TERRIFIC PRESSURE CONTINUES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 217, 1 June 1918, Page 7

TERRIFIC PRESSURE CONTINUES

ENEMY CHECKED WEST OF SOISSONS REIMS LINE STILL HOLDS OUT . : • By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright. •■ , ■ ■ London, Hay 30. ■The centre of the German main attack is now at Vailly, eighteen miles! Fouth of the Chemindcs Dames. A Grnnon attack at . Wejtnhnrl Glanders •front) was beaten. The British lira holding the Germans north-west of Reims, "hem there is bitter fighting. M..Clmenceau (Prime Minster ot France) rarrowly escaped capture duvmg a visit to the front.—Aus. 7 l..Z. Cablo Assn.

THE OFFICIAL REPORTS ''■■"'"' ' "■"""'■ ' LULL IN FLANDERS.', : :' . ■ . ■ . ,:..'. • Lindon, May 30. Sir Douglas Haig reports •.-"Wβ completely repulsed a night attack-north of Festubert, and eomlucted a minor operation in tho neighbourhood of Morris •Flanders front), improving , our line B lwlitly."-Aus.-N.Z. CaWb Assn.-Reuter. Olec. May 31, 7.25 p.m.) . ' ' . .■ ■ London, Hay 30. ■ Sir Douglas Hai? reports—"The French on the night of May' 29 carried nut a successful local, operation eastward of Dickebusch, improving their position. There was reciprocal artillery firing on Uio rest of the front.- -Aus.-N.Z. Cable A6sn.-Reuter. THE FRENCH REPORT London, May 30, 1.30 a.m. A French communique, states:—"Thebattle has assumed a particularly violent character on the left wing, in the region of Soissons. We evacuated the town, o c which we hold tho exita. The battle continues on tho west and southeast of Soissons, and on the plateau in tho centre, while we gave ground under Mresstire in tho region of-Compeigne, to the north of Fere-en-Tardenois. Ihe French and British truops farther east succeeded; in maintaining their positons ci. the Brouillet-Savigny-Tilley lino. Ot the right tho troops covering Reims fell back behind the "Aisne Canal, to tho north-west of the town."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeutcr. . . ■ • • .'Rec. May 31, 7 p.m.) London, May 30, 5.15- p.m. A French official communique states:-"The battle continued without interruption all night. We energetically defended and held the western outskirts of Soissoiie, from which the enemy has bee" unable to dehjouch in spite of repeated attempts Farther south extremely violent fighting occurred in the reiriuti of the SoiNons-Hartonnes road, and on the Feve-en-Tardenois-Veslo front, where, supported by our reserves, we are resisting the enemy's masses with untiring tenacity Ori the right the Franco-British troops on the Brouillet-Tliillois frpnt and also' north-west of Reims broke all assaults and maintained their positions.-"—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reutei'v , . ... „„ ■ » (Roc. May 31, 11.30 p.m.) London, May 31, I.SO a.m. A. French official communique states:—"The battlo Ims continued with undiminished violence along our whole front. Our troops are hanging on to tho western outlets of Soissons, and have prevented all progress by tho enemy from there to tho southward. Wo aro solidly holding the left bank of the Crise. In tho centre the intense struggle has not slackened. The enemy has captured Tere-en-Tardenois and Vezilly, and is miUiplying his efforts towards Villc-en-Tardenois.'-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Renter.

AMERICAN GAINS CONSOLIDATED Washington, May 30. General Pershiu«'s communique annuinces that the American troops liavo "onsolidnted the positions captured in the Cantigny salient. Three counter-at-facks by Germans in an aftempt to rcgait the lost ground weic completely re-pulsed.—Au3.-N.Z- Cable Assn.-Reulor. THE GERMAN REPORT ■ London, Mny 30, 1.50 a.m.' \ German official report states:—"Wo have made further proyress between SoissoiH afld Eeime."-Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assii.-Keuler. . , ffiec. Mny 31, 7.25 p.m.) London. May M. A German official report states: "Southward nf Fere-fii-Tardenoia wo are lighting our wny towards the Marne."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. May 31, 11.15 p.m.) London, May 30. A wireless German official report states:—"Between the Ysov and the Oise there have been some local infantry engagements. The Crown Prince continues) his siicceasfiil attack. "We gained some ground north of the Aisnc after hard lighting at Crecy-uu-Mont, Juvigny, anrt Cufiies. We have captured Soissons. Our interrupted attacks south of the Vpslc l)roke the ntw Frencl. front which was in tho course of formation, throwing tho enemy buck across Iho VilleMontoire, Fere-en-Tardenois Coulognes, Brouillet. nntj Bransconrl line. "Wβ captured tho forts on the north-wester! , front of ifeims, and ulsn the northern parts of Laneu-Villette and Betheny. Our total capturo of prisonei-s is now over 35 000 Wo have secured Iremcndons hf.oly, incliiiling railway guns ol' tho heav;cst calibre. Wo captured large dopote at Soissons, Braisne, and Fisines, mid also cilensive munitions depots, trains, hospitals, and an aerodrome (including aeroplanes) During the paat three days wo brought down thirty-eight of tho enemy aeroplane6."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Keuter. GERMAN STAFF HEDGING ON THE OFFENSIVE PUBLIC WARNED NOT TO EXPECT TOO MUCH. (Rec. May 31, 7 p.m.) . Berne, May 30. An official notice from German Grand Headquarters has been published in the German newspapers, warning the people not to exuect the advance to continue at the same rate as in tho past few <iavs. The notice adds: "Tho enemy's resistance is -desperate, and counter-attacks may be expected. Our losses have oiilv been commensurable with the importance of the struggle."—Renter. THE KAISER IN THE GALLERY. Amsterdam, May 30. ' The Kaiser watched the advance from a. hill at Craouuc, and returned with Von Hindenburg.—Aue.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.

AMIENS SEVERELY SHELLED / ■ - ■ • (I?ec. June 1, 0.35 a.m.) London, May SI. Mr. Perry Robinson writes:—"TSo British front is quiet, except for artillery liring and imnicnso aerial activity. The enemy continues his promiscuous long-range shelling behind our lines, inc'nding the hospitals, where more nurses have been killed. Amiens was severely shelled."—"Tlio Times." A BLOW AT THE MARNE (Ha , . Juno 1, 0.35 a.m.) London, May 31. Reuler's French correspondent at Headquarters, writing on May 30, says:— "Tho enemy, held on tho flank at Soissons aim tteime, is Hawing the whole of his strength this morning into n thrust to tho southwards, his obvious goal being tlie Murne. During tiio'night and early morning ho pressed forward about fivo miles towards the river, advancing his front to tho- Fere-Yezilly line. Probably tho Germans hope to establish themselves on the Marue with a view to turning the direction of the main effort westward, trusting to the river to protect their right, as they used the ()ise .River in Apvil. The hottest fighting is proceeding-atony the whole of the southern front of the advance. ■ This morning for the first time the reserves were engaged in supporting the divisions which had borno the weight of the onslaught, sinco Monday."—lleuter; . . Mr. Campbell, writes to "Tho Times":—"There was another big advance on Wednesday night. Tho Anglo-French troops nro standing determinedly northwest of Reims, and tho French ore successfully stopping further progress in the direction of Compicgue, but between these two points tlio enemy, has steadily pushed forward towards the Marne, advancing some miles at various points.' "The Times."