German Offensive Begun.

Taihape Daily Times, 28 May 1918, Page 5

German Offensive Begun.

DRIVING TOWARDS PARIS. GAIN SEVERAL POINTS. Received 8.45 a.m. LONDON, May 27. The Germans are apparently driving towards Paris. The new offensive has begun between Locre and Voormeezele, the Germans gaining several points. BRITISH OFFICIAL REPORT. BOMBARDMENT OB’ GREAT INTENSITY. Received 9 a.m. LONDON, May 27. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Strong hostile attacks, preceded by a bombardment of great intensity developed on the morning of 4he 27th, on wide fronts against the Anglo-French forces between Rheims and Soissons and against the French between Locre and Voormezeele. Considerable hostile ar-

tillery action took place on Sunday and at night on the British front. French communique; There was considerable active artillerying north and south of the Avre, but no infantry attacks developed. Belgian communique: During the night, after a violent bombardment, German shock troops attacked Belgian advanced positions between Passchendaele Canal and St. Georges. They momentarily penetrated our trenches, but were ejected. An attempted hostile attack in the region of Loesingse failed under our barrage. NEWS OF THE OFFENSIVE CONFIRMED. PRESIDENT WILSON’S HOPE. Received 9.5 a.m. WASHINGTON, May 27. President Wilson has announced that the expected German drive on the Western front has begun. He emphasised the hope that this added to the solemnity of the country’s duty, BOMBARDMENT OF PARIS .RESUMED. Received 9.5 a.m. LONDON, May 27. The .German super-gun is again bombarding Paris. GENERAL MAURICE’S OPINION. GERMAN METHODS ANALYSED. Received 10 a.m. LONDON, May 27. General Maurice, in the Daily Chronicle, says one of the lessons of the numerous attacks on entrenched positions is that if defenders are resolute and the reserves adequate the limit of advance bears definite relations to the length of the attacking front. The British victory at Arras on a ten mile front advanced five miles, and the British at Wytschaete on a seven mile front advanced three miles. The Germans in 1918, on a seventy-mile front advanced about thirty-five miles. Foch has been nursing his reserves carefully; we need not fear the worst, though it will be contrary to experience if the enemy does not make some gain. The Germans in the latest attacks adhered to the practice of employing massed infantry and paid a nea\"y price, but it was mainly justified. The only new features of the March offensive were a short bombardment and the use of fog. The former, by sparing ground beyond the British front lines enabled the German infantry and reinforcements to push ahead with huge loads of food and munitions, thus obviating other forms of transport. General Maurice points out .the British sometimes successfully employed artificial fog, but nothing can equal the nature of the fog under cover of which the Germans broke our lines, when the machine guns and ar. tillery were blacked, but they are unlikely to have this advantage in the coming events.