ALLIES WAITING.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16211, 14 May 1918, Page 7

ALLIES WAITING.

4th YEAR—2B6th DAY.

THE GREAT OFFENSIVE. LOCAL FIGHTING HOSTILE ARTILI3SRY ACTIVE. (By Cable.—Press Association.—ICopyright1Copyright (Australian and N. 2. Cable Association.) (Reuters Telegrams.) LONDON, May 12. Sir Douglas Haig reports: — "In a successful local operation th< French improved their positions north ward of Kemmel village. "Wo repulsed a raid on the Ypres Comines Canal. "Enemy artillery is active on th< Ancre sector, southward of Albert', an< at our forward positions eastward o Loos and southward of Voormezeele. A French communique reports:— "There is a violent bombardmen west of Maillyraines. . . "An attack on our new positions north-west of Villiers Sorel, was com pletely repulsed with heavy losses. "A lively artillery duel is reportec on the rignt bank of the Meuse." (Received May 13th, 9.40 p.m.) LONDON, May 12. Sir Douglas Haig reports: — "Nothing is happening except reciprocal artillery fire. "Mist is interfering with air work. Wo brought down four more enemj machines." GERMAN CLAIMS. Admiralty per' "Wireleea Press. LONDON, May 12. A German official report states: — "We stopped an attack on our lines northward of Kemmel. "We brought down in two days 19 aeroplanes.'* , ANOTHER BIG BLOW IMPENDING. (Australian and K.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, May 12. Mr Philip Gibbs writes: — "The present quietude means that the Germans are preparing another violent blow. Our guns are doing most of the firing on many parts of the ' front. The enemy gunners aro scarcely replying and aro economising in am- > mnnition, filling up dumps, and unloading shells from light railways. "Our airmen report unusual railway activity behind the German lines. There is a continual tide of rolling stock and sometimes long columns of marching men, but the movement is greatest at night when it cannot bo obsorvod. "Wo may assume that freßh divisions with field batteries and heavy guns aro taking up positions nearer our lines in readiness for an assault. Our armies are awaiting expectantly, believing that if tho enemy again fails tho Germans' great hopes will be utterly destroyed." LONDON, May 12. Mr Philip Gibbs writes: — "Our armie3 aro waiting expectantly another violent blow by masses of Germans. They believe,- as far as I know from tho talk of officers hore and there, that the enemy this time will be heldi and shattered. He has nothing like 'the same chance as on March 21st, when ho had the greater the first fever of enthusiasm, and a wider line of attack, which we held thinly in proportion to the strength brought against us. If he fails this time they believe that Germany's great hopes will bo utterly destroyed. Meanwhile, possibly where the front is quietest, the menace will bo greatest. Tho Germans, as far as possible, are in the night time secretly arranging every detail for a, colossal battle.V ' . GERMANS STILL MASSING. (United Sorvice.) LONDON, May 12. I A correspondent at British Headquarters states that the delay in the offensive i#» due less to the difficulty of bringing heavy artillery into position than to rostoring the devastated communications. The enemy is desperately busy making and mending roads, which our gunners and airmen ore constantly damaging. French aviators report that German reserves and munitions continue to accumulate between the Somme and Arras. ; AN ATTACK ABANDONED. j | (Australian and K.Z. Cable Association.) j (Received May 13th, 9.30 p.m.) j LONDON, May 12. | Router's correspondent at British Headquarters, writing on May 12th, 1 states:— "The weather is grey and cheerless on most of the battle front. t "The enemy has fallen considerably | behind his amended time-table. In a diary found on a captured Gorman offi- : cer is an entry stating that a certain ! big attack, planned from Albert, had been abandoned because the 2nd Naval Division had broken into Albert and indulged in a wholesale riot. The diary added that tho division had been dealt with for its disorderly behaviour and pillage. "French troops operating along the gully of the Wyverbeck, running south from Dickebusch Lake to tho eastern foot of 'Mount Kemmol. had considerable success." | IMMENSE ENEMY ARMY. ! (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) 1 NEW YORK, May 12. The "New York Times" correspond- ; ent with the American Army in France ; states that authentic figures show that ■ the German Army is now approximately. 5,400,000 men, exclusive of tho Austrian Army. This year Germany has been able to add 600,000 men. The Allies from Calais to Belfort are facing 3,654,000 Germans. He points out that the great task before the Allies • requires every available American sol- ■ dior. Tho estimated rate of German i losses is more than 1,000,000 annually, i SIDELIGHTS ON THE SITUATION. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) j (Received May 13th, 7.45 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 12. The United Press correspondent .on the American front says:—"lnforma-

ENEMY PREPARING FOR COLOSSAL BATTLE.

tion obtained from aviators flying above the German lines indicates that the Germans have thinned their ranks in Lorraine. The German lines opposite Verdun are now sparsely occupied. Prisoners report that the lowest grado German soldiers are holding these positions." (Router's Telegrams.) ) MOSCOW, May 12. Refugees from Riga state that numerous German troops have recently been hurriedly sent to the West front. LONDON, May 12. It is reported that GenerrJ von Macken sen is commanding between the " Somme and Arras. | AMERICA AT WAR. INVALUABLE AID TO THE ALLIES. > (By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright.) | (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) ■ ■ (Received May 13th, 7.40 p.m.) '; LONDON, May 12. i • Lord Milner (War Secretary), inter- | viewed by a "United Press corresponi dent, said that America was rapidly ! filling up the gap in the Allies' strength 1 due to Russia's failure. Tho war could . only be won decisively by superiority of man power and material, and America's aid was making that superiority certain. j Lord Rhondda (Food Controller), in ian interview, said that without the | United States' aid it would have btiten I impossible for tho Allies to feed their | troops and civilian populations during j the last six months. ' Mr Bonar Law (Chancellor of th© Exchequer), who was also interviewed, said that tho Americans had splendidly assisted us financially, giving to tho i full extent of their ability, thus enab- ! ling Britain to borrow from her as much ;as w 0 loaned to our Allies. j Sir Eric Geddes (First Lord of the ! 1 dmiralty) received a cable from Mr J. Daniels (Secretary to the United States Navy) stating that one splendid result of tho war was the mutual appreciation of the men of the British and American Navies. Their work in combating tho U-boats had necessitated conferences between Britain and Amorica which would have far-reach-ing results iu the relations of the two nations. "I am engaged," Mr Daniels said; "in equipping mor© and more units of the fleet. The whole service is being keyod up, and tho watchword throughout th© Navy is: 'Full speed ahead.' " j WAiSHINGTON, May 12. President Wiison lias proclaimed May 30th a day of humiliation, fast, and prayer for our cause. To beseech God to give victory to our armies, as they fight for freedom, bringing at last a peace, in which men's hearts can rest, founded upon mercy justice and goodwill.'' ' j NEW YORK, May 12. i Mr Roosevelt has mado a statement I that tho Government is showing favoritism in the enforcement of tho Espionage Law, by suppressing and prosecuting certain magazines and newspapers, which are accused of com- , fortmg the enomy and obstructing the successful prosecution of the war, i while not prosecuting Hearst's newspapers, which "opposed our cntrv into ' the war, and attacked tho Allies'" * I i i.