WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS, j ESTIMATED AT HALF A MILLION. AUSTRIANS HAY .SEND TWENTY- * ■ FiVK DIVISIONS. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, aud Keuter. Received Dec. 23, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Dec. 21. M. Joseph Relnach, writing in the Figaro, estimates thfit the German.-; are withdrawing fifty divisions from Russia, representing hali a million rutin. Austria, may send to the Western front ten to twenty-five, divisions. Avoiding .the mistake at Verdun. Generals Hiudenburg mid Ludendorlf will probably attack on several seetorß simultaneously. LOYALTY OF RUSSIAN OFFICERS. ' /OLUNTEERFOR SERVICE wixil AMERICANS. MEN WILL FOLLOW. 'Renter Service . Received Dec. ii. '>.--> p.m. London, D?<: "i Rputer> correspond ut ut the' American" headquarters in 'France stales that the officers ut" the lUhmhu urinv •in 1 Krante h.ave vriimueer 'd •.'.naiiimously to serve in the United Stiite* army. s:-A tile request has been r-fi-nvd to Wii-h----v"' ington.«lt is likely that many oi t'.uic wen will foilow the oflirei>. - JEHEMY ATTACK FAILS. - ON FRENCH FRONT. DUNKIRK AND CALAIS BOMBED. Aus and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Hedter. .. > .■'•>; Rewired Dec. 22, 5.0 p.m. . ..; . .'.* . , London. Dec. 21. A French eohununique slates: There * moderate reciprocal artillery activity on the whole front. Strong-enemy'attaeiis in Lorraine, preceded by n violent bombardment of tic trenches jiorth of -Keiilou, vompiclvly failed. The enemy left numerous dead. Aeropinwg - bombed Dunkirk and Calais, four persons being killed and ten .wounded. ,'■ BRITISH REPULSE A RAID. JtfTgMPT TO RUSH FRENCH . TRENCHES. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuler. Received Dec. 23, 5.5 p.m. \ ■ London, Dec. 22. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We repulsed & raid north-east of Messinw and took a few prisoners in patrol encounters. ■ ' A French communique state?: Artil- ■> * leryirig "fe- 'active in tTie region of '.{3»nrieres Wood. An attempt to rush our "trenches west of Cernay was reJiolged.' At Hartmanns Westerkopf the e»emy, after si very big raid, occupied aiV(Ujeed ; elements in our front line, "but ' weW> completely ejected after hand-to- ';■ hand fghting, wherein the Germans lost tetrriry. i$E DEFENDER OF LIEGE. IN SWITZERLAND Times Service. .'Received Dec. 22, 6.5 p.m. Berne, Dec. 21. General Leman, the defender of Liege, ■' who was captured by the Germans in August, lftl4, has been released, and has arrived in Switzerland, where he is interned.