In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 73, 23 February 1918, Page 5

In the West

THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE

MUCH TALK.

Press Association—Copyright, Anst’-a lian and N.Z. Cable Association London, Feb;nary '22.

A high military authority states time though there is much talk of the coming offensive, there are no definite indications that bring it any nearer, the most satisfactory feature of the West front is onr continued success in the air, which is of the utmost importance as a preliminary to any battle. Referring to the air raids on London, he says that since the beginning of the year we have carried out fifteen into Germany, all with definite results, ns against Germany’s five on London, two,of which were abortive. ’I lie latest instance of the enemy’s propaganda is- visible in Germany’s using great influence in Switzerland in connection with a protest against the use of poisonous gas. We are ready at any moment to relinquish it.

I Le Journal states it is believed that Cambrai will be one sector for the German offensive. The .'•British right flank at Cambrai is particularly temptbig.

I L’Echo de Paris states that the Gcr-r man offensive will probably bo between Lille and Cambrai, involving the engagement of sixty or eighty divisions.

Turkish and Austrian troops have arrived on the West front.

AERIAL BOMBING RAID.

Press Association—Copyright, Austra

lian and N.Z. Cable Association

London, February 21

Sir Douglas Haig reports: We bombed yesterday an aerodrome northward of Douai and a dump north-eastward of Lille. We dropped fifty bombs on billets and 150 bombs

were dropped at night on an important railway centre south-eastward of Cambrai. We successfully attacked Tbionville, twenty-six heavy bombs being dropped on the railway station, where there was a large explosion and two fires. Despite considerable gunfire all our machines returned. Aeroplanes to-day dropped a ton of bombs on factories and the station at Pirmasens, in Germany. Hits were obtained near the station, gasworks, and factories, where a large fire was observed. All returned.

OPERATIONS IN LORRAINE.

London, February 21

A French communique reports: We took prisoner 525, including eleven officers, in yesterday’s operations in Lorraine. : - -•

AMERICAN AEROPLANES.

Washington, February 21

Air W. D. Baker, Secretary for War, states that hitherto neither tlu Allies nor the Germans on the West front had more than 2500 battleplanes simultaneously available. American planes are going to the front four? months, earlier than was expected.

THE FUTURE OF BELGIUM.

Amsterdam, February 21

Admiral von Tirpitz, speaking at a Pan-German meeting at Mannheim, said that whatever were the results on the East front, the only thing that mattered to Germany was the defeat of Anglo-Amcricanism. This was only possible by insisting that in the future Germany instead of England should protect Belgium. If Germany surrendered Belgium she would be the laughing stock of the world.

AN ARTILLERY BATTLE.

PRELIMINARY SPARRING.

Press Association—Copyright, Anstrw nan and N.Z. Cable Association (Received 9.35 a.m.) London, February 22. , A great artillery battle has begun along the entire French front.

THE BRITISH FRONT.

Press Association—Copyright, Austra

linn and N.Z. Cable Association

London, February 22,

The United Press states that the British on Tuesday took, over another considerable sector of the front, southward of St. Quentin as far as the Oise river.

FRENCH RELIEVED OF 12 MILES'.

Press Association—Copyright, Austin

Han and N.Z. Cable'Association (Received 9.35 a.m.) London, February 22

The Southern extremity of the British front is now opposite La Fere. The extension of nearly twelve miles, which includes the whole of the St. Quentin salient, economises the French man-power, liberating considerable forces for service, elsewhere. The new sector was hitherto a quiet part of the front “No-Mnn’s Land” in some places being a thousand yards wide'.