WESTERN SITUATION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 11 May 1918, Page 7

WESTERN SITUATION.

GENERAL ENEMY OFFENSIVE

ABOUT TO REOPEN

SPECIAL TRAINING FOR TROOPS

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYKIGHT. _ , / ' ■ . /

(Received May 11, 11.10 a.m). LONDON, May 10. The Daily Telegraph's Rotterdam correspondent states that the AustroGermans are being reinforced, and fresh artillery is massing for a resumption of the battle at at least three points. These are Flanders, the Amiens salient, /and the Italian front. There are indications of at least two attacks simultaneously. Although there are few Germans in Italy, Ludendorff is master of the Austiian armies, and has imposed his will upon the War Secretary and i politicians regarding the part the Austrians , must play. The Ger-. =%ian staff's energies are now demoted to the problem of deveolping greater speed in following up any initial success. The generals responsible for the St. Quentin attack attribute its final failure to incomplete co-operation between artillery and in-i fantry. Contrary to expectation, the I further the infantry advanced the more ' essential artillery co-operation became, .as the retreaters were always drawing nearer to their own fixed batteries. The Germans are seeking fresh i -devices, including application of the j tank principle to shifting batteries. Fresh troop_s are being subjected to extraordinarily intensive training, with special attention to open, order work. All soldiers are using five bombs, and there have been some casualties, but they are. justified in accustoming men to handling five missiles.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.