WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 May 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

PEACE OFFERS EXPECTED. GERMAXY' .STUDYING HER OWN ENDS. TISIE WANTED TO DOMINATE RUSSIA. London, May G. Lord Robert Cecil, interviewed, said lie expected a vigorous German peace campaign shortly. which would be directed mainly against Britain. In view of the facts in the Lichnowsky disclosures Germans in many quarters acquitted Britain of complicity in starting the war. Germany would probably make offers particularly tempting to Britain in such a peace movement. In view of the situation on the West front theße offers would be mainly for home consumption, for should Germany's failure on the West front continue to become manifest to the German people, both Germany and Austria would have a very hard time ahead. The main object of Germany was to gain time. Germany was evidently disappointed regarding supplies from the Ukraine and had started to establish martial law, hoping thereby to extract from the peasants by force the food supplies she was otherwise failing to acquire. This in a country the size of the Ukraine was a big job. Germany had to have time in order to acquire domination over Russia to the extent she desired. Phe might have the idea that with the resources of Russia fully at her disposal she could afford, comparatively speaking, to ignore the West front and make a stand against the world for an indefinite period.—Times. AMERICAN VIEW OF WAR POSITION Washington, May 5. The Britisii War Mission, (summarising the situation on the West front, says: It is believed that the British casualties since March 21 total approximately 250,0f>0. The indications arc that the great German offensive will bo continued very soon, leading to a serious situation unless sufficient reserves are available. A German advance towards the Channel ports is possible only over the bodies of the British army.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Association.

BRITISH CASUALTIES. SUFFICIENT RESERVES NEEDED. Washington, May 5. Cables to the British War Mission estimate the British casualties since 'March 21 at 250,000, and the German at 500,000. Everything points to the almost immediate resumption of the German offensive. The messages admit that, owing to the severity of the fighting, the entire combatant force of the British army has been almost continuously engaged since the opening of the offensive, and urge the serious necessity of providing sufficient reserves to strengthen the lines and relieve the British. Numerous epic doings of Sir Douglas Haig's forces are related, indicating that some divisions sustained 80 per cent, of casualties, but are still fighting. The Mission states that two million Germans' were brought to a halt by slightly over half a million Allies. According to the French authorities, the Allied reserves now outnumber those of the Teutons.—Reuter. SUCCESSFUL BRITISH OPERATIONS. THE LINE IMPROVED. London, May 5. At 12.30 p.m. Sir Douglas. Haig reports: We improved our line in the neighborhood of Sailly-le-Sec and eastward of Hebuterne. We repulsed an attack on our new positions north-eastward of Hinges and our lines are intact. We made a successful raid in the Nieppc Forest sector. Artillery on both sides is active on the Lys battle-front.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter.

THE LONG RANGE GUN. ITS DESTRUCTION CONFIRMED. Paris, May 5. It is reported that a French shell knocked out one of the German longrange guns.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc. Received May 0, 2.35 p.m. Paris, May 5. Deputy le Boureq, controller of the army commission, confirms the destruction of the long-range gun. He was present when a French battery, after repeated shots, scored a bullseye. AN AMERICAN SUCCESS. New York, May 5. The American army in France, facing the German lines south of Ilalloville, in the Lorraine sector, made a raid on a GOO yards front. The American troops penetrated to the enemy's third line, and the American artillery levelled the German positions.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Association. USEFUL WORK BY AVIATORS. Tho Hague, May 5. Allied aviators sank 23 Belgian boats in a single day. They were laden with gravel and crushed stone for the German front. They are daily destroying others. Aviators have also destroyed two piers of the Luxemburg bridge at Namur.— Reuter. ROCKEFELLER'S HOSPITAL DESTROYED. Received May 0, 3.15 p.m. Paris, May 5. Tho Germans bombed and destroyed Rockefeller's hospital at Compiegne, conducted by the famous American surgeon, .flanel.—TSmea Service.