MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16216, 20 May 1918, Page 7

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received May 19t"h, o.*~>.ni.)

LONDON, May 18

The United Press correspondent states: —"A heavy German concentration of gunfire this morning in the neighbourhoods of Hinges and Pacaut Wood seemed to foreshadow a local attack, but after tho British Jiaa retaliated with a few rounds of rapid fire, the enemy thought better of it. "The weather is unusually warm, with brilliant sunshine. There has been severe air fighting, and heavy night

bombing."

NEW YORK, May 17. The United Press correspondent announces that the Americans have arrived and are reinforcing the British fcijnt in Northern France.

(Received May 19tli, 0.0 p.mo

NEW YORK, May 18

It is pointed out that the arrival of Americans on the British front locates the Americans on three, and possibly four sectors, it having already been announced that Americans were between Malley and Hangard en toanterre, as well as west of Montdidier. Possibly the now arrivals aro located in Flanders.

(Received May 19th, 5.5 p.m.)

PARIS, May 18

The Roumanians in France are organising, to fight with the French on 'th)> West front.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received May 19th, 11.15 p.m.)

NEW YORK. May 18. General Pershing reports increased artillery activity in Lorraine. The Americans at Montdidier destroyed two German batteries, and forced others to withdraw. THE SUPER-GUNS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Mav 19th, 55 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 18. Passengers from England report that Dover was bombarded from Ostend by a German snper-guu. London officially denies the reports (Received May 19th, 0.0 p.m.) MONTREAL, May 18. 11l connexion with the Dover .bombardment, it is stated that three shells were fired, and were mistaken for an air raid.

THE OUTLOOK

COMMENT BY HIGH AUTHORITY,

(United Sarvipe.) (Received May l&th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 18

A high authority has explained that his statements might be regarded as tho considered opinion of the General Staff as far as can be published.

The operations in Prance are purely of a minor character, and more or less in the nature of sparring. On the whole the balance is with us. The enomv has been extraordinarily good in infiltrating himsolf, ami staying in a position taken; often widening the breach until ho is able to hold it. This comes from the exceedingly good brains of his regimental officers and subordinate staff. In this respect all through the war the Germans have been better than wo have at this game.

The chief feature of our activities has been our air work. Between May 9th and May 15th we brought down 71 enemy machines in flames, as against 19 of ours reported missing . We are infinitely better in tho air this year than twelve months ago. Aviation played a very important part in the first phase in bringing the German offensive to a standstill.

In the tank attacks at Villers Bretonneux our seven tanks, with a crew of 20, put 400 Germans out of action and broke up the advanco of a complete brigade.

In reference to a German statement that the 56th Division was almost wiped out, the fact i 3 that tho division lost •13 officers and 1425 men. The enemy reported that the 4th Yorks had; been captured completely, when only 191 men were missing, and that the sth Berks had been annihilated, when four officers and 100 men represented its loss.

With regard to the position in Franco the enemy is now boiling up for a big effort. If ho waits a little longer ho will probably be able to resume in the same strength a3 he ( did on March 21st. On the other hand the longer ho waits tho more time we have for preparation in co-operation with our Allies.

The Germans are trying to belittle the American factor. They did the same with our "contemptible little army." If they had nothing to fear from the Americans thero was not any particular reason why the Germans should have risked everything on the present offensive. Thero was every confidence that the American Army would make good.

General Allenby's main object in Palestine had been very greatly fulfilled. There was no intention to occupy much country east of the Jordan, but merely to ease the situation for the Arabs down south in smashing up the Hedjaz railway.