MUSTERING FOR THE CONFLICT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 113, 5 February 1918, Page 5

MUSTERING FOR THE CONFLICT

THE COMING STRUGGLE IN THE WEST GERMAN FORCES MEASURED NflW York, February 3. The United Press correspondent oil the French front states that the German strength on the West front now consists of 180 to 190 divisions, comprising 115 in the trenches and the balance in the reserves. These forces are ready for a German offensive. The armistice in Russia, says the correspondent, lias enabled the Germans to 1 increase their forces on the West front from 115 divisions. Germany has sixty divisions on the Russian front, consisting mainly of worn out and decimated units.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ON THE BRITISH FRONT London, February 3. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Hostile artillery is activo at Epehy and Ypres." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. February 4, 7.40 p.m.) London, February 3. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "We repulsed a raid at I'oelcapelle, and successfully raided, the enemy's lines southward of Lens. There is hostile artillery firing at La Vacquerie, southward of Lens."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Reuter. ffiec. February 4, 9.45 p.m.) London, February 4. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "We drove off raiders, with loss, east of Polygon Wood. The hostile artillery is active south-east of Epehy, in tho neighbourhood of the Arras-Cambrai road, south of Armentieres, ?nd on the Ypres sector. Our aeroplanes dropped four tons at various targets, including! the railway station at Valenciennes, and bombed the enemy's aerodromes and billets last night. We brought down ton of tho enemy's machines. One of ours is missiug."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assti.-Router. NAVAL AIR ATTACK. (Rec. February 4, 7.40 p.m.) London, February 3. The Admiralty reports: "Our aircraft bombed the Varssenaere qerodromo. scoring a direct hit. A fire fol-lowed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Reuter. ACTIVITY ON THE FRENCH FRONT (Rec. February 4, 7.40 p.m.) London, February 3. A French official communique states: "There has been marked reciprocal artillery firing north of the Aiime. The enemy's attempted coups de main south of Lombardzyde, north of Hill 344, north of Bures, Lorraine, and tho Rhone and Rhino canal, in the region of Alsace, all failed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn.-Rcuter. AMERICANS IN LORRAINE. (Ifcc. February 4, 11 p.m.) New York, February 4. American Headquarters anmyntces that the American troops in the West are located at Lorraine.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. 500,000 CHINESE TROOPS FOR THE WEST Washington, February 3. Official messages from Peking state that the Chineso will depend on Japanese shipping to convoy their troops to tho war zone, via Canada. Half a million troops are now ready.—Aus.-N.Z. Cabie Assn.

IRISH SETTLEMENT J

SIR EDWARD CARSON IN BELFAST IF SETTLEMENT MEANS SURRENDER — ? London, February 3. Sir Edward Carson had a great ovation oil his arrival at Belfast. Addressing the Ulster Council, ho protested against the attempt to create an atmosphere indicating that Ulster was unreasonable. If a settlement meant surrender there would be 110 settle-ment.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SIR P. E. SMITH RECALLED FOR •TACTLESSNESS. New York, February 3. The "Evening Post" states that Sir F. E. Smith has been recalled to England because of his tactless comments on the Irish Convention.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE SINN FEIN DEFEAT. London, February 3. Mr. M'Carten, the Sinn Fein candidate, who was defeated for South Armagh, took part in the 1916 Easter rebellion, and fled to America, where lie is now imprisoned for making false statements in connection with a pass-port.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.