THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE LOOMS LARGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3338, 6 March 1918, Page 15

THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE LOOMS LARGE.

Reuter's correspondent at the French Headquarters writes: —"As a shadow the expected German offensive looms larger. It is comforting to know that the French are ready everywhere to meet it whenever it falls. Behind the French front winter has- been a time for methodical preparation. Unnumbered miles of trenches have been dug, roads and communications improved,.and fresh monstrous growths of wire placed on every road and field where a German advance is conceivable, while artillery and munitions are ready in quantities the Germans never before encountered. But a eurer and stronger defence is the unconquerable spirit of the French army. They are ready and better prepared than ever before." The Petit Journal's correspondent at the British Headquarters says there are everincreasing indications that a German attack is imminent. Activity is most noticeable at Arras, Cambrai, St. Quentin, and Passchandaele. The enemy have built a gigantic blockhouse, protected with barbed wire entanglements,, and established 16 new hospitals and 22 aviation grounds. Prisoners declare that all leave passes have been cancelled. It is believed that fighting will recommence at tho beginning of March. In the course of an interview with General Foch, Mr Charles Grasty, the New ■York Times representative, asked: " Will the Germans have new gases?" General Foch replied: "No; they'll have tanks; but we can outmatch them. The Germans may begin an offensive in Rumania and Macedonia, working towards Italy. The Teuton numbers do not make for superiority. They had three to one in the Yser campaign, when we were almost without artillery or munitions; yet failed. Italy is solid. Her danger is past. While the British and French are ready to help, they believe that the Italian army can hold its own." GERMAN ATTACK ON FRENCH LINE. The German attacks on the French north of the Aisne and in the Champagne are extending, and now altogether cover 120 miles of front. They are regarded as the prelude of a big German offensive, Avhich may develop any day. The fact that the attacks are being conducted chiefly at night suggests that the enemy intend- them to mask bigger preparations. It is not likely that the Champagne ■will be chosen for the German attempt to reach Paris, because tho enemy would thus be unable to reinforce their flanks against a British attack on tho coast or against a French attack through Alsace. The German offensive actions, despite their violence, amount only to vast reconnoitring operations on the whole front. Both sides were never more violent, but it is premature to conclude that these engagements arc the prelude to an imminent offensive. The_ Daily Mail's Paris correspondent says that if the spasmodio operations are the prelude to a grand attack, the enemy has been badly served in tho matter of weather. There has been sleet and snow since Friday, and a _ continuance . will prevent tho manoeuvring of heavy artillery. Given fair conditions, it is considered that the coming operations are as likely to consist of a defensive battle delivered by the Allies as a German offensive;. BRITISH OFFICIAL REPORTS. Sir Douglas Haig's reports for the past week are to the following effect: —Hostile artillery activity south-westward of Cambrai and in tho Messines sector, particularly at tho Souehez Rivea. in the Scarpo Valley, and between Armentieres and Ypres, at Flesquiercs, and Ypres. We repulsed raids north-westward of St. Qu-mtin and Bullecourt, and eastward of Vermcillcs. The Canadians made a succftcnful ra'.d ab Lens. There is hostile artillery activity at Cambrai, La Bassee, Armentierec, and Ypres. Our artillery engaged an infantry transport at St. Quentin. Our troops mado a successful raid near Gonnelieu (south-west of Cambrai). iJorsets, Manohesters, Lancashires, and Scots, in a night raid southward of Houthulst Forest (north of Ypres), penetrated to e depth of 1200 yards, taking prisoners and inflictincr largo casualties. Hostile artillery is activo around St. Quentin. Armentieres, and Zonnebeke. Successful raids took place southward of Armentieres. In the neighbourhood of Arlux two enemy night raids entered tho British trenchee and captured a few prisoners. In a third raid all the raiders were killed or captured. After a heavy bombardment on a wide front northward of Neuvo Chapelle a strong party attacked and entered tho Portuguese front trenchc3, but was immediately ejected, and tsho position restored. Tho British repulsed raids- near the Yprcs-Cominos Canal and southwards of Houthulat Forest. The Portuguese were successful in patrol encoun-

ters. There has been great enemy raiding activity along the whole British front, ill raids have been driven off after sharp fighting, with considerable enemy losses. We made a successful raid south-westward of Armentieres. We repulsed attempted raids in the neighbourhood of St. Quentin, Arleux-en-Gohelle, and Pontruet (north of St. Quentin), inflicting considerable casualties. GERMAN RAIDS ON BRITISH LINES. Reuter's correspondent at Headquarters reports that a raid upon the Australians was preceded by a terrific bombardment, but was brilliantly repulsed. The attackers numbered 200, and the principal point of attack was against a little post. The garrison mado a valiant defence, but the enemy carried the post, and passed on to the Company Headquarters, where a counter-attack, Organised by a platoon commander, scat-' tiered the Germans. During the raid calls for help in English came from the raiders; one irom the commander, who was subsequently found dead. When the position was restored 25 enemy corpses were found hanging on the wire entanglements. The United Press Headquarters correspondent states that events are- speeding up along the west front, and raiding and patrol activity haa increased, there having been a dozen raids on this front during the past 36 hours, some of which were important enough to be oatkd attacks. Hmdenburg is probing and testing everywhere, and is losing heavily;' but apparently ho does not worry over the loss of 50 or 60 men if a remnant returns with one or two samples of British troops. The Germans are imitating the British, but lack dash and cunning. For example, in a raid against the Australians in Flanders, 200 Germans, including nine officers, rehearsed many times against positions which were a counter-part of the British position, yet left 21 dead on our wire entanglements, including a commander, without penetrating our lines. A correspondent at British Headquarters states that between St. Quentin and Polygon Wood there were six enemy raids on Friday night; also two enemy attacks. Tho particular features of the raids were intensity of the enemy barrages and the promptitude and volume of our own artillery in response, the almost exclusive use of the rifle for repulse, and the disinclination of the picked German troops to press home the attack. The biggest attack was against the Portuguese on a front of 3000 yards, between La Bassee road and Nanquissart, wherein a whole enemy battalion assaulted after a whirlwind bombardment. Fierce hand-to-hand fighting occurred, but a dashing Portuguese counter-attack caught tho enemy still at grips in the trenches. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORTS. French communiques state: The artillery duel continues. It is most lively in the regions of Tahuro and Champagne, and in the sectors north and in Upper Alsace. There is marked reciprocal artillery activity north of Chemin-des-Dames, on both banks of the . Mouse—especially at Hill 314, —at Morthomme, Beaumont, and Chambrettos. Our fire stopped the enemy, who attempted, after a fierce bombardment, to approach our new positions south-west of Bute du Mesnil, in Champagne. There were violent artillery actions in the region of Butte du Mesnil (Champagne), and on the left bank of tho Meuse. There is intense artillery fightin- at many points from tho Chemin-dc-Dames to the Meuse. The enemy is aggressively active, notably north-west and south-east of Reims. He attempted to .debouche against our salient at Neufchatel, but a counter-attack drove out tho elements which had succeeded in getting a footing in the advance posts.. Simultaneously ho fruitlessly attacked La Pompelle, and then violently reattached, making renewed efforts to reach the fort of La Pompelle. Isolated elements succeeded in gaining a footing in a portion of a small work west of the fort. An element also abortively attacked east and south of La Bertonnerie, in the Champagno district. The enemy attacked in the direction of Mont Cornillet, on a front of 800 metres, but found four trenches previously evacuated t under instructions, and the attackers were immediately driven out. A counter-attack failed, and our positions were entirely re-established. Our firs broke another attack on the east, and wo inflicted serious losses. A violent bombardment is proceeding south-west of Butte du Mesnil. Enemy raids in Lorraine and in the Vosges were repulsed. An artillery duel took place in tho region north and north-west of Reims and in the Champagno district south-west of Butte du Mesnil. The enemy, after being driven out by counter-attacks from some £*K*fcß, «gain A»»aul6ed with fresh forces. After several unsuccessful attempts with heavy losses, the snemy regained a footing in part of the positions We captured on the 13th. Tho enemy violently bombarded our first lines in front of the Beaumont-Chaume

Wood : also at Suchcprez, where a big raid was repulsed at two ooinfcs. In the night raids and day attacks tho American troops came in contact with the enemy. Special raiding troops of Americans everywhere held their lines intact, inflicting appreciable losses. Two enemy columns which attacked east of Ohavignon were thrown back with heavy losses after violent hand-to-hand fighting. Another attempt east of Corbeny was equally unsuccessful. There is lively mutual artillery fighting 'between the Murthe and tho Aisne and on the sector near Reims, whore a civil hospital was set on fire and systematically bombarded during the firo. The enemy bombarded our first lines near Champagne during tho night, notably in tho mountainous region and in the direction of Butte du Mesnil, west of which an enemy attack was driven back, except at one point. A powerful enemv- raid east of tho Suippo was completely defeated. During considerable artillery work near the Woevre ono of our crews carried out a photograhic reconnaissance as far as Marienburg, 80 kilometres behind the lines. We have completely re-established our lines at La Pompelle, where tho enemy attacked on Friday night. Lively artillery work is proceeding on tho right bank of tho Meuse and north of Bezonvaux. There have been lively artillery actions on tho right of the Mouse and in tho Woevre, Domcvre, and Badonvilliers regions, and a violent bombardment of our lines on the north of tho Rhone-Rhine Canal. UNITED STATES TROOPS ENGAGED. The Americans raided German trenches, and captured 22 prisoners and a machine gun. The United Press correspondent at tho American front states that. the first gas attack against the American Forces, a St. Mihiel was made on the 26th. The Germans hurled about 100 gas projectiles with such suddenness that several of the Americans were unable to utilise their masks. A second gas attack folowed almost immediately, but the Americans replied with heavy fire, and held all their positions. Five Americans were killed and 50 were taken to hospital. The ground in front of the trenches was strewn with German dead. The Americans lost many killed and wounded. An American captain led his company into "No Man's Land" after the Germans had repulsed and decimated thorn, with, machnie guns. Tho captain was killed. The Americans completely repulsed' the strong German attack. There were many casualties on both sides. The Germans continue their attacks on the Americans. At Chemin des Dames and at Toul the Germans were repulsed, with considerable A feature of the fighting \s tho Americans' extensive use of automatio pistols, with which they are most proficient. ATTACK NEAR THE. COAST. A Belgian communique states that, following bombardments, the enemy's coup de main north of Dixmude failed. A number of rafts which were employed were destroyed; also pontoons and bridges which the enemy were building across the Yser. Tho heavy artillerying in the region of Niouport, Pervysc, and Dixmude continues. PROTECTING ZEEBRUGGE. A frontier correspondent telegraphs that tho Germans arc continually thinking out new methods for the defence of Zeebrugge by sea and by air. They send up at night unmanned costive balloons, fastened to an electrified steel wire, thus forming a great clanger to airmen coming in contact with them. New German aeroplanes are fitted with three screws, one so arranged that it keeps the machine stationary for some time, permitting of more accurate bombing. Marine nets are spread far to seaward, and smaller submarines are now being built. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. German official: Eastwards of Reims wo forced our way into Fort Pompelle, which was destroyed. We recaptured a section of trenches south-eastward of Tahure (Champagne), and stormed trenches southward of Haucourt (west of the Meuse). We penetrated the American trenches north-eastward of Sucheprez (midway between St. Mihiel and Pont a Mousson), inflicting heavy casualties.