THE WESTERN FRONT.

Southland Times, Issue 17659, 17 February 1916, Page 4

THE WESTERN FRONT.

There is extraordinary activity on the Western front. On every sector from the sea to the Vosges heavy fighting is in progress, accompanied by an unusual artillery activity? The

initiative was taken by the enemy, who attacked at many points with great vigour., Along the British front from Nieuport to La Bassee there is great aerial and artillery activity. The enemy claims to have exploded mines at Boesinghe with effect, and reports that British guns shelling Lille did material damage. There is also much activity at Hooge, Ypres and Armentieres. In Artois the enemy gained some temporary success in a series of attacks from Hill 140 to the Neuville St. Vaast La Folie farm road, an old battle ground on which not long ago the French carried out. a strong offensive. The enemy launched four attacks, three of which were stopped, and the fourth was only temporarily - successful, a counterattack driving the’ Germans from the first line of the French trenches in which they had gained a footing. The enemy’s attack at Soissons stirred up activity at a point where there had long been quiescence. No less than five attacks were made in the Ghampaigne region, all of which tvere repulsed. The enemy penetrated a small salient in the French line, but the French made general progress at Butte de Mesuil and took prisoners. In the Argonne French artillery was used with effect against the enemy’s works north of Four de Paris. In the Vosges the German attack on Wissenbach failed. Wissenbacb is east of St. Die. Activity in the extreme south of Alsace at Seppois is quite unusual. For many months the quietness there was undisturbed, and the outbreak of fighting appears to be due to the enemy’s desire to stir up the Allies along the whole line. What all this means the critics in Loudon are trying to decide. It may mean that the enemy is searching for a weak point in the front at which to make another attempt to break through; it may he a demonstration, for the benefit of neutrals, that the initiative has not passed entirely out of German hands. Whatever the explanation may be it is quite clear that there is greater activity on the Western front just now than there was at any time last year. While the Germans are attacking in the West the Russians aro pressing very hard in the Buko win a, Eastern Galicia and Volhynia and with notable success. They are near Czernowitz, and between the Pruth and the Dneister are attacking strongly. Northward of the Dneister Ihey have broken the enemy's line. The Russians now appear to have not only superiority in numbers but a marked ascendancy in respect to artillery. No doubt this strong offensive is intended to have some effect upon Roumania.