MOUNTAIN WAR.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16225, 4 July 1918, Page 7

MOUNTAIN WAR.

THE WEST FRONT.

The telegraphic communication between Christchurch and Wellington is still broken, and no cabled war news has come South in the ordinary way since wo went to press on Monday morning. Wo print below the fresh cable news received via Wellington since we printed yesterday's paper, together with some itoms transmitted by wireless during yesterday.

THE NEXT PHASE. WAITING THE GERMAN BLOW, j i (By Cable.—Presa Association.—Copyright.) | (Australian and N.Z, Cablo Association.) j LONDON, July 1. | Mr Philip Gibbs writes: — j "There has been no German counter- : attack to retake tho ground we gained east of Nioppe Forest, when wo took 429 prisoners and many machine-guns. A German wireless report givos a fantastic account, exaggerating our objective, and stating that wo wcro repulsed with great losso3 outside the village of Vieux Berquin. As a matter of fact, tho Australians on our loft carried out a small enterprise in support of the main English attack with remarkable success and rapidity, bringing hack prisoners and several machinegui & "There were only a few raids on Saturday and Sunday. "We are still awaiting the German offensive. Our armies, with the gaps filled by young drafts, are now strong in defence,- and an immense amount of work has been done behind our. lines recently." THE BRITISH FRONT. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Reuter'a Telegrams.) LONDON, June 30. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— "We took a few prisoners in a successful daylight raid eastward of Robecq." LONDON, July 1. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— "We rushed a post in the Aveluy Wood on Sunday. During the night we raided trenches west of Dernancourt. East County troops early in the nijjht carried out a successful minor operation north-west of Albert, and improved their position. A counter-attack was beaten off. "Hostile artillery is active north of Albert, south-east of Arras, east of Robecq, and in the neighbourhood of Merris and the Ypres-Comines Canal." LONDON, July 2. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— "Wo carried out succcssful operations at Albert and Morlancourt.

"We took 1957 prisoners in June." LONDON, July 2. The Americans advanced half a mile on a two-mile front. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, July 1. The "Morning Post'' says:— "The fighting at Nieppo Forest was a defeat for Bernhardi's troops. The English and Australians attacked the 44th Prussian, Reserve Division and the 32nd Saxon Division at six in the morning, and thoroughly defeated them. The Germans had pushed their artillery within a few hundred yards of the front trenches, so that the crews were unable either to remove the guns or carry away the breech blocks. Bernhardi's tried infantry made no effort to recover tho hamlets of Repinettes, Verte Rue, and La Becque, wjiich we stormed." LOCAL GAINS ON FRENCH FRONT. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Reuter's Telegrams.) LONDON, June 30. A French official communique issued this evening Btates:— "Wo made various raids, notably west of Hangaxd. "In local operations south of tho Ourcq we captured last night a crest between Nosloy and Passy-en-Valois, advancing 800 yards on a front of two miles. We took 275 prisoners." LONDON, July 1. A French communique Btates:— "South of the Aisne we improved our position in the region of St. PierreAigle. It i 3 quiet elsewhere." LONDON, July 1. A French communique states: — "We made several raids between Montdidier and Noyon. We captured an enemy centre of resistance north of Cutry, and improved our positions be-tween-Passey-en-Valois and Vinly, and advanced our line to east of the Chezy and Vinly railway. The Germans coun-ter-attacked against our new positions south-east of Nosloy, but we maintained yesterday's gains." THE GERMAN REPORT. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Reuter's Telegrama.) LONDON, June 30. A German official report states: "There was increased artillery activity all day long north of the Lys and south of the Aisne. The firjig was revived at night on the remainder of the front between the Yser and the Marne. Wo captured prisoners during strong enemy thrusts south of the Ourcq." MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. LONDON, July 1. Router's correspondent at French Headquarters states:— "An important part was played in the battle on June 28th between the Aisne and Villers Cotterets Forest by the new small tanks, which were for the first time engaged in considerable force. The new tanks are about quarter the size and weight of the ordinary battle tank. They carry a crew of two, are much faster than the ordinary tanks, can climb a slope which the latter could not attempt, and can swing completely round in their tracks in a few seconds. Their small size and high speed make them a more difficult target for the enemy's artillery." . (Australian and N.Z. Cable Aeaociation.) WASHINGTON, June 30. General March (Chief of Staff) lias announced that the first division of tho conscripted army has been placed on the

NOTABLE ITALIAN SUCCESS, ANOTHER HOSPITAL SHIP SUNK. FOURTH YEAR—337th DAY.

West, Front firing line. Five divisions have finished training with the British, and have been placed upder General Pershing's direct command. PARIS, July 1. Prosident Poincare, at a striking ceremony, in the presonco of a great gathering of Ministers and others, presented a flag to the Czecho-Slovak troops who are fighting in Franco. The Czecho-Slovak officers, replying, said that tlio flag symbolised their national sovereignty. They woro proud that the 1 Allies had" recognised their national aspirations. ! LONDON, July 1. Mr Percival Phillips writes:—The ' Kaiser has asked the German gunners ! to spare the Mont des Cats as far aa ! possible, bccauso the Trappist priests ; there are tlio only persons who know : where the grave of Prince Max of Hesse i is. The Kaiser had previously enquired i through the Vatican for its location. I but a priest replied. "The Kaiser will I be informed when the injury to- Franco ' is repaired. At present it must suffice i to say that Prince Max received a Chris- | tian burial."