FRANCE AND BELGIUM.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16038, 24 January 1918, Page 3

FRANCE AND BELGIUM.

' FRENCH ARMIES READY. FOR EXPECTED GERMAN ATTACK (Received Jan. 24, 9.3 Q a.m.) NEW YORK, Jan. 23., The Paris correspondent of tho New York Times says that Franco is awaiting confidently the great. German offensive on the west front, which is believed to be imminent. This will be the decisive, perhaps tho final, battle of the war. ' ( M. Joseph Iloinach and other writers opine that Nancy will be ono of the principal objectives. It is known that the Germans are heavily concentrating forces in Lorraine,.but Franco has perfected her defences and the enemy attack is'doomed to failure. v ALLEGED DIFFERENCES. BETWEEN GERMAN MILITARY LEADERS. (Received Jan. 24, 9.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, Jan. 23. Tho Chicago Daily Nows correspondent on tho French front says that serious differences aro reported ‘between Hindenburg and Ludondorff. It is believed that the latter is opposed to a big offensive on tho west front. SOME PATROL ENCOUNTERS. AIR RAID OVER GERMAN BORDER. (Received Jan. 24, 8.40 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 23. Sir Douglas Haig reports': We had successful patrol encounters last night eastward of Yprcs. The enemy raided one of our posts southward of St. Quentin. There was hostile artillery activity- at Cambrai. ‘Our aeroplanes during tho night dropped over 200 hombs on aerodromes near Conrtrai and billets at Roulers and Rumbeko. We also made an air raid in Germany and dropped two tons of bombs on the steel works at Thionville, a railway siding at Bernsdorff and Arnaville Junction. HEALTH OF BRITISH TROOPS GOOD. GERMAN DISCIPLINE RELAXED. LONDON, Jan. 23. Mr. Gibbs states that the relief from incessant infantry fighting is reflected in the clear drop of the casualties and the splendid emptiness of the wards. Even cases of sickness aro not heavy, despite tho weather, the health of the troops being wonderful. Muddy scarecrows from the enemy s water-logged trenches toll miserable tales of discomfort, owing to flooded dug-otUs and shortage of food, ,and the difficulty of getting supplies. Undoubtedly there is a relaxation from discipline in the German army. Apparently the officers are afraid to punish the men severely, even for the gravest offences. It is noteworthy that deserters are not shot, but are sent back to prison. The Gorman higher command aro trying to build up a- mighty bogey that masses are coming from the East', hoping to demoralise the Allies, who aro unlikely to be deceived by such camouflage. Mr. Gibhs’ personal opinion is that there will be no great operations for at least a. month, while No Man’s Land is flooded and the roads and trenches are bogs. A CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS. PARIS, Jan. 23. It is announced that tho Allied Premiers and War Ministers will probably meet in Paris shortly. M. Thomas suggests that the Entente should offer President Wilson’s terms to Germany through diplomatic charmers.