GERMANS CANNOT GAIN ASCENDANCY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 155, 20 March 1918, Page 5

GERMANS CANNOT GAIN ASCENDANCY

ARTILLERY MANOEUVRES COUNTERED BY BRITISH GUNNERS STRONG ENEMY AERIAL OFFENSIVE SMASHED By Teleitrapli.-Proßß Aeaooiatlon-CopjrieUl London, March 18. Mr. Percival Phillips writes:—"The delay in the German offensive is probablv due to the failure of the enemy's gunners to gain ascendancy over the British batteries, which for several weeks havo rotumed blow for blow,' and have smashed one minor scheme after another. It is a repetition of the German failure in the.air. Wo have completely smashed a very _ strong aerial offensive in tho past There has been a remarkable increase in the enemy's gun power since Christmas, owing to tho arrival of reinforcements from "Russia, but the full strength is not yet disclosed/ A significant feature of the now situation' is the promptness with which tho British recognise and counter every manoeuvre of the German gunners. When they try to silonco our guns, the British shells immediately strip the camouflage from the carefully-hidden Gorman batteries, and drench tho crows with gas." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE GERMANS GREAT OFFENSIVE NOT TO BE LAUNCHED ON THE WEST FRONT. (Rec. March 19, 10.30 p.m.) • ' New York, March 18. An official commuiv'que says: "Itisnow believed that the Germans do not intend to launch a major offensive on the West front. Apparently the German concentration there has reached the limit."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ENEMY'S LOSSES OF AEROPLANES RESTRICTING ARTILLERY OBSERVATION WORK. . London, March 18. Mr. G. Gilmour, the Australasian Press Association's co-respondent, refers to the comparative inactivity of the German aeroplanes. He sayß that the enemy's losses of aeroplanes have compelled him in some sectors almost to abandon artillery observation work.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec March 19, 9.55 p.m.) London, March 18. The Admiralty reports:—"During an offensive by patrols from Dunkirk, our aeroplanes destroyed five enemy machines, and shot down five between Thursday and Sunday. All our machines returned."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Renter. ' 7~ ' ALLIES' AIRMEN SCORE 843 VICTORIES THIS YEAR SEVEN HUNDRED GERMAN MACHINES DESTROYED. (Rcc. March 20, 0.25 a.m.) London, March 18. The "Pall Mall Gazette" says an analysis of the records shows that the Allies' airmen scored 843 victories since January 1, 484 of them being by the British. Seven hundred German machines were destroyed, including seaplanes.—United Service. SUCCESSFUL BRITISH' RAID • London, March 18. Sir Douglas Haig reports: —"We made a successful raid south of Acheville. The hostile artillery is active south of the Bapaume-Cambrai Road, in the neighbourhood of Lens, and between Warneton and Zonnebeke."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ARTILLERY ACTIVE ON FRENCH FRONT (Rec. March 19, 9.55 p.m.) London, March 18. A French communique states:—"The artillery duel continues on tho right of the Meuse. Our fire drove off enemy reconnoitring parties attempting to reach our lines in tho region of Haudaumont and north-west of Bezonvaux. There is fairly great artillery firing north of Leviolu, in the Vosges." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Reutcr. FRENCH DEMOLISH ENEMY WORKS GERMAN STORM TROOPS REPULSED. (Rec. March 19, 11.30 p.m.) Baris, March 18. The French completely demolished the enemy's works at Malancourt. Their barrage prevented the defenders fleeing. Practically all were captured or killed. General von Gallwitz later started an offensive on a ten-kilometro front (6J miles), between Samogneux and Bezonvaux, and throw in his best storm troops, but they were repulsed with severe losses at all points.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. A SEVERE DEFEAT FOR THE GERMANS (Rec. March 20, 1.40 a.m.) Paris, March 18. Details of tho fighting on the right bank of the Menso on Sunday show that the Germans met with severe defeat. Many fresh batteries were brought up and heavily shelled the French front at Samogneux end Bezonvaux all day and all night on Saturday. The storm was unabated vntil the forenoon of Sunday, when a series of assaults began, a battalion participating in each attack. As soon as the Germans had established themselves in tho French trendies the French guns opened, and the concentrated firo forced the enemy to quit, leaving half his effectives behind. The Fronch reoccupied the , trenches without a counter-attack.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

AMERICANS HOLD CAPTURED TRENCHES. (Rec. March. 19, 10.30 p.m.) New York, March 18. Correspondents on the American front say that despite counter-raids the Americans still hold the captured trenches at Badouviller.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. (Rec. March 20, 0.25 a.m.) . „ ~. . , , , ~_ , . London, March 18. A German official report states :-"French airmen bombed hospital establishments at Lethour. Ihe enemy's losses in February were 18 captive balloons and 138 aeroplanes. .We lost 61 aeroplanes and three balloons.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reutor.