ITALY'S WAR.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16259, 9 July 1918, Page 7

ITALY'S WAR.

AUSTRIANS DRIVEN FROM

COASTAL ZONE,

ANOTHER ADVANCE BY AUSTRALIANS

FOORTH YEAR—-342nd DAY,

THE WEST FRONT.

(Received July Bth, 10.10 p.m.) LONDON, July 7.

another gain.

AUSTRALIAN ADVANCE IN SOMME AIIEA. (By Cablo.—Press Association.— Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) (Router's Telegrams.)

LONDON, July 7. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— "The Australians, on tho night or July sth, advanced their lino northeastwards of Villers-Bretonneus on a front of 2000 yards."

(Received July Bth, 9.45 p.m.) LONDON, July 7. Sir Douglas Haig reports: — "Wo repulsed an attempted hostile raid on the morning of July 7th, near L6cre. - "There is hostile artillery fire and trench mortar activity in the Bethune

sector. "Three German aoroplanes were destroyed, and one was driven down uncontrollable. One British machine is missing. Seventeen tons of bombs were dropped on various targets during tlio last 24 tours." (Received July Bth, TO.IO p.m.) LONDON, July 8.

Mr Philip Gibbs writes-.—"The Australian push on Saturday amounted to 400 yards on a mile front. Three German divisions were so cut up on Thursday they aro utterly incapable of counterattacking, and must bo relieved and refitted."

(United Service.? (Received July Bth, 10.10 P-™-) V LONDON, July 7

Mr Porry Robinson states: "The advance on the Bretonneux sector gives the Australians command of an important valley position three miles m length."

THE SOMME ATTACK. (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) LONDON, July 6. Mr Philin Gibbs writes: "Alter ® tte risU to™ tai the. German out"JfjsarSHte quality up 'f'ho silencing of his SS£ IS £. batae less fearful than a most horrible feature.. After the bar race passed tho Americans and Aus tralians found groups of strange, uncanny creatures, with gas masks » and hands held up. Any who showed fight had not a chance of hie. "The Americans were not tender bpirted. going forward with, nxeu bayonets, shouting 'Lusitania as a battle-cry. 'Hie shout seemed to strengthen their American and terrify the enemy. And the Germons might well have been terrified, for 'Lusitania' is a call of vengeance.

("The Times.")

LONDON, July 6. Mr Perry Robinson writes that the Americans behaved magnificently. I they had a fault it was excessive keenness. They suffered some casualties by Dressing : .nto their own barrage. A corporal, aged 21, who was wounded thrice, killsd seven Germans and a sergeant captured seven single-handed. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, July 6. The United Press Agency says that train robberies by armed bandits ana German troops have become so common in German rear areas, according to a captured document, that at least one army has been obliged to arm tram men, sometimes with light machineguns, and give them police authority, with orders to shoot soldier bandits on the spot.

THE COMING BLOW. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received July 9th. 1.45 a.m.)

Mr Philip Gibbs states: —"The success of the Australians must not blind us to the truth about tho general situation. The enemy iB still holding a powerful army against the British, and all his preparations are complete for a violent offensive on a big scale. Good fortune has enabled us to strengthen our defences and build our bayonet strength, so that the peril is less than two months ago, but tho menace is still there, whatever vhe meaning of the delay."

MR MASSEY CONFIDENT

LONDON, July 7. Mr Massov has returned from France. Ho said: "I feel more confident than for the nasi two months. I addressed over 20,000 New Zealanders. When the next big show comes the Allies will { give a very good account of themselves."

FRENCH ACTIVITIES

LONDON, July 7. A French communique says:— ' "West of Chateau Thierry we progressed in the region of Hill 204, and took prisoners. Everything is quiet ■elsewhere. "Eighteen enemy aeroplanes were brought down. Fifty-six tons of explosives wore dropped on the onemy soue from July Ist to July 6th."

A French communique states: —

"Artillery fire is active south of the Aisne, in the regions of Longpont and Corey.

•'American troops carried out a coup-de-main in tho Vosges and Brought ba,ck prisoners."