WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 21 May 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

BRITISH LINE IMPROVED. LONDON, May 19. Sir Douglas Haig reports successful minor operations improved our position M the neighbourhood of Ville Sur Ancre, north-west of Morlancourt.* We made successful raias north-west of Albert, in the neighbourhood of Hamel, south of the Somme, and repulsed a raid north-east of Bethune. AUCKLANDEES' EAID ON ENEMY POST GALLANT DASH BY OTAGO GUAETET HEDQUAETEES, May 15. Last evening in broad daylight, four men of the Otagos, headeu by a N.C.O. who is one of our most daring scouts carried out brilliant enterprise. Prisoners were wanted, so they worked down .a trench to a post that contained a ma-chine-gun and seven Germans, These t ;>."we«6: found in their shelters with no seflffTies on guard. Our patrol killed one and were taking the other six jyfcack with them when more of the enwere seen coming ,to .the rescue cjf" the .captured comrades. -.The ---new comers fired at our patrol,- ';but succeeded only in killing-two of their own men. The New Zealanders, nothing daunted by this attack, held en to the , remaining four and brought them safe- ■ ly into our lines. The prisoners were . JErom the Forty-first Division, and "stated that they were expecting a British attack.

We ate enjoying beautiful weather. The woods are carpeted with grass and flowers, and the trees are in full leafage. The peasants are still busy ploughing and sewing well within the zone of artillery fire. The change from the mud and desolation of our late Flanders sector has done much to raise the spirit and moral of our men. May 16. Last evening about "thirty Auckland •men, under cover of our flanking protective barrage, made a dash across to the enemy position. In the brief space of three minutes they had killed several of the enemy and had returned with two prisoners. There were no casualties in the raiding party. GERMANS READY TO STRIKE. -i m LONDON, May 19. An Exchange Telegraph message from Paris states that the Germans have apparently completed preparations for an attack. There is likely to be- a great rush on the greater part of the front. The Germans have multiplied the network of railways everywhere. BRITISH LINE ADVANCED. LONDON, May 19. Reuter's British Headquarters correspondent says: Our line has been advanced over useful ground in the diT S£s9 n 'jof Dornacourt. Considerable lossjfcjihav*} -been inflicted on the Germans, of whom 200 were prisonered. ENEMY'S TACTICS PREDICTED PARIS, May 19. - The Petit Parisien says: The German staff aims at a decisive rear movement. The enemy has organised mass formations, deeply echeloned, in the hope of producing a prodigious shock. A great number of mitrailleuses have been assembled to follow up the infantry. Each assaulting column a two kilometres front. "lii§' jcneral staff has ordered the troops to push forward, no matter, at "what cost

ANOTHEE AUSTEALIAN SUCCESS. NEW YOEK, May 20. Australians captured Ville Sur Aucoly, taking 230 prisoners and twenty-machine-guns. The Australians' casualties were light, ANOTHER AUSTRALIAN SUCCESS Received 11.25 a.m. LONDON, May 20. Sir Douglas Haig reports: A local operation at Ville-sur-Ancre was completely successful, the Australians carrying the German positions in and around the village, which they took possession of and prisonered 3607~eapturing twenty machine-guns. Our casualties were light. We successfully raided a post south-westward of Meteren. inflicting casualties. FOCH'S CAUTIOUS CHEEEFULNESS -—LONDON, May 19. General ■ Foch a few days' ago said: •''Ask me nothing, 1 for I shall tell you nothing, but"l'know this: ; l''have confidence." ' : ' ' : '' ' ;•-;<>'>/\on i A French communique/ issued'in the evening,- says':. There is mutual' -artillery- fire north of the Avre. ' - !