ALLIES ATTACK.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16252, 1 July 1918, Page 7

ALLIES ATTACK.

THE WEST FRONT. ALLIES ADVANCE. SUCCESSFUL ATTACKS ON TWO SECTORS. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Reuter's Telegrams.) (Received June 30th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 29. ! Sir Douglas Haig reports:— "English troops carried out successful minor operations on a 3-i mile front, eastward of Nioppe Forest, and advanced their line to an average depth of nearly a mile. "They took over 300 prisoners, and 22 machine-guns. "They captured all their objectives, anad gained the hamlets of l'Epinotte, Vorto Rue, and La Becqne. We surprised tho enemy. Our casualties were light. "Tho Australians attacked and captured posts westward of Merris, taking 43 prisoners and six machine-guns. Later. "Wo took over 400 prisoners as tho result of Friday's successful operation east of Nieppo Forest. This does not include those taken prisoner west of Merris. Two field guns, a number of machinc-guns and trench mortars, were also captured. "There is active hostile artillery fire opposite Vaire Wood, south of tho Somme and west of Feuchy; also increased reciprocal artillery fire on the Nieppe Forest sector." (Received June 30th, 11.25 p.m.) LONDON, June 29. Sir Douglas Haig reports: — "There is only the usual reciprocal artillery activity." THE GERMAN REPORTS. LONDON, June 29. A German official report states: — "There is lively British and French activity astride the Somme, and intense enemy gunfire astride the Lys, between Bailleul and Bothnne, and southward of tho Aisne. tr We shot down 30 aeroplanes." (Received June 30th, 11.25 p.m.) LONDON, June 29. A German official report states: — "Three British assaults against Merris broke down. The enemy penetrated our lineß at Vioux Berquin,' but wore thrown back by a counter-attack. "Wo repulsed the French near Ambleny, but they gained ground beyond Cutry. Our counter-attacks thre«v them back on the hoiglits on both sidoß of Cutry." CORRESPONDENTS' DESPATCHES. ("The Times.") (Received June 30th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 29. Router's correspondent at British Headquarters, writing on tho evening of Juno 28th, says:—

"We successfully advanced this morning nearly a mile, capturing ground on the entrio front just west of Bois d'Aval, which forms the north-west angle of Nieppe Forest. This point was tho last in tho Flanders offensive at which the enomy thrust hardest, in order to bring off a flanking attack on the high ground east rf)f Kemmel. His possession of the forest would open tho way to an advance on Hazebrouck, entailing a possible retirement from Ypres, and the dismemberment of our forces holding the hilly country between Cassel and Scherpcnberg. Tho onemy's former attempts in that direction, though frustrated, rendered our position cramping for future operations, and this morning's advance was designed, therofore, to enlarge our holding.

"The attack was launched at six o'clock, on a front of 6000 yards, from Vieux Berquin on our left, to Pontournant on our right. Our objective was tho lino of a small stream, named the Platebecque. 1500 yards away, -which was attained completely, without a hitch. Lancashire and Yorkshire troops -were engaged, also regiments from southern counties. "The enemy made a fight, bufc never looked like having a chance of winning. His losses must have been considerable." (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received June 30th. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 29. Mr Philip Gibbs writes:— "A sudden British attack east of Nnppe Forest utterly surprised two divisions of Saxons and Prussians. The English battalions advanced after a short, violent bombardment. There was little fighting, and the Germans were quickly overwhelmed. The unhappy crowd included many new drafts, w'jo must have been the scrapings of the German depots. They were mostlv undersized fellows, unfit for the front line, and were probably thero in order to hold the line only until fresh storm troops arrived for the new offensive. The prisoners' spirits were low, oecaus. 1 ! of tho general misery of their surrounding? being flat, shelterless country. They arc also suffering from an epidemic of inflnenza, which is seriously affecting their strength. Both divisions speak gloomily and express Hen - von Kuhlmann's views that a military decision will not bring peace." SUCCESSFUL FRENCH ADVANCE. (Australian and N.Z. Cuble Association.) (Reuter's Telegrams.) (Received June 30th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 29. A French communique states:— I 'bouth of the Aisne wo attacked this morning from south of Ambleny to

ADVANCE ON WEST FRONT. REPORTED UPHEAVAL IN RUSSIA. FOURTH YEAR —33$ th DAY.

east of Mont Gobert, our object bcinc; to drive the enemy from liis fortified positions. "We penetrated the enemy's organisations on a front of seven kilometres, and carried two trenches above the Laversme heights, north-west of Cutry, carrying our line to the western outskirts of St. Pierre Aigle and the crest south thereof. "Our advance attained a maximum dflpth of two 1- ilometres. and 1060 prisoners were counted. "During June 26th and Juno &7th 20 German aeroplanes and four ballooiu were brought down. "Fifty-eight bombs were dropped on aerodromes in the regions of tho Somme and the Aisne, on cantonments and bivouacs at Poziercs en Santerrc, Fisme, and Guignicourt, and railway stations at Soissons and Fere en Tardenois. ' Two ammunition dumps were blown up and several fires observed." An earlier French communique states:— "Norlh-wost of Montdidier we slightly advanced our positions at Seneca Wood, taking a few prisoners. '•A local operation south of Dammard resulted in some prisoners beine taken." (Beuter'a Telegrams.) (Received June 30th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 29. Reuter's correspondent at Frcnch Headquarters states that the French made an advance on tho morning of Juno 25th between the Aisne and Vil--1 lors Cotterets Forest, along tho valley separating Montigny and Dommiers Plateau, on a front of 4 J miles, their objective being to capture a number of points which might b© useful to the enemy in the event of a now offensive, chiefly Foeso en Bas in tho valley 2J miles south of the Aisne and Cutry, two miles farther south, below the crest of the eastern wall of the valley. "The infantry advanced at five in the morning and attained most of .their objectives in one and a quarter hours, including Hill 162. five hundred feet high, overlooking St. Pierre Aigle and Doimniers. The German artillery was dominated by our guns." A Paris semi-official report states that a supedssful French attack enabled tho strengthening of tho French defence against any hostile attempt to surround the forest of Villers Cotterets towards Compiegne, from the north, by pushing back tho lino one kilometre. East of Nieppo Forest the British adVanco will have an important result by preventing any attempted German infiltration."

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received June 30th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, June . 29. The French success in capturing 1000 prisoners southward of Ambleny, coupled with the British advance, which resulted in 300 prisoners, at Merville, and the Australian capture of posts with 43 prisoners westward of Merris, indicates that tho Allies are not waiting the German offensive passively.

GERMAN COUNTER-ATTACKS FAIL. (Received June 30th. 11.25 p.m.) LONDON, June 29. A French communique states:— "The Germans twice attempted to drive us from the ' positions wo captured yosterday. "A counter-attack by several battalions between Fosse en Bas. and Ravin do Cutry was repulsed, and our new front maintained in its entirety. "South-west of Rheims lively fighting occurred on tho Mont GemdeBligny sector. "The Italians drove back detachments which had gained a footing in advanced elements." THE AMERICANS. LONDON, June 29. An American official report states: — "We again improved our positions southward of Torcy. The prisoners taken in our operation of June 25th now total three hundred." (Received June 30th, 11 p.m..) NEW YORK, June 29. The "New York Times" correspondent on tho American front says' that the Americans are now on eight sectors of the West front, including Montdidier, Toule, Lorraine, three points in Alsace, and north-west and east >t Chateau Thierry. Some sectors aro held exclusively by the Americans, others in conjunction with the Allies. THE NEXT PHASE. 1 (Australian and N.Z. Cable Anßociation.) (Received June 30th, 5.5 p.m.) LON'DON, June 28. Tho Australian Press Association learns that Germany is undoubtedly preparing for an offensive on a hugo scale. Although there is no present indication where tho main attack will bo made, there is some reason to believe that the enemy will strike on the British front in tho north. The enemy '-rill do his utmost to mislead us in regard 1 to his main effort, by making subsidiary attacks at various points. 1 We must bo prepared for an attack between Rheims ana the Meuse, where the enemy's object will bo to cut the French Army in two. Although tho disposal of the enemy's reserves does not point to it, yet he might there try a surprise attack. (Received June 30th, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Juno 28. The "New York Times" correspondent at the front learns that von Hindenburg has planned a great offensivo against the Americans. The main point of tho drive, the correspondent says, | will be between Montdidier and Chateau Thierry. Tho German plans provide for minor offensives in July, which in-

elude an attempt to capture Ithoims. The fact that 50 German divisions -were not used in the. last two drives ib evidence that the enemy is preparing a super-offonsive. BIG EVENTS IMMINENT. {Australian and 2?. Z. Cable Association.) PARIS, June. 28. Military -writers state that it is impossible to disguise Germany's enormous preparations for the coming offensive Correspondents on the British front call attention to the imminence of big events. There is almost uninterrupted cannonading and exceptional aerial activity, and numerous raids by both sides, with tho object of disturbing tho enemy and gathering information. Everywhere there .is an air of expectancy, and everyono is on the qui vive. Tho "Daily Telegraph's" Rotterdam correspondent reports that the German orepnrations appear to be complete. The heavy transport of troops from German barracks and enmps is going on. Tho general indications are that the main attack will ho in Flanders, though the enemy is able to throw in troops simultaneously at other points. Apparently von Lndendorff intends to make a desperate effort to gain the ridge westwnrd of Atont Kcmmel, where recent reinforcements include formations specially trained in hill fighting.