WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 March 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

" THE GERMAN DELAY. BRITISH IiATTEUIES TOO STRONG. GERMAN MOVES PROMPTLY London, March i-S. Mr. Pereivfil Phillips writes: "The delay in the German offensive is probably due to tin l ia:hire of the enemy's j'linners to gain ascendancy over the British uatterie.-:. which )or several weeks have returned blow for torn, ani have smashed one minor scheme a.ter another. It is a repetition of the C "■man failure in the air. We have completely smashed a very strong aerial offensive* in the past fortnight. There has been a remarkable increase in the enemy's gun power since Christmas, owing to the arrival of reinforcements from Russia, but the full strength is not yet disclosed. A signiiicunt feature of the new situation is the promptness with which the British recognise and counter every mano uvre of the German gunners. When thov try to silence our gnus, the British shells immediately strip the camouflage from the carefully-hidden German batteries and drench the crews with gas."

New York, March IS. An official communique says: "It is now believed that the Germans do not intend to launch a major offensive on the West front. Apparently the German concentration there has' reached the limit." London, March IS. Mr. G. Gilmour, the Australian Press Association's correspondent, refers to the comparative inactivity of the German aeroplanes. He says that, the enemy's losses of aeroplanes have compelled him in some sectors almost to abandon artillery observation work. The Admiralty reports: "During an offensive by patrols from Dunkirk our aeroplanes destroyed five "'enemy machines and shot down five between Thursday and Sunday. All our machines returned." The Pall Mall Gazette r.avs an analysis of the records shows that the Allies' airmen scored 543 victories since January jl, 434 of them being by the British. | Seven hundred German machines were I destroyed, including seaplanes. London, March IS. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We made a successful mid south of Aeheville. The hostile artillery is active south of the Bapaume-Cambrai road, in the neighborhood of Lens, and between Warueton and Zonne-beke. t A French communique states: The artillery duel continues on tho right of the Mouse. Our fire drove off enemy reconnoitring parties attempting to reach our lint's in the region of Haudamont and north-west of Bezonvaux. There is fairly great artillery firing north of Leviolu, in tho Vosges.

Paris, March IS. Tho French completely demolished the enemy's varies at Malancourt. Their barrage prevented the defenders fleeing. Practically all were captured or killed. General von Gallwit/, later started an offensive on a ten-kilometre front (ii% mile;,), between Samognoux and Bezonvanx, and threw in his be<rt storm troops, hnt they were repulsed with severe losses at all points. Details of the fighting on the ri.:ht bank of the Meuse on Sunday show that the Gonnnns met with severe defeat. Many fresh batteries were brought up ai:tl heavily shelled the. French front at Samogneux and Bezonvaux all day and all night 011 Saturday. The storm was unabated until the forenoon of Sunday, when a series of assaults began, a battalion participating in each attack. . As soon as tho Germans had established themselves in the French trenches the French &uns opened, and the concentrated fire forced the enemy to quit, leaving half his effectives behind. The French re-oceupied the trenches without a counter-attack. 1 Mew York, March 18. Correspondents 011 tho American front say that despite counter-raids the Americans still hold the captured trenches at "Badonviller. March 18., A German official report states: French airmen bombed hospital establishments at Lethour. The enemy's losses in February were 18 captive balloons and 138 aeroplanes. We lost 01 aeroplanes and three balloons.

FRENCH REPULSE ENEMY. HEAVY ARTILLERY WORK. London, March 10. A French communique states: We repulsed the eenniy north of Juvincourt and south-eatit of Corbeny, after lively lighting. There has been heavy reciprocal artillerying, especially in the Sairiogneux and teouvaux districts, and between Bures, Badonviller, and Lorraine. Received March 20, 5,5 p.m. London* March 19. A French communique states: A detachment penetrated the enemy lines in the Rheims region to a depth of a kilometre and destroyed numerous occupied dugouts. The enemy at midnight, after sharp artillery preparation, attempted a coup-de-main north-east of Tillery, which broke down under our fire. There was a violent artillery duel on the right of the Meuse. ENEMY COMMUNICATIONS SMASHED. CENTRE JF ACTIVITY SHIFTED. Renter Service. Paris, March 18. > French headquarters report that the centre of activity has now shifted to the Meuse, The big French raids mentioned in yesterday's communiques were directed against sectors where the eenmy had completed all preparation for an attack. As the result of the raids the, communications were so thoroughly smashed that it must be many weeks before the enemy : can attack from these' places. When you feel a cold coming on, don'f ! wait until it has gripped you, but take NAZOL at once.