WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

FIGHTING AT VERDUN. l-'t'IHOUS AND PF;RSTSTKVT GERMAN ONSLAUGHTS. HEAVY LOSSES AND NO ADVANTAGE. Renter Service. Received Fob. 10. 5.30 p.m. I London, Feb. 9. French headquarters state that the Hermans are. multiplying their attacks in the Verdun region, their fury and persistence recalling the onslaughts in Mill. The right hank of l'li;> Mouse lias practically been an active battle sector for the past week, daily German assaults being beaten off, resulting only in heavy enemy losses without the semblance of an advantage. Bavarian shock troops and Hanoverians were conspicuous in these attacks, sonio of which did not reach our line, the Peilus leaping the trenches and meeting the enemy in the open, while others, who gained a momentary footing, were ejected by immediate eounter-atatcks. THE ENEMY'S PLANS. FOR FORTHCOMING OFFENSIVE. STERN BID FOR OPEN WARFARE. Received Feb. 10, 5 5 p.m. London, Feb. !). Mr. Philip GilnV. writes that opinions differ among British officers regarding Hie enemy's plans, which arc the great topic of discussion in the dugouts. Some officers find sound arguments for tiio belief that a German 'offensive on a great scale is improbable, while others opine that tho enemy will attack us at several places- The Boche is not massing all these divisions on the West front for mere bluff. He is possessed of enough troops for several attacks, which may bo subsidiary to lug main thrust, with crowds of guns behind them. The fact that the winter training of the German reserves included open warfare tactics leads speculators to declare that the Germans rely on a surprise to roll up our line quickly and make a stern bid for open warfare on a bij scale.

RAIDERS DRIVEN OFF. BY BRITISH AND FRENCH. LIVELY RECIPROCAL ARTILLERYING. Aus. ana N.2. CM* Assoc, and Rcuter. Received Feb. 10, 5.30 pin. London, Feb. 9. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We drove off raiders who were attempting tu approach our line south-east of ArrasAnother party raided a post in the neighborhood of Oppy, but left a large number of dead. There has been hostile artillerying between Bullecourt and the Scarpc river, north of Ypres. Enemy patrols are more active north of Lens. A French .communique states: North of Chcmin des Dames and Fleury, in the region of the Woevre, we repelled attempted attacks on small posts. Thero lias been lively reciprocal artillerying on the right of the Meuse and in the Vosges. GERMANS MAKE BELGIANS WORK. Amsterdam, Feb. 8. The Telegraaf states that a German order has been issued on the Flemish coast calling up all males from 13 to GO years of age for military labor. OFFICIAL REPORTS. Aus, and Jf.Z. Cable Assoc, and Renter Received Feb. 11, 1.30 a.m. London, Feb. 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The enemy raided a post north-west of St. Quentin. A French communique states that considerable artillery activity has been displayed in the Champagne district and on the right bank of the Meuse.