WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 20 March 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

NO GREAT GERMAN OFFENSIVE IN WEST. WASHINGTON, March 18. An official communique says: —It is now believed that the Germans Co not intend to launch a major offensive on the West front. Apparently the German concentration there has reached its limit. American troops occupy ,the trenches at five points, and are constantly in action. FRENCH REPORT. Received 9.5. LONDON, March 19. A French communique states: We repulsed the enemy north of Juvincourt and south-east of Corheny, after lively fighting. There is heavy artillerying, especialy at Camogneux and in Bezonvaux districts, and between Bures, Badonviller, and Lorraine.

GERMAN OFFENSIVE LAUNCHED.

FRENCH SMASH THE ATTEMPT

PARIS, March 18

The French completely demolished the enemy’s works at Malancourt. The barrage prevented the defenders fleeing, practically all being captured or killed. Yon Gallwitz later started an offensive an a ten kilometre front between Samogneux and Bezonvaux. He threw in his best storm troops, but they were repulsed with severe losses at all points. ON THE FRENCH FRONT LONDON, March 18. French communique An artillery duel continues on the right of the Meuse. Fire drove off enemy reconnoitring parties attempting to reach our lines in the region of Haudaumont and north-west of Bezonvaux, There is fairly great artillerying fire north of Leviolu and in the Vosges. GERMANS SUFFFER SEVERE DEFEAT. e -’A' PARIS, March IS. Details of the fighting on the right bank of the Meuse- on—Sunday-,’--shew that the Germans met with a ; '-sUvere defeat. Many fresh batteries word brought up and heavily shelled the French front from Samogneux to Be : zonvaux all day and all nighf f 'oif Saturday. The storm did not battle until the forenoon of Saturday, when- a series of assaults began, a battalion participating in each attack. .Ae soon as the Germans established ■ in; the French trenches the French guns opened concentrated fire, and. forced the enemy to quit, leaving half ..thetc,.,effectives behind. The French re:oecupied the trenches without' a counterattack.

AMERICAN FRONT

LONDON, March IS

Correspondents on the American front state that despite counter-raids the Americans still hold the captured trenches at Badonvilers.

An official communique sayS: It is now believed the Germans do not intend to launch their major offensive on the West front.) Apparently the German concentration there has reached its limit.

GERMAN PREPARATIONS SMASHED.

Received 8.40

PARIS, March 19

French Headquarters report that the centre of activity has now shifted to the Meuse. The big French raids mentioned in yesterday’s communiques were directed against sectors where the enemy had completed all preparation for attack. As a result of the raids communications are so thoroughly smashed that it will be many weeks before the enemy can attack from these places. “WE ARE GOING TO CALAIS.” A GERMAN BOAST Received 9.40. AMSTERDAM, March 19. The congestion of troops in Flanders has reached its practicable limit, and there are 500,000 reserves alone around Ghent. The Germans are loudly repeating the 1914: boast, V We are going to Calais.