THE COMING GERMAN OFFENSIVE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1088, 14 February 1918, Page 5

THE COMING GERMAN OFFENSIVE.

PLANNED DRIVE FOR NEXT MONTH. AIMING AT THE BRITISH FRONT. Received February 14. 8.50 a.in. WASHINGTON, Feb. 13. Unofficial advices state that a great German drive has boon planned for next month, directed particularly at the British front. INCLUDE INVASION OF SWITZERLAND. HINDENBURG'S PLANS. 1815 TREATY WILL BE SCRAPPED. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. Received February 14, 9.20 a.m. NEW' YORK, Fob. 13. Mr Simms, in a further despatch to the United Press from Berne, says the Swiss believe the Allies will win this year if the West front holds. Ilindenburg does not expect Austria's help, as the wobbly Emperor fears to send many Austrians to the West front-. Ludendorff has reorganised the German army and has probably 200 divisions *rcti<Jy for the offensive I am informed the Germans have completed plans to invade Switzerland if such course is necessary. Ilindenburg is massing troops and ammunition against the French right flank, and the Swiss arc asking whether the treaty of 1815 will be tin' noxt scrap of paper. Germans in Zurich openly boast they could smash the Swiss army in 48 hours. The Swiss believe Ilindenburg will not hesitate to invade if he considers it advisable. The, country is alive witli German agents trying to start a Swiss revolution. GERMAN PREPARATIONS. GUN NERY AN D A RTILLER Y SCHOOLS IN BELGIUM. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. Received Fobruarv 14, 10.25 a.m. LONDON,' Feb. 13. Mr Percival Phillips states that information extracted from prisoners revoals that Gorman infantry are being trained in musketry. Many new ranges and large artillery schools have been established in Belgium, at one of which 20,000 gunners are instructed simultaneously. Evidently machine guns, tanks and gas will figure prominently in the German attempt. Many new railways have been built, including mono-rail lines for the conveyance of ammunition.