OPERATIONS ON WEST FRONT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9900, 20 February 1918, Page 5

OPERATIONS ON WEST FRONT

“COLOSSAL BATTLE OF ALL TIME” GERMAN OFFENSIVE MOMENTARILY EXPECTED. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Renter. (Received February 20, 1.30 a.in.) r LONDON, February 10. Tho United 1 Press correspondent writes: — Civilisation is on tho threshold df tho most colossal battle of all. time. A German offensive is expected momentarily. Tho Germans for the first time use tanks , some like tne British, equipped with mortars. Lfthors have machine guns. The speed of the tank is almost four miles po rhour. Probably a.n attempt will be made .to smash tho British between Arras and St. Quentin, synchronised by blows elsewhere. Trench mortars will bo directed at the entanglements, and from support trenches guns will ho playing upon "battery positions, roads, railways and suspooted concentration points and approaches. A heavy percentage of gas shells will bo use deverywhere against the troops. Endless waves of infantry will follow liko cattle through holes in tho hope thus to tear a way in. The officers are tolling tho men„„ the wildest stories of the infallibility of tho scheme, but according to prisoners statements the men are doubtful. RAIDS DRIVEN OFF NEAR GAVRELLE PORTUGUESE! TROOP’S TAKE PRISONERS. , Australian and New Ztnfand Cable Association. LONDON, February 18. Sir Douglas Haig. reports:—Wo drove off raiders in tho neighbourhood of Gavrelle. ■ The Portuguese troops took a few prisoners in tho neighbourhood of Nouve Ohapello. The enemy suffered casualties in. patrol encounters in the Messines see tor. ’ i SEVERE AIR FIGHTING REPORTED MANY ENEMY TARGETS HEAVILY BOMBED. Australian and Now Zealand Cable Association and Renter. (Received February SO, 12.55 a.m.) ; LONDON, February 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—Wo dispersed & raid eastward of Epchy. Hostile artillery is active. 1 . [ Our aeroplanes on (Sunday dropped six tons of bombs on various targets, including aerodromes at iocruai and Lille, and a dump nera Courtrai. There has been severe air - fighting. We brought down sixteen enemy machines, while three of ours are missing. Wo further raided last night aerodro'mes at Ghent and Tournai, and railway station sidings at Conflans, where bursts were observed and a large fire started. i Our squadron?! to-day made a raid by daylight with excellent results upon barracks and railway station at Treves, and steel works and railway station at Thionville, causing two largo fires at Troves. These raids were effected despite the heaviest anti-aircraft gunfire. VIOLENT ARTILLERY ACTIVITY AT VERDUN ENEMY ATTACKS ON FRENCH POSITIONS REPULSED. Australian and Now Zealand Cable Association and Reuter........ (Received February 19, 7.55 p.m.) LONDON, February 18. _ A French communique states: —There is violent artillery activity’ in tho region, of Verdun. ‘ - • ■ We repulsed an enemy attack on the positions we captured on the 13th at Butte du Mesnil. (Received February 20, 12.50 a.m.) LONDON, February 19. A later French communiqc© states; —A second attack during the afternoon on our positions south-west of Butte du Mesnil was broken by our fire before reaching our lines. The morning attack was made by three battalions. The enemy was everywhere repelled with heavy losses. Air activity continues. Wo dropped thirteen tons of explosives in the Metz region, causing several fires and explosions. A PALPABLE GERMAN LIE REFUTED BY BRITISH ADMIRALTY. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. (Received February 20, 12.55 a.m.) . Tt i * ~, • i LONDON, February 19* A Berlin official message states: —Garmon forces raided tho ©astern part of the English Channel on the night of the 15th and sank an outpost steamer off Dover. Our aircraft attached on the 16th Britsih. seaplanes accompanying a cpnvoy from England to Rotterdam. We brought down one in names. The British Admiralty contradicts tho statement and' says .no ahin wa* even fired at. . *