THE WESTERN FRONT

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1918, Page 2

THE WESTERN FRONT

AMERICAN ARTILLERY. laUSHUMAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION & REUTER.] NEW YORK, March 13. the United Press representative on the American front states that tho American artillery at Tout inflicted, heavy, damage on the German position The Americans then raided the German trenches, again reaching the second line. American raids were also carried out east of Luneville. LIVELY ENGAGEMENTS. [per PRESS ASSOCIATION. COPYRIGHT.] LONDON March 13. V communique states that the Germans attacked west of Vaudensincourt and there was a lively engagement. We drove the enemy out of the advanced trenches wherein tlfey had gained a footing. Reciprocal artillery is in progress on the left of the Meuse. A MILITARY AUTHORITY. COMPARISONS DRAWN. LONDON March 13. A high military authority, who is at present on the ’ West Front, says that half the strength of the German forces are concentrated on the British front. There has been several attempts to make out the British are not holding their proper share of the line, compared with the French, but in war the distance in yards is not everything. The most important thing is the strength, wherein, the various armies are employed, but for the necessity ofi combating propaganda, he loathed to draw comparisons between our efforts and the Allies. No one could forget liow gallantly France bore the early stages of the war, but no member of the Entente has borne the burden to such an extent as the British Eninire. He has hopeful augury for the future for the Entente. There was another fresh Anglo-Saxon "power preparing to, tread the path we have trod,i now coming into the Held to relieve us of some of the burden of and there was no field so promising as the air. If we were now without America’s assistance who is steadily developing, in air suprem ncy, and we are more than holding our -own, no imagination can picture the result when the full American air force is in the field alongside the AngloFrench. Practically the whole of the burden of the war against Turkey has fallen on *us. The difficult terrain in Palestine precludes any dramatic coups but General Allenby is continually pressing the Turks.

A WAITING GAME. GERMAN CRITICS’ COUNSELS. LONDON March 13. The military critic of the “Lokal Angeiger,” in. an article, which is apparently inspired, abandons the expectation of an immediate Western Offensive by the Germans. The writer argues that it is impossible for the Americans to outweigh the German accessions from tho East. Delay, adds the writer, is for Germany a good policy -f The submarining will probably compel the Allies to resort to a hopeless exhausting offensive. Then Germany will give them the knock-out blow

. GERMAN OFFICIAL. London 13. A wireless German official message states:—We "raided .the French trenches north-east of Fresncs and destroyed enemy works. The, Austro-Germans (are before Odessa. There has been Violent air fighting. We downed 19 aeroplanes and two balloons yesterday. BELGIAN OPERATIONS. LONDON. March 14 A Belgian communique states that after a violent bombing, our troops gained a footing in German trenches south-east of Lombardz Dyke. Wo readvanced, and in violent hand fighting, stopped a counter attack. There'were artillery actions on the whole front yesterday and to-day which is violent in Nieuport and Dixnmdo regions.