THE WEST FRONT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17239, 15 February 1918, Page 5

THE WEST FRONT.

ANOTHER BRITISH RAID. CHEAT AERIAL ACTIVITY. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association and Router. IXJXDON. February 13. ■ Sir Donglaa llaig reports: o'iir aeroplanes yesterday dropped over a ton of bombs on various targets behind the lines. They also raided Germany to-day, bombing the town of (MVenburg, near Straasbnrg, but doiails have not yet been, received. Sir I). Haig reports a successful raid south-eastward of Ilargioourt, patrol encounters south-eastward of Lens, and hostile artillery activity near Epohy and Yprcs.

French commimique : There is reciprocal artillery activity in Champagne, on theright bank of the Meuso, and in the Vosges.

Wo dropped 9000 kilogrammes of bombs on the enemy's depots and railway stations, notably the railway station between Metz and Sablons; where a fire broke out.

THE BRITISH LINE. DEFENDING MOST VITAL POINTS. Router's Telegrams. LONDON, February 13. Mr Lloyd George's reference yesterday in the House to the great part the British army is now playing in France has aroused much attention. The following was the text:—

" The British are holding the most important part of the line. I felt flattered at the Versailles Council when I realised that this new a-rmy, which has sprang into being in the .course of two or three years, has been entrusted by France with the defence of her capital and with the defence of the most vital parts of France— (cheers), —and of the ports along the coast. All this lias been voluntarily handed over by Franco for defence by tne British army; and France's demand was, not that the British army should take less, but more responsibility."— (Cneera.)

THE GERMAN DRIVE.

EXPECTED AGAINST THE BRITISH.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Aesociatiou. WASHINGTON, February 13. Unofficial advices state that the great German drive is planned for next month, and is to be directed particularly at the British front.

GERMAN PREPARATIONS.

TRAINING IN MUSKETRY,

LONDON, February 13. Mr Percival Phillips states that information -which has been extracted from prisoners reveals that the German infantry are being trained in musketry on many new ranges. .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 monorail lines, for the conveyance of ammunition.

REHEARSALS OF OFFENSIVE.

A NEW MACHINE GUN.

LONDON, February 13. (Received Feb. 14, at 8.30 p.m.) Mr Hamilton Fyfe, the Daily Mail's correspondent at the British Headquarters, says the German preparations for an early offensive include the training of picked troops 70 or 80 miles behind the front over areas resembling the coming battlefield. They are employing new light machineguns, with a quarter-inch bore, firing 400 shots per minute.

RECENT AUSTRALIAN RAID. OFFICIAL CONGRATULATIONS. LONDON, February 13. Sir D. Haig has issued an order congratulating the Australians on their successful raid westward of Warneton on February 2.

SUCCESSFUL FRENCH RAIDS

ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association and Renter. LONDON, February 13. (Received Feb. 15, at 1.10 a.m.) French communique: There is considerable artillery activity in the region of Pinon and north-west of Rheims. ■Wo mada successful' raids east of Auberive, and in the Vosges. Enemy aircraft dropped bombs on Nancy. Three civilians were killed and five injured. GERMAN'OFFICIAL REPORT. Admiralty, per Wireless Press. LONDON, February 13. (Received Feb. 15, at 1.10 a.m.) Gorman official: We repulsed strong reconnoitring detachments northward of Lens and northward of Moignombaoli. Wo repelled, with heavy losses a French attack between Flirey and the Moselle. We bombed Nancy as a reprisal for an air raid on Saarbrucken.