WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 18 May 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

AT.T.TRD COMMUNIQUES. LONDON May 17. Sir Douglas Haig reports: There has been mutual artillery fire, particularly northward of the Lys. Belgian communique: An enemy aviator dropped four bombs upon a hospital at Hoogstade. Artillery action has assumed a lively character, especially in the region of Pilken. French communique: There has been marked reciprocal artillery activity north and south of the Avre, Eighteen enemy aeroplanes were brought down on the 15th, Four, captive balloons were set afire. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT.

LONDON May 17. Wireless German official: We ejected the French from the point they gained northward of Kemhicl. We repulsed a strong advance from Haieseat Wood. Wo-.-shot down 33 -aeroplanes. FOR ANOTHER BLOW. 91U :J ■jj.rL LONDON; May: 16 ; - Mr Gibbs writes.: The long postponement. of the enemy’s assault seems" to be definite proof that his losses in the earlier ; offensives were so heavy that Vo has been obliged to abandon costly-tactical blows, in order to prepare fqr a new battle on a wide front. Mr. Gibbs opipes that the enemy will not strike until he has completed fresh formations, and their special training in order to resume the offensive on something like the scale of March 21st It is true that the process may be near completion, but we have gained invaluable time. The enemy has thereby lost his greatest, perhaps the only, chance of victory. Our gaps have been refilled and our troops rested and refreshed. The British, with French assistance, will not again bo obliged to bear the brunt of the unequal struggle. GERMANS LOSING CONFIDENCE

WASHINGTON, May 16. Advices from Germany indicate, that the German people arc now more doubtful of the chances of success. The Germam High Command hopes that the danger of the loss of Paris and the may force peace. MAURICE REVIEW OF THE POSITION. OUR WEAKNESS AND STRENGTH Received 9.5 a.m. LONDON, May 17. General Maurice, in the “Daily Chronicle,” says the indications are steadily increasing that the third phase of the , campaign is about to open, and two thirds of the Germans are now between Ypres and the Oise. It is a weakness of the British communications that they run parallel to the front instead of at regular intervals straight from the front to the base, as in the German positions. A successful German attack on any part of the line threatens the communications of the whole British front. It is thus difficult to give ground voluntarily in order to establish a better front. Hindenhurg, early in 1917, fell back thirty miles without uncovering vital communications. We can in no wise give one-third of that distance on the Amiens front without grave inconvenience. This is what General Haig meant when hs said we were fighting with our backs to the wall. Althoguh our porjtipn is cramped, we are in a haWer-Jfcation to meet the attack tRn m 21st March. We have united our command, and while our loss-

es are heavy there is the clearest evidence the enemy’s losses are heavier. American troops are steadily pouring In. There has been time to readjust the positions of the Allied forces on the whole front. We may bt sure that Foch now has his reserves where he wants them. The cream of the German specially trained men have gone. When the enemy attacks he will probably gain some precious ground, but provided we send every man who can be spared to France there is no reason why we should not check the new blow as we defeated him in the last.

ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. AMERICANS REINFORCING BRITISH FRONT. Received 11.40 a.m. LONDON, May 17. Sir D. Haig reports; We repulsed 1 raiders in the neighbourhood of Noyon, Neuville, and southward ,pf Arras. Great reciprocal. artillerying took place during jthe night,' Focut Wood sector, northward of Hinges Hill. Hostile artillerjing. also ,in r creased between Locon, Hinges, and Nieppe Forest to Meteren, ~0 A T ‘ NEW YORK, May 17. v ~! tfiiFhe United Press correspondent an,-r Efouncejs. Americans have arrived, and, are reinforcing the British front in. .Northern France. ; ; ;H