HEAVY FIGHTING AGAIN.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16208, 10 May 1918, Page 7

HEAVY FIGHTING AGAIN.

STRONG GERMAN ATTACK IN FLANDERS.

RESUMPTION OF OFFENSIVE IMMINENT

IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS ON PEACE

4th YEAR—2B2nd DAY.

THE GREAT OFFENSIVE, j

ALLIED ACTIVITIES

HEAVY LOCAL FIGHTING

(By Cab I<J.—Frees Association.— Copyright.) (Australian ahd N.Z. Cable Association.)

(lleuter's Telegrama.) (Received May 9th, 1i.40 p- m -) LONDON, May 8,

Sir Douglas Haig reports:— j ''On the morning of May Bth the enemy launched a strong local attack against tbe British and French between La Clytte and Voormezeele, and after heavy fighting at tho ccntre of the attack entered the Allied front line at certain points.

"The fighting continues in the3e localities.

"The attacks were repulsed at all other points.

"A successful French local operation advanced their line during the night eouthwnrd of La Clytte, taking a number of prisoners.

"We dropped 400 bombs on different targets along the front. "We brought down 15 German machines during air fighting, eight of which were brought down itt one big encounter in the neighbourhood of Doudi. None of our machines is missing."

A French communique states: — "There is reciprocal artillery activity north and south Of the Avre."

LONDON, May 8

Sir Douglas Haig reports:— "As a fesult of minor operations we advanced our llbo a short distance in three localities between the Somme and the Ancre. taking prisoners. "Hostile artillery Was active at night between Locoh ana Robetx] and in the neighbourhood of St. JUlifen. It also developed considerable activity this morning in the Meteren-Kemmel sector."

(Received May oth, 8 p.m.)

LONDON, May. 8 A French communique states:—

"There was gf@at feciprocal artillery Activity during the night north ahd south of tbe Avte. Eneiiiy raids west of Montdidier, in tho regions of Hangard alid Grivesfies failed." german Claims. (Australian and N.Z, Cabld Association.) (ReutWa Telegiams.) Admiralty ]>er WiraletiA Prees. ' (Ret:eiv6d' May 9th ( 11 ; 40 p.m.) tiONOON, May 8.

A- German official report states;— "In a successful reconnoitring operation southward Of Nifeuport tve took some Belgian prisoners. "Local oh the Somme resulted ili our taking British atid French prisoners. "Tho enemy, after strong mining preparations, unsuccessfully attacked Oti both sides of the Corbie-Bray f-oad. Our fire effectively caught the troops Which were being kept In readiness; After d further attack ftt night Southward of tbo road oUr' counter-attack drove the enemy back.''

GERMAN ATTACK IN FLANDERS. (Reutcr's Telegrams.) (Received May 1i.50 p.m.) LONDON, May 8. lleuter's correspondent at Headquarters, Writing on Mfty Btli in tho eveningj says:— "Following a heavy, continuous bombardment along A wide front in Flanders, tho German infantry this morning attacked, south of DickebuSch Lake. It was not a Very big itffair, and was apparently made in only divisional strength.

"The enehly peiietrated OUr front line between the lake and Ridge Wood. Some enemy parties are reported in the eastern fringe Of the wood the gtedter part of whibh we hold; and Which is likely to prove very costly to the enemy if he attempts to push on. We also hold Kleiiievstfaat, where fighting continues.

"The tactical objective of the operation was apparentlv an attempt to clear the Way for a thrust towards Scherpenberg from the north-east.

"The attack may prove the beginning of further fierce fighting in this region."

ANOTHER AUSTRALIAN

ADVANCE

(Australian aiid N.Z. Cablo Auocifttion.)

, LONDON, Mat 8. Thtj United Press correspondent cn the British front states that the Australians advanced 500 yards on a 1100 yards front north of the Somme. The Australians gained 500 yards at Sailly-lfr-Secij east of Amiens, atid gainfed 200 yards west of Morlanceurt. They advanced despite a heavy barrage.

(Received May 9th, 7.30 p.m.)

LONDON, May 8. Thfe Uiiitod Press cotrespondeixt, telegraphing on April &th, says:— "Tho Australians' 'first move at midnight was h feiilt, made with a heavy bombardment. The second and third blows were dolivered simultaneously. Meanwhile the enemy put up tremendous machihe-gtm and shrapnel barrages, but the Australians held on.

"Artilioty activity has increased around Bailicul and along the Aiiefe. Warplafl&j ate stvnrmihg over the battlefields.

''firilliant sunshiny weather prevails.''

MISCELLANEOUS CABLES.

LONDON, May 8. Mi- Winston Churchill, Minister of Munitions, says that the British and French armies are prepared to remain on the defensive during the coming summer, until adequate reinforcements from the "United States arrive.

WASHINGTON, May 8. The British Military Mission forecasts the almost immediate resumption of the German offensive.

Mr Newton Baker stated that 500,000 < United States soldiers are already in France.

Uleuter'g Telegrams.)

HOME, May 8. Signor Orlando, the Italian Premier, interviewed at an Italian port, after his return from Franfce. said that he found all the Allied military chiefs convinced that the German rtish had been stopped, and that the Germans would iiexther reach the Channel ports nor separate the English and French. General Foch is master of the game. SigiiOr Orlando emphasised the fact that Italy had associated herself with the intimate militnry and political union between the Entente nations at the Abbeville conference, and recognised the unity of the front from the North Sea to the Adriatic as a concrete reality.