued attacks.

The French are now co-operating on this front.

OUR LINE ON WHOLE FRONT INTACT

12:45 p.m.

There is no change on the British Front,

At night there was great activity by hostile artillery from Givenchy to east ward of Robéca,

The heavy bomberdaunt of our post- tions between Locon and Robecq was still continuing at dawn."

The details of yesterday's fighting on the Nieppe Torest-Wytschaeto front establish the severity of the enemy's

BARLIER CABLES:

BALANCE IN OUR FAVOUR.

LONDON, April 18th, 8,30 p.m. Router's Correspondent at British Headquarters,⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ telegraphing today, states -- Yesterday was a strenuous time For our infantry in co-operation with

the French, who are now engaged in the northern battle area. The day was satis.

factory, the record balancing heavily in

our favour.

German waves were dashed against our lines at half-a-dozen places, and only at Bearer's Hill did they force us to yield ground, which our counter-attack re gained

GERMAN LOSSES APPALLING, The heaviest onslaughts were south east of Remmel Hill and west of Merris and in, two attempte north-west of Welvergheni.

The chemy & grand objective is unr doubtedly the domination of the ridge system from Cassel Hill to Wytschacte. While the Germans have not made de finite gains, their losses have been appalling.

ANOTHER GHASTLY TOLL OF GERMANS.

occupation of the evacunted Passehen..

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, APRIL 2011, 1018.

INTERVALS OF COMPARATIVE

CALM

appears to be following the course of the great series of German thrusts in The bitter intensity of the fighting October, 1014, which ended at Ypres, which had been in progress since yesterday

and Gur failure there was due bo there being no Allied reserve, morning lulled during the forenoon.

That reserve. The hurricane of the artillery duel aub

now exists, and has Probably there sided into spasmodic outbursts, with not yet been used.. intervals of comparative colm

will still be continuous fluctuations in We captured a goodly number of the northern area for some time to come, prisoners during the past two days,

but the salient fact of the fighting is the

There are signs of another attack

staying power of the British soldiers coming between Bailleul and Wytschacte

He has withstood the severest tents for

Doubtless, the enemy is determined; after

a month, and the frequency with which the heavy sacrifices paid to get

the enemy has been repulsed at various Wytschacte, to make another onslaught and again remove us from the position.

Yesterday and last night there was a sharp condict at Boyelles, south of Arras, but quiet prevails to-day. Our positions are being fully_beld...

Fierce shelling of Villera Brettonneux led to expectations of an infantry assault, but it has not materialised. GERMAN METHODS OF ATTACK.

LONDON, April 1871. 6.26 cm.

Mr Percival Phillips describes the German methods of attack on the Western Front in an account of the heroic stand made by certain English units who prevented the enemy from breaking through between Meteren and St. Razerle, and kept repelling rushes all night long. The Germans dribbled in, a few men at a time, fresh parties coming along despite the slaughter of their pre- decessors. The ceaseless trickle of grey among the khaki oniforms resulted in an accumulation of certain pockets, po matter how fast the British worked their guns. Sometimes these pockets, drifting together like particles of quicksilver, would suddenly become a formidable menace on a flank. An incessant flow of

Our gunners, anticipating the enemy's Germans in twos and threes was on one occasion built into a machine-gun attack on one of the British Headquarters, whose Staff was working at high pressure in a cottage, and found itself in the local

No Man's Land with bullets, par tering the walls. relief force nipped the German advance just as it, was about

We repulsed local attacks last evening daele salient, were prepared to give him a warm reception When the German in the Merris sector.

infantry advanced over the dreary waste the great cemetery in the cockpit of Europe gathered another ghastly toll. The German attack nearer the coast

specially noteworthy at this stage of the campaign, for the enemy employed four divisions, namely, marine, infantry, one Bavarian, and two Prussian.

Josses,

Three waves of German infantry at tacking south-eastward of Kemmel Hill, pressed back our line slightly at one point,

Our counter-attack restored the situa tion and the úttack was repulsed at all points.

Three enemy attacks in the Bailleul sector were completely repulsel.

THE BELGIANS EPIC FIGHT All night long there was a very intense bombardment, which probably was no- counted as likely to forestall all resist ance, but the Germans speedily found

points and is now being vigorously counter-attacked are very healthy signs. BELGIANS CAPTURE SIX HUNDRED

GERMANS.

LONDON, April 18th. 19.33.

A Belgian communique states that the Germans in force attacked and obtained a footing in an outpost system between Blankaertpond and the railway from Ypres to Thourout, Counter-attacks completely drove out the enemy.

We captured 600 prisoners,

GERMAN REPORT,

LONDON, April 18th.

12:36 am.

A wireless German official report states:-We tccupied Passchendaele,

We advanced our lives near Beclacre and Gheluvelt.

We stormed the village Wytschacte, and drove the enemy from the heights north-eastward and westward, repulsing strong counter-attacks.

The enemy, while retreating south- westward of Wulverghem, was pressed back across the Douvr

We captured Bailleul and, Meteren, and the stubbornly defended support point at Cappelynde, to the north of Bailleul..

Strong English forces, supported by the French, vainly endeavoured to recap- ture Meteren, and the territory on both sides of Merris. The attacks broke down, with vary benvy losses.

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FRENCH FRONT.

PARIS, April 18th.

to cut off the cottage. Frequently the ADL ENEMY ATTACKS REPULSED. line shifted so quickly that units in the rear found themselves in front, and & company of Germans would lie stranded, enclosed by khali. HEROISM OF BRITISH TRANSPORT Four lines.

DRIVERS.

A feature of the battle is the heroism of the British transport the drivers

Ver line was intact on the whole front they were mistaken, for the Belgiansang ammunition sometimes only a few

Jast evening.

hundred yards from the Gorman machine * gunners, supplying the front line with food, and driving throughout very calmly amidst a constant bombardment,

put up a fight ranking as one of the epice in their splendid story, finally driving back the Germans in confusion and capturing more than 600 prisoners. The front of this brilliant victory was a stretch of six kilometres between Kippe and Langemarck.

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GERMAN ARTILLERY SUFFER

HEAVY LOSSES.

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HOMERIO VALOUR OF BRITISH TROOPS

LONDON, April 18th.

12.25 p.m. Reuters Correspondent at British British Headquarters, telegraphing to. day, states The Germans this morning developed in attack along the front be tween Givenchy and Roberog and are

LONDON, April 19th pressing hard towards Givenchy. They,

4.10 p.

apparently, are drawing in fresh ve

The harassing fire of our artillery upon serves. In the conse of the great battle encuny communications has greatly in- more than

30 enemy divisions so far have creased in intensity, and the Germans appcared. It is certain that the German have suffered heavy

vy lusses among their Command is exploiting every success by gunners. Thus, on the 15th inst., the the most prodigal expenditure of man-Twenty-third Field Artillery Regiment power without counting the cost. In the had four of its guns knocked out by our grent German attack yesterday our troops fought with Homeric valour against tre

mendous numerical odds,

GERMAN GAINS IN FLANDERS

batteries, all the personnel but two being casualtica. One battery of the Sixty-first Reserve Field Artillery lost all five of its officers and most of its non commis

Our troops are fighting in the famosioned officers, and gunners.

irresistible manner in the battle between Givenchy and the Foret de Nieppe

now in progress.

For nearly a week the German gains. in the battle in Flanders have been limited to the smallest, but terribly. costly, advance at certain points. If he measures the extent of his gains by the price he has paid he certainly must be looking gloomily at the bold contours from Cassell to Messines, which he is practically bound to attempt to take Au attempt to break through on the Balgian front south of the forest at Holthurst was probably inspired by the disgovary of our withdrawal in the Passchendaele region, and the consequent assumption that there would be come -disorganisation on this part of the line.

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ENEMY SUCCESSES

NEUTRALISED.

SLAUGHTER OF GERMANS UNPRECEDENTED.

A commmatique states--In the region or Corbeny our fre dispersed a strong chemy detachment attempting to reach

After heavy artillery preparation the enemy launched several coups de main in Champagne an the right of the Meuse, and cast of Caurieres Wood, in the direction of Damloup,

We repulsed all attacks and took prisoners

We carried out several successful-raids north-west of Rheims and in Lorraine, and took prisonSIB.

FURIOUS ENEMY BOMBARDMENT,

A communiqué states:-There was no

infantry action,

Enemy concentrations north of the Zhe Near East. Somme indicate that he has not abandon. ed the hope to break through to Amiens, The French have maintained their artil. lery supremacy. The enemy front lines of communications were continuously bon barded, paralysing any attempts to fortify the positions, breaking up con voye, and impeding the establishment of hostile batteries. Meanwhile we are organising positions in readiness for

Boche onslaughts.

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[TAROUGH REUTER'I AGENOT.]

PALESTINE OPERATIONS.

ENEMY BEING PRESSED BACK.

AERIAL OPERATIONS, French aviators have done magnificent. ly during the past nine days and nights, They dropped 73 tons of bombs on enemy railway and munition centres. During the same period 31 enemy nero- planes and three balloons were shot down on the battlefield.

LONDON, April 18th. Reuter's Correspondent at Palestine Headquarters, telegraphing on 12th mat. states:--As the Turks are being pressed- back upon the main line south of Nabious and Tulkeram, on which the

pussession of Northern Palestine des

Pends, their resistance in men and gabs is constantly strengthening. The enemy

has been considerably reinforced from Mesopotamia, and also hy terman troops. A porcentage of the latter is being brigad- ed with the Turks for stiffening the enemy's artillery, which is stronger than

Innumerable attacks were made by our

at any time during the present opera tions, and he is spending ammunition flects of aeroplanes, as many as 30

more freely Our centre lies in the hilly machines being engaged at a time on a troop-train and marching troops, which country south-west of Nablous, where the were machine-gunned from an altitude enemy Ind established a sort of line with of 50 to 300 feet. Une squadron's work | shallow trenches.

on April 12th included 350 flights by ENEMY ACTIVE ON WHOLE FRONT

CAIRO, April 18th. Enemy activity is reported on the

fighting planes and 120 air-fights, in which eight enemy machines were brought down and 23 were forced down damaged, Five balloons were destroyed and five damaged.

Forty-eight tons of explosives were dropped during various expeditions, in which the Italian squadrons parti. cinated,

Italian Front

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ITALIAN FRONT.

BUCCESSFUL RAID,

LONDON, April 18th An Italian official report states: We successfully raided a post in the Vallarss sector

Italian and British aviators brought down 16 enemy aeroplanes yesterday.

Aerial Activities.

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THROUGH EEUIBE 8 AOENOY.}]};

DIRECTION OF AIR SERVICE

THE DIFFERENCES IN POLICY.

LONDON, April 18th.

In the House of Commons, Mr. Bonar Law stated that the War Cabinet had considered the differences in policy between Lieut. Colonel Trenchard and Lord Rothermere before the former's resignation was accepted, and the ques- tion could not be discussed publicly.

ANOTHER RESIGNATION

LONDON, April 18th.

whole Palestine ond

Eastward of to 201 enomy, in attacking a Ghorniyh was càight and suffered heavily.

Gartillery

Our mounted vops pursued tho enemy, capturing 53, There were many enemy dead on the ground.

An attack northward of Wadi Raja was repulsed

The enemy repeatedly attacked between. Berukin and Lafat, and after the most stubborn fighting reached Berukin, but was later driven out and the position was restored.

Russian Front.

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RUSSIAN FRONT.

GERMAN ADVANCE IN FINLAND.

STOCKHOLM, April 18th- The German troops which landed at Lovisa have advanced to Larti between Tammerfors and Viborg, cutting the railway communication with Petrograd. General.

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GERMANY SATISFIED WITH SUBMARINISM.

AMSTERDAM, April 18th The Minister for the Navy, Admiral von Capelle, speaking in the Itsichstag, after condemning the Allied robbery" of In the House of Commons, fr, Bonar Datch ships, expressed his satisfaction Law announced that Lieut-General. Six at the results of 'submarinism. Whether David Henderson, Vice-President of the the position of the Allies would, aprove Air Council, had tendered his resignation or detoriorate would depend upon their on the ground that he would be unable military achievements and the replace to work with the new Chief of the Airment of the sunken ships. He denied the unwillingness of the submarine TOWS

The enemy furiously bombarded our first linee and some villages north of Staff. Montdidier which our batteries effe tively countered,

A DAY OF DEFEAT FOR THE GERMANS

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GERMANY AND AIR RAIDS.

WILLING TO OBLIGE THE ALLIES.

AMSTERDAM, April 18th

In the German Reichstag, Herr Geck (Socialist) suggested making an agre ment to cease all air raids outside the

·war zone.

Mr. Phillips says the slaughter of Germans at Meteren was unprecedented, bodies being piled on the roadside and lining the hedges. He emphasises that in straightening the Passchendaele salient all our gung were removed, and the ammunition was removed or destroyed. Nothing of value was left.

BRITISH COUNTER-ATTACKING. LONDON, April 18th. There is a more cheerful note in the papers to day. following reports that the British are counter attacking, and indications, such as the German attack at Robeneg, that the enemy is diverting his main effort farther south and again threatening Bethune. This, probably, is partly due to the fact that the French reinforcements, are coming into line, but there is still anxiety as to broken, no decision has been reached, would be examined, when Generalissimo Foch will make the and it is a contest of endurance We The Balkans. decisive stroke, now that the British have stood a four weeks' hammering from

iminense Gerinan reserves, estimated at 420,000 men, in a fashion which has led

Armies as The Wing of Sacrifice.” the French writers to describe the British

LONDON, April 17th. 10.35 p.m. Reuter's Correspondent at British Headquarters, telegraphing this evening states: The opinion is general amongat the troops that the past twenty-four Though all experts do not endorse the hours have been anything but good for

opinion advanced in some quarters that the enemy, despite his successes at Bailleul, Ravelsberg and the Messines the advance, which is critical in the north- Ridge. The last named has been largely neutralised. because at what a price ern theatre, has been definitely checked, Our withdrawal cast of Ypres was it is agreed that the Gennans lave not accomplished with masterly skill, the net result of which has been to greatly obtained the devisive result they nimed stiffen our power of resistance, whilst at, thanks to the extreme stubbornness of forcing the enemy to lengthen his com- wunications across unfavourable terrain. I the ish resistano. The battle, in fact,

A schi-official report states:Yester day was a day of defeat for the Ger mans, who hoped that their desperate efforts would overwhelm the British. This plan has been baffled, as the French are now effectively co-operating, Half the German Divisions available on the Western Front have already been engaged after only 25 days The Anglo French cohesion has nowhere been

are justified in asking whether the tactical advantages gained by the Germans are not disproportionate to

their efforts, jand whether they are abla

to continue to a finish.

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FRENCH ARTILLERY

SUPREMACY,

LONDON April 17th 9,25 p.m. Reuters Correspondent at French Headquarters, telegraphing yesterday, states. Although there have been ad in portant battles from Hangard to Noyon for several days, activities were recip- rocal.

The Government Representative replied that their opponents had not yet request ed a stoppage, but that if they did it

DAREIER CABLES, THROUGH BEUTES'S AGENCY.]

BALKANS FRONT-

GERMAN REPORT

LONDON, April 18th.

A German Wirelers official report etatesThe Bulgarians on the Struma Plain captured 155 English prisoners and some Grocka

The War Office comment states that the total British casualties on the Strama Plain is considerably as than the prisoners claimed,

to put to sea, and affirmed that the state- ments that the losses of submarines were extianidinarily heavy were greatly cxaggerated. He asserted that the new construction of submarinen was eur- passing the losses. Submarines in point. of quantity and quality wore rising. Whether Great Britain could continue the naval war with prospects of auccess depended upon whether her shipbuilding gurpassed her losses.

He declared that any doubt of the final success of submarinism was unjustified.

He admitted that anf (Cheets) submarine measures had attained a car tain success, but not the decisive succes allegal. There was a scarcity of stock

would inercase in England, which

H/Aconcluded by asserting that ther United States would never participato Jargely in the war, owing to the shortage of abipping, which governed, America's effort

OBITUARY

MR. SAMUEL YOUNG, M.P

LONDON, April 18th. The death 19 announced of Mr. Bamuel Young, MP.

Deceased was the oldest member of the House of Commons, having been burn in 1827. Ho repredated, East, in the

Nationalist interest.]

(Continued on Page 5.)