WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 May 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. INCREASE ON AMERICAN FRONT. London, May 16. Sir jjuuL'.ns TTaig reports: There is reciprocal artillery activity in the Somme and Ancro valleys, eastward of Arras and on the northern battle front—Aus. NX Cable Assoc, and Renter. An American communique states that there is a marked increase of reciprocal artillery activity north of Ton) and in Lorraine.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Router.

FOCH'S STRATEGY. VIEWS OF GENERAL MAURICE.

London, May 1(1.. General Maurice, in ir,\ article' ;n the Daily Chronicle, discusses the appointment of a Generalissimo. Russia's failure brought a concentration of Germans on the West front, which made the outlook extremely dangerous for the Allies if their defence failed. Previously when the Germans attacked there was little likelihood of unpleasant consequences, therefore the English and French were able to rub along independently. Command by committee was tried at Versailles, but met with the inevitable failure. The critical days of March made the appointment of a supreme commander urgent. When General Foch took charge the battle was at its height, the greatest German concentration threatening' to sever the British and French armie? The enemy was checked and the British and French armies are still in direct touch and Amiens remains ours.

Such is the present achievement of the man who fought beside the British on the Marne, and commanded during the bloody fighting at the Yser, Vimy. Loos, and the Sommc. He has his own peculiar methods and believes in a small start' absolutely under control. He lives very simply, with no military ostentation, abhors red tape, and in an emergency scatters stereotyped methods to the winds and uses any theory or means. People in England often ask when will General Foch counter-attack. The man who was the hero of the Marne and sent during the battle the message, "The enemy is attacking my flanks and threatening the rear; I am attacking in front.'' can be trusted not to remain on the defensive an hour longer than prudent generalship demands—Aus. N.Z. Cable Association.

GERMANS' VAIN HOPE. PEOPLE DOUBTFUL OF HIGH COMMAND. Received May 17, 8.30 p.m. Washington, May 17. Advices from Germany indicate that the German people are now more doubtful of the chances of success of the German High Command, but they have hopes that the danger of the loss of Paris and the Channel ports may force peace.—Press Assoc.

FURTHER ARTILLERY ACTION. GREAT DESTRUCTION OP AERO PLANES.

Received May 17,11.30 p.m. London, May 16. Sir Douglas Haig reports: There has been mutual artillerying northward of Lys. A Belgian communique states that an enemy aviator dropped four bombs on a hospital at Hoogstadt. Artillery action assumed a lively character, especially in the region of Pilkem. A French communique states: There is marked reciprocal artillery activity north and south of the Avre. Eighteen enemy aeroplanes were brought down on the 15th, and four captive balloons were set afire.

Wireless German official: We ejected the French from a point they gained northward of Kemmel. We repulsed a strong advance from Hoiescat Wood. We shot down S'i aeroplanes.

THE ENEMY'S PLANS. GERMANS LOST THEIR ONLY CHANCE. ALLIES' GAPS ALL RE-FILLED. Received May 18, 130 a.m. London, May 17. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes:—The long postponement of the enemy's assault seems to afford definite proof that his losses in the earlier offensive were so heavy that he is obliged to abandon the costly tactical blows in order to prepare new battles on a wider front, Mr. Gibbs opines tftat the enemy will not strike until he lias completed his fresh formations and their special training, in order to resume the offensive on Bomthiug like the scale of the 21st March. It is true that the process may be near completion, but we gained invaluable time. The enemy thereby lost the greatest—.perhaps the only—chance of victory. Our gaps have been refilled, our troops are rested and refreshed, and the British, with the French assistance, will not again be obliged to bear the brunt of an unequal struggle.— I Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc.

GREAT AERIAL ACTIVITY.

33 MACHINES BROUGHT UOWN. ATTACK ON GERMAN TOWNS. Received May 18, 12.50 a.m. , London, May 17. Sir Douglas Haig's aviation report state*:—Aeroplanes and balloons carried out a great ileal of work on Wednesday, in with tlie artillery, the bombing machines began the attack at dawn, and continued till dark, dropping over 24 tons of .bombs on targets which included railway stations at T'ournai, Oourtrai, and Guanines and billets in j the neighborhood of Douai, Bapaume, Mernin, and the Somme, also on the Zeebrtigge-Bruges Canal. i The enemy aircraft was active, in the early morning, also fn the. evening, attacking our bombers with particular insistence. We brought down twentyfive German machines, drove down ]:' nnd shot down one. Eleven British machines are. missing. After dark our night-fliers continue.:! to drop over 14 tons on the railway stations at Cliaulnes, Lille, and Doua'i on billets at Peronnc. Bray, and Bapaume, and on the docks at Bruges. One British machine did not return.

Early on Thursday aeroplanes set out to bomb factories and railway stations at Saarbrucken. Crossing the lines, they encountered ten enemy scouts. A running fight ensued alont» the whole way to the objectives. When Snarbrucker Was reached, they attacked the British with the utmost vigor Despite the attacks, we dropped 24 heavy bombs oe the objective*. Several bursts were seen on the railway and a fire started.

Having attained their objectives, oui aeroplanes concentrated their efforts on fishting the nnemv machines- We brought down five. $> One 'British f.i-ro-))lane was shot down. All the others returned.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Renter.