SUPREME WAR COUNCIL CONFIDENT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 222, 7 June 1918, Page 5

SUPREME WAR COUNCIL CONFIDENT

UNITY OF COMMAND HAS GREATLY IMPROVED

POSITION

ALLIES' MAGNIFICENT SOLDIERS WILL SAVE

CIVILISATION

By Telegraph-Preea Association-Copyright.

~ _ ■ ~ „_, _ „ London, June L The Brass Bureau reports: "The Supreme War Council held its sixth session under circumstances of great gravity for the alliance of freo peoples. The German Government, relieved of all pressure on the East front, is attempting to gain a decision in Europe before the United States can bring her full strength effectively to boar. The advantage of its strategic position and tho superior railway facilities havo enabled tho enemy command to. gain some initial successes. It will undoubtedly renew the attacks, and tho Allied nations may still be exposed to critical days. Afterarevipw of ,tho whole position, the Council is convinced that the Allies will bear the ti ials of the forthcoming with the same- fortitude that they Have ever exhibited in Hid defence of right, and that they will baffle tho enemy's purpose, and in duo course bring him to defeat Everything possible is being done to sustain the , armies in the field ' Tho arrangements for 'unity of command havo greatly improved tho position of the Allied armies,-and are working smoothly and successfully. The Council has com-' plote confidence in General Foch, and regards with pride and admiration the valour ot the Allied troope. Thanks to President Wilson's prompt and cordial co-operation, the nrraageinents for the transportation mid brigading of tho Americans will prevent the enemy wearing out tho Allied reserve before tho exhaustion of his own. The Ccuncil is confident of the ultimate result of the answer of the Allied world to tho despotism of Berlin. Their armies aro displaying the samo steadfast courage as enabled them on many previous occasions to defeat the German onset. They have only to onduro with patience to the ond to make victory and freedom secure for tho free peoples. Their magnificent soldiers will save civilisation."—Ane.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. ' ~ °

GERMANS' LATEST GREAT EFFORT BROKEN

LOSSES EXCEEDINGLY HEAVY DURING LAST THREE DAYS

_Tho critics are unanimous tlmt the recent German losses have been exceedingly _ heavy, especially during the Inst three days. This alone is sufficient to explain the diminution ,if the pressure. Solid barriers have now been erected cm the threo principal roads to Paris. It is a matter for congratulation that the latest great effort after only eight days, may be regarded as broken. The Germans have virtually surrounded Reims, but have failed to make, an impression. At the Yillers Cotterets and Eeitz Forests the woil- of defence has largely fallen on the l'rench cavalry, particularly in (ho Ouroq sector, where it bore the brunt of the German attack between Neslo Forost and , Dravigny. One battalion of cavalry was surrounded, but refused to surrender. Instead, it changed direction going south', and fought its way through with the bayonet. When, free the cavalry turned northward, and drove back the enemy. The French airmen have also done most brilliant service, kn officer in command of an ah squadron on Iliuirsday launched fifty machines against an enemy column occupying three miles of road. It was like a cavalry charge, the aeroplanes, from ten to twenty yards abovo the ground, pouring a hail of machine-gun fire into the column until it dispersed.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ENEMY HELD IN CHECK BY COUNTER-ATTACKS GAINS PURCHASED AT EXCESSIVE PRICE. t, i j .1 .... * London, Juno 5, R a.m. Hentor s correspondent, writing from French Headquarters on. the aftorrioon of June i f-ays: 'The enemy is still pressing heavily on the wholo lino from the Aisno to the Marne. Nouilly la Potorie was laken aid retaken several times. Our counter-attacks aro holding the enemy in chock. His gains are being purchased at an excessive price. Tho American troops again distinguished themselves in the fighting at Neuilly. Their machine-gunners co-operated in minor engagements at Jaulgonno, on the Jlarne, on the night of June 2, when a party of Germans, which crossed the river was surrounded and captured."—Beater.

ENEMY'S MARCH DEFINITELY ARRESTED

AMERICANS JUSTIFY THE MOST OPTIMISTIC FORECASTS,

(Rec. June C, 7..10 p.m.)

~ , , ,■;.,„ • London, June 5. Eeuter's correspondent at French Headquarters, writing nt midnight of Juno i, says.: "The battle has. reached a- similar stage to that which marked the Battle of Picardy, when (ho enemy's, march was definitely arrested. Now, as then, the enemy cannot hope to make progress until he lias brought up artillery, but renewed attempts, more violent than before, must be expected, but with far greater odds in our favour, as the surprise stngo has passed. The Americans so far engaged havo borne themselves so well as to justify the most optimistic forecast. The enemy must have noticed their number anil efficiency, and therefore is likely to exert the utmost effort tp reach a decision before Hie autumn, when the increased American numbers will havo wiped out the onemy's present numerical supremacy. Europe is therefore lilsoly to experience the 'Woodiest summer over known."—Renter. ■ i OFFENSIVE CERTAIN TO BE RENEWED GERMANS WILL MAKE FURIOUS EFFORTS TO REACH PARIS. < . (Bee. Jiimo fi, 7,30 p.m.) London, June 5. French commentators agrco that the Gormtuis are intensely eager jo continue (ho battle. . The pause is only duo to fatigue and the need for bringing up artillery and supplies. The offensive is certain to be renewed with bitter and terrible violonce in the hope of gaining a decisive success, jl. Mnrcol Hutin anticipates a rapid development farther west, probably on the Jfontdidier-Nnyon. front. The "Figaro" states it is a groat mistake to assume that tho Germans will not make further furious efforts lo reach Par id. The tium w;is never moro favourable, as tho enemy is now concentrated on a single front.—United Service. ,THE OFFICIAL REPORTS COUNTER-ATTACKS BY FRENCH AND AMERICAN TROOPS. London, Juno 5, 1.2.5 a.m. A French commtiinirnio tesued on Tuesday afternoon says: "Faverollcs, which tho enemy attacked, was held by us, also Troesncs. The fight was equally lively in tlio region south of tho Onrcq. Tho oiioiny, supported by numerous artillery, dirooted an effort against Mosloy, Neuilly la l'oterio, Toroy, aud Boureeohos. Our

?.?"", ? sic rec <* tßro Mosl °* rict «° fisWing occurred at the . iiago of la Poterjc, which; after passing from hand to hand, remained in tlio possession of ilio Germans. American troops checked the advanco of Gorman I owes tryingto enter Nouilly Wood. A ,magnificent counter-attack threw men back north of tlio wood. Farther south, iho enemy has been unable to Ilm MM" 5 'i g Tf ° n T the i MMne irOnt An « ,e, »y, V , * 1 '' 0 ' 1 which crossed to lno lelt bank before Jaulgonno was coun tor-attacked by Franco-American troops, ami driven back to tlio other bank. The enemy's pontoon was destroyed "-Aue - is'./i. Cable Assn.-Roiiiter. " ' 'Rec. June l>, 7.30 p.m.) ,r, , . .. . London, .Tune 5, i.K p.m. : 'V ireiicli comnmmquo states: "Local attacks continued on tho evening and during the night of June i, on tlio northern edgo of tlio Clarepont Woods. Our machine-guns stopped two attacks. Other attempts in tlio region of Au.triclies cast ol Dommiers, aiul in the direction of Corey, failed. Infantry action, supported by tanks, north of Corey enabled us to improvirour lino on the. edgo of the forest. The Germans south of tlio Ourcq violently attacked Chezy and south-east thereof but \\v. smashed the attack, inflicting serious ksses. The artillery firing has continued to bo of the lciorit; lively naturo on tlio bank of the Aisiie iu the rcion of Reims."—Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ON THE BRITISH FRONT ■ ■ London, Juno 5, 1.25 a.m. Sir Douglas Jfoig reports; "We conducted a successful raid in tho noighbourhood of Lens and southward of Lα Bnssra Canal. We repulsed a raid eouth-west of MoWancoiirt. Hostile artillery is active north of tho Scarpo and Lys Rivers also at Jlcrris and the Tpres-Comines Canal sectors."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn - Pointer. (Rec. , Juno 6, 9.45 p.m.) c< • r> i it ■ l „.,,-, ' London, Juno 5. bir .Uonglas .Haiß reports: As the result of an attempted enemv Vaid in tho neighbourhood of Morlanconrt wo took 21 prisonei-s."-iAiw.-N'.Z Cable As«n Router. " ' THE GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT (Rec. Jiuie 6, 9.i5 p.m.) « • 1 n jt • i ~, ~ ' London, June 3. A. wirelefs German official report states: "We threw tlio enemy back lownrds Amblony and Onti-y. Wo caphir/ed positions northward of Dominion; "— Aug.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. THE WAR IN THE AIR SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT. (Rec. Juno 6, 10.55 p.m.) £•• t, i rr • i ■i- , London, June 6. hir Douglas Haigs aviation report states: "The weather was overcast and the enemy airmen were not active on Tuesday. AVo brought down one machine and drove down one. We dropped H tons of bombs during tho day aud uii/lit There were no British losses."—Aus.-N. Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. , ARMY OF GERMAN CONVICTS TO BE DRAFTED w „. , , ... ■ Amsterdam, Juno 5. von Wmdenbiirg, in spite of tho Kaisers opposition, has persuaded the Government to introduce a Bill in tho Reichstag drafting an, ariiiy of convicts of military age. .It will consiet of special regiments, commanded by officers known for their riithlessness, and ■will be bent to the most dangerous points. Mnnv shirkers have committed crimes in order to bo imprisoned, go as to escape service in the Army.-Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. . WAR'S HORRORS GRIEVE THE KAISER. ™, rr ■ „ , , Amsterdam, Jimo 5. ine Jtaiser, on Saturday, accompanied by Von Hindenburg, visited the conquered _ regions north of the Marne. Standing in tho ruiins of a. French village the Kaiser said: "Whenever I seo these horrore of war, which have rendered thousands homeless and changed prosperous regions into awful deserts I cannot help thinking with gnef what sorrow France might have spared herself if she had not rejected my peace offer of December, 1916." The Kaiser then visited the Soissons' battlefnont and returned to Headquarters via ■ Fismes.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMAN PAPER'S.OPINION OF THE SANGUINARY BATTLE. / The "Arbciter Zeitunß" states that when the thTwratVOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN FRENCH GOVERNMENT . The Chamber of 377 votes to 110, pawed a votTof confidence in tho (jovei-nment, after M. Clemonceau had made a forceful appeal against deteting the (jenman offensive. In reply to a Socialist interpellation M Clemencean said: G«rmanys attitude is to terrorise us. If we'stand fast succefs is ours._ While tho trernian effectives are exhausting themselves the Americans are arriving in ever-mciteasing niimbore."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn