ALLIED AIRMEN'S SUPREMACY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16165, 20 March 1918, Page 7

ALLIED AIRMEN'S SUPREMACY.

OVER 800 ENEMY MACHINES BROUGHT DOWN. INTENSE GUNFIRE ON WEST FRONT. 4th YEAR—23lst DAY.

THE WESTERN THEATRE. WILL GERMANY STRIKE? DOUBTS EXPRESSED IN AMERICA. (By Cable.—Piess Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received March 19th. 10.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March. 18. An oSicial communique says:— "It is now believed that the Germans do not intend to launch a major offenj sive on the West front. Apparently the German concentration there has reached its limit." Correspondents on the American front state that despite counter-raids the Americans still hold the captured trenches at Badonvillor. LONDON. March IS. Mr Percival Phillips, the correspondent at British Headquarters on the Western, front, states that the delay in the German offensive is probably duo to the failure of the gunners to gain ascendency over the British batteries, which for several weeks have returned blow for blow, smashing one minor scheme after another. It is a repetition of the German failure in the air, as we have completely smashed even* strong aerial offensive for the past fortnight. There has been a remarkahlo increase in the enemy's gun-power since Christmas, owing to reinforcements from Russia, but his full .strength has not yet been disclosed. ' A significant featuro of the new situation is the promptness with which the British recognise and counter every manoeuvre of the German gunners when they try to silence our guns. British shells immediately strip the camouflage from the carefullyhidden German batteries, and drench the crews with gas.

ON" THE FRENCH FRONT.

(Australian and K.Z. Cable Association.) (Beuter'a Telegrams.) (Received March 19th, 9.5-5 p.m.) LONDON, March 18. A French communique states: — "The artillery duel continues on tho right bank of the Meuse. ''Our fire drove of! onemv reconnoitring parties which attempted to reach our lines in the region of Haudaumont and north-west of Bezonvaux. "There is" fairly great artillery activity north of Le Violu and in the Vosgos." (Received March 19th 3 11.30 p.m.) PARIS, March 18. The French completely demolished the enemy's works at Malancourt. Their barrage prevented the defenders fleeing, and practically all were captured or killed. | General vdn Gallwitz later started an offensive on a. 10 kilometro front, between Saniogneux and Bezonvaux. He throw in his best storm troops, but they ■wero repulsed with severo losses at all points. (Reuler's Telegrams.) (Received March 20tli, 1.40 a.m.) PARIS, March 18. Details of the fighting on the right bank of the Meuse on Sunday .show that the Germans met with a heavy defeat. Many fresh batteries were brought up, and heavily shelled the French front, between Samogneux and Bezonvaux all day, and all night, on Saturday. The storm did not abate until the forenoon on Sunday, when a scries of assaults began, a battalion participating in each attack. As soon as the Germans established themselves in the French trenches, the French guns opened a concentrated fire and forced the enemy to quit them, leaving half their effectives behind. The French re-occupied the trenches without anvjcounter-attack being delivered.

THE GERMAN REPORT. (Received March 20th, 12.25 a.m.), LONDON, March 18. A German official report state 3 "French airmen bombed hospital establishments in Lethonr. "Enemy losses in February were 18 captive balloons and 138 aerordanes. We lost 61 aeroplanes and three balloons. "We have occupied Nicolaicff, in the Ukraine (Russian theatre)." SUCCESSFUL AERIAL ACTIVITIES. (Received March 19th, 9.->j p.m.) LONDON, March 18. The Admiralty reports that during offensive patrols from Dunkirk, our aeroplanes destroyed five enemy machines and shot down five others from Thursday to Sunday. All our machines returned. (Unitod Service.) (Received March 20fch, 12.25 a.m.) LONDON, March 18. A "Pall Mall Gazette" analysis of records shows that the Allies' airmen have scored 843 victories since January, of which 484 were British. Seven hundred German machines -were destroyed including seaplanes.

THE BAGDAD ARMY. ADVANCE BEYOND HIT. (Reuter's Telegrams.) (Recoived March 19th, 9.55 p.m.) BAGDAD, March 18. A message from Saiahiyes, eight miles north-west of Hit, dated March 12th, states: — "I>urrag the last three days our ad-

vanced troop# along the Euphrates have been in touch with the enemy. "On Marcli lltli two mountain guns, complete, together with a number of waggons and cartloads of ammunition were captured." IN MACEDONIA. ACTIVITY ON ALL SECTORS. LONDON. March IS. Renter's correspondent with tho British forces in Macedonia states that tho j past week has been more active on all sectors, especially the British. Struma, and I>oiran fronts.