WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

OPPOSING FORCES EQUAL SURPRISE IS ONLY HOPE, i ACTIVITY OF GERMAN SPIES. Received July 10, 5.5 p.m. London, July 9. Mr. George Perris writes that the bal- , ance of forces on the West front i s now practically level. Every day finds several new American battalions ready for , the field. Time i 3 working steadily for (is. Swprise is General von Ludendorff'a only hope. German espionage has been extended on daring, scientific lines, compelling the Allies to gradually improve their information services, but it is impossible to refer to what has been done in this direction—Press Assoc. THE WEATHER BROKEN. WEIGHT AiND ACCURACY OP OUR GUN-ffilßE. Received July 10, 5.5 p.m., London, July 9. The British Headquarters' correspondent says that the dry weather broke on the night of the Bth„ and that violent thunderstorms were followed by teirific hail. Prisoners captured in the Australian sector pay a tribute to the weight and accuracy of our shell-fire, in consequence of which they were without rations fqr two days, and the morale of the troops was sensibly lowered. It was so difficult to ration the outpost line that the enemy was forced to U3e aeroplanes for this purpose. A box of bully beef biscuits was dropped by mistake from a hostile low-flying plane on one of our forward posts. This is the first time such a practice has been adopted on the Western front.—Reuter. LUDENDORFF'S PLANS. ABANDONMENT OP WESTERN OFFENSIVE DISCREDITED, Received July 10. 5-50 p.m. Paris, July 9. Military writers distrust the circumstantial rumors that General von Ludendorff is abandoning his offensive on the Western front in favor of a trenmendous thrust on the Italian front.—Press Assoc. FRENCH ADVANCE A MILE. ENEMY ATTACKS REPULSED. Received July 10, 8-50 p.m. London, July 9. A French communique states:—(Between Montdiddier and the Oise, we cap ried out, at 3.30 a.m., a local operation west of Antheuil on a front of two and a-half miles. Supported by tanks, we penetrated the enemy's lines, carried the Porte Farm and the Des Loges Farm, and advanced over a mile at certain points. The enemy counter-attack at Des Loges' Farm was repulsed. We maintain all our gains, and have hitherto taken 450 prisoners unwounded, including 14. officersSouth of the Aisne, the artillery duel wa3 continued actively at night-time in the Chavimny Farm region, where we again made progress, prisonering several There has been reciprocal artillerying west and north of Chateau Thierry, especially at Hill 204,-Aus-N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. A SUCCESSFUL RAID. ENEMY ARTILLERY ACTIVE. Received July 10, 5-50 p.m. London, July 9. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—The Londoners made a successful raid eastward of Arras. 'Enemy artillery has been active against the positions we recently captured southward of the Somme.—Aus.- . N,Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. OFFICIAL MESSAGES. Received July 10, 10-40 pjn. London, July 10. Sir Douglas Hftig reports:—There is nothing to report. Seven German machines were destroyed and six driven dawn uncontrollable. Four British machines are missing. We dropped 19 tons of bombs, principally on railway connections, at Roulers, Tournai, and Wavrin, and dumps at Warneton and ißachtmaur. Practically no frying was possible on the night of the Bth. A French communique states:—South of the Aisne, the enemy counter-attack-ed against positions we captured in the region of Chavigny Farm, but failed. We prisonered 530 in the morning's at--1 tack west of Antheuil, and captured 30 ' machine-guns.—Aus.-N.Z Cable Assoc, and Reuter. AERIAL OPERATIONS. Received July 10, 11.55 p.m. London, July 9. The Air Ministry reports that aero- | planes on the Bth successfully bombed an enemy aerodrome. Bombs were observed to burst on sheds and hangars. At night-time the enemy's aerodromes were again attacked, with good results. Two hangars were reported on fire. j Trains and searchlights were attacked at a low altitude. All the British machines returned safely.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. t 1 THE BELGIAN SLAVES. r Received July 10, 11.50 p.m. Washington, July 9. The Belgian Minister tos issued a statement to the effect that deportations t and forced labor of Belgians by the Gert mans continues in the military zones, i The Belgians are compelled to work be- * hind the German frost under Allied fixe. Jle-Vam Amm. •