WAR NEWS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 9 May 1918, Page 3

WAR NEWS.

MONDAY.

Sign of New Attack —Hurricane Bombardment — New Anti-Sub-marine Method —Exits Blocked by Mines —Italian Front Active,

Reuters headquarters correspondent states that the enemy is showing unmistakable signs of beginning another attempt to cMf^r the line of heights in Flanders beyond Mont Kemmel. A tremendous bombardment of both French and British lines is in progress.

Mr Archibald Hurd, the naval critic, states that the. new minefield in the North Sea notified by the Admiralty is part of ah altered scheme for coping with the submarines; The policy is to close their exits rather than deal with them in the open, and the new field will act as a huge barrage to prevent their emergence.

The commencement of a battle on the Italian front is reported. An Austrian message states that fighting has begun on a wide front.

Aerial activity on Thursday and Friday is reported by the British, French, and Italian commanders. British airmen have bombed Zeebrugge. They report that the Bruges Canal is sealed. <*

TUESDAY

Local Fighting in West — Allied Line Improved—Signs of Enemy Confusion—Bad Weather a Factor.

Local encounters and artillery activity on the Flanders front are the only features of Sir Douglas Haig's latest report. A previous communique stated that the British line was improved at Sailly le Sec on the north bank of the Somme, and at Hebuterne, north of Albert. The French took a number of prisoners in night fighting at Locre, north-east of Bailleul.

Reuters correspondent states that the enemy forces in Flanders are showing signs of disorganisation and are also hampered by bad weather. The British and French advanced their line to an average depth of 500 yards on a 1000-yard front between Locre and Dranoutre, and gained some ground at Candescure, on the borders of the Nieppe Forest.

A French communique reports artillery activity on both banks of the Avre, on the Verdun sector, and at Flirey, east of St. Mihiel. American^ forces in Lorraine made~ a successful raid on the German lines.

WEDNESDAY Allied Successes—French Break Enemy Attack —Australians make Progress—German Losses Heavy. A French communique reports the complete failure of an enemy attack on an important height on the west bank of the Avre, north of Moreuil. The attempt, which was preceded by an infe-Use bombardment, cost the enemy heavily in men. The German trenches were penetrated in the region of Loive, north-weet of Rheims, and serious losses inflicted. The British line between the Sornme and the Ancre, in the neighbourhood of Morlancourt, was advanced on a front,' in the face of strong opposition. The British attack between the Somme and Avre was participated in by the Australians, who advanced their line to an aggregate depth of 1200 yards in two operations on a front of 2000 yards. The British forces holding Es Salt have been withdrawn to the western bank of the Jordan, the liver crossings being strongly held. The operations to the east of the river, between April 30 and May 4, resulted in the capture of nearly a thousand Turks and Germans, 29 maohine^guns, and six motor-lorries. THURSDAY British Front Quiet— Artillery alone Active—Americans Repulse At*tack. Sir Douglas Haig reports reciprocal activity in the battleline Jbthe River Lys, with a certain "Amount of activity elsewhere, A fresh section of the line north of \ the Somme has been taken over ?>" by the Canadians. Three miles -■ of the front extending down from Neuville Vitasse to Boisleau has been occupied. ■ A French report states that there has been artillery activity north and south of the Avre, and minor operatiens at Hangard-en Santerre. The Americans in Picardy repulsed a German attack preceded by heavy gassing. The signing of a peace treaty by Roumania with Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey, and Bulgaria is officially announced, the terms of the treaty not being divulged.