WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 March 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

PRODICiOUS ENEMY ACTIVITY. VIOLENT BOMBARDMENTS. ENEMY READY TO LAUNCH OFFENSIVE. Received March 10, 5.5. p.m. > Paris, March 9. The Petit Journal's correspondent on the British front states there is prodigious enemy activity. The enemy has done bringing up troops, while t-heiv is marked ciu'iny reinforcements in artillery along the whole front, coinciding with violent bombardments between Lens and FlesquieresThe German* in the St. Quentin region are significantly constructing supplementary bridge;; over the canalsDETERMINED ENEMY ATTACK. COUNTER-ATTACK RESTORES LINE. SUCCESSFUL AIR RAIDS. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. Received March 10, 5.5 p.m. London, March 9Sir Douglas Haig reports: Despite the haze, we dropped '6% tons of bombs on. various targets, including a, tun on the aerodrome ut St. Quentin. Our nightfliers dropped five tons on the r.iilway stations at Cauvbrai and Cusigny, as well as on billets and batteries. Before dawn the enemy delivered a strong iocal attack on a mile front south of ftouthulst Forest. The attack mostly broke under our fire. On the left, however, ti'e attack \va? most determined, being supported by flame-throwers, and compelled some of our advanced posts to fall back a short distance on a 500 yards front, after severe fighting The 1 Yorkshires counter-attacked later with ■ complete success, driving the enemy back 300 yards behind our former line, inflicting heavy losses, and re-establishing our position. Our casualties were light. The Sussex troops successfully raided eastward of La Ycnterie, taking prisoners. Enemy prO.lk-vy has beta active at Flesquieres, Oivcnohy, Neuve Chape-He. Armenticres, and ypres. Sir Douglas Tlaig congratulated the Ut Bri-iado'of the Flying Corps on their splendid success in bringing down 18 aeroplanes in one day. BELGIANS' FINE STAND. GERMAN ATTACKERS BEATEN RACK. Received Feb. 10, 5.5 p.m. London, March 9. t'orreopondents pay a tribute to the Belgian.,' line stand at Stu;'enskerke. The weather dried the flooded ground and enabled the Germans to attack on a fairly wide front. The Belgians, by rifle and machine-gun fire, beat off the southern portion of the attack, hut the German storm troops in the north rushed seven advanced posts, semicircling around a bridgehead. Desperate fighting ensued, A Belgian officer with nine men and one machine-gun held on for an hour, and repelled repeated assaults by 300 of the enemy with twelve machine-guns-Luckily a Belgian patrol returning from another encounter heard the firing and rushed to reinforce the gallant defenders, quickly turning the tables, and, assuming the offensive, attacked and recaptured one of the lost posts, securing prisoners and one machine-gun. Meanwhile, a larger attack began, the Belgians completely re-establishing their line. PRELIMINARY SKIRMISHES. GREAT AERIAL ACTIVITY, Aus. and N-Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. Received March 10, 11.25 p,m. London, March 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The King's Royal Rifles broke the main force of yesterday evening's attack in the neighborhood of Polderhook. The enemy's losses were severe. A short section of the trench which remained in his hands was recaptured, despite strong, resistance, by the Royal Fusiliers, a few prisoners being captured. The Portuguese penetrated to the second line of trenches in the Neuve Chapelle raid reported yesterday, driving out the garrison with heavy loss, bombing or blowing up a number of the occupied dugouts, and bringing in prisoners. The Portuguese casualties were light. We raided trench's north of the Bapaume-Cambrai r0r.,1- The Londoners raided in the neighborhood of Oppy, lolling several and taking a few prisoners. There has been increased activity of hostile artillery north of La Basseo canal, also great aerial activity. Yesterday we dropped over 400 bombs on dumps and on siding at Menin, Busigny, and Guise, east of St. Quentin. We brought down thirteen enemy machines and drove down ten. Despite the mist, our night-fliers dropped bombs on a dump and railway sidings at Frestioy, north-east of St. Quentin. All returned. We dropped a lon of bombs at midday to-day, with good results, on barracks, railway sidings, and factories at Mainz, a large fire being started- All returned. Wireless German official: A hostile infantry attack followed a violent artillery duel at the Badonvillers sector. The engagements have not yet terrnin- ; ated. GERMAN ATTACK REPBDLSED. Reuter Service. Received March 10, 5 5 pm. London, March 9. At Ypres and Dixmude a Germau attack on a mile front was repulsed. AUSTRIAN TROOPS ASSISTING. Received Rome, March 9. The Prussian MH«ter of War announced in the Re'cSsta? that Austrian ' troops have been sent to France, but refused to rnve the number-