OFFENSIVE RESUMED.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16266, 17 July 1918, Page 7

OFFENSIVE RESUMED.

GERMANS ATTACK ON 50-MILE FRONT, EARLY REPORTS FAVOURABLE TO ALLIES FOURTH YEAR—3SOth DAY,

BIG OFFENSIVE BEGUN. GERMANS CROSS THE MARNE. ATTACK ON 50-MILE FRONT. (By Cabla.—Pr«w AMociation.—Copyright.) (Australian and N«Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, July 16.. The German offensive has begun in the Argonne. It is reported that they have crossed the Marne. The Germans are crossing the Marne bjr many bridges, despite American reThe Germans also attacked tho Americans at Chateau-Thierry. The Americans successfully counter-attacked in the Vaux region. A bitter battle is in progress around Dormans, the Germans seeking to cross the Marne. The United Press correspondent reports that the Americans counter-at-tacked at Chateau-Thierry, and drove the Germans back 700 yards. VANCOUVER, July 15. The United Press Paris correspondent states that the Germans are violently attacking the French on a o(]-muc front north-east of Chateau-Thierry. The United Press Paris correspondent reports that the Germans are heavily attacking the Americans at Vaux. Ane situation is satisfactory NEW YORK, July 15. The United Press correspondent on the American front says the German drive extends from west of Chateau Thierry to east of Rheims. There is bitter fighting, especially at Chateau Thierry. The Germans crossed the Marne at three places—-Mezy, La Bretton Mere Farm, and Jaulgonne. Ihe Germans threw pontoons tne Marne under a fierce fire. The Americans quickly recovered ground at Chateau Thierry, and then forced tho enemy back half a mile beyond, nis original July 15. Military officers regard tha drive as Germany's last desperate attempt. They, believe Germany will push the offensive regardless of loss, but are confident that she will not reacn her objectives.

"Echelonment in depth." The defensive front has become an area ten miles in depth, of which the most advanced positions are held lightly by scattered machine-gun posts and little forts, the middlo parts by the main bodies, and the rear by reserves. Wo have learnt much from the enemy during the last three months, but von Ludendorff's latest invention has this weakness: it proceeds by spasms. While the best German divisions are being trained for the next onset, inferior units are placed in tho front line, which we are easily masters of. NEW ZEALAND ENTRENCHING BATTALION. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELECEAM.) WELLINGTON, July 16. On June 28th a question was cabled Homo with regard to a report stating that 233 men of the New Zealand Entrenching Battalion had been captured. "Nothing," stated the question, "is known hero about an entrenching battalion formation." The following reply has now been received by the .Defence Minister: — All the New Zealand reinforcements in France were, last February, on the absorption pf the 4th Brigade, organised into three entrenching battalions, and are now so organised, but when tho surplus numbers are absorbed they will form an entrenching group, of the strength of one battalion. On April 12th No. 2 Entrenching Battalion, of a strength of 22 officers and 1130 other ranks, was moved hurriedly by motor buses from Abeele to St. Jan's Capel to fill up "a gap near Meteren, _ and were attached to the 19th Division. They renderod excellent service and fought well, but some were captured through being cut off. The casualties totalled 251.

FIGHTING AT RHEIMS. . (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received July ]6th, 7.50 p.m.) LONDON, July 16. Mr Bonar Law, in the House of Commons, announced that Mr Lloyd George, who is in telephonic communication with General Foch. learnt that the latter is well satisfied with Monday's fighting. In an attack on a front of eighty kilometres the enemy penetrated west of Rheims to an average depth of four or .five • kilometres. The Americans south of the Marne by a brilliant countor-nttack drove the enemy back, taking a thousand prisoners. The enemy has been completely checked east of Rheims. (Received July 16th, 7.20 p.m.) LONDON, July 15th (11.45 p.m.). The Germans penetrated to a depth of 5000 yards west of Rheims. They captured Chezy, south of ChateauThierry. They also captured Avocourt and Chaumizy. They attacked east of Rheims, but were stopped in the French back positions after capturing Brenly. The situation there is satisfactory. The total length of front affected ; s 55 miles. Probably 60 German divisions are engaged.

THE ENEMY'S DIFFICULTIES. (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) (Received July 16th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 15. The Exchange Telegraph Agency's Paris correspondent says that to-day's offensive is largely due to the enemy's difficulty in concentrating troops and material over communications so reduced that during the day, even 35 kilometres behind the lines, he cannot move at one time more than one battery or company. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Reutei'a Telegrams.) - (Received July 16th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 15. Sir Douglas Haig reports: — "'Sunday's operation in the Dickebusch sector on a 2000 yards front,, in the neighbourhood of Ridge Wood, resulted in the capture of a frequently disputed position of some local importance. We took the enemy by surprise and were completely successful. All our objectives were gained. We took 296 prisoners, and our casualties were light. "We slightly improved our positions southward of Villers-Bretonneux. "Wo made a successful raid in the neighbourhood of Ayette. "Hostile artillery is active southward of Arras, northward of Bethun2, and in the Locro and the Dic'kebusch | sectors." | CHANGE IN CHARACTER OF FIGHTING. LONDON, July 15. The "Daily Chronicle's" Paris correspondent states that there has been a deep change in the character of the fighting on the Western front. Both sides enjoy the sheiter of the old trench system in the front line, but the prodigious field works which typified the Hindenburg line have been abandoned hy both sides. Instead of the ditches and dug-outs which aviators easily mapped, and massed batteries of heavy guns wiped out, both sides have introduced a method of defence called