WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 20 May 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

VARIOUS OFFICIAL REPORTS. Received 9.50 a.m. LONDON, May 19 Sir. Douglas Haig reports: We successfully raided in daytime Morlancourt sector and south, of Hulluch, prisonering a number. Artillery is active in Villers-B'retonneux sector. An American communique states: Hostile raids in Picardy and Lorraine were repulsed with loss to .the enemy. There is continued aerial activity. A French communique reports lively artillerying north of Avre, Champagne, and region of Massignes. A Belgian communique states there is violent artillerying in .the direction of Nieuport, Mcfrkem, ■ Weidendref t, and Houthhulst forest. ■ltalian official: The enemy's third attempt on May 17th. to. recapture Mount Corno failed. Two columns of : machine-guns and flamewerfer, strongly suW>rted.by artillery, attacked our positions. The, attackers were caught ■under-.violent, artillery and maehine|fcn; fire and. compelled to retire in confusion. We firmly:;beld,.our,;:PQsj-j tipns and; repulsed—raiders orfc.vojher, points of :the fronts : :>*3 ,:;);:•:.;! •>,"• ■ "i. t rr-- —r— "'.'. -'-->: 1J j HUNS'; ARRANGEMENTS ~ .; ; : , ; COMPLETED Received 10.10 a.m. , NEW YORK, May 18. .. * A New. York correspondent with \ the French army states the German blow may fall at any hour There is evidence the Germans have completed arrangements for the second greatest offensive, and have massed forces of picked troops. THE HUNS' NEXT OFFENSIVE CANNOT MUCH LONGER BE POSTPONED. Received 8 a.m. PARIS, May 18. Marcel Hutin says it is reliably estimated that the enemy has concentrated 80 divisions for attack in the Franco-British lines. Ludendorff cannot mucn longer postpone the resumption of the offensive. Derations reviewed. considered opinions of general staff. LONDON, May 18. A High Authority has explained that his statements might be regarded as the considered opinion of the General Staff as far as can be published. The'operations in France are cf a purely minor character —more or less in the nature of sparring. On the •whole, the balance is with us. The enemy has been extraordinarily good in nitrating himself and staying in positions taken, often widening the breach until able to hold it. This comes from the exceedingly good brains of the regimental officers and subordinate staff. In this respect, all through the war, the Germans have been better than we have at this same. The chief feature has been our air -work. Between the 9th and 15th May ure brought down 71 enemy machines in flames, as against 19 of ours missing; We are infinitely better in the ,air this year than 12 months ago. Aviation has played a very important part in the first phase in bringing the German offensive to a standstill. *ln the tank attacks at Villers BrelIpMUX our seven tanks, with a crew ©Ftwenty, put 400 Germans out of actiftn, and broke up the advance of a j complete brigade. In reference to the German statexwnt that the 56th Division was al-

most wiped out, the fact was that the division lost 43 officers and 1425 men. The Enemy reported that the 4th Yorkshires were captured when only 191 are missing. They also stated that the sth Berkshires were annihilated, whereas four officers and a hundred men represented the loss. In regard to the position in Prance, the enemy is now coiling up for a big effort. If he waits a little longer he wi? probably be able to resume in the same strength as on March 21st. On the other hand, the longer he waits the more time we have for preparation in co-operation with the Allies. The Germans are trying to belittle the American factor. They did the same with our conttemptible little army. If they had nothing to fear from the Americans, there was not any particular reason why the Germans should hrve hazarded everything "■ on the offensive. '■ There was every confidence that the American army > would make good. .;■•.:-:• ;>.,••:• t><n)i>l s>T

General Allenhy's main '■■ object '■.'■ in Pslestine has been very greatly-ful-filled. There was no intention to oc : cvpy much country east of the Jor- r dsm, but merely to ease the situation 5 for the Arabs down south in smash| lig 5 up : ' tne* Hedjaz railway.' " ' '•■ ;

ENEMY ATTACK DID NOT, . j EVENTUATE .\ '., j 1 ! " / '. , LONDON, [ May 17. The United Press . correspondent states: A heavy German co'cnehtration of gunfire this morning in the neighbourhood of Hinges' and Pacant Wood seemed to foreshadow a local attack, but laftor the British had'' retaliated with a few rounds of rapid fire, the enemy thought better of it. The weather is unusually warm, with brilliant sunshine. There has been severe air fighting and heavy night bombing. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We took a few prisoners in a successful raid in the neighbourhood of B'eaumont Hamel We rushed a post northward of Merris, the garrison being killed or driven out. GERMAN COMMUNIQUE. LONDON, May 18. Admiralty Wireless: A German official message states: An enemy monitor shelled Ostend. There were considerable civilian losses. We repulsed a strong English thrust near B'eaumont Hamel. Wo shot down eight aeroplanes. AMERICANS AT THE FRONT. NEW YORK, May IS. It is pointed out that the arrival of Americans on the British front, located Americans on three, possibly four, sectors, it having already been announced that the Americans are between Bailley -and Hangardensenterre as well as west of Montdidier. Possibly the new arrivals will be located in Flanders. LONDON, May 18. There was great aerial activity on Thursday. Our aeroplanes dropped 23 tons of bombs on important rail centres, aerodromes and billets. Air fighting was intense in the early morning and evening. We brought down thirty and drove down five, while our antiaircraft guns brought down two others Two hostile machines landed in our lines, occupants being captured. Five British machines are missing Our night fliers dropped a further 10£ tons of bombs on rail stations at Lille, Douai and Chaulnes, and on billets in the neighbourhood of Bapaume i Peronne and Posieres, and the docks at Bruges. The enemy's night-fliers were also active. A Gotha landed behind our lines and the crew were taken prisoner. In reference to the Saarbrueken raid

on the 16th, three hostile machines were driven down, not five. French communique: aeroplanes crossed our lines and bomßec! several places behind the front. Some of the machines approached Paris, where the alarm was given at 10.32 and "All Clear" at 11.2, Bombs were dropped on the outer suburbs. A Belgian communique states: Germen airmen bombed a B'elgian hospital at Calais, killing ten and wounding twenty. ENEMY LINES PENETRATED. LONDON, May 18. A French communique states: There was a violent bombardment' during the night in the region of Hailles. We repulsed an enemy raid in the direction of Mesnil-St. Georges, and took prisoners. Our detachments penetrated the enemy lines at two points south of Canny-sur-Metz, and brought back prif-ners. A French communique states: There are violent bombardments at various points north and south of the Avre.