EXPECTED GERMAN OFFENSIVE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3336, 20 February 1918, Page 15

EXPECTED GERMAN OFFENSIVE.

Mr Percival Phillips writes: We are now getting clear, spring-like weather, and the ground is drying steadily. Vet our front is unnaturally calm. The ostentatious German idleness is intended to deceive us, but our aeroplanes see storm troops rehearsing open warfare, and it is impossible to conceal the steady stream ot fresh divisions and new concentrations ot heavy artillery behind the enemy lines. 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. Mr Hamilton Fyfe, the Daily Mail 9 correspondent at the British Headquarters, Bays the German preparation for an early offensive include the training of picked troops 70 or 80 miles behind the iront over areas resembling the coming battlefield. They are employing new light machine guns, with £in bore, firing W 0 shots per minute. The Matin reports that, despite the mud, there is intense German activity on the Yser. They are violently bombarding the trenches and communications far in our rear, and are multiplying their aerial operations. The enemy ,have constructed great concrete dkyes on the right bank Of the Yser, which will possibly be used as causeways for an offensive through the inundated region. , Unofficial Washington advices state that the great German drive is planned for next month, and is to be directed particularly 'at the British front. The -New York World Paris correspondent says: There is every indication that ■we are on the eve of a great German oftensive on the west front. . The military critic of the Vossiche Aeitung boasting of the German strength on the west front, says: The German advance was stopped on the Marne by Russia intervening, not by France. The fearful events of the past three years and a-half will only prove a tremendous intermezzo between jhe early events and the still greater events before us. The present situation raises tremendous confidence in German hearts. This confidence, concentrates unon the Hindenburg line. Von Ludendorff asks: "Who will ; dare to measure strength with this army?" SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORTS. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The AustraS,ns made a successful raid south-east of essines, and inflicted heavy casualties. There is intermittent artillery activity in the vicinity of Cambrai. Sir Douglas issued an order congratulating the Australians on their successful raid westward of Warneton on February. 2. Sir D. Haig also reports a successful raid south-eastward of Hargicourt, patrol encounters south-eastward of Lens, and hostilo -artillery activity near Enehy and Ypres. The Canadians, who made a successful raid south-eastward of Hargicourt (Bouth-west of Lo Catelet), killed many Germans abovo ground, and captured 13 men and two machine guns. They also destroyed four trench mortars, and bombed 17 dugouts whose occupants refused to surrender. Our casualties were_ slight, and all our wounded were brought in. The Canadians also made a- successful raid at Hill 70, northwards of Lens. Despite considerable opposition, they took prisoner six men, and took a machine gun. Our casualties were light. There was local fighting in the morning north-westward of Passehendaele (Flanders), where a party of attacking Germans occupied two posts; but our counterattack regained the posts. The enemy's artillery ie active southward and westward of Lens. Our patrols took a few prisoners north-eastward of Hargicourt. Hostile artillery is active in the neighbourhood of Passehendaele. There is hostile artillery activity between Gouzeaucourt and the Scarpe River, also in the Lens sector and north-east of Ypres. The Laneashires made a successful raid in the neighbourhood of the Yprcs-Stadcr. railway. Hostile artillery is active northward of Lens, and opposite Le Bassee and Wytschacte. Enemy raids at La Vacquerie and Cherisy led to sharp fighting, in which wo inflicted a number of casualties. Hostile artillery is more active in the Cambrai, Lens, and Passehendaele neighbourhoods. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORTS. French communiques report: —An attempted enemy coup de main.in the Juvincourt region (north of the Aisne) was stopped bv our firo. The Germans on the right bank of the Meuse, after a furious bombardment, attacked our front in Cpurieres Wood, but were repulsed, leaving some dead, after a lively fight. Artillery is lively in Alsace. There w r ere reconnoitring raids on both sides. Successful French raids were made on the outskirts of Baucontillo, north of Ailette, and also at Woevre,

and the failure of German attempts between Bezonvaux and Bois des Fosses; also in the Champagne, Woevre. and Vosges. There was considerable artillery activity in the region of Pinon and north-west of Rheims. There is reciprocal artillery activity in Champagne, on the right bank of the Meuse, and in the Vosges. In the Champagne wo made an extensive raid south-west of Butte de Mesnil on a 1200 metre front, and penetrated enemy positions as far as the third line. We shattered defences and destroyed a number of dugouts. American batteries most effectively aided the raid. We organised the captured positions. North-west and east of Rheims we carried out raids. There is fairly great reciprocal artillery activity on the Champagne sector. Our batteries caught and dispersed a strong enemy concentration south of Dourmoise. There are fairly violent artillery actions in some sectors on the right bank of the Meuse and the Woevre, and in Upper Alsace. Two enemy detachments attempting to rush our lines on the Chaume Wood front were re'pulsed. We repulsed attempted raids in the Champagne and Upper Alsace. We raided Vauqubois, west of Verdun. Enemy aeroplanes bombed Reteson and Nancy, killing and wounding civilians. There was fairly considerable reciprocal artillery-fire at night time in the region of Chavignon, east of Rheims. In the Champagne an enemy surprise attack east of Auberive was without result. GERMAN REPORTS. German official reports state: British reconnoitring advances led to violent engagements at many points, especially near Warneton and Armentieres. We repulsed strong reconnoitring detachments northward of Moignombach. We repelled, with heavy fosses, a French attack between Flirey and the Moselle. British and French forces continue to make reconnaissances at many points, resulting in violent engagements, northward of Lens and in the Champagne. The French obtained a foothold in a salient southwards of Tahure. A TROUBLESOME (SALIENT. The United Press correspondent on the French front states that the American artillery barrage in the Champagne during recent raids, cut off the Germans' retreat, preventing them from bringing up reinforcements, and protected the advancing French. Router's correspondent at the French Headquarters writes: The object of the recent big raid was to bite off a troublesome salient between Tahure and the rugged mass' of Butte du Mesnil, against which the French were brought to a standstill in September, 1915. _ The task was most difficult, the salient lying in a saucer among heavily-armed overlooking hills. The attack, preceded by a heavy bombardment, met with no opposition capable of checking it till it reached its objective, the operation being completed in an hour. The French and American artillery worked with splendid precision.