OF BIG OFFENSIVE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 211, 25 May 1918, Page 7

OF BIG OFFENSIVE

, EXPECTED FIRST WEEK IN JUNE % 1,500,000 ENEMY BAYONETS ON WEST F^RONT ... By Telegr'aph-FreES. Association-Copyright. • General G. T. M Bridges, .head of tin British Military Viu United btatcs. states that the enemy has 1,500,000 bayonets on tlie West front. His drivo will .probably begin on Juno J, wound Ypres and iii the vicinity of Ilazebrouck, and a subsidiary dnvo is expected towards Amiens. Germany is insisting that Austria shall open »n'offensive against Italy, but Austria is unwilling to do so without German aid; . If Germany's drive on the .West front ends in a stalemate, sho will probably .divert troops to the Italian front, and this would necessitate-the Allies again. lengthening i-'ioir lines. . The Now York "Times" correspondent with tho American Armv learns that the Germans have withdrawVcrack troops for final training .in shock attacks. Military officers believe that the big offensive will U resumed in tho first week m June.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' ''

THE BOASTFUL KAISER ; ■ ■• , ''WE SHALL ACCOMPLISH OUR TASK." ii. C siT il , B , ro 7 n ' t,,e -, Now York -"World" Amsterdam correspondenll 3 "says that the Lokal Anzeiger has published an interview with the Kaiser, in which ho says: We shall accomplish our task on tho AVest front. This is surer today than ever. We know the onenry to hia last depths. Wo have already given him two frightful blows. , There iss no hurry for tho fruits of victorv "— Aus.tN.Z. Cable Assn. ..-,.... ■ .;• , . • . ■ VIEW OF THE GERMAN DEMOCRATIC PRE^S ENEMY OFFENSIVE REGARDED AS A. FAILURE.. the New York "World" correspondent at v .Eome learns that the German democratic Press criticises the German offensive en the West front which it regards as u failure, in epite• of the territory which it has taken—Aus NZ Cable Assn. ■'■■. . ' '' SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT "■ 'en--n i'■ 7T • ■ ■ ■ '{ '.. ' London, May 2J. . Sir Douglas Haig'reports to-/lay : -"We successfully raided in the neighbourhood ot Ayette, and repulsed an enomy raid in the viciuity of Eiez du Yiuttge. -lho enemy artillery is aolivD lit various points'."-Aus.-N.Z. Cabie Assn.-Keuter. . . ~. ! . (Rec. May 25, 0.10 a.m.) of J l ' Roughs _Haig'reports: "We repulsed raids at Avcluy"Wood' ot Hebuterne attacked a machine-gun post at Aveluy Wood and destroyed a gun. Ihe Trench captured a machine-gun and a few prisoners in successful raids-north of Bailleul and east of Locre'."-Aus.-N.,Ji. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. ■ ; ON THE FRENCH FRONT ■■.-.- (Rec. May. 24, 7.30 p.m.) ' '' " ( A French official communiqufl states:-"There have been bbnibardments soutlr of tho Avre. An-enemy coup de main in the region of the Bois tie MonßivaHailed under our Ure. Our detachments entered the enemy lines notably in the' Champagne, at Avocourt Wood, and in the-Woevre Wo tonl ; prisoners and-inaterial."-Aus.-is : .Z. Cnblo Assu.-Eeuter. THE WAR,IN THE AIR / . . -' DESTRUCTIVE RAIDS BY BRITISH AVIATORS. ' *

~. T. , • tt • '• , •,. London, May 23. Sir Douglas Haig, m a report on aviation, states :-"We dropped 1200 bombs on various Targets, including aerodicmecs near Ghent and Tournai, and billets in the ' neighbourhoods of • ArmenucvM, Uapaumc, and Bray, We dropped ove" twelve tons of. bombs upon aerodromes-need by the enemy nightiliers- two tons of bombs on a'chlorine factory at Maanbeini, causing three large tires; and two tons on-the raihyny stations at Thipuville and Karthaus. it dawn jii Wed vjday two'fonnati6ns carried out a'louij-distanco.raid against the important <"r,Iwa/'triangle, at Liege, and dropped -Iveuty-two heavy bombs. . The bombs i-f the first formation caused three/very imgo fires,'which still burned fiercely tiltedquarters of an hour later when the second formation fle'sy over Liege The other machines dropped twelve heavy bombs, All the machines returned' — Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter.

FURTHER BOMBING OPERATIONS AT ZEEBRUGGE "■'. AN ENEMY DESTROYER SUNK, ; ' •'■■ ' (Kec. May.24,.10.25 p.m.) , - ' ' ■ - _ The Admiralty reports--"Air toroe contingents between May"ao^alid- 1 ™ "carried out bombing.opcrntious at Zeebruggii, also at tho mole and the base Enemy shipping in the vicinity and an aerodrome at St. Denis Westrom wore also bombed. Tivu direct hits on enemy destroyers were made. A photo-ranMc reconnaissance shows that one destroyer was sunk. We drove down three enemy machines out of control. All our, machines returned."— Aus.-N Z Cable Assn Ueuter. . % • .• • • GERMANS UNABLE TO REMOVE OBSTRUCTION IN CHANNEL (Kec. May 24. 10.10 p.m.) The authorities state that aerial photographs within the la's" "few' veal a satisfactory situation at Zeebrugge. The Germans evidently hove been unable to remove the obstacles, and are. now cutting away sonic piors at the canal's entrance, with a view to making a new channel and ouUlnnkinj: the obetructioiis, but the position nf tho Thetis and the throwing uj> of silt makes the latter operation difiicult. , - Photographs show the number of destroyers, torpedo boats, and subroutines in Ostend and tho Brngis Canal to fce tho same as before the raid provin» that the vessels have-beeii rendered luunobile.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ENEMY AEROPLANES BOMB PARIS. .'■.■■ , , ~ London, May 23. A French official report states:—"Enemy aeroplanes dropped bombs in Paris on tho evening, of May-22. No damage or casualties resulted- A second rn;d by aeroplanes in relays was Made early this morning, thirty machines participating. Only one aeroplane reached Hie capital, where it dropped n few boiiias,' killing one' person and wounding twelve others. Further casualties are reported in outlying districts.' Tho raiders" were met with a fierce barrage, .on i swre chased by a squadron of French aeroylun e i i.".--Aus.-N,Z. Cable Aesn.-Eeuter. ,