CALM BEFORE STORM.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1293, 5 April 1918, Page 5

CALM BEFORE STORM.

LULL IN THE WEST. WHOLE FRONT REPORTED QUIET. (A, & N.Z.) LONDON, April 3. The Press Bureau states:—l he situation is unchanged. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—The whole front is comparative l " quiet. There was local lighting last night and this morning in the neighbourhood of Feuchy (east of Arras) and Hebuterne (north of Albert), where we killed many of the enemy and captured machine-guns and prisoners. Sir Douglas Haig's aviation report states:—We harassed enemy troops and transport with bombs and machine-guns. Hostile aeroplanes are active between Albert and Moreuil. We brought down 21 aeroplanes and three balloons. Seven of our machines are missing. Our night bombers dropped four and a half tons of bombs on hostile billets and troops. The American air service during the past fortnight has rendered invaluable service. ARTILLERY DUEL. (A. & N.Z. & Router) LONDON, April 4. A French communique states:— There has been no infantry action to-day. The artillery duel continues somewhat violent in the region north of Montdidier, especially between Demuen and Hangard en Santerre. PROVISIONS SHORT. (A. & N.Z.) LONDON, April 4. The "Morning Post's" correspondent on the French front states that the Germans during their advance brought up their reserves mainly by forced night marches, one division undertaking eight consecutively. The prisoners are mostly young. Their moral is good, but they complain about the lack of food, owing to ammunition having preference in transport. They confirm the report that the German losses were light during the first two days, but were tremendous subsequently. The French military authorities anticipate fluctuations between Lassigny and Montdidier, but they do not entertain the possibility of the Germans breaking the line. . GERMAN CLAIMS. (A. & N.Z.) LONDON, April 3. A German official report states:— A counter-attack repulsed an English thrust during the night against us at Ayette. # , Strong enemy forces attacked in the evening between Marceleave and the Luce, but were heavily driven back. We took possession of a height south-west of Moreuil. Our successful thrust south-west of Hizbach brought in prisoners. FATHERLAND PERTURBED. (Rcuter) LONDON, April 4. Renter's correspondent on the French front gives an idea of the German losses, which are already disquieting the Fatherland. He says that the statements of prisoners, carefully checked, show that the losses in several German divisions which the correspondent names, chiefly the Guards and Bavarians, ranged from 25 to 45 and even 75 per cent, of their strength.