WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 13 May 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

TRENCH ADVANCE. 3MPOBTANT POST RECAPTURED. LONDON, May 11. A French communique states: '' After intense short artillery preparation we at noon yesterday eaptnured the park of Gricvcsnes, an important part of which the Germans had occupied. We brought baek a large quantity of material, despite lively enemy artillerying and reconnaisances attempting to reach our new line We maintained the conquered positions, which we have organised. THE STEALTHY AUSTRALIAN. LONDON, May 1. Mr. Hamilton Fyfe (Daily Mail), xeferring to the gassing of Ypres, Said a. British gas expert vengefully de-' dared: "Putting a thousand Boches • outfox action in a iorthight is not good enough I for me.' X want to kill them. They b|can r ' this dirty' game; we can play It ijnite as well, and probably het|er. i,: '- -- ;:, ' ; - r ' ! ; ' '' '' Australians understand this 'attitude well. '-'- Their sudden,' stealthy' attacks have made the Germans ex'-" tremely nervous. They have been obliged to dig in and wire their positions opposite "the Australians more than ©the'r parts c£ r the line.' "But this does mot eheek the Australians' activities They are put ""most nights doing £he most valuable" and accurate harrying the enemy, and bringing in prisoners. ANOTHER COLOSSAL BATTLE EXPECTED. THE ALLIES VERY CONFIDENT. Received 8.45 a.m. LONDON, May 12. MrJ Philip Gibbs writes: Our armies are waiting expectantly for another violent blow by masses of Germans. They believe, as far as I know from the talk of officers here, the enemy this time will be held and shattered. He has nothing like the same chance as on the 21st March, when he had a greater number, the first fever of enthusiasm, and a wider line of'attack, which we held thinly in proportion to imfe strength brought against us. If he fails this time they believe Germany's great hopes will be utterly destroyed. Meanwhile, possibly where the front is quietest, the menace will: he greatest. The Germans as far as i possible are secretly in the night-time j arranging every detail for a colossal battle. . y HUN OFFENSIVE DELAYED. Received 11 a.m. LONDON, May 12. It Js reported that General MackenBen Is commanding between the Somme and Arras. In a successful local operation the French improved their positions northward of Kemmel village. We repulsed a raid on the Ypres-Comines Canal. The enemy's artillery is active in the Ancre sector, southward of Albert, and in our forward positions eastward of Looms and southward of Voormezeele. The United Service correspondent at British Headquarters states the delay in the offensive is due less rto the difficulty of bringing heavy artillery Into position than'to restoring the devastated communications. The s 'enemy Is desperaoly busy making and mending roads* gfcich our gunners and airdamaging. aviators report that German areserves and munitions continue accumulating between the Somme and Arras,

ENEMY. ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. LONDON, May 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports: There was f local fighting at Aveluy Wood, north- ! ward of Albert. • Hostile artillery was particularly active in the Vimy-Robecq sectors and southward of Dickebusch. A . wireless German official message admits that the British obtained a footing at Grivesnes Park. ; At 11 o'clock) this evening |3ir Douglas Haig reported: We repulsed a raid in the neighbourhood of Neuville Vitasse. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The French advanced .their line slightly north-weßtwiard of ZiOcre. We made successful raids westward of Merville, and we stopped an attempt to raid eastward of Ypres. A French communique states: There were- successful local operations. We repelled raids' oh the' right of ; the Ailettepih the'regloii'of Massige, north J Amiens;' and' iir J the forest 'of • .Ailly. :am-.01-oi iair.'.b^ J. A French commTinique, Issued at 5 o'clbckln the'"evening," states: During the night the artillery struggle wasj very lively throughout" the region of Qrivesnes-Mailly-Raihevai.' ""' " '"f \ Minor operations against the B'ois de Moreuil, north-west of Orvillers, enabled us to gain an appreciable amount of ground. A counter-attack " completely failed. i We raided south-east of Mdntdidier, northeast of Thidpscourt and the Woevre. ; ; . ' ! A TIERCE EIGHT. '" [ LONDON, May .12... A French l cbmmunique, issued at 2.35 this morning" says: After most violent artillery fire, German shock troops gained a footing in Gavne Wood south-wset" of Mailly-Raineval, but a counterattack drove them out with heavy losses our position being com-" pletely restored.