THE NEXT BIG PUSH

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2992, 1 February 1917, Page 5

THE NEXT BIG PUSH

IMMENSE PREPARATIONS ON WESTERN FRONT " \ EFFECTIVE SURPRISE NOW POSSIBLE HORRORS OF POLISH SLAVE, RAIDS ' - News from the theatres of the war to-day is somewhat scanty. ■ One dispatch gives a. hint of immense preparations for the next big ' coup on the Western front. It is stated, that tho Allies are now in a position not only to take the initiative at any time, but to deliver their blow from an unexpected quarter by way of a complete surprise. The Battle of Loos, the Champagne Offensive, and the Battle of tho Sommo are instanced as blows which, from tho concentration of troops required, lacked the element of surprise. Meanwhile on both the French and British fronts the enoroy is being continually harassed by our raiding parties. There has been some desperate fighting on the Tigris, but the Turks have had the worst of it. Another list of sea victims of the German submarine pirates appears to-day, but our optimism is sustained by tho choer-' ing assurances of a shipping authority, that our losses are neb progressive. ■■.■•■ READY TO SPRING THE NEXT BIG . - SURPRISE. *~ IMMENSE PREPARATIONS IN THE WEST ; FURTHER SUCCESSFUL RAIDS By Telegraph—Press 'ABsn.—Copyright. Paris, January 30. ■ Correspondents insist that the French preparations for an offensive are so complete that they ara able to attack on a big scalo wherever and whenever they choose, Ihue restoring the element of surprise, whioh was absent at Loos, the Champagne, and on the Somme, wnoro the Germans were awaro of the concentrations of troops. The French have now prepared vast stores of ammunition and! material, and have laid 1 great lengths of uew roads and. railways.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ■ . ANOTHER BRITISH RAID (Rec. January 31, 8.30 p.m.) London, Jamiary 30. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "We bombed the enemy's dugouts in the neighbourhood of Butte de Warlencourt, and entered his lines eastward of Souchoz, greatly damaging his works. Three Gorman aeroplanes worn destroyed) and three brought down."—Aus.-N.Z. Cafolo A&su.-Routor. 1 FRENCH OFFICIAL' COMMUNIQUE, (Roc. January 31, 11.30 p.m.) London, January 31. A French official communique states: "Between Soissons and Reims our fire stopped dead two attempted coups de main. Rather lively artillerying is proceeding iu Lorraine andi in theVosges. Our aeroplanes during the night of January 29-30 bombarded the enemy's bivouacs, military factories, and stations."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router. GERMANS MUSTERING ON THE DUfCH FRONTIER ■. Amsterdam, January 30. There is anxiety owing to it being reported that thoro are continued German concentrations on the Dutch frontier north-east of the province of Overjisßel. Forty thousand troops recently arrived at two border towns, also much artillery.—Reuter. , . ; DESPERATE FIGHTING ON THE TIGRIS TRENCHES REPEATEDLY CHANGE HANDS (Reci January 31, 11.39 p.m.) ■ .■ ' ■ London, January 31. .'■ Mr. Gaudier, .the British Press correspondent in Mesopotamia, reports severe fighting at Kut. "Tho Turks lost heavily in endeavouring to regain their lost ground; Erecting a barricade of corpses against tho British bombers, they engaged in a fierce struggle, and trenches repeatedly changed hands before the Turks were defeated. "—Tho "Times." THE CAPITULATION OF GREECE CEREMONIAL RECOGNITION OF ALLIES' DEMANDS' ■ ' ; London, January 30. An official telegram irom Athens states that Prince Andrew of Greece led tho cavalry in the march past at the ceremony of. saluting tho Allied flags. The public was not admitted, but tho behaviour of the crowd in the streets was excellent. Members of the Cabinet, with units of the Athens garrison, attended at the Zappeion esplanade. The Allies' flags wore grouped under the Peristyle, where tho Allied! Ministers and chief officers stood. The Greek troops then lowered their flags to those of the Allies and defiled boforo tho Peristyle, the bands playing tho AIHos , National Anthems. All tho other demands of tho Allies are boing , met, and tho satisfactory relations betweon the Allies and tho Greek Government nay ho regarded as indicating a return to normal conditions.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RELEASE OF THE .VENIZELIBTS. Athens, Januarv 30. All the Venizelists who v/ere arrested , have been released. The Royalist Press attempted to instigate mob law, but the populace, frightened of the blockade, remained calm. The Royalist clique is losing heart, but is anxiously hoping for some Gorman victory.—The "Times."

FOR OVERSEA OFFICERS IN LONDON A .RESIDENTIAL OLOB. London, January 30. Major-General Sir Franois Lloyd (General Officer Commanding London district) is leading a -movement to establish in the West- End a residential club for lonely oversea officoris. The club nill contain 200 bedrooms, dining, reading, and urnoka rooms.—The "Timea."

ON THE ITALIAN FRONT TDNNELS THROUGH THE AVALANCHES. nomSj January 30. In order to re-establish communication with some points on the Italian front it has been necessary to pierce tunnels of five hundredi yards through s.7alaaches of snow. —Aus.tN.Z. Cable 'Afisn, . ■..<