WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 February 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

INTENSE GERMAN ACTIVITY. ENEMY BOMBARDING TRENCHES. CONCRETE DYKES CONSTRUCTED. Received Feb. 15, 5.5 p.m. Paris. Feb. 14. Le Matin reports that, despite the mud, there is intense German activity on the Yser. They are violently bombarding the trenches and communications far in the rear, multiplying aerial operations. The enemy has constructed great concrete dykes on the right bank of the Yser, which possibly will be used as causeways for the offensive through the inundated region. AN EXTENSIVE RAID. GERMAN DEFENCES SHATTERED. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received Feb. 15, 10 p.m. London, Feb. 14. A French'communique states: In the south-west of Butte de Mesuil, on a 1200 Champagne we made an extensive raid metre front, and penetrated the enemy positions as far as the tfnrd line. We shattered the defences and destroyed a number of dug-outs. American batteries most effectively aided the raid. Wc organised the captured positions. Twenty-eight aeroplanes were downed between February 1 and 10, of which 14 were entirely destroyed. AIR RAID ON OFFENBERG EXCELLENT RESULTS. SUCCESSFUL CANADIAN RAIDS. London, Feb. 13. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The weather rendered flying on Tuesday almost impossible, but observations enabled the artillery to engage a few hostile batteries. ' We bombed various targets behind the enemy lipes, and machine-gun-ned the enemy's trenches. Yesterday's raid on Oti'enberg secured excellent results. One and a quarter tons of bombs were dropped on the barracks, railway station and railway workshops. Several bursts were observed in the vicinity of the barracks, and two fires broke out in the town. All our machines returned. A British aeroplane made a successful reconnaissance over the German dromesThe 'Canadians, who made a successful raid south-eastward of Hargicourt, killed many Germans above ground, and captured 13 and two machine-guns. They also destroyed a number of trench mortars and bombed 17 dug-outs, the occupants of which refused to surrender. Our casualties were slight, and all the wounded were brought in. The Canadians last night made a successful raid from Hill 70. northward of Lens. Despite considerable opposition they took six prisoners and a machinegun. Our casualties were light. There was local fighting this morning north-westward of Passchendaele. A party of attacking Germans occupied two posis, but our counter-attack regained the posts. The enemy's artillery is active southward and westward of Lens. A BOASTFUL CRITIC. GERMANY'S GREAT STRENGTH. NEW VERSION OF THE MARNE DEFEAT. Received Feb. 16, 1.50 a.m. Rotterdam, Feb. 15. The Vossische Zeitung's military critic, boasting of the German strength on the West front, says the German advance was stopped at the Marne by the Russians' intervention, and not by France. Thfr fearful events of the past three and a half years will only prove the tremendous intermezzo between the early events and the still greater events before us. The present situation raises tremendous confidence in German hearts. This confidence concentrates upon the Hindenburg line and Ludendorff. He asks: "Who will dare measure strength with this army?"