FORCING THE ENEMY BACK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 223, 8 June 1918, Page 7

FORCING THE ENEMY BACK

ALLIES RE-ESTABLISHING THE SITUATION

FRENCEt. PREMIER ON'"THE RECENT CRISIS

Hy Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright.

. London, Juno G, 3.33 a.m. A French official _ communique states: "The enemy in the daytime, at different points, multiplied his efforts to accentuate Jiis progress, but was repulsed everywhere, losing heavily. His attempt to cross the 'Oise in the direction of Montalagache completely failed. Our counter-attacks north of |the Aisnc recovered all -the ground the enemy' had momentarily occupied. The Germans progressed somewhat in tho wcod in the region of Longpont, but wero driven, back, leaving prisoners. Our positions everywhere elso have been maintained. .The airmen have been active. They dropped seventeen tons of projectiles on concentrations of troops.-whom-they dispersed, and fourteen tons on various stations."—Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Heuter. (Eec. June 7, 8.5 p.m.) London, June G, 4.35 p.m. A Trench communique states: "East of Sampigny yesterday evening we continued to r< press back the enemy groups_which had succeeded in crossing the Oise north of the Aisno. We appreciably improved our position north and west of Haute-Braye. There was lively artillery activity, especially in (lie regions bf Longpont, Nouiily la Toterie, and west of Eeiins."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Re uter. ffiec. 'June. 7, 11.15 p.m.) " ... London, June 7, 0.50 a.m. A I'rench communique states: "Isolated actions continued during the dnytinie at several points. Our troops, supported by tanks, made progress and tuok prisoners west of Longpont. An attack l>y Franco-American troops .between the Ourcq and tho Jlarnc advanced our line about a miio in the regioicof Neuiliy la Potene, taking 270 prisoners. The Germans between the Manie and Reims delivered several local attacks; A violent attempt at Chanlet completely failed. Farther, north the Germans capiuriid tho village of Bligny and a hill to the south. The British counter-attacked and recaptured the hill. We also recov- ' ereil a.little ground"which tho. Germ,Vns.took in' tlio morning: south-west of Sainte Euphraise. . Nothing noteworthy has happened elsewhere.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-lieutci'..... • • • 1 ON THE BRITISH FRONT . London, June. G, 12.35 p.m. Sjr Douglas. Ilaig. reports: "The enemy re-attempted a raid south-west of Morlancouit, but was repulsed With loss. Another party , rushed a post in the neighbourhood of Boyellos, but was repulsed. There weiV also attempted raids north of Lens, north of Bethune, and east of Nieppe Forest. Hostile artillery is active in the Scarpc sector."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assu.-Kcuter. (liec. June' 7, 8.35 p.m.) , London, .Tune G. Sir Douglas King reports: "The French repulsed local attacks in the neighbourhood of Lcere."—Aus.-N.Z. - Cable A ssn.-lieuter. ' HEAVY BOMBARDMENT ON BELGIAN FRONT {Ree. June 7, 8.5 p.m.) , . , , „ London, June 6, 4.55 p.m. .. ; Belgian communique states: 'There is somewhat intense artillery activity in the regions of.pisniu.de and 51 erckeui,"—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Eeutcr. . THE GERMAN CLAIMS (Rec.. June 7, 8.35 p.m.) • i <-• a• , . i, , London, June G. A German ofhcial report states: "Wo have captured since Mav 27 55,000 prisoners, including 1500 officers, and Go guns and-2000 machine-guns.'We brought down 4G aeroplanes between June i and a."-Vus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router. COMMENTS ON THE SITUATION THE HALT IN THE ATTACK

INTERESTING SPECULATIONS OF CRITICS,

London, June G. Allied and German war experts alike r.re discussing (he halt in the attack. French critics am of opinion that the pause may be. due to the necessity for refilling the German ranks after the heavy losses of Um preceding' two days. _At any rale the pause is a sign of German weakness. General A'och is pursuing a, provisional Fabian strategy with great skill. ' German military critics admit tlmt the .Allied reserves have appeared in unexpected strength. Von Holzmann, in an article in the "Vossiche," announces tho "temporary end" of the German offensive, and (.'ays it. is "110 earthly good to continue the advance when wc know the French reserves are awaiting us. Any further advance will cost too much. Our enemies will say the offensive has missed its goal. Let them clamour. Our leaders are preparing fresh surprises." Home correspondents on the French front, however, state that the Allied aeroplanes have not discovered any attempt on the part of the Germans to entrench or ■ fortify themselves on tho Noyon-Chateau Thierry front, and this is an indication of the probable resumption, of the battle. The Germans are bringing up artillery- and relieving the wearied battalions. The French positions are being steadily strengthened.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' M. CIMENCEAU'S SPEECH ' - A GRAVE PRONOUNCEMENT \ Paris, ,Tnne 5. • The speech by M. Clenienceau (Prime Minister) wan of a grave character. He stressed the approaching crisis, indicating that the French line, after four years of war, was hemming weaker, while the Allies were sustaining enormous losses. : He added that, in the recent offensive the French fought against five times their numbers, almost without sleep ilurini 'the las! four days, lie paid a tribute Id the devotion to duty displayed by General Koch's nflicers and men, although they had yielded more ground than ho would have liked. Tie counselled that the nation should maintain its calmness and hold on to the end. The Government depended on the Fatherland to fight to the death. The enemy was staking all upon his present blow. All tho Allies were pledged to fight oil until tlicy were victorious.—Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE NEXT STROKE. London, .tune fi. Mr. Gerald Campbell, writing from French Headquarter*, says the nextstroko may take the form of the abandonment of the frontal attack' in favour of a double lateral push north of the Oure(| and south of the Oise, in order to complete tho process of filling up the pocket between the Marncand tho Oise.—Aus.N. 55.' Cable Assn. THE WAR IN THE AIR SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT. ®ec. June 7, 11.15 p.m.) „. ~ . , ... . London, Juno 7, 0„ r >(t a.m. Sir Douglas Itaig.s aviation, report states: "Wo dropped twenty tons of bombs on June 5, the targets including.dumps, railways, billets, the Aruientieres and

Koye railway stations, ami the Zeebrugge seaplane base. Our long-distance <lay bombers heavily ritcaelcetl the railway station and barracks at Treves, the rftilI way station at Melx-Sablons, and the railways at Kaartliaus. All returned. We brought,down seven hostile machines and drove down throe'during the day. Four British 'planes are missing. Our night bombers dropped thirteen tons of bombs on the St. Quentin, Musigny, Cambrai, and Armentiores railway stations. .All returned. Our long-distance bombers the same night, dropped five tons of bombs with good .results on (he JJetz-Kablons railway .station and 'Ihioiivitle railway sidings., On the morning of Juno 0 we heavily attacked Die railway station. Good bursts were observed, on [he line. All returned."--Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. J'OMBING RAIDS BY NAVAL SQUADRONS. (Bee. Juno 7, 8.35 p.m.) ... ' , . London, .Tunc '6. The Amniri'lty reports: "Eight. bombing raids wore carried out between Juno 2 and 5 at Zeebrugge, (Mend, Druge.s, and the Thorout railway station. Large ijn'intitics of heavy lwmbs were dropped. We deslroyed two of the. enemy's machines and drove down three. One British machine j=.missing. A squadron of large seaplanes made n long reconnaissance Over the North Sfa and engaged (i largo hostile formation.. We shot down two otPluy mchinos. Two of ours, returning, were forced to alight, owing to engine trouble, close to the Dutch coast, mid were interned."—.Vus.-X.Z. Cable Assn.-P.euter. FRENCH AIR RAIDS. (Eec. June 7, 11.15 p.m.) London, June 0. A French official report states: "Nineteen enemy aeroplanes were. brought down on .Time, 5. .Twenty-five tons of explosives were dropped during tho night in the enemy zt.ne."—Aus.-N.Z, 'Cable Assn.-Ecuter. <? ■ ■ '■■■■• .' A QUICK WAY TO END THE- WAR. ■' • London, .Tune 0. The Amsle.rdam correspondent; of tho "Daily: Express" States that a prominent Hutch industrial'magnate who has just come from Germany'says: "If you want, to end the war, quickly, bomb the German towns. Domb them to a. standstill." The Allied airmen, he said, Imve cmsed an extraordinary panic, along tho Rhine. Tho whole l!hine area knows the. misery of sleenless nights, and thero are many cases of insanity. Many .people nro leaving the (owns, and the authorities have already refused to grant passports unless children arc concern-ed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.