THE SITUATION REVIEWED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17319, 20 May 1918, Page 5

THE SITUATION REVIEWED

POSITION FAVOURABLE BRITISH SUBMARINE EXPLOITS AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT ANOTHER OFFENSIVE FORESHADOWED RUSSIA'S POSITION WITH THE AMIES COMBATING U BOATS AMERICA'S MIGHTY STROKE

THE WEST FRONT

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, May 17. Sir D. Haig reports: We repulsed raiders in the neighbourhood of Moyen, Neuvilie, and southward of Arras. There •was great reciprocal artillerying during the night in the Pacut Wood 6ector, northward of Hinges Hill. Hostile artillerying also increased between Locon, Hinges, and Nieppe Forest to Meteren. GENERAL MAURICE'S REPORT. ANOTHER OFFENSIVE FORESHADOWED. THIRD PHASE OF THE CAMPAIGN. DANGER TO VITAL COMMUNICATIONS. LONDON, Majr 17. Major-general Maurice, writing in the Daily Chronicle, says: Indications are steadily increasing that the third phase of the campaign is about to open. Twothirds of the German armies are now between Ypres and the Oise. It _ is a "weakness of the British communications that they run parallel to the front, instead of at regular intervals straight from the front to the base, as is the case with the German communications. A successful German attack on any part of our line threatens the communications of the whole British front. It is thus difficult to give ground voluntarily in order to establish a better front. Hindenburg early in 1917 fell back 30 miles -without uncovering any of his vital communications. We can in no wise give up one-third of that distance on the Amiens front without grave inconvenience. This is what Sir D. Haig meant when he said: "We are fighting with our backs to the wall." Although the position is cramped, we are in a better situation to meet an attack than we were on March 21. We have a unified command. While our losses have been heavy, there is the clearest evidence that the enemy's losses have been heavier. American troop 6 are steadily pouring in. There has been time to readjust the positions of the allied forces on the whole front, and we may bo sure that General Foch now has his reserves where he wants them. The cream of Germany's specially trained men has gone. When the enemy attack they will probably gain precious ground; but, provided we send every man who can be spared to France, there is no reason why we shonld not check the new blow as we defeated the last.

RUMANIANS TO FIGHT WITH FRENCH. . PARIS, May 18. (Received _ May 19, at 5.5 p.m.) Rumanians in France are organising to fight with, the French on the west front. NOT MUCH DOING. SEVERE AIR FIGHTING. LONDON, May* 17. (Received May 19, at 5.5 p.m.) A United Press correspondent states that- there wae a heavy German, concentration of gunfire this morning in the neighbourhood of Hinges and Pacaut Wood, which seemed to foreshadow a local attack, but after the British retaliated with a few rounds of rapid fire the enemy thought better of it. The weather is unusually warm, with brilliant sunshine. There has been, severe air fighting and heavy night bombing. AERIAL ACTIVITY. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Router. LONDON, May 18. (llcceived May 19, at 5.5 p.m.) Sir Douglas Haig reports: We took a few prisoners in a successful raid in the neighbourhood of Beaumont Hamel, and rushed a post northward of Merris, the garrison being killed or -driven out. There was great aerial activity on Thursday. Our aeroplanes dropped 23 tons of bombs on important rail centres, aerodromes, and billets. Fighting was intense in the early morning and during the evening. We brought down 30 enemy machines and drove down five, while our aircraft guns brought down two others. Two hostile machines landed in our lines, the occupants being captured. Five British machines are missing. Our night-fliera dropped a further 10i tons of bombs on ran stations at Lille, Douai, Chaulnes, and upon billets in the neighbourhood of Bapanme, Peronne, Positres (?), and the docks at Bruges Enemy night-fliers were ?. <lctlve - -A- Gotha landed behind our lines, the crew being taken prisoner. FRENCH OPERATIONS. KN"EMY AEROPLANES ACTIVE. LONDON, May 18 (Received May 19, at 5.5 p.m.) A French communique states : There was a violent bombardment last night in the region of Hailles. We repulsed an enemy raid in the direction of Mesnil St. Georges, and took prisoners. Our detachments penetrated the enemy lines at two points south of Caiiny-sitr-Metz, and brought back prisoners. Enemy aeroplanes crossed our lines and bombed several places behind the front. Some machines approached Paris, ■where the alarm was given at 10.32 and all clear at 11.2. Bombs were dropped on the outer suburbs. ENEMY ACTIVE IN LORRAINE. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association NEW YORK, Mav 18. ( (Recoived Mav 19, a t 11.15 p.m.) General Pershing reports that there is increased artillery operations in Lorraine. The Americans at Montdidier destroyed two German batteries, and forced others to to withdraw. Co6ts little extra, but it's worth it to get euch splendid whisky as Watson's No. 10. —

VIOLENT BOMBARDMENTS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reutcr. LONDON, May 18. (Received May 19, at 11.15 p.m.) A French communique states that there are violent bombardments at various points north and south of the Avre. general situation REVIEWED. HIGH MILITARY AUTHORITY'S VIEWS. POSITION FAVOURABLE. GERMAN MISSTATEMENTS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, May 18. (Received May 19, at 5.5 p.m.) A high military authority has explained that his_ statements might be regarded as the considered opinion of the General Staff, as far as can be published. The operations in France are purely of ®.minor character, and are more or less in the nature of sparring. On the whole the balance has been with us. The enemy has been extraordinarily good, infiltrating himself, and staying in a position taken, and often widening the breach until able to hold it. This comes from the exceed-' in gly good brains of the regimental officers and subordinate staff. In this respect all through the war the Germans have done better than we have at this game. Our chief feature has been our air work. Between the 9th and 15th of May we brought down 71 enemy machines in flames, as against 19 of ours missing. We are infinitely better in the air this year than we were 12 months ago. Aviation played a very important part in the first phase, bringing the German offensive to a standstill. In the tank attacks at Villers Bretonneux our seven tanks, with a crew of 20, put 400 Germans out of action, and broke up the advance of a complete brigade. In reference to the German statement that the Fifty-sixth Division was almost wiped out, the fact was the division lost 43 officers and 1425 men. The enemy reported that the Fourth Yorka were captured completely, when only 191 were missing; that the Fifth Berks were annihilated, when four officers and 400 men represented the loss. As regards the position in France, the enemy is now boiling up for a big effort If he waits a little longer he will probably be able to resume in the same strength as he was on March 21. On the other hand, the longer he waits the more time we have for preparation in co-operation with the Allies. The Germans are trying to belittle the American factor. They did the same with the " contemptible ' little irmy." If they had nothing to fear from ;he Americans there was not any particular reason why the Germans should have hazarded everything on the present offensive. There was every confidence that the American army would make good. General Allenby's main object in Palestine had been very greatly fulfilled. There was no intention to occupy much country east of the Jordan, but merely to ease the situation for the Arabs down south in smashing up the Hedjaz railway.