WESTERN FRONT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9902, 22 February 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT

RAIDS BY BRITISH AIRMEN ELEVEN ENEMY MACHINES BROUGHT DOWN. By Telssrapli—Presa Association—Copypis*Tn Au®. and N.Z. Cable Assn, and Beater. LONDON, February 20. Sir Douglas Haig reports aviators yesterday bombed an aerodrome north of Douai, a large dump at Courtrai, and a railway station south-east of Douai. There is continuous air fighting. We brought down eleven machines, and drove down six. Two of ours are missing. We bombed Treves -and Thionvijle last night from a low altitude, with good results. Five bursts were observed at the Treves which was loft in flames, and three other buildings were ignited. Bursts were observed at the Thionville railway gasworks, and a large firo followed. One of our machines is ’blissing. We dropped bombs in Treves in a daylight raid to-day. Eleven bursts wore noted cm the railway station, and six on neighbouring buildings, and three fires were started. We repeatedly drove off :• hostile; scouts, m The’anti--air-craft fire w-as considerable. One of our machines has not returned. Wle repulsed raiders southward of Annentieres. There is mutual artillery action south-east of Epehy and south of Armentieros.

SUCCESSFUL LOCAL ENTERPRISES CARRIED OUT. Au». and N.Z. Cable Assn, and Reuter. (Received February 21,, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, February 20. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We completely repulsed an enemy raid eastward of Arleuxcngshello, and carried out several successful local enterprises north-east of Wytschaete. COMING GERMAN OFFENSIVE ENEMY MUST JUSTIFY HIS ' PROMISES. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. - PARIS', February 21. A high British officer, in an interview published! in the “Matin,” says: “The Germans must precipitate an assault, and make an effort to finish things at all costs, in order to justify the promises made to the troops. The Germans believed they could agitato us by the threat of an offensive and accounts of their preparations. Wo know how to value these accounts.” FRENCH AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS EIGHTEEN ENEMY MACHINES BROUGHT DOWN. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn, and Renter. LONDON, February 20. A French communique states: There is fairly great artillery activity in the Champagne and on tho right bank of tho Meuse. Between February 16th and 18th we brought down eighteen enemy machines. The railway stations of MetzSablcms, Forbach, and Bensdorf, and depots at Ensicsveim were bombed. A big fire broke out at Ensievseini.

COMMENTS SR THE lit

BY A HIGH MILITARY AUTHORITY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrlßbl Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association. (Received February 22, 1.45 a.m.) LONDON, February 20. A high, military authority comments: Tho Germans, who first used gas, now find wc have obtained superiority with a deadlier gas an dbetter protective measures; therefore they have begun a propaganda to give up its use. If we now voluntarily abstain from the use of gas what guarantee is possible from Germany that she will not spring Another surprise on us? ITALIAN AIR RAID

By Teleerapb—Pres* Association —Copyriptil Ans. and N.Z. Cable Assn, and Bouter. (Received February 23, 12.20 a.m.) LONDON, February 20. An Italian official message svites that tho enemy aerodrome at Casaraa and tho aviation camp at Lacomina were successfully bombed.

FALLEN SOLDIERS • INSCRIPTIONS FOR MEMORIAL MONUMENTS. Ay Telearapb—Press Association—CopyTljVu Australian pud It.K. Cabin Association, LONDON, February 20. The AVar Graves Commission has announced that' Sir Rudyard Kipling lias agreed 'to writ© suitable memorial inscriptions for the monuments of fallen soldiers. GERMAN GUARDSKIP BLOWN UP OREAA 7 OF TAVENTY LOST. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. COPENHAEN, February 20. A Gorman guardship was blown up by a mine at Langeland, in the Baltic. The crew of twenty was lost-MAN-POWER PROPOSALS THE ENGINEERS’ .VOTE, By Teleuraph—Press Association—Copy rtun I Australian nt N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, February 20. Though other unions are disappointed at the vote of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers on the Government’s man-power proposals, they will possibly be satisfied if Sir Auckland Goddes gives an assurance that there will b e no final decision until they are also consulted.

BELGIAN SOCIALISTS TO SUBMIT A FORMULA FOR A DEMOCRATIC PEACE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z Cable Association. PARIS, February 20. M. Vandervelde, the Belgian Socialist leader, in the “Potit Journal,” discussing the Continental Socialists’ general agroment with the British Labour war aims, said:—“We shall submit a formula for a democratic peace to the Socialists of tho Central Powers. If they reject or refuse to impose it on the Emperors, wo shall have arrived at a state of bankruptcy of ideas.” BRITISH IN AMERICA SUBJECT TO MILITARY SERVICE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. WASHINGTON, February 20. Agreements have been signed by whicli British residents in America are subject to service under the American draft. CHARGE OF TREASON AGAINST FRENCH EX-SKSATOU. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrigbi Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PARIS, February 2U. The Charge against ex-Senator 'Humbert has been altered' from trading with the enemy to intelligence with the enemy, - a graver charge, equivalent to treason and punishable with death. The police visited the bank and opened Humbert’s safe.

The French Senate decided early in December to suspend Parliamentary immunity in regard to the prosecution iu the case of Senator Humbert, to enable the Attorney-General ixj prosecute him on a charge of trading with the enemy in connection with tho iuvestmentg of M.M. Desouches and Lenoir in the attempt to purchase “Lo Journal.” Lenoir was formerly proprietor of “L e Journal,” and Desouches is a well-known solicitor. Both purchased shares in '‘Lo Journal.” Humbert, a director of the paper, was reported to have suspected that they were connected with tho enemy, and he bought them out with Bole Pasha’s money.

fBENCH LABOUR CONFERENCE

FEATURES OF ITS POLICY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PARIS, February 20. The National Labour Conference has overwhelmingly accepted tho British Labour programme for the Conference in London on Wednesday, with two amendments. Tho first condemns capitalist colonial policy, and insists on self-government for all peoples who have a sufficient degree of civilisation. The second demands that Alsace-Lor-raine shall bo regarded not as a question of territory but as one of right.