WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 16 February 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

INTENSE GERMAN ACTIVITY.

LONDON, February 14,

Despite the mud, there is intense German activity on the Yser. The enemy is violently bombarding our trenches and communications far to the rear, and multiplying aerial operations. The enemy has constructed a great concrete dyke on the right bank of the Yser, which will possibly be used as a causeway for an offensive through the inundated region.

AM AMERICAN BARRAGE.

PROTECTING FRENCH TROOPS

Received 9.10,

NEW YORK, Feb 15,

The United Press correspondent on the French front states that the American barrage in Champagne cuts off the Germans' retreat and prevents them bringing up reinforcements, protecting the advancing' French. FRENCH FORWARD MOVE. t.■ ■ - • BIG RAID IN CHAMPAGNE. AMERICAN BATTERIES ASSIST. LONDON, Feb 15. French communique.—In Champagne we made an extensive raid south-west of Nutte de Mesnil on a twelve hundred metre front, and penetrated the enemy positions as far as the third line. We shattered the defences 'and destroyed a number or dug-outs. American batteries most effectively aided the raid. We organised the captured positions. LONDON, Feb 15..„ A wireless' German official states: The Anglo-French continued reconnaisances at manly points, resulting in violent engagements northward of Lens and in Champagne. The French obtained a foothold In the *salient southwards of Tahure (in Champagne.) AERIAL ACTIVITY. LONDON, Feb 15. French communique.—Twenty-eight enemy aeroplanes were downed between the Ist and 10th February, or which fourteen were entirely destroyed. A FRENCH REPORT Rceived 8.45. LONDON, February 15. A French communique states: North and eas# of Rheims we carried out raids. There is fairly heavy artillery activity in Champagne our batteries caught and dispersed strong enemy concentrations south of Doimoise. i