WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

THE COMING OFFENSIVE. ALLIES SUCCESS IX THE AIR. Received Feb. 22, s p.m. London, Feb. 21. A high military authority states that though there is much talk of the coming ollcnslvo, there are 110 definite indieaL tious that bring it any nearer. The i im>4 satisfactory feature of the West • front is our continued success in the I air, which is of the utmost iniporl- ■ -Alice as a preliminary to any battle. lu'fen'ing to the air raids on London. • lie su.vs that since the beginning of the year we have carried out fifteen into i Germany, all with definite results, as ! against Germany's five on London, two of which were abortive. 1 lie latest instance of the enemy's propaganda is visible in Germany's using great influence in Switzerland in connection with ft protest against the" use of poisonous gas. We are ready at any moment to relinquish it. PROBABLE POINT OF ATTACK. IN CAMBRAI SECTOR. 1 Received Feb. 22, 8 p.m. ' Paris, Feb. 21. Le Journal states it is believed that Cambrai will be one noetor for the German ollcnsive. The British right flank at Cambrai is particularly tempting. L'Echo de Paris states that the German offensive will probably be between Lille and Cambrai, involving tlje engagement ot' sixty or eighty divisions. SUCCESSFUL BOMBING RAIDS. EXPLOSIONS AND FIRES CAUSED. Aus. nnd XZ. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received Feb. 22, 8 p.m. London, Feb. 21. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We bombed yesterday an aerodrome northward of Douai and a dump north-eastward of Lille. _We dropped fifty bfcurbs on billets and 1 .50 bombs were dropped at night on an important railway centre southeastward of Cambrai. We successfully attacked Thionville, twenty-six heavy bombs being dropped on the railway station, where there was a large explosion and two fires. Despite considerable gunfire all our machines returned. Aeroplanes to-day dropped a ton of bombs on factories and the station at, Pirmasens. in Germany. Hits were obtained near the station, gasworks, and factories, where a large fire was observedAll returned. BRITISH FRONT EXTENDED. ANOTHER LARGE SECTOR TAKEN OVER. Received Feb. 22, 11-45 p.m. London, Feb. 22. The United Press states that the British on Tuesday took over another, considerable sector of the front, southward of St. Quentin as far as the Oise river. GEPMAN LINES PENETRATED. A FRENCH EXPLOIT. London, Feb. 21. A French communique says:—Our detachments north of Sures'and east of Moncel, Lorraine, deeply penetrated the German lines on a wide front. The operation was brilliantly carried out. The number of prisoners counted exceeds 400. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reutcr. Received Feb. 22, 11.35 p.m. London, Feb- 21. A French communiquo reports: We took prisoner 525, including eleven officers, in yesterday's operations in Lorraine. ARRIVAL OF TURKS AND AUSTRIAN'S. United Service. Received Feb. 23, 1.45 a.m. London, Feb. 22. Turkish and Austrian troops have arrived on the West front. MORE ENEMY TROOPS ARRIVING. Amsterdam, Feb. 21- ' Reports from Liege state that many train loads of troops and guns have tra- i versed Liege during the last three days, ' going westward. i NEW ZEAXAN'WJRS' RAH). London, Feb. 21. , Sir Douglas llaig reports:—The New Zealanders made a successful raid east- , ward of the Polygon Wood and took a , few -prisoners. Hostile artillery is ac-' live at Flesquieres.