GERMANS MASSED FOR THE ATTACK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 207, 21 May 1918, Page 5

GERMANS MASSED FOR THE ATTACK

SHOCK TACTICS EXPECTED OPINIONS ON THE SITUATION By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright. London, May 19. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "By successful minor operations wo improved our positions in the neighbourhood of Ville-sur-Anore and north-west of Morlancourt. We mado successful raids north-west of Albert and in the neighbourhood of Hamel, and. repulsed a raid north-east of Bethune."—Aua.-N.Z. Cable AssnKeuteiv ■

' ANOTHER AUSTRALIAN EXPLOIT OVER TWO HUNDRED PRISONERS AND TWENTY MACHINE•GUNS CAPTURED. . (Eec. May 20, 8.35 p.m.) New York, May 20. The Australians liave raptured VUle-sur-Ancre, -taking 230 prisoners and 20 .machine-guns. The Australians' casualties were light.—Aue.-N.Z. Cable As6n. i' BRITISH LINE ADVANCED (Ecc. May 21, 0.50 a.m.) London, May 19. Beuter'g correspondent at British Headquarters eays: "Our line has been advanced over useful ground in the direction of Dernaoourt. Considerable lo3ses were inflicted on the Germans, and two hundred were taken, prisoner.—Eeuter. ACTIVITY; ON THE BELGIAN FRONT. London, May 19. A Belgian official coramuniquo states: "There is -violent artillery activity in the direction of Nietiport, Merckem, Weidendreft, and the Houtliuist Forest. , ' —Aue.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. i ON THE FRENCH FRONT. London, May 19. A French communique 6tates: "There is lively artillery activity north of tho Avre, in the Champagne, and in the region of Massiges."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Reuter. (Rec. May 20, 8 p.m.) London, May 19. An evening French communique states: "There is active mutual artillery activity north or the Avro."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eouter. AMERICAN OFFICIAL REPORT. \ * London, May 19. An American communique states: "Hostile raids in Picardy and in Lorraine were repulsed with loss. The enemy continued his aeriai activity."—Aue.-N.Z. Cable Aesn.-Eeutur. i (Eec. Maj 21, 0.35 a.m.) London, May 19. General Pershing's communique 6tates: "German raiders were ropulsed on our Pioardy and Lorraine fronts. Three lnoro of tho enemy's aeroplanes were brought down.—Aue.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. COMMENTS ON THE OUTLOOK "GERMAN BLOW MAY.FALL AT ANY HOUR." New York, May 19. The New York "Times" correspondent with the French Army eays: "The German blow may fall at any hour. There ig evidence that tho Germane have completed their arrangements for the second. grente3t offensive, and havo mnssed forces of picked troopts."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

EIGHTY GERMAN DIVISIONS CONCENTRATED. Paris, May 19. M. Marcel Hutin writes: "It is reliably estimated, that the enemy has concentrated eighty divisions for an attackon tho Franco-British lines. Von Mendorff cannot much longer postpone the resumption of tho offensive. , "—Aua.-N.Z. Cable Asan. EXPECTED NATURE OP THE ATTACK SHOCK BUSHES THEN BIG BATTLE MOVEMENT. ■ (Bee. May 20, 8 p.m.) Paris, May 19. The "Petit Parisien" says tliat the German General Staff aims at a victorious rush, followed by a decisive war movement. Tho enemy has organised mass formations, deeply echeloned, in tho hope of producing .i prodigious shock. A great number of mitrailleuses have been assembled to follow up Iho infantry. Each assaulting column will occupy two kilomotree front (about 1} miles). Tho General Staff has ordered the troops to push forward, no matter at what cost." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. HINDENBURG TRYING TO" FORCE NAVAL CO-OPERATION (Roc. May 20, 9.23 p.m.) New York, May 19. The United States Navy Department has information that Von Hindenburg is trying to force the German Navy to co-operate in the second blow of the great offensive.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. GENERAL FOCH HAS CONFIDENCE (Kcc. May 20, 8 p.m.) London, May 19. An Exchange telegraph message from Paris states that the Germans have apparently completed their preparations for the next attack. There is likely to be a general rush on the greater part of the front. The Germans have multiplied the network of , railways everywhere. General Foch a few days ago eaid: "Ask me nothing, for I shall tell youi nothing, but I know this—l have- confidence."— Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. PLAIN WORDS FROM GENERAL SMUTS ANXIOUS DAYS AHEAD, BUT VICTORY SURE. London, May 18. Generai' Smute, who is ,-i member of the British War Council without portfolio, had an enthusiastic reception on visiting the Clyde shipyards. Addressing the workers at Fairfield, he said that the Germany had achieved a success which few had thought possible. "We used to talk a lot of nonsense about defeating the Boohe, but Brother Boche haa knocked this kind of damnable noasenee out

of us. But if wo slrnin every nevve, T don't focV a moment's doubt about tlio result." Wo hfld suffered in men in the great batllo on tlio West front, but tho rosnlta had. liomwjratcd for I lie losses. Tlio Government had asked liim a year ago, ho tiaiJ, i<) visit France. Ho reported that the most nccesuAry thing: vrn.i ft big army of manoeuvre, an army of strategic , reserve for contingencies. Tlio Americana vera now coining in hundreds of thousands a month. Tho submarines wore powerless against tho transports. "Tho enemy will como within an nco of victory, but he will not secure it. The situation wih ho most noxious for many days to come, but if the In.st British soldier bo drivon ou.t if Franco, the Gorinans will still not havo won, because, they must win both ft sen. and on land." General Smuts said ho did not believe that an out-and-out victory was possiblo for any group of jiatious. lie. considered that the war would l>o fought to the singe where Hie enemy would ho ready to consider and concede terms. It would l>o a most dangerous thing to go to a ponco conferenco before wo know tho principal terms to ho considered. "Tho Government will do its duty, knowing what we aro fighting for. Tho conference ultimately to bo oailod will fiottlo the details after tho principal combatants have agreed, on the main issues."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE WAR IN THE AIR BUSY DAY ON THE WESTERN FRONT. „. „ , Tr . . ~ ~. London, May 19. fell- Douglas Haig in his aviation report states: "Our aeroplanes on Friday dropped twenty-two tons of bombs on Tournai, Courtrai, and Chaiilnos railway stations, also on several aorodromes and biliets all along the front. Tho hostile aircraft are less active than recently, although largo formations havo been encountered well east of the lines. Our nightfliors dropped ten tons of bombs on Cliaulw.'s, Hanbourdin, Douai, and Marcoing stations, and on Peronno and in the neighbourhood of Bapaume. They also dropped thirty-two heavy bombs on the Thionvillo and Metz railway stations. Several "direct hits were niade, and a fire was started in Thionville. Wo made a successful daylight raid on Saturday on the railway stations, factories, and barracks at; Cologne. Thirty-three bombs were dropped, and bursts were 6een on tho railway sheds." —Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Beuter. THE AIR LOSSES. ~,,,..,. . London, May 19. >One hundred andmno Gorman aeroplanes were destroyed on the Wcit front on Wednesday and 81 by the British, 23 by tlio French, and three by tho Americans. On tho Italian front; a hundred enemy machines were brought down in thirty days. The famous l'rench airman Eugene Gilbert was killed while testing an aeroplane—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. A RAID ON COLOGNE. „.,„., . , ~ ,„, , Amsterdam, May 19. Sα Allied aviators raided Cologne, and did much damage to the centre of tho town. Fourteen people were killed and « injured.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.