THE WAR
MOTBJER COUNTRY. WEEKLY OFFICIAL RB?ORT, OPREATIONS ON ALL FRONTS. By Telegraph.—Presa Association. Wellington, Last Night. The following summary of military operations for the week May £ has been received by the GovernorGeneral from the Secretary of State for the Colonies: — I WEST FRONT. Since the recapture of Villers Bretonneux in a brilliant counter-attack by Australian and British troops, and the repulse of the enemy by the French at H&ngard and Hangard Wood, there has been no change in the Somme .salient, but in the Lys salient battles have been fqught upon the issues of which might well depend the future course of the present campaign. Briefly, these consist of the capture by the enemy of Mont Kenimel on April iJ, and the failure of his efforts to follow up this success by a further advance. Mont Kemmel was taken after a very severe struggle, toy an encircling movement round bjjth flanks. The enemy made a j serious attempt on April 29 to follow up his success. His pylan was to push his way through between Mont Rouge and La CSytte, and then roll up the British line northwards, so forcn% them to evacuate the Ypres salient. He succeeded in advancing at one point, and reached the cross-roads northward of Locre, but by a spirited counter-attack the French threw him back from his advanced positions and then regained Locre. The British troops to the north held fast, taking a heavy toll of the enemy along the wfcole line. The assault delivered on the Belgians north of Ypres was completely repulsed. Its failure can only be considered a decided defeat of the enemy on the Somme. The best German troops were used, and such were the strength and determination of the attacks that no excuse for this signal failure is admissible. The enemy, so far from shaking the Allies' front, on the contrary, increased their confidence, giving his own troops every reason for depression. A repulse before Amiens is more serious for the enemy than one further and the enemy's failure to occupy the on which Cachy was the objective in .'*st week's attack at Villera Brctonuaux, though in point of numbers not so big aX> flfl'air as the struggle west I of Mont Kemmel, is, nevertheless, extremely satisfactory to the Allies, but the enemy, while continuing his threat in this salient, has gradually increased the number of divisions on the northern battle-fron , until very considerable forces are represented. Only a few miles separate him from important strategic points which he cannot be expected to renounce -without further struggle*. He is, however, dispersing his strength
bv persisting i n an enterprise which was not intended at first to develop on such a scale. Nevertheless, the encouragement which has been given to these operations through the capture of Mont Kemmel may well decide the enemy to use up even more divisions to achieve a tactical success of more sentimental than military value—namely, the capture of Ypres. IN PALESTINE. In Palestine, General Allenby has captured Es-Salt and taken a number of prisoners. He lias also advanced towards Schcchem, in the neighborhood of Mizrah. The Arabs in the Maan area have cleared practically the whole district through which the railway runs, a3 far as Mudowara, and have torn up the line for a distance of five miles. Meanwhile General Marshall advanced along the Mosul road, reaching Tuak, Kiffe and Tuzkhurmann having already been captured, with over 1800 prisoners. By the capture of Kiffe, the British have removed the threat to their communications eastward to Persia- This place was the centre of German intrigue, as well as the Turkish divisional headquarters and a supply collecting centre. The surrounding tribes were encouraged by the enemy to harass the British line communications and generally to oppose, but the better conditions which British influence is gradually bringing about in theso regions have better' disposed the tribes, who are now eager to co-operate against the common enemy, who is willing enough to use them in his need, but in peace time showed no consideration. EAST AFRICA. In East Africa a converging movement through difficult country is gradually .being carried out. The enemy's main force is on the Upper Lurio, while the Allied forces are on every side. One Allied detachment, in attacking an enemy convoy, which was retreating on Nanuodo, captured all the reserves of small ammunition of the German column. RUSSIAN COUNTER-REVOLUTION UNCONFIRMED. London, May 3. Though Vienna reports imply that important changes have occurred at Petrograd, it was officially stated in the House of Commons that the Government had no confirmation of the counterrevolution.—Press Association. THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC. London, May 3. The English, Scottish, and Irish Committees on the State purchase and control of the liquor trade recommend definite purchase terms involving the expenditure of between 400 and 500 million.—Press Association.
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Taranaki Daily News, 6 May 1918, Page 6
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804THE WAR Taranaki Daily News, 6 May 1918, Page 6
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