THE COMING BLOW IN THE WEST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 123, 11 February 1918, Page 5

THE COMING BLOW IN THE WEST

WHAT WILL THE GERMANS ATTEMPT? DISCUSSIONS IN THE BRITISH DUG-OUTS (Roe. February 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 9. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes :—"Opinions differ among British officers regarding the enemy's plans for the coming campaign, which is the great topic of discussion in the dug-outs. Somo officers find sound arguments for their belief that a Gorman offensivo on a great scale is improbable. Others aro of the opinion that the enemy will attack us in several places, as the Bocho, they say, is not massing all those divisions on tho Wost front for mere bluff. He possesses enough troops for several attacks, which would bo subsidiary to his main thrust, with crowds of guns behind them. Tho fact that the winter training of the German reserves has included open warfaro tactics leads speculators to declare that the Germans may rely on a surprise attack to roTt up our line quickly, and make a stern bid for open warfare on a big scale."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FURIOUS ATTACKS ON VERDUN FRONT . ' HEAVY GERMAN LOSSES TO NO ADVANTAGE. (Reo. February 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 9. Reuter's correspondent at FrenclwHeadquarters states:—"The Germans are multiplying their attacks in. the Verdun region with a fury and persistence recal|in« the onslaughts of 1916. The right bank of the Meuse has been practically an active battle sector during tho past week. Daily German assaults were beaten off, resulting only in heavy enemy losses without the semblance of any advantage. The Bavarian shock troops and the Hanoverians were conspicuous in these attacks, some .of which did not reach our line, the poilus leaping from the trenches and meeting the enemy in the open. In some cases the enemy gained momentary footing, bijfc were ejeoted in immediate counter-attacks.—Reu ter. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT (Reo. February 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 9. A French official communique states:—"North of the Cheniin-des-Dames and Flirey, in the region of the Woevre, we repelled attempted attacks on small posts. Thore was lively reciprocal artillery firing on the right bank of the Meuse and in the Vosges."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. February 11, 0.50 a.m.) Paris, February 10. A French official communique states:—"There is considerable artillery activity in Champagne and on the right bank of the Meuse."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable .Assn.-Reuter. * ON THE BRITISH FRONT GERMAN RAIDERS SEVERELY HANDLED. London, February 8. Sir Douglas Haig reports that, tTiere has been hostile artillery firing at Flesquieres (Cambrai front).—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. February 10, 5.5 p.m.) , London, February 9. Sir Douglas Haig'reports:—"We drove off raiders who were attempting to approach our line south-east of Arras. Another party raided a post in the neighbourhood of Oppy, and left a large number of their dead behind them. There has been hostile artillery' firing between Bullecourt and tho Scarpe River, and north of Ypres. The enemy's patrols have been more active north of Lens."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. February 11, 0.50 a.m.) London, February 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports :—"The enemy raided a post north-west of St. Quentin."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reutef. GERMAN DIVISIONS FROM THE RUSSIAN FRONT. (Rec. February 10, 11.15 p.m.) London, February 9. The Press Bureau, in a statement, adduces evidence of the transfer of seven German divisions from the Eastern to the Western front subsequent to the signing of the Russo-German armistice of December 15, under which all transfers were prohibited.—-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter.