BOLSHEVIKS MENACE UKRAINE.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1918, Page 5

BOLSHEVIKS MENACE UKRAINE.

AUTONOMY FOR LITHUANIA. SUBJECT TO GERMAN PROTECTIOX. Received Feb. 17, 5.5 pm. Amsterdam, Feb. 16. The Yolks Zeitung claims to have positive knowledge that tlic Bolsheviks are concentrating troops and menacing authority in the Ukraine. It is expected the Kaiser will issue a proclamation on the 10th granting Lithuania autonomy subject to German protection. WESTERN FRONT. A TROUBLESOME SALIENT. RECTIFIED IN AN HOUR, Reuter Service. Received Feb. 17, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 10. Reuters headquarters correspondent says that the object of the recent big raid* was to bite off the troublesome salient between Tahure and the rugged mass of Butte du Mesnil, against which the French were brought to a standstill in September, 1915. The task was moßt difficult, the salient lying in a saucer among heavily armed overlooking hills. The attack, which was preceded by a heavy bombardment, met no opposition capable of checking it, till it reached its objectives. The operation was completed in an hour. The French and American artillery worked with splendid precision. AVIATORS MACHINE-GUN CONVOY. SUCCESSFUL RAID BY LANCASHIRES. Received Feb. 17, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. IU. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Hostile artillerying occurred between Gouzeaueourt and the Scarpe river, also on the Lens sector and north-cast of .Ypres. Despite unfavorable conditions yesterday, aeroplanes machine-gunned a convoy and troops at a low altitude. The Lancasliires carried out a successful raid in the neighborhood of the Ypres—Staden railway, Hostile artillery is active northward of Lens, opposite La Bassee and Wytschaete. VIOLENT ARTILLERY ACTIONS ENEMY REPULSED BY FRENCH. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. Received Feb. 17, 5.5 p.rn. . London, Feb. 16. A French comrauniquo reports fairly violent artillery actions on some sectoiß on 'the right of the Meuse, at Woeuvre and in Upper Alsace. Two enemy detachments attempting to rush the lines of the Chaume Wood front were repulsed. , THE AMERICAN BARRAGE. CUTS OFF GERMAN RETREAT. PROTECTS ADVANCING FRENCH. New York, Feb. 15. The United Press correspondent on the French front states that the American barrage in the Champagne .cuts off the Germans' retreat, prevents their bringing up reinforcements, and protects the advancing French. ENEMY RAIDS. LEAD TO SHARP FIGHTING. Received Feb. 18, 12.35 a.m. London, Feb. 18. Sir Douglas Haig reports that enemy raids at La Vaequerie and Chcrisy led to sharp fighting. We indicted a number of casualties. Hostile artillery has been more active in the Cambrai, Lens and Passchendaele neighborhoods. We bombed Menin railway station, sidings, aerodromes and billets. SUCCESSFUL FRENCH RAIDS. London, Feb. 15 A French communique reports: Northwest and east of Rlieims we carried out raids. There is fairly great reciprocal artillery activity in the Champagne. Our batteries caught and dispersed strong enemy concentrations south of Dormoise. NAVY WATCHING SEA FRONT. Paris, Feb. 15. M. Marcel Kutin, discussing the possibility of a German naval attempt to land on the coast at Pa* de Calais in conjunction with their offensive, states that the British navv is vigilantly watching the sea front and ardently desires to see such an attempt