AUSTRALIANS ATTACK

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 110, 9 May 1918, Page 5

AUSTRALIANS ATTACK

ON THE SOMME FRONT SUCCESSFUL LOCAL OPERATIONS GENERAL MAURICE'S CHARGES Local fighting oil the Somme front, to the west and south of Morlancourt, in which the Australians figured as the attacking forces, resulted in improvement in the positions at the points of contact, the largest gain being at Sailly le Sec, where on a front of 1100 yards a penetration of 500 yards was achieved. The immediate resumption of the enemy offensive is anticipated by the British, but, according to the Italian Premier, ■who has just returned from the West front, the Allied High Command believes that the rush has been stopped, and that the enemy will not reach the Channel ports. Mr. Winston Churchill states that the Allies will act on the defensive through the summer, in order to give the Americans time to train and transport their armies. According to the American Secretary for War there are already half a million United States troops on the Western front. An acute situation has arisen from the publication of General Maurice's letter to several London newspapers charging the Premier and Mr. Bonar Law with making misleading statements to the House of Commons. Mr. Asquith has given notice for an inquiry by a Select Committee of the House, and this the Government will accept as a vote of censure, resigning if it be carried.