The German Offensive of 1918, 3

The German Offensive of 1918, 3

This week's chapter examines the position at the end of March 1918, French forces on the German left flank, German attacks here, the advance towards Paris stopped, General Debeney's plans, blocking the road to Amiens, fighting on the Avre, Luce and Doms, Minor actions on the British front, end of the battle, April 5, German and pro-German accounts, the struggle in the air, general course of the fighting, new German offensive in the north, opening of the Battle of the Lys, April 9

It is probable that the total number of Germans on the front from Montdidier to the north was over 200,000 men, a number considered sufficient to ensure success

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The fighting goes in our favour

The nights nowadays are almost busier than the days, both sides doing much bombing https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-fighting-goes-in-our-favour-qp3vzlz8m?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=newsletter_118&utm_medium=email&utm_content=118_02.05.2018%20Offensive%20(1)&CMP=TNLEmail_118918_3255269_118

At Auchonvillers the Germans at one time got into our positions, and had held them long enough to bring in 11 machine-guns and put themselves in positions of defence. Nonetheless, we re-attacked with great dash, and recaptured the positions and took the machine-guns and some prisoners, among them certain officers who insist on wearing nice new yellow gloves, and generally bearing themselves in a thoroughly Prussian offensive way. Give-and-take fighting has been in progress in the area of Aveluy Wood and Mesnil, but at neither place in the end did the Germans win any ground. In the northern area the German shelling has been fairly heavy and sustained, especially heavy on places south of the river from gun positions on the north side. The nights nowadays are almost busier than the days, both sides doing much bombing, the Germans choosing towns with civilian populations rather than points of military importance, doubtless from a desire to cause panic among the French. The civilians, however, are being methodically evacuated from the most dangerous areas. The enemy has been bombing Amiens ruthlessly. One bomb missed the Cathedral by a very narrow margin. I have passed through Amiens twice today and seen most of the damage, and can testify to the completely reckless way in which bombs were dropped in all parts of the town. The fine weather continues, and even if it is in favour of the Germans from the military standpoint, one is glad of it for the sake of the refugees, who are passing in considerable numbers along the roads, offering the usual pathetic spectacles of aged men and girls wheeling all their possessions on perambulators, wheelbarrows, or handcarts, and invalid women borne on improvised stretchers of shutters or planks. Many of the poor family parties are accompanied by cows, donkeys, and goats, and all, it seems, by dogs, while the children carry cages with canaries in them. For their sake it is impossible not to rejoice that the weather is fair. In spite of some geographical gains on the enemy’s part, it has by no means been a day to reduce our confidence. Where we have fallen back, it has been done chiefly without any pressure. Where there has been fighting we have had the best of it in the majority of cases.

 

250,000 rounds from the air

Twenty-four German machines were brought down in air fighting, and seven others were driven down out of control https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/250-000-rounds-from-the-air-jgpscptz6?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=newsletter_118&utm_medium=email&utm_content=118_02.05.2018%20Offensive%20(1)&CMP=TNLEmail_118918_3255269_118

Telegraphic dispatch from General Headquarters, France, March 28, 9.50pm: On the 27th inst low-flying was again carried out by large bodies of our aeroplanes, while our infantry machines continued reporting the position of our battle line. Over 30 tons of bombs were dropped, and a quarter of a million rounds of ammunition fired from a height that ensured accuracy on different targets. Severe casualties are known to have been inflicted on the enemy, and the bringing up of his troops and ammunition was delayed. Twenty-four German machines were brought down in air fighting, and seven others were driven down out of control. Two hostile observation balloons were also destroyed. Nineteen of our machines are at present missing, but a proportion of these are believed to have landed on our side of the line. Very heavy fire directed against our machines from the ground accounted for the greater portion of our casualties. During the night the bombing of Bapaume, Bray, and Peronne was continued with the utmost vigour. Over a thousand bombs were dropped, and thousands of rounds of ammunition were fired at targets which were plentiful and easy to see in the moonlight. Our pilots saw their bombs bursting in the middle of columns of troops and transport and on encampments. Four of the aeroplanes are missing. On the 27th inst the Sablon station at Metz was bombed. Well over a ton of bombs were dropped; good bursts were seen on the sidings and beside the railway. On the 28th instant our machines carried out a successful raid on the station at Luxemburg. Twenty-one heavy bombs were dropped, and several were seen to burst on the objectives. All our machines returned from both raids. ● Poison gas factory bombed French Air report, March 23-26: Our infantry aeroplanes, bombing and chasing crews, photographers and observers, distinguished themselves by their courage and endurance, both by day and night. Descending sometimes to a height of 60ft from the ground, our pilots attacked enemy contingents with their machine-guns and fired thousands of cartridges. On the night of March 23-24 one of our squadrons dropped 31 tons of explosives on the Badische Anilin factory of Ludwigshafen, the chief German factory for the production of poison gas.

 

Americans in the battle

The Government of our great Western Ally has agreed to such of its regiments as cannot be used in divisions of their own being brigaded with French and British units so long as the necessity lasts

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/americans-in-the-battle-stc8c69qj?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=newsletter_118&utm_medium=email&utm_content=118_02.05.2018%20Offensive%20(1)&CMP=TNLEmail_118918_3255269_118 As a result of communications between the Prime Minister and President Wilson, and of consultations in France in which General Pershing and General Bliss, the Permanent Military Representative of America with the Supreme War Council, participated, important decisions have been come to by which the large forces of trained men in the American Army can be brought to the assistance of the Allies in the present struggle. The Government of our great Western Ally is not only sending large numbers of American battalions to Europe during the coming critical months, but has agreed to such of its regiments as cannot be used in divisions of their own being brigaded with French and British units so long as the necessity lasts. By this means troops which are not yet sufficiently trained to fight as divisions and army corps will form part of the seasoned divisions until such time as they have completed their training and General Pershing wishes to withdraw them in order to build up the American Army. Arrangements for the transportation of these additional forces are now being completed. President Wilson has shown the greatest anxiety to do everything possible to assist the Allies, and has left nothing undone which could contribute thereto. This decision, however, of vital importance as it will be to the maintenance of the Allied strength in the next few months, will in no way diminish the need for further measures for the raising of fresh troops at home. It is announced at once because the Prime Minister feels that the singleness of purpose with which the United States have made this indispensable contribution towards the triumph of the Allied cause should be clearly recognized by the British people. The new Military Service Bill will, of course, be the first business of the Parliamentary Session. It is accepted that the new age-limit will be 50, and that the Bill will deal drastically with all existing exemptions. Sir Auckland Geddes is said to be devising a new order of calling men to the Colours which will take account both of physical fitness and of occupational value. If the Government are provident, they will take larger powers for the future than they can usefully employ at once.