THE WESTERN FRONT

Hokitika Guardian, 20 March 1918, Page 2

THE WESTERN FRONT

COST OF AIR ACTIVITY. (United Service Telegrams.) LONDON March 18. Mr Gilmour refers to the comparative inactivity of German aeroplanes. He says the Entente’s aeroplane losses are compelling some sectors almost to abandon artillery observation work altogether. HAIG’S REPORT. [AUSTRALIAN <fc N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATI )N j & REtTTEB.] 1 LONDON March 18. | General Haig reports—We success- , fully raided southward of. Acheyille. | Hostile artillery was active southward ] of Bapaume-Cambrai road, in the neighbourhood of Lens between Warne ton and Gonnebeke. 1 FRENCH REPORTS. LONDON March 19. A French, communique states that the artillery duel continues right along the Meuse. Our fire drove off enemy reconnoitring, parties who attempted to reach our lines in the region of Haudau mont and north-west of Bezonvaux. ■ There is fairly great aytillorying north of Levioluv and the Vosges region. PARIS March 18. The French completely demolished the enemy’s works at Malancourt while the French barrage prevented the defenders from fleeing.. Practically all the Germans were captured or killed. At Vongnllurtz the enemy later started an offensive on a ten kilometre front. Between Samogneux and Bez. «onvaux, they threw in their.best storm troops, but were repulsed, with severe losses at all points. I AMERICANS HOLD ON. NEW YORK, March 18. Correspondents on the American Front, state that, despite German ■ counter raids, the Americans still hold ; the trenches which they captured at Bon Yiller

I SUCCESSFUL RAIDS. LONDON March 18. j Sir Douglas Haig reports that w - 1 successfully raided southward of Ache- ! ville. Hostile artillery is active southj ward of Baiinaume and the Camhrai Road in the neighbourhood of Lens and between Warneton an Gonnebeke. GERMANY’S INTENTION. r AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION & REUTER. *) j NEW YORK, March 18. t An official communique says that it is now believed that the Germans do not intend to launch\a major offensive on the West Front. Apparently German oonoentija-jikm there lias reached its limit.

A FRENCH WIN. DECIDED GERMAN REVERSE. I ' (Received this dav at 1.20 a.m.,) I PARIS March 18. ' Details of the fighting in the right bank of the Meuse on Sunday -show the Germans met with a heavy defeat. Many fresh batteries were brought up and heavily shelled the French front lat ) IJamogneux and Bezonvaux fall day j and night on Saturday. The storm did | not abate until the forenoon of Sunday when a series of assaults began, a battalion participated in each attack As soon as the Germans had established themselves in the French trenches their guns opened a concentrated fire and forced the /enemy to quit them, leaving half their effectives behind. The French, re-occupied the trenches without a counter attack 1 enemy~attack "smashed . Received, this dav at 8.45 a.m. PARIS, March 18. French headquarters report the centre of activity is now shifted to'the Meuse. Big French raids mentioned in yesterday's communique were directed against the sectors where the enemy had completed all preparations for an attack. As a result of the raids, com--munications were so thoroughly smashed that it will he many weeks before the enemy can attack from these places. ‘GOING TO CALAIS. AMSTERDAM. March 18. Congestion of troons in Flanders has reached the practicable limit. There arc 500,0-J reserves around Ghent alone. The Germans are loudly repeating the 1914 boast: “We are going to Calais."