GENERAL JOFFRE CEASES NIBBLING.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 6300, 29 September 1915, Page 5

GENERAL JOFFRE CEASES NIBBLING.

Germans Fail to Gues3 Storm

Centre.

Rec Sept 28, 10.15 p.m. Paris, Sept 27. The news of the resumption of the offensive by the Allies has aroused the most intense interest, in the French communiques. The cinamas in al! large towns last night showed portraits of JofTro and the other generals, while the audiences sang "The Marseillai3e,' but the word "victory waa not used, tfce people remembering that the conditions of modern warfare make decisive results extremely difficult. It is generally recognised that General JcfFre has ceased nibbling now and it is clear Neuve Chappclle, Beausejour, and Lesep&tfge have been eclipsed. The offensive wsb considered opportune, as the Germans were deeply committed to the invasion of Russia, where they are lighting on a front of seven hundred miles at the opening of a bad season. The Germans were expecting an attack and had been holding up boards in Flanders containing the words: — "We will be ready for* you on the 20th," But the Allies' attack did not come on the 20th, and the gunners distributed their favours so impartially that it was impossible to say where the thrust would come. It is untrue to suggest that the German morale is destruyed. Their guns are numerous and too well concealed to be destroyed., though they suffered much through the bombardment, but were unable to guess the real storm centre, They must have been sending reserves iirst to one centre and then to another. It now seems certain that the main thrust will fee in the Champagne region, where the country is open and undulating, without watercourses. If a wedge of the Mackcnsen type is driven in it may compel the Germans to retire upon the Sambre and the Aleuse. Having eecurea ft large gfcouk Leforo export ceased wo uro prepared to soil tko now unprocurable U.S.A.. Ovclos at; original prices—F. N. Christian,

Fines Levied on Lille. Amsterdam, Sept 2G. Owing «o ths Lille facto-ios refusing to suuply the Germans with ?dr,d bags the .Mayor has been notified that »n equivalent quantity of bags manufactured in Germany will be used at the ciiy's cost, and £15,000 deducted from the civil fund.

The city treasury was also forced to pay an additional £1.21U,00) war taxes that were demanded. Pending payment the Germans piaced seals (n the banks' strong rooms and individuals were held as a guarantee that the securities would not be removed. The authorities insisted thjit the city would not meet such huge sums. The Huns thereupon agreed to compromise and accept £040,000, with a penalty cf £4,000 daily until the amount wag paid.

Feeble German Effort. Hoc Sopt -IS, 1 I 30 p m Paris, Sept 28 A communique slates :— The enemy made only the fcebiwr ciVjr*-- against our ikY positions at | Artois. j The struggle in the Champagne 1 area continues without intermission before the Germans' second line. The Allies' capture exceeds seventy guns, of which the British took twenty-three. The German offensive in the Argonne was stopped four times with heavy enemy losses Terrible Bombardment Levels German Defences. Rec Sept; 28, 11 30 p m Amsterdam, Sept 28 Berlin newspapers warn the public against exaggerating the German check. The Ivoeluiache Zeitung opinea that the advances on Lille and Perthes are no (^surprising in view of the terrible bombardment levelling the Ger - man defences. The Yolks Zeitung declares that the successes are not proportionate to the losses which the enemy sustained. Million Shells Thrown by Allies. Rec Sapt 2(J, 805 a m Paris, Sept 28 The British and French armies before the advance on Saturday poured an incessant deluge of high explosives on the Uermaus' positions. 16 is estimated that a million, shells were thrown.