OMINOUS SIGNS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 May 1918, Page 5

OMINOUS SIGNS.

DEVIL'S DANCE AUuUT TO RE-COMMENCE. RAIN DELAYS ENEMY'S PLANS. Received May S, 1.30 p.m. London, May (!. Mr. Robinson writes that the quiet on the front becomes ominous, and that the devil's dance is about to recommence. The continued ruin delay;', the enemy's plans, but another greatblow is surely- impending The Australians' fine advance between SaiHv-le-Pac and Mor!aucoi:i't not only relievos the immediate pressure on Amiens from Curbie. but gives additional observation over the German back areas eastward of Villers Bretcuncux. The Australians, besides inflicting heavy casualties, took alien' 200 prisoners and captured machine-guns. The 29th Division, recently mentioned by Sir Douglas Haig, is as famous as any in the army. It established a wonderful record from the time of the Gallipoli fighting till that of mid-April, and did magnificently on the Sornme, at Monnehy, Carnbrni, and Marcoing, where it completely held up the Germans at our eastern salient in November, 1017. At the. beginning of the present battle the division left its recent hard service at Passcb/'udnolo and took up a position at Morris, and lias done continuous great service since.—Times Service.

BRITISH LINE ADVANCES. AUSTRALIANS MOVE LN THE DARK. AND GAIN CONSIDERABLE GROUND. ' Received May 7, 830 p.m. London, May 0. The United Press correspondent writes that the first of the two successes cabled advanced the British line by seven hundred yards o:i a fifteen hundred yards' front. The swept forward silently in the darkness early yesterday morning, surprising the thin garrison holding the front lines. Just northward of the. Somme the Australians established themselves in a .position. Similarly in the pitch darkness this morning, the Australians pushed on another five hundred yards on a two, thousand yards' front. They met obstinate resistance, but killed many and prisonered 150. The weather is bow showery.

STRONG OPPOSITION. ENEMY'S LOSSES HEAVY. GERMANS FAIL ACAINST THE FRENCH. ' Received May 7, S p-'J). London, May C (12.40 p.m.). Sir Douglas TTnig reports:—There were minor operations on our line westward and smith-westward of Morlaneourt Between the Sommn and the Aiicre we advanced on a considerable front, iK.pile strong opposition. The eiieinv's losses were heavy- Our casualties were, plight. Loral fighting improved our positions in (lie neighborhood of Locon and the La we river. A French communique states: —The enemy attempted, after a violent liomhirdmeiit, to reach the line south-west of Anehm Farm, but failed completely. M'P.nv of the enemv were killed. A detriment penetrated the Olernmn organisations in the region north of Loivre and west of Rhcinis, and inflicted serious losses.

LOCAL OPERATIONS. ALL-DAY ARTILLERYING. Received May S, 12.55 a.m. London, May C. Sir Douglas Haig reports: In a successful local operation during the night in the neighborhood of Morlaucourt we took over :!f)l) prisoners. The' French repulsed attempted raids southward of Locre. Reciprocal artillcrying has continued all day on the battle fronts. Our artillery caused several fires behind the enemy's lines northward of Lys. A Ffench communique states that there has been somewhat quiet reciprocal artillcrying activity north and south of the Avre. —Aus. and N.Z. Cable Association and Renter. A GERMAN REPORT, Received May S, 1.30 a.m. Loudon, May 0, Wireless German official:—!*, local enemy attack southward of Locre. failed, We prisoncfed some during reconnoitring engagements near Hangard. southwest of Bfimont, also with (he Americans south-west of Pilamont, nti'd with the French at llartmansweilerkopf.— Aus. and N.Z. Cable Association and Renter. CHINESE IN THE BATTLE FIRST ACTION ON WEST FRONT. Melbourne, April 23. The following American official news, by wireless telegraph from Honolulu, has been made availoblo by the American Consul: — An American army officer, returning from France, has described the participation of American, engineers and Chinese in opposing the opening of the German offensive. lie said the retirement of General Gough's forces left a two* miles gap, which was obscured by fog. Quick action was necessary. Engineers and Chinese laborers dropped their tools and seized rifles. Tho officer added: "They gallantly held the Germans for six hours, till British and French soldiers arrived. This is the first time Chinese have been engaged in tho fighting."