LULL IN THE WEST CONTINUES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 201, 14 May 1918, Page 5

LULL IN THE WEST CONTINUES

GREAT ACTIVITY BEHIND THE GERMAN LINES SPECULATIONS ON ENEMY'S DELAY By Teloeraph-Prees Association-Copyright. London, May 12. It is reported that General'von Mackensen is in command between the Sonime aita Arras. According to a "Moscow mossage, refugees from Riga ?tato that numwous German troops have recently been sent hurriedly to tho West front. In. a successful local operation tho French, improved their positions to the. north of Kemmel villnge. Wo repulsed a raid on the Ypres-Comines Canal. Tho enemy artillery is active on the Ancro sector to tho south of Albert, on our forward positions to the east of Looms, and to tho south Voormczeele.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT (Rec. May 13, 8 p.m.) London, May 12, 0.40 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig .reports: "Nothing is happening except for reciprocal artillery activity',. The mist is interfering with our air work. We brought down four more ojj" tho enemy's machines."—A us.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ONE EXPLANATION OF THE LULL London, May 12. The correswondont with tho United Press Association at British Headquarters states thai tho dolay in the offensive is loss duo to tho difficulty of bringing heavy artillery into position than to the need for restoring devastated communications. Tho'isnemv is desperately busy making and mending the roads, which our gunnero and airmen are constantly damaging. French aviators report that German reserves and munitions continue to nccumuklo between the Sommo and Arras—Ans.-N.,Z. Cnblo Assn.

AND ANOTHER. ffiec. May 13, 9.30 p.m.) London, May 12. Renter's correspondent at British Headquarters writes (May 12): "The weather is grey amd cheerless On most of the battlcfront tho enemy has fallen considerably behiiiud his amended time-table. In :i diary found on a captured German officer is an entry stating that a certain big attack that had. been, planned from Albert had been abandoned because tho second German naval division had broken into Albert and indulged in a wholesale riot. Tho diary added: Miic division lias been dealt with for disorderly behaviour and pillage, itench troops which were operating along the gully of Wyverbeek, ranning south of Dickebuech and to the eastern foot of Mont Kemmel, had considerable success. —Eentcr. ALLIED ARMIES AWAITING THE NEXT GERMAN MOVE ENEMY SECRETLY ORGAN]SING FOR NEW BLOW. 3?ec. May 13, S p.m.) i London, May 12. Mr. Philip Gib'lis writes: "Our armies are waiting expectantly for another violent blow by masses of Germans. They believe, as far as I blow from the talk of officers here and there, that tho enemy will this time bo held and shattered. Ho haei nothing like tho same chances as on March 21, when he hsd greater numoern, the first fever of enthusiasm, and a wider line of attack, which we hold thinly » proportion to tho strength brought against us. If he fails this time, they believe that Germany's great hopes will bo utterly destroyed. Meanwhile it is posEli'ble where the front is quietest that tho menace is greatest. The Germans are, ns. far as possible, secretly, by night, arranging every detail for a colossal battle. . "Tho present quietude means that tho Germans are preparing for another violent blow. Our guns are doing most of the firing on many parts of tho front. The enemy's "miners are scarcely replying, and aro economising their ammunition, filling up tho dumps, and -unloading shells from tho light railways. Our airmen report unusnnA railway activity behind tho German lines. There is a continual tide of rolling stock, and sometimes long columns of marching men, but tho movemont ; s greatest at night, when it cannot bo observed. Wo may assume that frosh divisions, with field batteries and: heavy guns, are taking positions rearer our iines. in. Teadine39 for the assault. Our armies are awaiting expectants believin" t bat if the , enemy again tails tho Germans' high hopes will bo utterly Cable Assu.

ON THE FRENCH FRONT London, May 12. A French communi qrae states: '".I'liore is a violent bombardment west of Maillv-Rainevai. An attack on. our new positions north-west of Orvillers-Sorel was completely repulsed! with heavy losses. There is a, lively artillery duel on the right bank of tho ,'Me-ase."-Aus.-N.K. Cable Assn.-Beuter. THE GERMAN REPORT (Eec. May 13, 10 p.m.) . London, May 13. A wireless German ofeciiil report states: "YFo stopped on attack on our lines northward of Keinmel. Wβ brought down in two days nineteen aoroplanes."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Bernter. OVER THRBU' MILLION GERMANS IN THE WEST AM AMERICAN ESTIMATE. New York, May 12. The correspondent of tho N<w I'ork "Times" with the American Army in Franco etatus that authentic figures show that tho German Army now contains approximately 5,300,000 men, exclusive of tho Austrian Army. This year Germany will bo' able to add fWO.OOO men. The Allies, from Calais to Bolfort, aro facing 3,(151,000 Germans. The correspondent points out the groat task before the Allies. Every Available American soldier is required. An estimate places tho rato of German losses at niosre than a million a year.--Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMAN SOUTHERN LINE THINLY HELD REPO'RTS BY THE AIRMEN. Cjßpc. May 13, SUO p.m.; New York, May 12. Tha United Tress correspondent on the American front says that information has been obtained by aviators [lying above tho German lines which indicates that tho Germnus have thinned thisir ranks in Lorraine. . The German lines opposite Verdun aro sparsely occupied. Prisoners roport that tho lowest grade of German soldiors aro holding the positicine.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.