WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 January 1918, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

WAITING FOR THE SNOW TO MELT. ENEMY PREPARING HEAVY BLOW. CANNOT FACE THE RUIN OF THE GERMAN RACE. Received Jan. 7, 9.5(1 p.m. London, Jan. 7Mr Philip Gibbs says the enemy for the moment is not doing much, he being snowbound and icebound like ourselves. There is little activity behind his lines. His gunfire is still fierce, with sudden bursts of fury against Passchendaflc and the back areas of the Ypres salient, and also Havrineourt. At Cambrai the opposing armies arc waiting for the snow to melt, and after that there will be another little wait until the ttaw is complete and until the mud, ooze, and slime, which' fill the trenches, will have dried. Prisoners say tne enemy will strike a blow in the event of the peace efforts failing. We.cannot ignore the menace. There is a possibility that our armies, when the ground is hardened, will be put on the defensive against the great concentration of guns and men that are moving forward for masked attacks in t!he last desperate attempt to gain a decision at any cost. "My personal opinion is," Mr. Gibbs concludes, "that before that happens the enemy, knowing the strength of our defence, will make a desperate bid for peace. He cannot face the utter and permanent ruin of the race which will follow the pouring out of a river of blood from the last reserves of her manhood." SUCCESSFUL BOMBING RAIDS. AERODROME AND STATIONS HIT. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received Jan. 7, 8.30 p.m. London, Jan. 7. Despite the wiather yesterday our aeroplanes dropped half a ton' of explosives on the Pamegniesdiin aerodrome, obtaining direct hits. They also dropped a ton of bombs on Conflans station, causing a big explosion and a fire. A further !ia!f-ton was dropped on Coi'rcelles station.

A GERMAN' REPORT, Received Jan. 7, 8.30 p.m. London, Jan. 0. Wireless German official: We penetrated the lines westward of Bezonvaux and captured numerous prisoners. LOST SAP REGAINED. . London, Jan. 0. Sir Douglas Haig reports! Eastward of Bullecourt we recaptured a sap which the enemy (had occupied yesterday morning. FRENCH DREAD RATIONS. ' Xfcw "York, Jan. fi. Advices from France state that the Government has requisitioned the entire wheat crop and established bread rations of seven ounces daily. It is explained that the sacrifice la necessary in order to release ships for the transport of American troops. HUN ATROCITIES. Amsterdam, Jan. 6. Twenty-two Belgian civilians were executed at Ghent on December 20 for alleged espionage. All villages in north-cast Flanders are packed with German soldiers feverishly constructing fortifications.