GERMANS IN SIBERIA.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16164, 19 March 1918, Page 7

GERMANS IN SIBERIA.

EXTENSIVE CONCENTRATION OF FORCES. INTENSE AERIAL ACTIVITY ON WEST FRONT. STRONG. ENEMY ATTACK ON FRENCH POSITIONS. 4th YEAR—23Oth DAY.

THE WESTERN THEATRE. BIG GUNS ACTIVE. BOMBARDMENTS ON SEVERAL SECTORS. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Rcuter'o Telegrams.) LONDON, March 17. Sir Douglas Haig reports as follows: "We made successful raids in the neighbourhood of Epehy and Gavrelle. '•There is hostile artillery fire southward of the Bapaume-Cambrai road and, tho Scarpe valley, and eastward of Polygon Wood; also against our rear defences, southward' of Lens, between the La Bassee canal and Lys. It is very active south-westward of Cambrai, and along tho whole front from the La Bassce canal to the Menin road." A Paris communique reports lively artillery firing on the right bank of the Metiso. SUCCESSFUL AERIAL HALDS. (Received March 18th. 8.35 p.m.) LONDON, March 17. Sir -Dougla6 Haig reports:— "Wo drove off raiders near Zonnebeke. "Enemy artillery is active south of tho Bapaume-Cambrai road; also against the roar of our defences south of Lens, and the areas of the La Bassee Canal, Armentieres, and Ypres. "There was great aerial activity yesterday. We again heavily attacked billets. We dropped 13 tons of bombs on two aerodromes and three dumps. Wo destroyed one hangar and crashed down one Gotha, which was in tho act of rising. We brought down 16, and drove down seven other enemy machines. Six of ours are missing. Our night-fliers bombed billets; all returned. ' 'We bombed barracks and the railway station at Kaiserslautern to-day, directly hitting the station and causing a fire. The attackers all returned."

BELGIAN COMMUNIQUE. (Recoived March 18th, 10 p.m.] LONDON, March 17. A Belgian communique states: — "For the past two days the artillery activity has been particularly intense in the districts of Nieuport, Dixmude, and Merckem. "The enemy continues to fire quantities of gas shells, and we are replying similarly." ATTACK BY DRUNKEN HUNS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received March 18th, 7.50 p.m.) LONDON, March 17. Mr Gordon Gilmour (special correspondent on the West front for the Australian, Press Association), describing the recent raid upon the Australian trenches, in which the Germans wero badly worsted, writes: — "The regiment was promised rewards for undertaking the raid—7so marks to be paid for each captured machine-gun, corporals to be promoted sergeants, and all officers to receive the Iron Crr»:s. The former raid was such a failure that none volunteered on the present occasion. "Those who were selected stipulated for a generous amount of liquor before going forward. As a result many were noisy, and some were helplessly drunk. Four non-coms., advancing as wirecutters, were incapable of the task. "The Australians heard the boisterous crew assembling, and waited -with every gun trained on the spot. The moment the Germans appeared they were met with a terrific rush of machine-gun bullets. The officers were unable to control their fuddled men from the start, and the dazed raiders blundered straight ahead to death. One prisoner declared that no other of his 18 companions survived."

IMPORTANT FRENCH ACTIVITIES. (Australian and X.Z. Cable Association.) (Reuter*s Telegrams.) ■ (Received March 18th, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 17. A French communique states: — 'There is reciprocal artillery activity north of the Chemin des Dames. "Under protection of our artillery, which dominated the German artillery, we conducted in the region of Cheppy, an important raid, in which we penetrated tho enemy trenches on a front of 800 yards to a depth of 300 yards. '"A\o destroyed all dug-outs, blockhouses, and other works, and secured 80 prisoners. ' After a bombardment we raided io tome depth in Malancourt Wood. "The enemy violently bombarded joints between tho Meuse and Bezonvaux (Verdun area); w e immediately replied. "Our aeroplanes dropped 7000 kilogrammes (7 tons) of bombs on military establishments behind the enemy front."

THE GERMAN VERSION. (Received March 18th, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 17. A German official report states: — "After ten hours' artillery fire, the French advanced on a wide froiit westward of Avocourt, hut they were repulsed by our firo and hand-to-hand lighting. "We took prisoner on the eastern bank of tho Mouse 200 men. "Wo brought down 17 aeroplanes on Saturday." EFFECTIVE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE. (Australian and X-.Z. Cable Association.) (Received March 18th, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 17. Mr Philip Gibbs states:— "The enemy operations aro still limited to raids and gas bombardments. Thero is very little about the enemy organisations, his movements, and the work behind his lines which wo do not know. Our intelligence service has become extraordinary, and the scientific accuracy of our information has frequently staggered the enemy, who has found his plans anticipated. "It is very doubtful whether the main body of the German armies are equal to the strain of a prolonged attack; anyhow, we'are ready." BELGIANS HOLDING NEW SECTOR. (Rcutcr's Telegrams.) (R«ccived March 18th, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 17. R«uter's correspondent at British Headquarters announces that tho Belgian troops aro now holding the former British sector on the Coast. The sector taken over by the Belgians is tho sector of the sand dunes, where the opposing trenches aro situated within a few yards of one another. Here, instead of mud and water, the troops have to endure tho wind which blows the sand about in stinging clouds so trying to the eyes as to necessitate the wearing of motorgoggles. Under the restless drifting sand the configuration of the landscape is continually altering, fresh dunes being formed at one point, while they melt away at another. Perhaps the best description of this area of softlooking shapeless white mounds is that given by a French officer, who compared it to a land of whipped cream.

HEAVY FIGHTING NEAR VERDUN. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Reuter's Telegrams.) (Received March 19th, 1.35 a.m.) LONDON, March 18. A French communique states:— "The enemy bombardment on the right bank of the Meuse became intense and was followed by a series of strong German attacks. "Big enemy detachments approached our positions, penetrating our lines at various points in the direction of Samogneux, and north of the Bois des Courieres and in the Bezonvaux district. "The assailants suffered heavily under the violence of our fire, and were unable to maintain themselves in the elements in which they obtained a footing. "Artillery activity continues to be extremely lively in this region. "Our troops last night penetrated the enemy trenches in the Bois de Malancourt to a width of 1400 yards and a depth of 800 yards. "The total number of prisoners taken on the left bank of the Meuse last night exceeds 160, including several officers."