WAR NEWS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 16 May 1918, Page 3

WAR NEWS.

MONDAY

Attack on Ostend—Cruiser Sunk in Channel—Entrance Partly Sealed —Ground Gained by French— Intense Air-Fighting.

A second attempt to block the entrance to Ostend Harbour was made by British naval forces in th^early hours of Friday morning. The obsolete cruiser Vindictive was run in as far as the pierhead and sunk in the fairway, the crew escaping in a motor launch. The whole operation was performed under a very heavy fire from the shore batteries. The channel is not completely blocked, but a serious obstacle has been placed in the way of navigation.

Two actions by the French resulted in substantial gains. An attack in the neighbourhood of Orvillers, south of Montdiddier, gave a substantial amount of ground. Another operation resulted in the capture of Grivenes Park.

Intense activity was displayed by the British air . forces on Thursday, 27 German machines being brought down and 12 others forced to descend, while six British are missing. Much bombbing work was done, the docks at Zeebrugge being attacked and £/% tons of bombs dropped on the docks and canal entrance at Ostend.

TUESDAY

Enemy Preparing—Great Blow Expected—Allied Forces ConfidentAttack on French Fails.

Mr Philip Gibbs states that the present quietude on the front means that the enemy is preparing for another great blow. The allied forces are awaiting the onslaught with confidence, believing that the attack will be shattered, and with its defeat the last German hope will disappear.

Sir Douglas Haig, reporting on Sunday evening, stated that artillery duelling was the only form of activity on the British front. Weather conditions were against air work. An earlier communique stated that the French had improved their line north of Kemmel vlilage.

A French report states that a violent artillery duel was in progress at Mailly Raineval, northwest of Montdiddier. An enemy attack at Orvillers Sorel, in the same sector, was repulsed with heavy losses.

An American correspondent states that aerial observations show that German forces in Lor" raine have been thinned, while the lines opposite Verdun are sparsely held.

WEDNESDAY

Extensive Air Raids—British Fleets Active — Ostend and Zeebrugge Again Bombed —Bombardments in France.

Vigorous offensive operations were carried out by the British naval and military air services during the week-end, The naval airmen conducted extensive raids on Ostend and Zeebrugge, and destroyed six enemy machinnes, besides causing serious fires. The military aviators conducted extensive raids on enemy railway centres, and twice bombed the docks at Bruges. In all, 12 enemy machines were brought down and two driven down for the loss of one naval and two military aeroplanes.

Considerable activity has been shown by the enemy's artillery at several points on the British front. The sectors bombarded included that at Serre, 65^ miles north of Albert, the southernmost portirn of the British line, the region north of Mont Kemmel, between Locon and the Nieppe Forest, and in the valley of the Lys.

The British forces in Mesopotamia, pursuing the Turks beyond Kirkuk, drove the enemy across the Lesser Zab River at Altunr Kupri, 175 miles beyond Bagdad.