13 APRIL 1918, Page 1

On Tuesday the battle took a new turn. After a

heavy bombard- ment, the enemy attacked the sector north of La, Bessie, which has been held for some time by the Portuguese Army in co-opera- tion with British troops. Under cover of a thick mist, the Germans entered our lines, and, after repeated attacks, pushed the Allied forces back across the muddy fields round Neuve Chapelle and Laventie towards the river Lys at Estaires and Bee St. Maur.

On the northern flank of the attack, Fleurbaix was firmly held- On the southern flank, Givenehy was lost for a time, but was re- captured later in the day by the 55th Division, which took seven hundred and fifty prisoners in its brilliant counter-attack.