GERMAN DEFEAT ON THE AISNE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3146, 26 July 1917, Page 5

GERMAN DEFEAT ON THE AISNE

BRILLIANT ■ ATTACK BY THE. FRENCH

ENEMY SWEPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA PLATEAU

RUSSIA'S SOLEMN HOUR

RETREAT IN THE SOUTH CONTINUES

REGIME OF "BLOOD AND IRON" IMMINENT

"Whatever anxiety may have' been engendered by the furious and persistent attacks by the Germane, on the Aisno is dispelled to-day by the news of the enemy's defeat by the French in an attack described as of "extraordinary dash, and brilliant in results." The enemy has been swept from the California Plateau, the lost positions have been recovered, and at 6omo points, even, an advance has been made. There are signs of -reawakening activity on tho British front. A terrific artillery bombardment is in progress in Flanders, while the Germans officially notice the fact that "the enemy's thrusts aro becoming more '■ frequcnt." From Russia the news is less cheerful, though there is soma solaco in the German statement that the Russian divisions «it Sniorgon, Dvinsk, and certain other points are desperately attacking. In tho south the retreat continues. Since for desperate diseases desperate remedies must bo found, the conviction is expressed b!y M. Kerenski that if appeals to reason, honour, and conscienco fail, tho Government must save Russia by "blood and iron." .

TABLES TURNED ON ' THE AISNE

FRENCH RECAPTURE THE LOST' GROUND EXTRAORDINARY DASH AND BRILLIANT RESULTS (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright). . London, July 21. A French official communique states: "There was a violent bombardmont in tho region north-west of Braye-en-Laonnais, and two enemy attacks were repulsed with heavy losses. Another attack between Cerny and Ailles failed. A violent artillery strugglo continues on the sector before Craonno, notably on the California Plateau."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Rcuter. , (Bee. July 25, 9.5 p.m.) ; London, July 25. A French' official communique states: "This morning iwo vigorously counterattacked the enemy, who since the hard fighting on July 22 had occupied our first-line trenches on tho Casemates and tho California Plateau. Our attack was carried out with extraordinary dash, and gavo brilliant results. Despite tho enemy's desperate defence, our soldiers recaptured the whole of tho lost ground on the California Plateau except a small work that had been completely destroyed in the north-east salient, which both sides had abandoned. Wo throw out the'enemy on the Casemates from all tho elements ho and even advanced our line at several points.' German counter-attacks which were re-launch-ed on the reconquered trenches were wholly unsuccessful. The artillery duel is most active in Champagne and on the left bank of the Meuse."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. * TREMENDOUS BOMBARDMENT IN FLANDERS Paris, July U. A tremendous artillery battle continues on the Flanders front. The Germans aro employing vertical barbed wire, forming a wall of steel 300 yards high, against Allied observation aeroplanes—Reuter. SUCCESSFUL RAIDS BY THE BRITISH London, July 24. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"Wo mado successful raids westward of Havrincourt, eastward of Vormclles, and west of Hollebeke."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.Reuter. (Rec. July 2(1, 0.10 a.m.) London, July 55. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Wo successfully raided tho enemy's lines northeast of "Spies. Our aeroplanes continue successfully to co-operate with tho artillery. Tho air squadrons dropped bombs on many important points. Fewer of tho machines aro operating. Six were brought down."— Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assm-Router. ENEMY HEAVILY REINFORCED Paris, July 24. , M Marcel Rutin, writing in the "Echo de Paris," states that tho German batteries from the coast to the Scarpe have been largely reinforced, also the aerial squadrons. Princo Rupprechrs reserve divisions have been doubled, and the reserve troops in tho Lille region increased.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. \ GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT (Rec. July 25, 8.5 p.m.) London, July 21. A German official report states: "The incessant artillery duel in Flanders has reached an unprecedented intensity, and tho enemy's thrusU aro increasing. Tho French re-attacked unsuccessfully on -the Chcmin-des-Damos. Wo havo repulsed twenty-one French attacks during tho,past few days. Wo penetrated Caurieres Wood and inflicted heavy losses."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable i Assn.-Reuter.

WILL SAVE RUSSIA BY BLOOD AND IRON'

KERENSKI WARNS THE PEOPLE TRAITORS TO BE STERNLY DEALT WITH Pctrograd, July 24. J[. Iverenski. in an interview, stated that the Government would 6ave Russia by Wood and iron, if appeals to reason, honour, and conscience failed. Whatever happened, tho regime which existed before the revolution was impossible. The problem of the moment was to check the rotreat and the economic disorder, and restore tho finances. The situation at tho front demanded heroic measures, and ho would deal sternly with traitors.—Renter. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ON THE FRONT FURTHER VOLUNTARY RETIREMENTS. (Rec. July 2(1, 0.10 a.m.) London, July 25. A Russian official report states: "South-west of Dvinsk our detachments occupied tho German positions tstridc the Dvinsk-Veln railway. , Subsequently whole units voluntarily returned U> their original trenches. A number or units disobeyed their commands. The Twenty-fourth Division acted heroically, and lost heavily. The gallantry of tho officors was noteworthy. The enemy occupied a height northward of Bogush, in the direction of Yilna. The officers had the utmost difficulty in restraining great numbers of men from withdrawing to the rear. The enemy crossed the Sorcth in the region of Mikulicc, and occupied Volvanazovcckay. 'i-'he onemy continues his offensive between the Sercth and tho Strypa, and has occupied three villages. We are holding a 'lino which touches Gaivoronka, Monastir, Jiskt, and north-west of Buczacz. Wo are retiring in an easterly direction - sou'thwiml of the Dniester. Stanislau is being evacuated. A successful raid was made at Domuk Patak, on tho Rumanian front Our torpedo boats co-operated with . tho artillery, in a bombardment of Tircoli on tho Black Sea, which destroyed tho enemy's depots and barracks." -Aus.-N.fi. Cable Assn.-Keuter. THE TRAITOROUS ELEVENTH ARMY "EVERYTHING HOLDS TIGHT ELSEWHERE." (Rec. July 2G, 0.10 a.m.) London, July 25. Tho "Morning Post's" correspondent at Pctrograd reports: "The Russian Eleventh Army, in collapsing, lost largo numbers of prisoners and guns. Tho extent of the front affected is from thirty to forty utiles. Northward of tho

abandoned district) everything holds light. la ,the south changes are boing mado to sccuro tht> exposed Hank. Russia has inado good greater breaches than, this, which is a political, not a fighting failure, and may prove a blessing in disguise, lintish nttval armoured oars operated alongside and southwards of tho traitorous Meventh Army, and will probably assist to hold tho threatened flank or cover a retreat.''}—Aus.-N.is. Cablo Assn, GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT (Kec. July 25, 8.5 p.m.) A German official (report states: "Bitter fights, resulting in our favour have occurred along tho wljiolo of our castorn front, from the Baltic to tho Black Sea. Tho Russians twice vasnly attacked on a wide front near Jacobstadt. Six Russian divisions five tim« 3 attacked us south-west of Dvinsk, and after tough hand-to-hand fighting the Russians withdrew, sustaining terrible losses. Renewed Russian)attacks failed on a wide front at Krevo, which wo again hold. Eight Russian divisions attacked southwards of Smorgqn, but only the romnairts of them returned. The strategical effect of our operations in East Galicia aro becoming powerful. Tho enemy is rotroating from the Northern Carpathian frontier. Pressing forward on a front of 250 kilometres (150 miles) from the Sereth to the wooded Carpatliktlis, wo forced the crossing of the Sereth. Southward of Tarnopol wo repulsed desperate Russian, mass attacks near Tremboola. We advanced beyond Podhatjce- and Solotwinska. The amount of booty captured has not yet been ascertained. Several of our divisions report captures of threo thousand prisoners each, with, many 'heavy guns and railway trucks filled with, foodstuffs, proving that tits enemy has precipitately retreated. The Archduke Joseph's north wing has jotined the movement. The Russo-Rnnianians attempted to advance on a wide sectfljr between the Trotus and the Putna Valleys, but were driven back. Fresh fiilits have developed. General Mackensen broke down tho Russo-Rumanians' attain: along the Putna and the Sereth."—Aus.-N.55. Cable Assn.—Renter. GERMANS ALONE OUT THEIR OFFENSIVE AUSTRIAN'S APPREHENSIVE ABOUT ITALY, Rome, July 24. The Galician offensive is being exclusively carried out by German 'troops. Thero is a marked disinolinatiton by the Austrians to weaken tho Italian front to help tho Germans.—Aus.--N.jK. Cable Assn. IGERMAN ESTIMATE OF RUSSIAN STORES LOST AT TARNOPOL. (Rec, July 25, 8.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, July 24. The "Lokal Anzeiger's" war correspondent states that stores to the value of a million sterling were destroyed at Tarnopol, which was the main base of tho Russian armies in the southv-western districts. The city is still burning. Some Russian units stubbornly resisted.—"The Times.". GERMAN GO>LD IN THE REVOLT FURTHER PROOF OF ENEMY'S SINISTER METHODS. Petrograd, July 24. It is daily more apparent that German bribery played a great part in the revolt. Whon the occupants of the* fortress of Peter and Paul yielded, they were searched.' Every man had at least .£3s.—Aus.-N.55. Cable Assn. ALLIES' CONFEF.ENCE WITH RUSSIA A DISCUSSION OF WAR AIMS. i Washington, July 24. The Allies will confer with the Russians in August, when they (tho Allies) will explain their war aims and foreign policies. The United States has shown its confidenco in Russia by to-day advancing .her a million dollars.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. London, July 24. Air. Lloyd Georgo will state tho Allies' war aims at the War Anniversary Meeting in London on August 4. Numerous Government supporters are forming an Allies' War Aims Committee, pledged to carry on tho war till the aims are obtained.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.