WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 15 May 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

LATEST COMMUNIQUES. LONDON, May 13. A French, communique reports mutual artillery combats at some points north and south of the Avre. Detachments penetrated the German lines north of Momeny. DELAY IN GERMAN OFFENSIVE. SPECULATION AS TO CAUSE. Received 10.45 a.m. NEW YORK, May 14. The New York Times Paris correspondent reports much speculation as to the reason for the continued delay in the resumption cf the German offensive, Experts believe the Germans axe considering whether to bring half a million men frojp. the Russian front or. Austrians-r f rons / the t Italian front, jit instated the Kaiser asked the Em- ... peror,.Charles to -bring half a T million : men from Tyrol, but Austria is afraid deplete tha Italian front. She also fears an immediate revolt of Czechs and Jugoslavs. It is believed another factor postponing the offensive may he further mutinies, which are reported among the German divisions on the West front ENEMY ARTILLERY ACTIVE ; t , , _ . . - / i - ; u..; LONDON, May 13. , .......Sir Douglas Haig reports: Hostile artillery developed considerable activity north of Serre. It was also active on the southern portion of the British front, and the sector north of Kemmel. , STIRRING THEM UP. PARIS, May 13. Marcel Hutin, writing in the '‘Echo de Paris,” states that the German navy will take part in the next phase of the Western battle. The German people have been so impressed by the energetic blows delivered at Zecbrugge and Ostend, that the Reichstag committee took Admiral Yon Coppele to task for the inaction of the navy. HAIG’S REPORT. LONDON, May 14. Sir Douglas Haig’s aviation report states; Flying was impossible on Sunday until the evening, when visibility was excellent. Wo dropped eight tons .in the neighbourhood of Mcnin, Arxnentiers, La Eassec, also Bruges docks We brought down six enemy machines. One British machine is missins’. Our night fliers dropped fourteen tons on Don, the. Marcoing and Chaulnes rail stations, Bruges docks, and Bapaumc and Peronne. One British machine did not return. ON THE FRENCH FRONT. LONDON, May 14. A French communique states: There is nothing to report except a somewhat lively reciprocated bombardment notably on both hanks of the Avre BRITISH AND GERMAN REPORT. Received 11.55 a.m. LONDON, May 14. Sir D. Haig reports: We successi«ully raided north-eastward of Rohecq and repulsed with loss an enemy westward of Merville. There Is •Sosme artillerying in the Somme and Ancre sections. Wireless German Official states.— • The enemy lost during April 471 aero- . planes, whereof 122 fell behind our Unas. Y«’e lost 123.

AMERICANS TO BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED. LONDON, May 13. Mr. Baker states that the American forces in France would he actively engaged in battle now, and regularly in future. GERMANY CANNOT REDUCE TROOPS ON RUSSIAN FRONT. AUSTRIA MIGHT SEIZE FOODSTUFFS. Received 11.35 a.m. LONDON, May 14. The Morning Post’s Paris" correspondent says it is believed that Mackensen could provide at a maximum six hundred thousand; men..hut,,this.,’would denude the-Russian - front practically of every viman;: tryvThe-Vcorrespondent learns the Austrians are unlikely tq agree, to the Germans dmeand utb. send am, army from the Tyrol,, but ;are; determined to maintain forces .there in readiness'for*theHtalian counter/offen. sive,.;.:Germany’s reluctanceto. with, draw- her armies from . the Russian front is easily . explained. : .'Germany then would be powerless to enforce her claims to food supplies' which -she hopes by fair or foul means tq extract from the occupied provinces. In'the event of a German withdrawal these supplies would probably fall into the hands of the Austrians, who are much nearer absolute famine than the GerImahs. i Austria regards Russian grain as a most important factor. ■ Undoubtedly Austria' in' the absence of German troops would ; secure the hulk, if not all, of the 450,000 tons of wheat, which Ukraine promised to’ deliver to the Central Powers jointly. Austria regards this question as vital. She must secure additional foodstuffs before August, because her own supplies are dangerously near exhaustion.