THE WESTERN FRONT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3333, 30 January 1918, Page 15

THE WESTERN FRONT.

SIR D. HAIG'S REPORT. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Successful patrol encounters occurred on the night of the 22nd eastward of Yprcs. The enemy raided one of bur posts southward of bt. Quentin. Hostile artillery was active m * h „ Cambrai sector. We dispersed on the 23rd a small party making an effort to approach our positions west of Villers St. Quentin. 'Another party which succeeded in entering our trenches north-west of La Bassee was ejected, leaving prisoners in our hands. The enemy also raided our sap west of La Bassee. There was hostile artillery activity between St. Quentin and the Scarpe, in the neighbourhood of Messines and Zonncbeke, and southward of the Scarpe, and near Passchendaele. Wo captured positions in patrol encounters south of Lens. The enemy raided a post east of Loos. Hostile artillery work is proceeding at Flesuires, Bullecourt, Bailleul, and Poelcapelle. An enemy party was driven off northward of Passchendaele. Hostile artillery is still active at Havrincourt and Poelcapelle. There is hostile artillery work in the neighbourhood of Ribecourt and south-westward of Cambrai. DECREASED CASUALTIES. Mr Philip Gibbs states that the relief from incessant infantry fighting on the west front is reflected in the clear drop in the number of casualties and the splendid emptiness of the hospital wards. Even the number of cases of sickness is not heavy. •Despite the weather, the health of the troops is wonderful. The muddy scarecrows from the enemy's water-logged trenches tell miserable 'discomfort in flooded dugouts, and of shortage of food owing to the difficulty of getling supplies. Undoubtedly there is a relaxation from discipline m the German army. Apparently the officers are afraid to punish the men severely, even for the gravest offences.' It is noteworthy that deserters are not shot, but are sent back to .prison. The German Higher Command is trying lo build up a mighty bogey that masses Ef troops are coming from' the east front, oping thereby to demoralise the Allies, who are unlikely to be deceived by such camouflage. Mr Gibbs is personally of opinion that there will be no great operations for at least a month while No Man's Land is flooded and the roads and trenches are mero bogs. THE ANTICIPATED OFFENSIVE. The New York Times Paris correspondent says: Franco is awaiting confidently the great German offensive on the west front, which is believed to be imminent. This will be the decisive, and perhaps the final, battle of the war. Joseph Roinach and other writers are of opinion that Nancy will be one_ of the principal German objectives. It is known £hat the "Germans are-heavily concentrating forces in Lorraine; but France has perfected her defences, and an enemy attack is doomed to failure. Military authorities suggest that the 'Allies may anticipate the German drive on the west front by a groat Allied offensive. Tho-Chioago Daily News correspondent on the French front says that serious differences arc reported to have arisen between Hindenburg and Ludondorff. It is believed that the latter is opposed to a big German offensive on the west front. ______ <^ FRENCH REPORTS. French communiques are to the followIng effect:—An important raid, after an ntense bombardment, enabled the Germans to obtain a footing in the advanced element of our front lino cast of Nieuport town, in Belgium. The enemy, after penetrating bur lines, were immediately ejected. There is a lively artillery duel on tho right (east) bank of the Mouse, in tho sector of Hill 344, and Chaumo Wood. A lively artillery duel took place in the Oauriercs Wood, whero an enemy raid failed. TAKEN OVER BY THE BRITISH. Router's special correspondent on tho British front reports: "Tho British have taken over more of the French line. The British front now extends slightly south of fit. Quentin." AMERICANS IN ACTION. Goneral Pershing has cabled from Franco that tho American forces hava been in potion on tho French front on several occasions this week.