WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 11 February 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

HOSTILE ENEMY RAIDS.

Received 10.5

LONDON, Feb 10.

Sir Douglas Haig reports: The enemy ,under cover of trench mortar bombardment, carried out a raid west, ward of Conieulieu. Hostile artillerying is in progres in the neighbourhood of Houthulst.

THE ENEMY’S PLANS,

BRITISH OFFICERS’ SPECULATIONS.

LONDON, February 9,

Mr. Gibbs writefe: Opinions differ among British officers regarding the enemy plans, which are a great topic of discussion in dug-outs. Some officers find sound arguments for the belief that a German offensive on- a great scale is improbable. Others opine that the enemy will attack us in several places, as the Eochc is not massing all these divisions on the __West .front for mere bluff. He possesses enough troops for several attacks, which be subsidiary to his main tTTrust with crowds of guns behind them. The fact that ‘the winter training of the German reserves included open warfare tactics leads speculators to declare - that the Germans rely on surprise to roll up our line quickly and make a stern bid for open warfare on a., big scale;

GREAT ATTACKS AT VERDUN

ENEMY LOSE HEAVILY

LONDON, February 9

French Headquarters reports Germans are multiplying attacks in the Verdun region, the fury and persistence recalling Jthe onslaughts of 1916. The right bank of the Meuse had been practically an active battle sector during the last week. Daily German assaults have been beaten off, resulting only in heavy enemy losses' without the semblance of advantage. Bavarian shock troops and Hanoverians were conspicuous in these attacks, some of which did not reach out line, the Poilus leaping from the trenches and meeting the enemy in the open. Qthers gained a momentary footing, but were ejected by immediate counter-attacks. >

The

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG’S REPORT.

LONDON, February 9.

Sir Douglas Haig reports: We drove off raiders attempting to approach, our line south-east of Arras, Another party raided a post in the neighbourhood of Oppy. They left a large number of dead.

There is hostile artillery fire between Bullecourt and the Scarpe river and north of Ypres, Enemy patrols are more active north of Lens)

LONDON, February 9.

Sir Douglas Haig reports: TKe enemy raided a post north-west of St. Quentin.

GERMANS STILL BRINGING UP DIVISIONS.

Received 11.30,

LONDON, Feb 10. The Germans afe reported as still bringing up divisions for the expected attack, but not faster than the High Command expected. The Franco-British, excluding Am. ericans, Belgians and Portuguese, retain a slight , superiority of numbers. Despite the artillery flutter on the well-informed quarters do not expert an attack within the next fortnight. They describe the present position as not giving cause for grave anxiety.