THE SITUATION IN THE WEST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 219, 5 June 1918, Page 5

THE SITUATION IN THE WEST

A POOR DAY FOR THE GERMANS RUMOURED COUNTER-OFFENSIVE By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright. > Now York, June 3, !) p.m. The Germans -have drawn their lino closer' round Reims, and now hold three-quarters of a circle.—Reuter. RESERVES OF .THREE NATIONS RUSHING TO THE MARNE. (Rec. Juno 4, 5.5 p.m.) New York, Juno 3. Correspondents with tlio French 'armies stato that tho British, French, nnd American Staffs' are now rushing reserves to the Marne front.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. MOST HOPEFUL NEWS SINCE THE BATTLE BEGAN POSITIONS OF THE ARMIES (Rec. Juno 5. 10.35 p.m.) London, June 3. Eeuter's corrcspondenb at French Headquarters, writing on June 2. stales: — "Tho evening's reports are moro hopeful than any sinco ttio beginning of the battle. For the first time since If ay 27 tho enemy has gained no ground during the day on the West front facing in tho direction of Paris, whero attack and counter-attack have followed in quick succession. Tho gains of tho Germans have been at least counter-balanced by those of (jho French. In tho centre the, enemy has extended his front to the north bunk of tho Marno, : which is still bounded by Chateau Thierry, evacuated somo days ago, and Verneuil. Between Verneuil, north of tho Marno, and Reims, tho. lino runs practically straight north-east. No changes of importance have occurred in this direction' except around Reims, whero the Germans havo drawn thoir line closer. To-day, as yes-l-terday, the fighting is hardest on the western'front of illio offensive. Tho Germans advanced along the eastern border of tho Forest of Villiers Cotterots, and southward botwoen tlio, valleys of tho Ourcq and tho Marne. The thick forest, which favours German tactics of infiltration, is traversed from cast to west by two well-defined valleys, along which run tho railways from Soissons and Fismes, entering the forest at Longpont. Th<? Troesnes, a small tributary of tho Ourcq, joins these two points. Along this stream a hotly-contested battle raged all day, and another around Longpont, (joi'cy, Faverolles, and Troesnes. The fighting was terribly bitter at Troesnes. Corey was attacked again and again, but held on in spite of all the efforts of the enemy. Our counter-attacks enabled a lino of villages fronting tho forest to bo maintained." "Troesnes was retaken by a counter-attack. A new German division waa identified in this fighting, relieving the German Guards division, which had suffered heavily in the opening days of the battle. South of the Ourcq the fighting is almost equally obstinate. The village of Passey-en-Valois, and Hill 163 were taken by the Germans early this morning, but wero recaptured later in the day. On the whole the enemy has nothing to show for his day's work on the western front. Tho German lim* round Reims, beginning at St. Leonard on the Aisnc and Marno Canal, three miles south-east of the city, passes through Bertheny north of'Trois Fontaines to the north-west, thence southwest between the suburbs of St. Brice and the main town to La Haubette. None of these places, except St. Leonard is more than a milo from the city of Reims, which is surrounded'on tho east, north and west. Fully, threequarters of an armed circle round the city is held by Gormuii6: Nothing worth preserving is - left in Reims but the cathedral."—Reuter, THE OFFICIAL REPORTS FRENCH COUNTER-ATTACKS CONTINUED. London, Junei'3, 12.45 p.m., A French official communique states:—"Wo continued to counter-attack yesterday evening on the wholo front between the Ourcq and the Marne, and advanced at various points. A -violent enemv attack on both sides of the Chateau Tliierry-I'aris road was shattered by our 6ro south-east o£ Bournaches. Wo maintained our positions everywhere else. Tho onemy loss in these actions was heavy."—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn.-Reuter. SUCCESSFUL RAIDS BY THE BRITISH i tt • i ... London, Juno 3. 12.45 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— We carried out successful operations in the neighbourhoods of Vieux Berguin and Merris, and advanced our lino slightly at these points. Wo took 193 prisoners and 1 captured a number of machine-guns and trench-mortars. Our casualties wtro light. Wo made successful raids south of Arras, north-west of Lens, and west of Merville. We repulsed raiders south of Villors Bretonneux." —Aus-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter

COMMENTS ON THE SITUATION

POSITION REGARDED AS ESTABLISHED,

London. Juno 3. The "Pall Mall Gazette' states that the High Commands regard the position established. The fiercest lighting oontinues towards Paris, which, however, Is considered secure. The long-range bombardment of the city has been resumed—Keuter.