WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 May 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

THE ENEMY'S DRIVES. PROBABLY BEGIN ON JUNE 1. AUSTRIA MUST ATTACK ITALY. • • ashington, May 23. General Bridges, head "of the British Military Mission, made a statement that the enemy has a million and a half bayonets on the West front. Ilis drive probably will begin on June I around Ypres and in the vicinity of Ilazebrouek. A subsidiary drive is expected towards Amiens. Germany is insisting that Austria shall open an Italian drive, but Austria is unwilling to do so without German aid. If Germany's drive on the West front ends in a stalemate, she will probably divert her troops to the Italian front, which would necesistatc the Allies again lengthening their lines—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. ENEMY'S CRACK TROOPS. TRAINING IN SHOCK ATTACKS. New York, May 23. The New York Times correspondent with the American army learns that the Germans have withdrawn their crack troops for a final training in shock attacks. Military officers believe that the big offensive will be resumed in the first week in June.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

SUCCESSFUL BRITISH RAID. ENEMY RAID REPULSED. Received Mny 24, 5.5 p.m. London, May 23. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We made a successful raid in the neighborhood of Avette. We repulsed an enemy raid in the vicinity of Riez du Vinage. Enemy artillery is active at various points.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. FRENCH SUCCESSES. ENEMY LINES ENTERED. Received May 24, 7.50 p.m. London, .Way 23. A French communique states:—lntermittent bombardments have been taking place south of the Avrc. An enemy coup-de-main in the region of the Bois dc Mongival failed un'Jer our fire. Our detachments entered the enemy lines, notaibly in the Champagne, Avoncourt Wood, and Woevre. We took prisoners and material.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter.

ENEMY RAID REPULSED. SUCCESSFUL FRENCH RAID. Received May 25, 12.10 a.m. "London, May 23. Sir Dougla9 Haig reports:—We repulsed raids at Aveluy Wood and south of Ilebuterne. We attacked a machinegun post at Aveluy Wood and destroyed a gun. The French captured a machine-gun and a few prisoners in successful raids north of Ilailteul and east of Locre,-Aus.-N.Z. Cable issoo and Reuter. OFFICIAL AVIATION REPORT. LONG DISTANCE RAIDS. London, May 23. Sir Douglas Haig's aviation report says: We dropped 1200 bombs on various targets, including the aerodromes near Ghent and Tournai and billots in the neighborhood of Armentieres, Bapaume and Bray. We dropped over 12 tons of bombs on aerodromes used by the enemy nightflier?., and 2 tons of bombs on a chlorine factory at Mannheim, causing three large fires, and 2 tons on the railway stations at Thionvillo and Karthans. At dawn on Wednesday two formations carried out a long distance raid against the important railway triangle at Lioge. They dropped 22 heavy bombs. The bombs of the first formation caused three very large fires, which were still burning fiercely three-quarters of an hour later, when the second formation flew over Liege.

Other machines dropped 12 heavy bombs on Metz railway stations. All returned —Aus. X.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter.

EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS. REPORT OF TREATMENT TO BE PUBBLISHED. London, May 23. The Daily Express states that, despite the Franco-German agreement for the er-xdiauge of 330,000 prisoners, the British •authorities doiibt the advisability of exchanging men capable of further military service, which would tend to prolong the war. It is definitely known that the German reserves are becoming exhausted, anA that the 1020 class recruits are in the field, whereas' the • Allies can rely on American resorirces. Though the release of British prisoners is desirable on liumatfitarian grounds, other considerations outweigh these. Retaliatory measures against German officer' prisoners will continue until the authorities are r satisfied that British soldiers are properly ■treated. Within- a 'few days a detailed report will be issued of the unspeakable cruelty that British- prisoners are subjected to. particularly in the 10th German Ai;my District by General von Hanisch and his subordinates, the brothers Niemeyer. General von Hanisch's inhumanity includes forced labor in coal and salt mines where the men rarely see dayliglit and are starved and constantly assaulted. It is rumored that negotiations will shortly be opened at The Hague between the Germans and British regarding the exchanpo <* f nnsoners.—Aus. N.Z. Cable 'Assoc.