GREAT GERMAN DRIVE PLANNED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 127, 15 February 1918, Page 5

GREAT GERMAN DRIVE PLANNED

BLOW AT THE BRITISH FRONT TO BE LAUNCHED NEXT MONTH T . „. , , , Washington, February 13. Unofficial advices state that the great, German drive is planned for next month and will be directed particularly against the British front.—Aus -N Z Cable Assn. ' ' (Rec. February 14, 8.30 p.m.) ~ ~ London, February ]3. Mi. Hamilton l'yle, tlio 'Daily Mails' correspondent at British Headquarters, states:_ "The German preparations for ail early offensive include tho training of picked troops seventy or eighty miles behind the front, over areas resembling the coming battlefield. Thoy are also employing new light machine-guns of a quarter-inch bore, firing four hundred shot's per minute." —United Service. "MACHINE-GUNS, TANKS, AND GAS." ~ ~ . ,T, ~ . London, February 13. . ercival Ibillips states that iuiormation extracted from prisoners reveals the fact that the German infantry is being trained in musketry on I? iUly rS C^riU^ cs ' '' 11ierc arc larfio artille O' schools in Belgium: at one of them _>(),000 gunners can bo instructed simultaneously. Evidently machineguns, tanks, and gas will figure prominently in the Gorman attempt. Many now railways have been built, including "monorails," for the iransnort of ammunition.—Aus.-N.Z. Oable Assn. SOMETHING FOR THE BOLSHEVIKS TO TONDER OVER. ~,, T - . x . , , , , , Berno, February 13. the Kaiser telegraphed to Marshal von Hindenlwrg that Russia's readiness to cease hostilities was due to that commander's magnificent and Ti/ « g , , vlctones - Hmdenburg's army was the real peacemaker.—Aus.N.Z. Cablo Assn. HINDENBURG MAY STRIKE THROUGH SWITZERLAND. ' . London, February 13. Sir. Simons, in a further dispatch to the United Press from Berne, says: '"Die Swiss believe that the Allies will win this year if the West front'holds'. Von Hindenhurg does not expect Austrian help, as the wobbly Emperor fears to send many to the West front. Von Ludendorff has reorganised the German Army, and has probably 2€o divisions ready for ail offensive. I am informed *Jiat tho Germans have completed plans to invade Switzerland if such a course is necessary. Von Hindenburg is massing troops and ammunition against the French right flank, and tho Swiss aie asking whether the treaty of 1815 is to bo the next 'scrap of paper.' Germans in Zurich openly boast that they could smash the vSwiss Army in 48 hours. The Swiss believe that Von Hindenburg -will not hesitate to invade if he considers it advisable. The country is alive with German agents who are trying to start a Swiss revolution."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BRITISH HOLDING MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE LINE. London, February 13. Mr. Lloyd George attracted great attention by a reference yesterday to the great part which the British Army is now playing in France. The following was tho text of the statement: — "The British are holding the' most important part of tho line. I felt flattered at tho Versailles Council when I realised that this new army, which has sprung into being in the course of two or three years, has been entrusted by France with tho defence of its capital, with the defence of the most vital parts of France—(cheers)—and of the ports along tho coast, all of which were voluntarily handed over by France to defence hy the British Army; and that tho demand of France was not that the British Army should tako loss, but that it should take more, responsibility." (Cheers.)—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. TRENCH AND AIR RAIDS BY THE BRITISH ATTACK ON A GERMAN CITY. London, February 13. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "We made a sucesssful raid south-east of Hargiconrt, and patrol encounters occurred south-east of Lens. There is "liostilo artillery fire at Epihy and Ypres'. Our aeroplanes vesterdav dropped over a ton of hombs on various targets behind the'lines. We raided' Germany today, bombing tho town of Offenburg. Details have not been received."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-R'euter. ON THE FRENCH FRONT London, February 13. A French communique states: "There is reciprocal artillery activity in the Champagne, on the right bank of the Jleuse, and in the Vosges. We dropped nine tons of hombs on the enemy's depots and railway stations, notably tho railway station at Motz-Sablons. where a lire broke out."—Aus.N.Z. Cnhle Assn. (Roc. February 15, 1.10 a.m.) London, February 13. A French official communique states: —"There is considerable artillery activity in the region of Pinon and north-west of Reims. Wo made successful raids cast of Auberivc and iirtho Vosges. The enemy's aircraft dropped bombs on Nancy. Thrco civilians were killed and five were in-jured.''—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn.-lteutcr. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. (Rec. February 15, 1.15 a.m.) London, February 13. A German official report states: "We repulsed strong reconnoitring detachments northward of Lens and northward of Moignonbiich. AVe repelled with heavy losses a French attack between Flirey and the Moselle. We bombed Nancy as a. reprisal for the air raid on Saarbrucken."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-R'euter.