OFFICIAL WAR NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4855, 29 April 1918, Page 5

OFFICIAL WAR NEWS.

THE Y/EEK REVIEWED. SITUATION ON WEST FRONT. ENEMY ATTAINS NUMERICAL SUPERIORITY. Press Association Telegram. ~ ' WELLINGTON, April 28. the Governor-General has received the following telegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dealing witii the operations up to April Raids have been carried out on both sides, chiefly for identification purposes, and the artillery at times lias been ver v active. A new offensive began on the night of April 23, after an advance westward oil Hazelbrouck was definitely checked. The enemy still made ver v serious endeavours 'at different points to reach objectives of tactical value, and, just as be made one final desperate effort in the Somme offensive before transferring his attack to the north in this case also lie accepted the rebuff for the moment and centred his energies on the next operations. - After artillery preparation on April 23, infantry attacks were launched by the enemy at dusk north of Albert and in the neighbourhood, of Dranoutrc. which were broken up after general artillery activity. During tile night of April 23, strong hostile infantry attacks developed between Albert and the Anero and the enemy made some progress, capturing the village of Villers Brcttonneux from the British and a small wood nortli of Hangard from the French. Our counter-attacks deprived him of the greater part of his gains, including Villers Brcttonneux, and his resumption of the fight for Amiens has not yet developed. The enemy only set himself limited objectives and aimed at points favorable for further exploitation. The use of tanks by the Germans for the first time in attack gave tlio impression that the operations were experimental. In this case lie aimed at the Caehy-Fouillo.v road, abouttwo miles west of his former position. Jn renewed fighting oil April 24th, the French were gradually driven back short distances from ITatigard, which has already changed hands frequently, but the v retained possession of Dailies and Senicat Mood. Although the French are involved in this fresh attack, the blow is still directed against the British. ENFAI Y’ S A D VANTA GE.

The enemy, who now launched his new offensive after a pause during which he was able to rest his tired troops and organise his supply, has on tho battle fronts some 130 divisions. There are in addition some other exhausted divisions and also fresh divisions in reserve, but it is doubtful whether lie can effect the same concentration as on March 2], partly because of exhaustion of many units, but chiciiy because of dispersal of tho effort by withdrawal from the ea-st. He now. however. has acquired a numerical preponderance over the British and French in the the Most. He also has the advantage of interior lines and the initiative and can therefore obtain local superiority and it is the Allies' t.o. cf to wear down his numbers: by dogged and defensive methods.

'This local superiority is all the greater now that ho has singled out the British army for destruction, but so far, although our reserves have naturally been drawn <m and the French have shouldered their share of the burden, be lias neither worn down the British nor used up the strategic reserves as he hoped.

On the other fronts there arc no specific features, except in Palestine, where, tlio Hcdjaz railway was raided by Arab troops. THE NAVAL RAID. On the night of April 22. operations were carried out against enemy bases at Zeebrugge and Ostend for the purpose of sealing the entrance to the channels by means of block-ships. Six obsolete cruisers—Brilliant, Sims, intrepid, ithzcnia Thetis and Vindictive—two old submarines and two auxiliaries —Iris and Daffodil—participated. 'Hie first live cruisers were filled with concrete and were to be sunk in the channels and entrance to the ports. Light covering forces of monitors and motor launches and coastal motor boats; also French destroyers, cooperated and the attack was made under the cover of a smoke screen.

At . Ostend the block-ships wore run ashore and abandoned after being blown up. At Zeebrugge, two of the three block-ships attained their object and were sunk and blown up in the entrance to the canal and the third grounded on the way in. Enemy destroyers and other craft lying alongside the mole were sunk; also a coastal motor boat reports having torpedoed an enemy destroyer which tried to escape seawards. One of the old submarines succeeded in attaining its objective and blew up and -destroyed the piling ol the approach to the mole. - Storming parties from H.M. Vindictive, Iris and Daffodil attacked under extremely heavy fire, maintaining their positions alongside the mole for an hour and causing considerable damage. The Vindictive, Iris and Daffodil, after re-embarking their landing parties. withdrew. This attack was primarily intended to engage the attention of the garrison on the mole, thereby allowing the block-ships to enter tho harbor and. as the attack on the mole accomplished its mam object, it was successful. One British destroyer was sunk bv gunfire off the mole and two coastal motor boats and two motor launches arc missing. A clear break 20 yards yvide "as subsequently observed in Zeebrugge mole by our aircraft. OUR AIR FORGES. The activties of the Royal Aircraft were hampered in the week under review by adverse weather conditions and aerial operations were subsequently greatly restricted, it being impossible to undertake londistance raids into Germany. During the operation on April 1. at Meteren and M'vtschaete ou r airmen continually attacked the enemy s lnfantn. guns and transport. lhe v dropped over 500 bombs in this neighborhood and fired a large quantity of ammunition at different ground with excellent effect. Night bombing squadrons, whenever “the weather permitted, continued to harass tho enemy s communications and hamper the bniimng up of vitally important- supplies, allowing the troops who had been withdrawn to billets no rest. i-ScSlf W j. fen who was brought down as the result of a fight- between our own and the emeny’s scouts in the aomnie area constituting a heavy blow to rim morale of the enemy, ''’brother in I,* *.,¥*B^ to those brought down by Itahan P1 \t S 'Aden the value of aircraft in the outlying theatres has Keen stn - ingly demonstrated as in consequence

of our aerial activities the enemy has been compelled to scatter bis camps and live largely in dug-outs. HOME TANSPORT PROBLEM. Congestion on the railways tends to throw a greater burden on the roads and canals and depleted manpower increases the difficulties of the railways. The Board of Trade is tackling both problems, through the Canal Control Committee and Road Transport Board, by promoting the most economical use of boats and vehicles to meet the requirements of food and munition transport. FOOD SITUATION. The Food Ministry reports that the national meat rationing scheme is working as smoothly throughout the country as the local scheme previously worked in London and the Home Counties and the rationing of tea is under consideration. Improved weather encourages hopes regarding the Home meat supply and the improved milk yield is satisfactory. enabling a greatly needed increased ration of fats. Improved sugar imports are being utilised as a stock against the winter period of short supplies, '['here has been no increase in bread consumption, hut increased imports of cereals are urgently needed; also cheese.