THE WESTERN FRONT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3332, 23 January 1918, Page 21

THE WESTERN FRONT.

Sir D. Haig reports as follows: —We repulsed a strong raid north-eastward of Armcntieres. We raided northward of Lens, bombed dugouts, and took prisoners. The enemy raided a post north-west of St. Quentin. The enemy raided a post eastward of Epehy. Several unsuccessful hostile raids took place hear Neuve Chapelle and south of Lens. We repulsed a raid south-east oi Graincourt. We raided east of Hargicourt, taking prisoners. Hostile artillery was active at Ypres, Neuve Chapelle; and Lens. Aerial observation enabled us to engage many hostile batteries. Our aircraft dropped over &cK) bombs on miscellaneous targets, including a largo dump at Courtrai. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORTS. French communiques state: Our accurate fire dispersed enemy detachments, who were trying to reach our lines in the sector of Goose Hill, on the loft bank of the Meuse. There was lively artillery fire in the Champagne and on the east bank of the Meuse, especially north of Beaumont, where our batteries caught enemy assemblages. Violent artillery actions occurred in the Beau-mont-Caurieres Wood sector, on the right bank of the Meuse. An enemy attack at Chaumo Wood on a front of 200 metres, was broken by our' artillery, the few enemy soldiers gaining a footing in our advanced element being immediately thrown out. A German official message states i The French attacked north of Badonviller, and penetrated pur front trenches. GERMANY’S COMING ATTACK. The United Press correspondent at the west front writes. —“A warm wind has transformed Flanders into a quagmire. Captured documents show that troops from j:he east are arriving. Meanwhile the enemy are conserving their ammunition and other material wherever possible. An order to Prince Rupprecht’s army group blames the commanders for wastage in the recent fighting, and declares that some field gun batteries fired 5450 rounds in one day, eight field howitzers fired 3100 rounds, and heavy field howitzers 1600. This was overmuch, rendering accurate shooting impossible. It also wore out the guns; hence the unusual percentage out of commission. The order demands the most careful conservation of material throughout.” - M. Marcel Hutin says it is confirmed that most of the German divisions that were operating on the Italian front have been transferred to the French front. The newspaper Les Nouvelles states that the Belgian province of Lemburg is filled with Austrian troops, who arrived last week. THE CAMBRAI REVERSE. Mr Bonar Law, in the House of Commons, stated that the War Cabinet’s inquiry showed that the higher command was not surprised by the attack at Cambrai on November 30, and made adequate dispositions to meet the attack. The Cabinet considered that it would bo detrimental to the public interests to publicly discuss the breakdown, and was satisfied that full measures had been taken to deal with a similar situation in future. BAD WEATHER. Blizzards everywhere in Europe arc breaking down the telegraph and telephone lines and suspending traffic. Germany is almost isolated. A bitter gale swept over the west front for 48 hours, and snow foil for some time. A wan* wind which set in transformed Flanders into a quagmire. OSTEND BOMBARDED. A German official report states that Ostend is being bombarded from the sea.