AWAITING THE NEXT MOVE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 183, 23 April 1918, Page 5

AWAITING THE NEXT MOVE

ALLIES FULL OF CONFIDENCE THE ATTACK ON THE AMERICANS By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright. 1 Washington, April, 20. The Senate's Military Affairs Committee, after a conference with tho War Council, issued the following statement: "The tide has turned on the West front. The Allies are preparing to meet a further offensiye, if it is forthcoming, and do not fear the .outcome.''VAus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.

A SUSPENSION OR A LULL? ; NEXT BLOW AWAITED WITH CONFIDENCE. Paris, April 20. The 4S-hour lull in the-struggle on tho British and French fronts most probably marks a suspension rather than the end of tho battle of tho Lys. Tho Germans must reconstitute their shattered divisions after their bloody defeat by tho British before Mont Kernmcl and tho St. Vonant-Givenchy front; but they havo engaged themselves too deeply in tho salient north of Ihe La Basse© Canal not to persevere in their attempts. Sinco tho offensive is always costlier for the assailant than the defenders, and if, as there is every r eason to believe, the new and very severe battles -which must be expected do not bring the decision which is necessary for ihe Germans, their offensive power will inevitably decrease. French opinion, therefore, awaits the course of events on the front coolly, and is most confident that the future presents for the British more favourable conditions than those of tho first phase of tho great enemy offensive, which nevertheless ended in 'he failure of the German plan.—Renter.

THE KING'S CONGRATULATIONS

TO THE WORKERS BEHIND THE LINES,

London, April 21. The Press Bureau reports: The King expressed his high approval of the exertions of the officials of the Ministry of Munitions, employers, and munition workers during ihis critical time, fl-is Majesty states that he has learned that practically all the losses and expenditure of munitions during the battle have already been made good without an uiuluo depiction of the reserve. There were now actually raoro serviceable guns, machine-guns, and fceroplanes at the front than on the eve of the offensive. All other supplies were abundant—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn'.-Beuter. "THE GRAVEST CRISIS OF THE WAR." u London, April 21. Lord Robert Cecil (Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs), in a speech at Hitchin (in Hertfordshire), said we had reached the gravest crisis of the war, but ho did not fear the ultimate result. He had been told that German officers had been prepared to bet that they would divide the English and French within a fortnight, but a month had passed aud tho enemy had not succeeded.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORTS London, April 21,12.35 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports- "After somo fighting we repulsed an attack upon a post south of tho Scarpe Itivor. Our artillery stopped an attempted advance north-ca3t of Ypves. Wo carried out a successful local operation in the neighbourhood of Robecq. Tho hostile artillery was activo at midday yesterday, and at night in 6ome of tho Aucre and La Bassee Canal sectors."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Keuter. (Rec. April 22, 8 p.m.) London, April 21, 9.-10 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Local fighting ended to our advantage this morning in the neighbourhood of Robecq. Wo ejected tho enomy from some advanced posts. There was considerable activity on the part of the hostib artillery in this area. ■ Twelve tons of bombs were dropped during the daytime at Menin, Armontieres, and tho Thorout railway junction. We brought down nine of the enemy's machines. Throe of ours are missing. Our night fliers dropped eleven tons of explosives at Bapaume and the railway junctions at Jumiville, Bethanville, and Chafilnea."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-lieuter.

ON THE FRENCH FRONT

A SUSTAINED ARTILLERY BOMBARDMENT. London, .April 21, 4.20 p.m. • A French official communique states: "There is sustained artillery firo on tlio left bank of the Avre, and also between Montdidier and Noyou. Fighting continued at night in the region of Seichcprey, east of St. Mihiel, where we have retaken almost tho whole of the ground lost. American units repulsed a, heavy German, attack on the saino sector."—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn.-Heuter. <Rcc. April 22, 8 p in.) . London, April 22, 1 a.m. A French oflicinl commitniguo states: "There were no infantry actions to-day, merely reciprocal artillery activity on our fronts on the Somme, tho Avre, tho Oise, and the right bank of tho Mouse. Our lino north of Seichcprey lias been cnliroly restored. Tho enemy bombarded Reims, causing several fires."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Keutet. HEAVY ATTACK ON AMERICAN FRONT MOST OF LOST GROUND RECOVERED. New York, April 21. After o. terrific bombardment German storm troops attacked tho Americans north-west of 'foul, pn a front of a mile. They penetrated the first-line trenches, and captured the village of Scicheprey, but wero later driven out, the Americans regaining most of their lost ground,—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. THE GERMAN REPORT (Kcc. April 22, 8 p.m.) London. April 21. A wireless Gorman official report, dated April 21,' 10.15 p.m., states: "Reciprocal reconnaissances on Prince Rupprecht's and tho Crown Prince's battlefronts led to violent infantry engagements. Wo attacked the Americans near Scicheprey and penetrated a. depth of two kilometres (over a. mile), returning at night-time to our original lines. Tho American losses were high. Wo took 181! prisoners."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable. Assn.-Reuter. MACHINE-MADE ENTHUSIASM IN GERMANY.

Rome, April 21. Obviously obeying tho Government's orders, German •municipalities ore inundating the Kaisor with congratulations on a colossal victory. Several towns are erecting equestrian statues to tho Kaiser.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.

VON LUDENDORFF'S COLOSSAL GAMBLE WITH LIVES

(l?ce. April 22, 8 p.m.)

London, April 21. Router's correspondent at British ll.eiidquiirters, reviewing the German methods, says: "No leader of a democratic army would dure lo gamble away his mail-power as Von Ludendorff is doing. Kn general of am- other nation would daro to set one and a half million lives as tho price for tlio Channel ports. At the present ratio of casualties to progress it is a question if twico ono and a half millions would achieve that result."—Keuter. TOLD IN CAPTURED DOCUMENTS HOW THE BLOW AT THE BELGIANS FEEL SHORT. Paris, April 2!. Documents seized on an officer prisoner show that the Germans spent six days in preparing for tho operations against tlio Belgians on April 17, with a view In reaching iho Yser Canal west of Ypres, and going towards Popcringhc. They hoped thus to envelop the Allies' eastern wing. The Belgians, besides Inking 700 prisoners, indicted severe losses on tho enemy, re-established tho line, and prevented tho Germans launching two projected counter-attacks. General Plnmor has sent, tho Belgian Chief of Staff bis wannest congratulations on the Belgiaus' brilliant success, and wrote: "Tho British Second Army is very grateful for the assistance lent by the Belgian Armv, with which it lias so long worked in such cloho co-operation."—Aus.-i\.Z. Cable Assn.-Renter. BULGARS FOR THE WESTERN FRONT m , . , New York, April 21. Ihe .New lorfc 'Run s ' Paris-correspondent stales that negotiations between Germany and Bulgaria will probably result in Bulgarian troops being sent to France—Aue.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' REIMS A DESOLATE WILDERNESS. t, , ~ Paris; April 21. During the week over a hundred thousand shells fell in Reims, 'llio city is still burning, and is becoming a wilderness of scorched and blackened stones. The roof of the Cathedral is splitting and crumbling—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. (Eec. April 22, 8 p.m.) , . London, April 21. The "Daily Chronicles' correspondent on the French front says that the Reims conflagration has nearly exhausted itself. There :'s probably not a house in the city intact from fire or shells. Tho rich centre of the city has been gutted, and the famous public buildings, warehouses, mansions, and hazaars "aro heaps of smoking ruins.—Aus.-N Z. Cablo Assn. VICTIMS OP THE LONG-RANGE GUNS Paris, April 21. Up to date 118 people have been killed and 23G wounded by the long-range bombardment of the city. Arrangements are being made to remove 100,000 children of the poorer classes from Paris to avoid tho results of enemy action—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. ■