THE WAR.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLV, Issue 13452, 14 May 1918, Page 2

THE WAR.

GERMANY'S PREPARATIONS. \THE COMING BATTLETHE GATHERING OF GERMAN ARMIES. AMERICA'S GREAT PART IN THE WAR. l"By Electbio Telegraph—Copyright.] Pbb Pbsss Association. (The cable itews in this issue accredited to The Times, London, has appeared in that journal, but only where stated is such news the editorial opinion of The Times.)

WEST FRONT.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) New York, May 12. The United Press correspondent at the American front says: Information obtained by aviators flying above the German lines indicates 'that the Germans have thinned their ranks in Lor raine, and the German lines oppusite Verdun are sparsely' occupied. Prisoners report that- the lowest grade of German soldiers are holding these positions. London, May 12. Mr Philip Gibbs writes: The present quietude means, that the Germans- arc preparing'another violent blow. "Our guns are doing most or* the firing. On many parts of the front the enemy guns are scarcely replying, aiui ' a.e economising, their ammunition. The Germans are filling up the,dumps and unloading shells from their light railway. Our airmen report unusual railway activity behind the-German lines Their is a continual tide .pf rolling stock, aid sometimes long columns of marching men, but the. movement is greatest ::.t night, when the movements are n. observable. We may assume tn-.it I'u'.-h divisions, with their field batteries :m;<l heavy guns, are taking up their p-c-i----tions nearer our lines in readiness lo." the assault. Our armies are awaitii.g expectantly, believing that if the enemy fails the Germans' great hopes will he utterly destroyed. (Reuter's Telegrams.) •

London, May 12. Reuter's correspondent at Brit..-; Headquarters, writing on iSumiu... says:—The weather is grey and chv i. iess on most of the battle front. 'll.i enemy has fallen considerably behind his amended timetable. In a diary found on a captured German oilieer is au entry slating that a certain big- atlaei-. planned from Albeit had been abai.-. doued, because the Second Naval i)i\ ision had broken into Albert and ;indulged in wholesale riot. The dia \ added: "The division h;tr been dealt with for disorderly behaviour and p'i - lage." French troops are. opci-uUn;.. along the gully of *the Wyverbeek, running south of Dickebusch Lake, to the eastern foot of" Mount Kemmel, and have had considerable success. (A .and N..Z Cable'Assn. and Renter.) London. May 12.

Sir Douglas Haig, reporting at !'.-!'I this evening, says: 'There, is nuUiii'g happening except reciprocal artille: encounters. The mist is interl'eriii:; with our air work. We brought dov : four more enemy machines. A wireless German official n pen states:. We stopped an attack on our lines northward of Kemmel. We haw brought down, in two days, I'J wuiiy aeroplanes.

AMERICA TURNS THE SCALE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) London, May' 12.

Lord Milner, British Minister of War, interviewed by the United Press correspondent, said: "America is rapidly filling tip the gap in the Allies' strength due to Russia's failure. The war can only be won decisively by superiority in. Man-power and. material. America makes that superiority certain." Lord Rhondda (Food Controller), in the course of an interview, >siid : "Without the aid of the United Statesit would have been impossible for the. Allies to have fed their troops and civilian populations during the last six months.

Mr Bonar Law was also interviewed. The Chancellor said: "America ha•plendidly assisted ua financially, giviu . to the full extent of her ability, thus enabling Great Britain to barrow from her a.s much as wo loaned to the Allies."

Sir Eric Geddes, First Lord of the Admiralty, has received a cable from Mr Josephus Daniels, American Secretary to the Navy, stating that one splendid result of the war is the mutual appreciation of the men of the British and American Navies. The work of combating the U-boats necessitated 1 Anglo-American Conferences, which would! have far-reaching results in the relations, of the two nations. "I am engaged equipping more and more unit of "the Fleet/' Mr Daniels added. "The whole service is being keyed up, and tinwatchword through the Navy is "Full speed ahead.' "

TROUBLE IN THE FATHERLAND. (Times Service.) London, May 12. The Hague correspondent of the Times states that the Crown Prince has. become involved in the dispute raging over the franchise. He telegraphed to Count von Spee, congratulating hjrn on his motion proposing to shelve the Reform Bill until after the war.

The German press-, discussing the incident, notes the increased military interference in domestic and foreign policy. It is anticipated Unit l)r von Hertling will be obliged to adopt some jugglery in order to delay the Kcform Bill, and gain time. The Socialist newspaper VorwaerN says: The spirit of freedom and the spirit of conquest are mutually exclusive. Germany cannot establih a military dictatorhip in Ukraine and adopta. democratic peace at home. The Bremen Burger Zeitung declaresthat a great wave of discontent is. sweeping over the people, and is due to the costly and resultless battles, the burden of expenditure, and; the insolent objection of equal suffrage.

INSURRECTIONARY CHINA.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Peking, May 12. A prolonged civil war, of which there is no prospect of an early termination, is imposing on tho people throughout the country indescribable hardships. In the meantime ten provinces are infested with brigands, the bands varying from hundreds to thousands, who pillage, murdier, kidnap, and seize the trains. - The local authorities are inert and helpless. The Government continuously ignore petitions to end the war, for which the leaders' personal animosities and ambitions are mainly responsible.

THE ITALIAN THEATRE. (A. and N.Z. Cable Assn. and Renter.) London, .May 12. A wireless Austrian official reportstates: Our counter-attack threw oui. the It-alianSj who penetrated our advanced positions on Monte Necro.

MINESWEEPER TORPEDOED. (A. and N.Z. Cable Assn. and Renter.) London. May 12.

The Admiralty reports that a minesweeper sloop was torpedoed and sunk on the 6th inst. TVo. officers and l thirteen men are missing.