WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

THE NEW ZEALAND SECTOR. A HISTORIC SPOT. CONSIDERABLE GERMAN SHELLING. NO SIGN OF ATTACK DEVELOPING. Received 'Dec. 20, 12.50 a.m. < London, Dec. 19. Mr. Gilmour states lie lias visited the New Zealand front at a sector which lias already become historic, whence, in years to come, the New Zealanders will make pilgrimages to the spots where many trave boys lie buried, and where to-day many Maorilanders are waging trench warfare as courageously as those who have gone before. There was considerable shelling in this sector to-day, but its wide extent rendered casualties a negligible quantity. Since the. New Zealanders went into this line after the last battle of Passchcndaele on October 12 the Germans have been left pretty much to their own deviees,and they straggled about carelessly in the open over the adjoining positions. Our snipers had an extraordinarily exciting time for about three days picking off'the enemy until the latter lay low. The German artillery has been fairly active against the, New Zealand communications, but there is no sign of an attack developing. We have the advantage of exceptional aerial patrols directing our heaviest artillery for hours daily and steadily silencing the enemy batteries, c AMPLE CHRISTMAS COMPORTS. Every provision has been made to give the New Zealanders ample Christmas comforts. New Zealand is at present fortunate in being able to fill the gaps with a continuous stream, of fresh troops and keep the units at their full strength. LOCATION OF AMERICANS. ON RHINE—RHONE SECTOR. Received Dec. 19, 5.5 p.m. New York, Dec. 18. It is pointed out that the RhineRhone sector, where heavy artillery fire in going on, corresponds with the German report of the location of the American troops on the French front. GERMANS TRANSFER TROOPS FROM EAST. Paris, Dee. 18. Numerous captured documents prove that the Germans are transferring troops between 20 and 35 from Russia to the western front. AH, the men between 20 and 30 were ordered to be withdrawn before the Russian armistice was signed. The result is that la skeleton army of weaklings is left in the East, which will become the training ground for boys and a camp for invalids. THE LULL BEFORE THE STORM. London, Dec. 18. Sir Douglas Haig says:-—Last night there was nothing to report. UNITED STATES. SHAKING UP ARMY STAFF-. TANKS AND PERSONNEL. Washington, Dec, 18.

It 13 believed that a shaking up of the army staff departments is impending. General Goethals has been offered the position of Quartermaster-General. Mr. Crozier, chief of the Ordnance Department, has concluded his evidence before the Senate Committee. He said the United States was making many tanks, for which General Pershing is organising a personnel. Rear-Admiral Harris has resigned the general managership of the EmergencyFleet Corporation and Mr. Charles Piez succeeds him.

PROHIBITION. . BY PRUSSIAN METHODS. , Washington, Dec. 18. The Senate, which adopted prohibition last year, has concurred in the resolutions passed by the House. Three-fourths, not two-thirds, of the States must ratify the Congress prohibition measure within seven yeaTs. If twelve more States adopt prohibition it becomes effective. The New York World describes it as "prohibition by Prussian methods." (There are 48 States, and apparently 24 of these have already adopted prohibition. If 12 more carry prohibition before '1934 and none of the others go back on it prohibition will become general.) SUBMARINES COLLIDE. ONE SUNK AND 19 LIVES LOST. Received Dec. 20, 12.55 a.m, New York, Dec. 19. United States submarines collided inhome waters, one being sunk. Nineteen tnen perished. JUBILATION OVER CANADIAN ELECTION. New York, Dec. 18. The evening papers are jubilant over Sir Robert Borden's victory as "another evidence of the eolonies' determinationto throw their utmost resources against Germany."