THE BALKANS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16264, 15 July 1918, Page 7

THE BALKANS.

FOURTH YEAR—34Bth DAY,

THE WEST FRONT.

FRENCH GAIN GROUND

BRILLIANT LOCAL ATTACK

(Australian and N.Z. <£a.bto Association.) (Reuter's Telegrams.) (Received July 14th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 12. A French communique states:— "Our troops this morning carried out a brilliant attack on a.front of five kilometres between Cartel and north of Mailly Raineval. "All our objectives were secured, including tho capture of the village of Cartel, Auchin Farm, and a number of strongly-organised spinneys. "We advanced in some places two kilometres deep, taking over 500 prisoners.''

Another French communique states:— "We made further progress north of Chavigny and east of Faverolles, and occupied the village of Longpont and Javage Farm.

"We effected a coup-de-main north of Montdidier, in the Champagne.

"There is lively enemy artillery fire on the right bank of the Mouse."

CReceived July 14th, 5.5 p.m.) (Received July 15th, 1.20 a.m.) LONDON, July 13 A French communique states:—

"During the night between Montdidier and the Oise our advanced posts advanced 500 metres in the region of Porte Farm,"

LONDON, July 12

Sir Douglas Haig reports: —

"We took prisoner 120, and captured ten machine-guns in Thursday's enterprise south-west of Merris.

"We repulsed an attempted raid south of Bucquoy.

"We successfully raided enemy positions north-east of Merris, near Meteren, and in the vicinity of Hamel, taking prisoners."

Sir Douglas Haig reports:—

"We drove off an attempted enomy raid this morning in the neighbourhood of Bucquoy. The enemy sustained some losses.

"Heavy rain storms on July 11th limited the activity of our aviators. Our aeroplanes dropped nihe tons of bombs on railway junctions behind the German lines. We destroyed three German aeroplanes, and brought down two uncontrollable. Three British machines are missing. "Night-flying is impossibler." (Received July 14th, 11.15 p.m.) LONDON, July 13.

Sir Douglas Haig reports:—

"Engligh and Australian troops, on July 12th, carried out successful minor enterprises in the neighbourhood of Vieux, Berquin, and Merris. Our casualties in this sector for the past few days have been exceptionally light. "We raided north of Hamel, and repulsed a raid north of Meteren. "Hostile artillery was active opposite Beaumont-Hamcl, in the StrazeeleLocre sectors.

IMPORTANCE OF FRENCH GAINS. (Reuter's Telegram#.) (Received July 14th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 12.

A French semi-official report states: "The capture of Corey completes the clearance of the enemy from the Foro3t of Villers-Cotterets. This was the object of the series of recent French local attacks, which resulted in our securing many useful positions and valuable information previous to the resumption of the enemy's offensive. The bastion formed by the forest is now intact."

A GERMAN STATEMENT. [By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Heater's Telegrams.)

(Received July 14th, 11-20 p.m.) LONDON, July 13

A German official report says:—

"We repulsed strong enemy thrusts and frequent reconnaissances southwest of Ypres and north of Albert.

"Lively French activity continues between the Aisne and the Marne.

"We captured prisoners in the engagements in the forest of Villers-Cot-terets.

•* We drove back reconnoitring thrusts in tho neighbourhood of Rheims.

"Wo shot down six American aeroplanes which were raiding Coblenz." LONDON, July 12.

A wireless German official report states: — "We repulsed a strong enemy advance in the night north-east of Bethune. "Thero is lively artillery firo between the Aisne and the Marne. Enemy attacks from the Forest of Villiers-Cot-terets were pressed back from our posts in the region of Saviers. "We brought down five out of six American aeroplanes, which were attempting to raid Coblenz, making the crews prisoner."

THE AUSTRALIAN SUCCESSES. (Renter's Telegrams.) (Received July 14th, 5.5 p.m.)

LONDON, July 12

Renter's correspondent at British Headquarters, writing on July 12th, states that the operations by the Australians to north-west of Morris were one of those enterprises for advancing tho line and gaining more tracts beyond "No Man'§ Land. 1 ' The Australians, in attacking, suddenly overran a chain of the German outposts and established a new line. "Our series of raids between Flanders and the Somme," the correspondent says, "which everywhere resulted in the securing of prisoners, will probably l,e the means of obtaining more informa-

ALLIES STILL ADVANCING.

-INDENBURG REPORTED DEAD.

tion regarding the condition of affairs behind tho enemy's line.

"Yesterday there was much hostile artillery fire in Flanders and tho Somme district between rain-storms and thunderstorms. Wet weather has now set in. If it continues, it mny disturb tho German offensive preparations, and therefore will bo in our favour."