WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 May 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

A FRENCH ADVANCE. ENEMY'S THIRD TRENCH PENETRATED. Received May 21, 8.30 p.m. London, May 20. A French communique states that there is lively artillerying in the region of Hangard, south of the Avre. Detachments penetrated to the enemy's third trench north-west of Rheims, in the direction of Dernicourt, and caused much destruction.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. VIOLENT ARTILLERY ACTIONS. GERMANS ADMIT BRITISH ADVANCE. Received May 21, 9.30 p.m. London, May 20. A French communique says: Artillery actions have occasionally been violent south of the Avre and at some points in the region of Montdidier and Lassigny. A wireless German official report says: The British entered Ville-sur-Ancre, but failed to advance further along the Ancre valley. Attacks asr.unst Morlancourt broke down sanguinarily.—Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. ENEMY'S PLANS. SHOCK TROOPS READY. TO FLING INTO ANY OPENING. Received May 21, 9.30 p.m. London, May 20. The United Press correspondent says it is reported that General von Mackensen is on the West front, commanding an "army of manoeuvre," which will be flung into any opening which Hindenburg may make when the offensive is I renewed. Hindenburg has now probably over 100 shock divisions awaiting orders, about forty of which are entirely fresh.—United Press. A FRENCH SUCCESS. PRISONERS AND GUNS TAKEN. BRITISH RUSH A POST. Received May 21, 8.30 p.m. London, May 20. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The French carried out successful night operations east and north-east of Locre, gaining all their objectives on a front of four thousand yards, taking over 400 prisoners. Local fighting in the morning, northward of Albert, resulted in a few of our men being missing. We rushed a German post eastward of Hebuterne, taking prisoners and two machine guns. Hostile gas shelling is active northward of Bethune.

AMERICANS AT THE FRONT. TWO MILLION BY END OF YEAR. Washington, May 20. It is officially announced that the Americans hold more front line trenches than the Belgians, who until recently ranked next to the British. It is also officially intimated that, as the result of arrangements for forwarding troops this year, there is a possibility that more than two millons will be sent overseas. Allowing for casualties the American forces will number close on two millions before the end of the year. The fact that American troops are brigaded with the British enables British supplies to be used, thus affording a great increase in the shippng room for the transport of troops.—Reuter. EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS. BETWEEN JTRANCE AND GERMANY. Received May 21, 8.30 p.m. London, May 20. The Daily Telegraph's Paris correspondent states that the exchange of German and French prisoners begins in a fortnight. The negotiations, which were initiated through the Geneva Red Cross, lasted two months. Though the delegates understood each other's languages they declined to speak except in their own language. They never spoke, or even bowed, outside the conference hall. Swiss Red Cross representatives acted as go-betweons for the two groups of diplomatists, who parted enemies, as before the negotiations.—Press Assoc.

THE LABOR UNITS. PRAISED BY COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. Received May 21, 8.30 p.m. London, May 20. Sir Douglas Haig has issued a special order, paying a tribute to the devotion, endurance, and gallantry of the labor units under the most trying circumstances. At the beginning of the present battle their discipline and spirit enabled them to render mast valuable assistance to the rest of the army.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. INTERMITTENT ARTILLERY FIRE. London, May SO. A French communique states: There is only intermittent artillery fire north and south of the Avrc.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. EFFECTIVE AUSTRALIAN RAIDS. London, May 20. Sir Douglas Haig reports: A local operaton at Ville-snr-Ancre was completely successful, the Australians carrying the German positions in and around the village, -which they took possession of. They took 360 prisoners and captured 20 machine-guns. Our casualties were light. We successfully raided a post —-twr<l nf inflicting —Ai:p. X..?. Cable Assoc. and