BRITISH INTELLIGENCE SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 154, 19 March 1918, Page 5

BRITISH INTELLIGENCE SERVICE

ANTICIPATES ENEMY'S PLANS FRENCH LINES HEAVILY ATTACKED By Telegraph-Press Aisociation-Copirieht (Rec. March 18, 9.30 p.m.) London, March 17. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: "The enemy operations are still limited to raids and gas bombardments. There is very little about.the enemy organisations, movements and work behind his lines which we do not know. The intelligence service has become extraordinarily scientific. ■ The accuracy of our information has frequently staggered the onemy, who found that his plans had been anticipated. It is very doubtful whether the main body of the German armies is equal to the strain of a prolonged attack. Anyhow we are ready."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AUSTRALIANS PUNISH ENEMY RAIDERS j GERMANS LOTH TO JOIN RAIDING PARTIES. \ 1 .(Rec. March 18, 7.50 p.m.) London, March 17. Mr. G. Gilmour, special correspondent at the front for the Australian and New Zealand Press Association, describing a recent raid upon the Australian trenches, in which the Germans were badly worsted, writes: "The regiment were promised rewards for undertaking the raid. The sum of 750 marks was to be paid for each captured machine-gun, corporals were to bo promoted to sergeants, and all officers were to receive the Iron Cross. Tho former raid was such a failure that none volunteered on the present occasion, and those selected stipulated for a generous quantity of liquor before going forward, with the result that many were noisy and some helplessly drunk. Four non-commissioned officers who advanced as wire-cutters were incapable of the task. The Australians heard tho boisterous crew assembling and waited with every gun trained on the spot. The moment tho Germans appeared they met a terrific rush of machine-gun bullets.. 'The officers were unable to control the fuddled men from the start, and the dazod raiders blundered straight ahead to death. A prisoner declared that, no other of his eighteen companions had survived. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SUCCESSFUL BRITISH RAIDS ENEMY BILLETS AND OTHER TARGETS HEAVILY BOMB'ED. London, March 17. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Successful raids were carried out in tho neighbourhood of Epehy and Gavrelle. Hostile artillery is active south of tho Bapaume-Cambrai Road, in the Scarpe Valley, and east of Polygon Wood, and also against our rear defences south of Lens and between tho La Bassee Canal and the Lys. The German guns are very active south-west of Cambrai, and along the whole front from the La Bassee Canal to the Menin Road."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. March 18, 8.35 p.m.) London, March 17. Sir Douglas Haig'reports: "We drove off raidors near Zonnebekc. The enemy artillery is active south of the Bapaume-Cambrai Road, also against the rear defences south of. Lens and the areas of the La Bassee Canal, Annentieres and Ypres. There was great aerial activity yesterday. Wo gain heavily attacked enemy billets and dropped thirteen tons of bombs on two aerodromes and three dumps. We destroyed one hangar and crashed one Gotha in tho act of rising. We brought down sixteen onemy machines and drove down seven others. Six of our machines are missing. Our nightfliers bombed enemy billets. They all returned. We bombed the barracks und railway station at Kaiserslautern to-day, directly hitting tho station and causing ai'fire. The.attackers all'returned."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. % i INTENSE ARTILLERY ACTIVITY ON THE BELGIAN FRONT (Rec. March 18, 10 p.m.) London, March 18. A Belgian communique states: "During tho past iwo days the artillery activity has been particularly intense in the districts of Nieuport, Dixmude, and Merckom. The enemy is continuing to fire quantities ot gas shells. We are replying similarly."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. BELGIANS TAKE OVER BRITISH COAST SECTOR, (R-ec.; March 18, 11.30 p.m.) London, March 17. It is announced from British Headquarters that the Belgian troops are now holding the former. British sector on tho coast.—Renter. ON THE FRENCH FRONT Paris, March 17. A communique stateß that there i lively artillery activity on the right bank, of the Mouse.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. GERMAN LINES' PENETRATED. (Rec;- March 18, 7.50 p.m.) London, March 17. A French communique states: "There is reciprocal artillery activity north of the Chemin des Dames. Under the protection of our artillery, which dominated tho German artillery, wo conducted in the region of Choppy an important raid, in which we penetrated tho enemy trenches 011 a front of 800 metres, to a depth of 300 metres. We destroyed all the dug-outs, blockhouses, and works, and secured 80 prisoners. After a bombardment wp raided to some depth the Malancourt Wood. Tho enemy violently bombarded points between the Meuse and Bezonvaux. Wo immediately replied. Our aeroplanes dropped 7000 kilogrammes of bombs on military establishments behind the enemy front." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-R«uter. ENEMY ATTACKERS PENETRATE FRENCH LINES , BUT ARE DRIVEN OUT WITH HEAVY LOSSES. (R.ec. March 19, 1.35 a.m.) London, March 18. A French communique states: "The enemy bombardment on tho right of the Mouse became intense, and was followed by a series of strong German attacks. Big enemy detachments approachod our positions, penetrating our lines at various points in the direction of Samogneux, north of Bois des Canrieres, and in the Bezouvaux district. Tlie assailants suffered heavily under tho violenco of our fire, and were Tillable to maintain themselves in the elements in which thoy obtained a footing. The artillery firing continued to be most lively in this region. Our troops last night penetrated the enemy trenches, at Bois do Malancourt on a width of 1400 metres to a depth of 800 metres. The total prisoners we took on ••ho left bank of the Mouse last night exceeds 160, including several officors."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Reuter.

GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. (Bee. Mnrch 18, 7.50 p.m.) London, March 17. A German official report states: '-'After ten hours' artillery work the French advanced on a wide front westward of Avocourt, and were repulsed by our fire and hand-to-hawl fighting. Wo took prisoner oil the eastern bank of the Mouse 200. Wo brought down 17 aeroplanes on Saturday."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router,