THE GREAT OFFENSIVE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16210, 13 May 1918, Page 7

THE GREAT OFFENSIVE.

ONLY LOCAL FIGHTING

BRITISH AVIATORS ACTIVE.

(By Cable.—Preas Aasociat-.on.—Copyright.) (Australian and JC.Z. Cable Association.)

(Renter's Telegrams.") (Received May 12th, 0.0 p.m.)

LONDON, May 10 Sir Douglas Haig reports:—

"There was local fighting at Avoluy Wood, northward of Albert.

"Hostile artillery was particularly active on the \ imy and Robecq t>ectors and southward of Dickebuscli." "

LONDON, May 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— "At the conclusion of the righting on the morning of May 9th, in the La Clytte-Voormozeele sector, the French and British positions were completely re-established.

"The enemy, after artillery preparation, launched two early local attacks in tho neighbourhood of Albert and Bouzincourt. Our rifle and machinegun fire broke up the latter attack, the enemy not reaching our trenches. "Tho enemy, after suffering heavy casualties from our fire at Albert, effected a lodging in our advanced petitions on a front of 150 yards. Our counter-attack recaptured* a- small portion of the front trench.

"Hostile artillery is active in tho Sonnnc and Ancre Valleys, ami at different points on the Lys battlefront." Sir Douglas Haig's aviation reportstates :—

"Wo dropped ten tons of bombs on Le Cateau, Cambrui, Bupaumc, and Zeobrugge docks and mole. Strenuous air fighting occurred in the northern area. Ho dropped ono ton of bombb during the night on tho railway stations at> Dotiai und Marcoing." (Received May 12th,. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 11. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— "The French advanced their line slightly north-eastward of Locre.

"Wo made successful raids westward of Merville, and stopped an attemptod raid eascward of Ypres."

Sir Douglas Haig's aviation report states:—

"Cloudless weather on May 9th enabled a full day's work to be carried out. Our machines How all day, reconnoitring and photographing. "Our bombers displayed great activity along the whole front. They dropped 24 tens of bombs on important railway stations at Tournai, Douai, Marcoing, and Cambrai; on billets at Carvin, Peronne, and Ckipilly, and on the docks at Zeebrugge.

"Tlie air lighting was almost continuous. and was particularly fiorco towards dusk. We brought down 27 German machines and drove down 12 others. Six British machines are miss-

"Our night fliers dropped 4* tons of bombs on the docks and the entrance to the canal at Ostend; also 31 tons on Peronno, Cliauluos, and Bapaumo. All our machines returned."

(Recoived March 13th, 12.45 a.m.) LONDON, May 11 (11 p.m.). Sir Douglas Haig reports:— "Wo repulsed a raid in the neighbourhood of Nenviilo Vitasse.

"There was great aerial activity on Friday evening. We brought down eight enemy machines and drove down six others behind the enemy's lines. Nino of our.s are missing."

WITH THE FRENCH.

LONDON, May 11. (Received May 12th, 5.5 p.m.) A French communique states: — "We carried out successful local' operations. "Wo repellod raids on the right bank of the Ailette, in the region of Massige, north of Rheims, and the Forest of Ailly.

' 'Lieutenant Fonck yesterday brought down six German biplanes, the first two in ten teeconds and tho third five minutes lator."

• LONDON,' May 10. A French communique states: — "After an intense but short artillery pie2saration, we yesterday captured tho pant of Grivosnes, an important part of which tho Germans had occupied. "We brought back a large quantity of material. Despite lively enemy artillery lire and reconnaissances in attempting to roach our new line, wo maintained tho_ conquered positions, which we organised." Another French communique states:— "There ife marked reciprocal artillery activity on tho Haiilos-Montdidier front." A later French communique states: — "During the night tho artillery struggle was very lively throughout the region of Grivesnes, Mailly, and Raineval.

"A minor operation against the Bois do Morcuil, northwest of Orvillers, enabled us to gain an appreciable tfnount of ground. A counter-attack completely failed.

"We carried out raids south-east or Montdidier, northeast of Thiepscourt, and in the Woevrc."

(Received May 13th, 12.45 a.m.) LONDON, May 12 (2.35 a.m.). A French communique states:— "After a most violent artillery fire German shock troops gained a footing in Gavne Wood, south-west of Mailly llaineval, but our counter-attack drove them out with heavy losses, the position being completely restored."

WHAT THE GERMANS SAY

Admiralty per Wireless Prca3

LONDON, May 10. A wireless German olbcial messago

"Our local attacks southward of Dickebusch Lake w.uo completely su c T cessful. We stormed strongly fortified positions on the east bank or the \ >- verbrook, to a width, of two kiloincties, and ran into a French and British attack, which was dissipated. lho enemy's attack was fully developed only astride the Reiningnelst-Ivcmmel Road, and was repulsed, together with counter-attacks against our new positions. "We took t>7s prisoners_ belonging to six French and two English divisions, which suffered heavily. r ®~ pulsed English advances on tho south bank" of the Lys, near Bucquoy. In air fighting during tho past few we brought down thirty-seven enifiny aeroplanes. (Received May 13th, 12.45 a.m.)

LONDON, May 12

A German official report admits that the British obtained a footing at Grivesnes Park.

AN ATTACK THAT FAILED

(Australian and 15".2. Cable Association.)

LONDON, May 10. Mr Percival Phillips states that the German attack on May 9th was on an ambitious scale, botween Locre and the Yprcs Canal, on a five or six miles front. It was completely frustrated. It is believed that five German divisions wore employed for the attack, hoping to separate the Allied forces, but our fire prevented many from leaving the trenjhos. 'i'he bombardment of the Ridge Wood defences completely destroyod

the outpost lines, so that wo fell back behind the wood in wluch tho Germans attompted to establish tnemselves. Wo the eastern edge of the wood at duskj and the Sealorths, with the bayonet, cleared the wood before dark. Tho Australians further improved their lines between the Sommo and tho Ancre. *

Everywhere from Albert to Amiens men are wiring and strengthening the defences.

OMINOUS GERMAN PREPARATIONS. LONDON, May 10. Tho "Daily Telegraph's'' Koiterdam correspondent states that the AustroGermans are being regrouped and fresh artillery is massing for tho resumption of the baitle at least at three points. These are Flanders, the Am tens salient, and tho Italian front. There are indications of at loast two. attacks simultaneously. Although there are few Germans in Italy, von Ludendorff is tho muster of the Austrian armies, and has imposed his will upon the war-sick politicians, regarding the part Austrians must play. The German staff's energies are now devoted to the problem of developing greater speed. following up any initial success. Tho generals responsible for the St. Quentin attack attribute the iinal failure to incomplete co-operation between the artillery and the infantry. Contrary to expectations, the farther the infantry advanced the more essential tho artillery co-operation became, as the rotreaters were always drawing nearer their own fixed batteries.

Tho Germans are seeking fresh devices, including the application of the tank principle to shifting batteries.

Fresh troops ar9 being subletted to extraordinarily intensive training, with special attention to open order work, all soldiers using fire bombs. There were some casualties, but they were justified bv accustoming the 'men to handling fire missiles. ITALIANS ON WEST FRONT.

(Australian nnd A.Z. Cable Association.) (Received Mav 12th, 11 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 10. Official advices state that 2,500,000 Italian soldiers arc now at the .hsposal of General Foeh's reserve army, and the number is increasing.

KULTUR IN BELGIUM

(Received May 12tli. 11 p.m.)

NEW YORK, May 10,

The Belgian Legation lias announced that Germany is forcing boys to worx close behind the trenches in France.

A CAVALRY MOVEMENT

(Australian and N.Z. Cubic Association.) (Received May 13th, 12.45 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, May 11. Frontier reports state that lari;e contingents of Bavarian cavalry from the Flanders front, traversed Liege. It is supposed that their destination us the Ukraina.

WAR SITUATION

REVIEWED BY HIGH AUTHORITY.

(Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) (Received May 11th, 5.5 p.m.)

LONDON, May 10,

A high authority states:—

"Nothing of great importance has occurred in France. The attack between La Clyttc and V oormezeolo was merely local. Tho Germans have putin considerable frosh divisions on the Somme and in Flanders sincc last week, and it is almost certain that they will continue their attacks against the heights in Flanders, and also endeavour to capture the high ground in the direction of Amiens. , IN MESOPOTAMIA. "Bad weather began 24 hours before we entered Kirkuk, and prevented us from capturing more Turks, our transport operations being fraught with considerable difficulties. Our operations have had a good effect on tho Persian border tribes, many of whom arc now co-operating with us. PALESTINE CAMPAIGN. "Genoral Allenby's decision to retire to his original bridgeheads east of tho Jordan was not influenced by the loss of nine guns, but was entiroly duo to tho fact that his operations had been delayed at the moment when success depended on their rapidity, and thus he could not oGtain the rosults at which ho, aimed."