Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-02-16

Friday, the date set by influential
German newspapers for the starting OF
the much advertised German offensive.
has passed, and no aggression by the
enemy materialized. On the contrary
both the British and French armies
delivered at widely separated points on
the western front smashcs at the Ger
man line. These attacks, although they
were successfully carried out and re-
suited in tho capture Of prisoners and
the inniction of casualties on tho enc
my
Canadians Continue Raids
The Canadians on the famous Lens
sector kept up their raiding operations
against The Germans, again entering
trenches and bringing back prisoners.
Near Courcy the French undertook
successfully a similar mancuvrc which
bore fruit in the tagging Of q mum
bcr Of Germans.
III Tic J'lIiIf HU btSnll ItSlbl vi
Champagne, where the French. aided
ny American batteries. executed q
brilliant stroke early in the week. a
lively artillery duel was in progress
lat last accounts. with fhe Americans.
in all probabilities. participating. Like
wise near Ncrdun and in the WoeVre
violent reciprocal bombardSments are
in progress.
Along that sec tor of the front east
OF st, Mhiel, where an America force
j. holding the line, quiet is prevailing
for the time being. owing to the in
clement weather and the morass which
has formed as result of q heavy rain.
The Germans in front of the Ameri-
cans are Lusily engaged in repairing
trenches and constructing new dug
outs to replace those which had been
shattered recently by the accurate aim
of the American gunncrs handling
their 1os.
French Aviators Bomb Metz
Over the entire front the aerial actv-
lily by both sides continues intense with
Both the Entente and German airmen
endeavoring TO locate opposing positions
. or to SPY out troop concentrations.
French aviators again have carried out l.
brilliant foray into Germany. attacking
with bombs numerous towns OF military
Importance, notably Metz. the famous
fortress which lies some ~ miles north OF
the American sector i'll Lorraine, Large
quantities of explosives were dropped,
and confla erations were observed.
The British again have hit the Turk
line in Palestine a hard blow. North
east o. Jerusalem they have penetrated
Turkish positions to a depth Of two miles
on a front Of six miles.
Snea King out into the Strait OF Dover.
German torpedoboat dcsiroyers carl! Fri
day morning made another OF their sud
den attacks on small British craft. sink
ing eight Of them-sevcn drifters and ore
ira wler. Having carried out ;hcir work
Of destruction the Germans beat has'v
retreat to the north before British naval
forces could engage them.
Peace Negotiations with Rumania
Late German newspapers say there are
: Indications that peace negotiations be
tween the Central Powers and l:umanIa
are in prospect. Some O. these newsp.-
pers assume that Humanisn delegates az
ready have reached n given point where
they will discuss with representatives 81
the Central Powers. details for the COW
ference.
Although reports OF the conference n,
the imperial German headquarters be
tween Emperor William and the military
and political leaders have indicated the
proba bilty OF further fighting between
the Teutonic Allies and the Russiane
the Bolshcvik governments withdrawal
from the war has been reiterated by Leon
'Trotzky. the foreign minister 4 wire
less from Petrosrad says Trouky In
formed the all-Hussian Workmen's and
Soldiers Councils that Russia's with
dra wal was real one and that all agree
ments with her former allics had been
Initiated. The councils approved Tro1-
zk, 8 policy.