WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 28 February 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

THE COMINu OFFENSIVE.

NO FEAR IN FRANCE

NEW YORK, Feb. 26

General Foch, 'the French Chief of Staff, igsr anted an interview to Mr. Chas. Grasty, the New York “Times’' special correspondent. Mi\ Grasty asked: “Will the Germans have new gases?’’ General Foch replied: “No, they will have tanks, but we can outmatch the Germans. They may begin the offensive in Eoumania or Macedonia, working towards Italy, German numbers will not make for superiority. They had three to one in the Yser campaign when we were almost without artillery or munitions, yet they failed. Italy is solid. Her danger is past, while the British and French are ready to help. I believe the Italian army will now Hold its ,own. ” . ’ I OFFICIAL REPORT. Received. 10.50. LONDON, Feb 27. . Sir D. Haig, reports: We repulsed raids north-east of St. Quentin and Bullecourt and east of Vedmelles, and reciprocal artillerying took place north-east and east of Ypres. The Admiralty reports: Our aircraft on Monday night dropped many tons of bombs on: Festerboker aerodrome and Bruges, dock, with good results, and two-..'further" raids were made on Tuesday on Engell dump and Abelle aerodrome, and all our machines returned. . AMERICANS’ FIRST TASTE OF GAS. Received 11.25. NEW YORK, Feb 27. The United Press correspondent at the American front states that the first gas attack against American forces was made on Tuesday. The Germans hurled a hundred gas projectiles with such suddenness that several Americans were unable to utilise their masks. A second gas attack followed almost immediately, but the Americans replied with heavy fire, and held all positions. Five Americans were killed and fifty taken to hospital.