IN THE WEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1916, Page 5

IN THE WEST.

AN OFFENSIVE COMING. JGREAT GERMAN PREPARATIONS, \ . ; ; STRES TO BE THE CENTRE, JJPLENDID BRITISH RESISTANCE. Received Feb. S, 5.5 p.m. ' . Amsterdam, Feb. 7. The Telegraaf's Belgian correspondents agree that the Germans are preparing for a Western offensive. Enormous stotes, artillery, ammunition, and guns are arriving. As a result of months of preparation every place in central Belgium and southwards, close to the main railways, is lull of stores and troops. The organisation has improved, and apfirently is now working smoothly. Engineers, With a great quantity of ma-chine-gnu, have been sent close to the firing line: ' , _ The recent fighting around Armentiefes resulted in a small German gain, tut there were heavy losses, including many officer!; The Germans persist in lighting in close formation, and, owing to the admirable calm and accuracy of the British shooting, twelve hundred Germans were killed in one day. The British artillery and machine-guns mowed down the German lines, but the , ukUutta commanders pay no regard to stnfuinaiy sacrifices when an objective s is desired..

Cprrejpondents assert that Ypres is likely to be the location of the offensive. A- great hospital is being erected. and graveyards heen marked «U£ . * ' INCREASING ACTIVITY. ARTILLERY BATTLES. JERMAN TRENCHES FLATTENED. .Received Feb. 9, 1.5 a.ai, London, Feb. 8. Communiques reveal increasing actir* ty oh the western front. A German communique alludes to fierce artillery battles between La Basse Canal and Arras, and also south of the Somme. The enemy artillery violently bombarded Lens during the last few dl.va.

General Haig alludes to the enemy's artillery activity at Loos. The British bombarded the trenches near the YpresRoulers railway, The Daily Mail's Rotterdam correspondent says there is great activity from Ypres to Nieuport, following the German concentrations in that region, kspecially at La Bassee, where the German trenches, were flattened by bombardment.

The Germans hare brought many new gmu opposite Ypres. The Iterm&n newspapers profess to foresee a renewed Allied attempt in the near future to break through. The signs of this are increasing more and more, especially by ;the artillery activity at Lens and Artois. The activity £f the British patrols is most noticeable.