WESTERN CAMPAIGN

Timaru Herald, Volume CVII, Issue 16477, 23 February 1918, Page 9

WESTERN CAMPAIGN

THE COMING OFFENSIVE. AN AMERICAN STATEMENT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. WASHINGTON, Feb. 21. A communique issued by Mr Baiter, Secretary for War, states that the Germans hope to deliver a crushing blow by massing shock troops specially trained for mobile warfare, 'but . the bulk of Germany's West Front forces are wholly ignorant of West Froni lighting methods. The Allies arc ready for the battle. GERMAN" CONCENTRATION. AMSTERDAM, Feb. 21. Reports from Liege state that many, trainloads of troops and guns have traversed Liego during the last three diys, going westward. NEW ZEALANDERS ACTIVE. LONDON, Feb. 21. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—New Zealand's troops made a successful raid eastward of Polygon Wood and took a few prisoners. Hostilo, artillery is active at Flcsquieres. .FRENCH GAIN IN LORRAINE. 400 PRISONERS TAKEN. A French communique states: —Our detachment north of Bures and east of- ' Moncel in Lorraine deeply penetrated tho German lines on a wide front. The operation was 'orilliantly carried out. The number of prisoners counted Exceeds 400. ? ALLIES' AIR SUPERIORITY. An analysis of tho air reports shows that the Germans on the British, French and Italian fronts , lost 127 machines in four days, the British accounting for 70. Twelve British machines nre missing. GERMAN PLOT IN FRANCE. - PARKS, Feb. 21. Tho "Figaro" staftes that an'extensive "Defeatist" organisation has been discovered at St. Etienno. A German wine-seller, whoso customers are largely soldiers, has been arrested, and also his Spanish wife. The documents seized included a pass to the war zones. Tho "Figaro" adds that the alleged object of the organisation is to raise insurrections during the German offensive. The St. Etienne wine-merchant apparently had relations with other agents in different regions. His pass was an unconditional safe conduct for a liawkor and vehicle in any army zone. The documents showed that he would have received a large sum if he had succeeded in a certain dangerous enterprise. Officials aTe now deciphering numerous cipher messages.