THE COMING OFFENSIVE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3337, 27 February 1918, Page 15

THE COMING OFFENSIVE.

TANKS TO BE "USED. The United Press correspondent writes: Civilisation is on tho threshold of tho most colossal battle of all time. The German offensive is expected momentarily. The Germans will, for the first time, use tames. Some, like the British, aro equipped with mortars, others with machine guns. Their speed is almost four miles an hour. They will probably attempt to smash the British between Arras and St. Quentin, and this attack will synchronise with blows elsewhere. Trench mortars will be directed against entanglements, and from the support trenches gun 3 will play upon battery positions, and railways suspected of being concentration points and approaches. A heavy percentage of gas shells will be used everywhere against the troops, and endless waves of infantry will foiiow like cattlo through tho holes. They hope thus to tear their way in. Officers are telling the men the wildest stories of the infallibility of the scheme, but, according to prisoners, the men are doubtful. Mr Philip Gibbs says: At any moment we may see the beginning of the enemy's last desperate effort to end the war by a decisivo victory. Undoubtedly their offensive, which has long been preparing, is now imminent. " Detailed information from prisoners leaves no doubt about that. Our aviators for some time past have reported terrific industry and nervous tension behind the German lines, and all leave has been stopped for German officers and men. The Germans are drugged, and are under the spell of a frightful secret hope. Germany" to-day is a nation of bloodshot eyes and high temperature from fever, buoyed up to the last stage of_ resistance against the despair which is eating into her heart. Our men will not fail, whatever the cost. Tho enemy are preparing to bring tanks into action. They have been training troops to attack behind them, and wo may see tanks fighting tanks. With a long start of exjoerience, the- advantage is immensely in our favour. A high British officer, interviewed by the newspaper Matin, stated: The Germans must precipitate an assault and make an effort to finish things at all costs, in order to justify their promises to their troops. The Germans believed that they could agitato us by their threat of an offensive and by their accounts of their preparations; but we know 1 tho value of all these accounts. Mr Baker's (American War Secretary) communique states that the Germans hope to deliver a crushing blow by massing shock troops trained for mobile warfare; but the bulk of Germany's west front forces are wholly ignorant of west front fighting methods. The Allies are ready for battle. Le Journal (Paris) states that it is believed that Cambrai will be one sector of the Gorman offensive. The British right flank at Cambrai is particularly tempting. The Echo de Paris states that the German offensive will probably be between Lrillo and Cambrai, involving the engagement of from 60 to 80 divisions. A high military authority comments: The Germans, who first used gas, now find that we have obtained a superiority; we aro using a deadlier gas and better protective measures. Therefore they have begun a propaganda to give up the use of it. If we now voluntarily abstain from its use, what guarantee is possible from Germany that she will not spring another surprise on us? Mr Macpnerson (Under-sccrctary for War) stated in the House of Commons that, although the Allies wero at present superior in men and guns on tho west front, tho balance would soon be_ in favour of the enemy, owing to reinforcements from Russia. Already over 20 divisions had been transferred. They must be prepared for a determined enemy offensive. The necessary measures had been taken, and complete confidence prevailed in all ranks, who wero convinced that they could hold their own. Reports from Liege state that many trainloads of troops and guns have passed through Liege in the last three days, going westward. Austrian troops have arrived on tho west front. A special correspondent states that the ground on tho west front has hardened, and tho worst period of midwinter is over. A oalm checriness prevails, and everything is in readiness for the now campaigns. Nobody at the front believes that the Central Powers will prove capable of breaking tho Franco-British lines. General Smuts, after- inspection of the lines, reported that they gave the Bocho no chance in an offensive. Tho arrival of. Turkish troops in Belgium is interpreted to moan that divisions which have been used against tho Russians aro being brought westward. The Austrian troops aro apparently intended to act as reserves, and their number is unknown; but there is reason to believe that AustriaHungary is proving niggardly in her transfer of troops. Tho Manchester Guardian co*ntonds that the Gorman advance in Russia must modify the offensive on tho western front, as it will absord a largo army with long lines of communication exposed to

guerrilla warfare. An attack on the western front is still probable, .but unless the Germans gain a remarkable initial success they will not attempt a formal break through or keep up an attack month after month. The attacks will be local and brief. THE GERMAN LOSSES. Tho New York World's Paris correspondent says that exhaustive inquiries snow that tho German losses during the war total 4,225,000, including 2,500,000 dead. Tho present Gorman effectives are estimated at 4,800,000. BRITISH OFFICIAL REPORTS. Sir Dougla3 Haig's reports for the week are to tho following effect: —We drove off raiders in the neighbourhood of Gavrelle. Tho Portuguese took a few prisoners in the neighbourhood of Neuve Chapelle. The enemy suffered casualties in patrol encounters in the Messines sector. We dispersed a raid eastward of Epehy, and hostile artillery is active. We made successful raids on threo sectors of our front. Irish troops entered the enemy trenches southeastward of Epehy and brought back prisoners. The Canadians made-a successful raid southward of Lens and captured five prisoners. The Lancashires, King's Own Scottish Borderers, and Yorkshire troops raided enemy positions on a wide front in the southern portion qf Houthulst Forest (north of Ypres), killing a large number and capturing 27 men and a machine gun. Our casualties were slight. We repulsed German raiders southward of Armentieres. There is mutual artillery activity south-westward of Epehy and southward of Armentieres. We completely repulsed an enemy raid eastward of Arleux-en-Gabrelle, and carried out several successful local enterprises north-east of Wytschaete. New Zealanders made a successful raid eastward of Polygon Wood and took a few prisoners. Hostile artillery is active at Flesquiores. We repulsed raiders southward of Armentieres. Our patrols elsewhere brought in a number of prisoners. The enemy artillery is active in the neighbourhood of St. .Quentin, along the Arras-Cambrai road, and near Lens, Armentieres, and Ypres. A break in the weather has prevented all flying, except for artillery observation. Hostile artillery is active in tho neighbourhood of ArrasCambrai road and at La Bassee and Ypres. The Scottish troops made a successful raid at Monchy le Preux. We repulsed enemy raids. Hostile artillery is active at various points. Bad weather is preventing much righting. -EXTENDING THE BRITISH LINE. The United Press reports that British forces on Tuesday took over another considerable sector of the front southward from St. Quentin, as far as the Oise. The southern extremity of tho British front is now opposite La Fere. This extension amounts to nearly 12 miles, and includes the whole of the St. Quentin salient. It will economise French man-power, and liberate considerable French forces for service elsewhere. This new sector has hitherto been a quiet part of the front, and No Man's Land in some places is 1000 yards wide. FRENCH REPORTS. French communiques state: There is violent artillery work in tho region-of Verdun. Wo repulsed an enemy attack upon our positions. We captured on the 13th inst. Butte du Mesnil. A second enemy attack in Hho afternoon on positions south-west of Butte du Mesnil was broken _by our fire before reaching the lines. The morning attack was made by three battalions. The enemy were everywhere repelled with heavy losses. There was violent artillery activity during tho night in the region of the Forest of St. Gobain (northwest of Laon), in the sector Chavignon (south-west of Laon), and north-west of Bezonvaux (oast of the Meuse). There was fairly groat artillery activity in the Champagne and on tho right bank of the Meuse. Our detachment north of Burcs and east of Moucel (Lorraine) deoply penetrated the German lines on a wide front. The operation was brilliantly carried out. Wo took 525 nrisoners, including 11 officers, in tho operations. There is fairly lively reciprocal artillery fire on the whole front, especially in the regions of Pinon, Vauxaillon, and Malmaison (Aisno Heights), Pont Vert (Aisne Crossing), Guedecourt, and Butte de Mesnil (Champagne). Three German aeroplanes wore brought down and two more were forced down behind their own lines, seriously damaged. There is fairly great artillery activity in the regions of Vauxillon, Chavignon, Butte du Mesnil, and on tho left bank of the Meuse. Our detachments in Upper Alsaco valiantly penetrated the Pontiasigach region, north-west of Aspachlo Bas, and destroyed German organisations. A BELGIAN REPORT. A Belgian communique s'tatos: After, a violent bombardment enemy detachments attacked our advanced posts in tho region of Kleostermolen. The enemy failed to reach tho lines of tho British.