WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 14 March 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

FRANCE APPEALS TO FRANCE for men.

Received 9.10

WASHINGTON, March 13

France has urgently appealed to the United States for greater speed in shipping troops to Prance. As a result America is sending a division of drafted men without delay. The second draft of 800,000 men will Ue called gradually to camps in order not to interfere with industry and agriculture. At least 150,000 skilled artisans will be called up by October. ON THE FRENCH FRONT BIG GUNS BUSY. LONDON, March 12. French communique There is a fairly lively bombardment on the right of the Meuse, in the region of Eeilton Ancerviller and Louaine. AETILLEEY ACTIVITY, LONDON, March 12. French communique—There has been an intermittent artillery duel in the Argonne and the Vosges, but it has boon violent in Champagne, also in the region of the heights of the Meuse, and tire Woevre. The Americans successfully raided south of Richecourt. Six enemy aeroplanes were brought down and another badly damaged PORTUGUESE REPULSE RAIDERS GREAT AERIAL ACTIVITY. COBLENT BOMBED.

MUCH DAMAGE DONE,

Received 11.25,

LONDON, March 13

Sir D. Haig reports the Portuguese completely repulsed a raid on a seven hundred yards front south-eastward of Lavantie and Lontili. The infantry were caught by machine-gun fire on the front and flanks and suffered heavy losses,'both when endeavouring to cross our wire and when retiring through the artillery barrage. There were many dead Germans in No Man’s Land. The enemy raided a post eastward of Zonnebeke, hnd three raids further south, but were successfully repulsed. Our aviators made several reconnaissances on Monday well on the eastward line, and dropped five hundred bombs on large sidings and ammunition depots south of Valenciennes, south-east of Cambrai, and South of Douai. They dropped two hundred bombs on night dumps air railway sidings north-east of Saint Quentin, 'All returned. We also dropped a ton of bombs on factories and station barracks at Coblentz. Bursts were seen on all objectives, causing two fires. A very large explosion was observed among buildings in the south-west corner. Veiy few hostile machines were encountered, but all ours returned.