IMPROVED SHIPPING OUTPUT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16816, 5 April 1918, Page 5

IMPROVED SHIPPING OUTPUT

A high British military authority states that the battle, front has now reached a condition of stability from Arras to the Oise. The 1918 season is Just began, and It would be futile to suppose that operations had ended because the enemy had been checked. He has so far used only half his army on the west front, and is probably replacing tired divisions with fresh ones. A British military authority states that there are indica* tlons of an impending offensive in the Italian theatre. Italian patrols have been engaged with enemy outposts at several points. The Press Bureau announced late on Wednesday night that there bad been no change on the front. Sir Douglas Halg . reports local fighting at Fenchy, three miles east of Arras, and Hebuterne, in which prisoners and machine-guns were captured. An earlier report announced the capture of Ayettc, eight miles and a-half south-west of Arras, prisoners and machine-gun* being taken. The latest French reports describe the continuance of an artillery duel of some violence north of Montdidier, but without infantry action. An earlier report stated that the Germans made two attacks, one south-west of Moreuil, where a tooting was gained at one point in the advanced line, and one south' east of Montdidier, which was completely repulsed. At another point the French positions were extended. The British air service continues actively to harass enemy troops and transport and to drop bombs on hostile billets and troops. Twenty-one aeroplanes and three balloons were brought down tor the loss of seven British machines, Valuable work has been done by American aviators, co-operating with the British service, during the past fortnight. , During the year ending March 31,1,237,515 tons of merchant shipping were completed in the United Kingdom, as against - 692,225 tons during the previous year. Record figures, 161,674 tons, were reached in March.