ALLIES HIT BACK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 227, 13 June 1918, Page 5

ALLIES HIT BACK

1 -frMAGNIFICENT ATTACKENEMY DRIYEN. FROM POSITIONS AUSTRALIANS AND AMERICANS SCORE POINTS i ' HINT OF A NAVAL OFFENSIVE 1 The news from the Western front to-day is featured by a cheering account ot what is described as "a magnificent counter-attack by tie French," as the result of which tho enemy's masses on a considerable stretch of front were thrust back, with severe losses. At other points the enemy is still gaining ground, but very 6lo\vly, and at a frightful •cost. Tn addition to tho French counter-attack, the Australians practically wiped out an entire German battalion in a dashing raid at Morlancourt, while the Americans at Chateau Thierry have further improved their position by successful operations, taking prisoners. There are persistent rumours of a coming German naval offensive. According to Swiss • official advices to Washington, orders have been given for the German Fleet to be in readiness, while high offioers have, been recalled to thoir commands. ENEMY FORCED BACK A BRILLIANT COUNTER-ATTACK ORDERS FOR THE GERMAN FLEET By Telegrapb-Proßß Association-Copyright. " (Rcc. Juno 12, 8.15 p.m.) „ . . , , , London, June 11. lieuters correspondent, writing from French Headquarters on Monday evening, states: "The enemy in tho course of the day, at immense cost, succeeded in pushing his advance from a mile to threo miles deeper on our front. At Marque Eglise, the southernmost point of his salient, lie is about seven miles from his starting point. Yesterday morning tho fighting was almost unprecedented in fury. The Germans continue to attack in compact musses which are mown down by our gunfire, but others and still otlieru follow. When a position is finally taken by the eilemv, as often as not it is promptly retaken by the French. In these counter-attacks the French invariably find tho ground littered with German dead, often lying in heaps. The little height called Plemonl:, south of Liissigny, must: bo paved with enemy dead. Tho last dispatch runners who got through from Plemont before its fall say that tliev saw fourteen unsuccessful German attacks on the hill, and thero were others after they left. It is estimated the Germans engaged twenty to thirty divisions up to tho I eveniii);. The enemy's advance was so slow that he was ablo to bring up light artillery while the heavies were still firing from their old positions. The artillery strength, accordingly, was practically equal. The fierceness of tho fighting and the inflexible determination with which the enomy accepts shocking losses show ho is determined to continue until ho achieves completo victory or complete exhaustion; A Magnificent Counter-Attack. Writing, on June 11 Renter's correspondent states: "During the evening and night of Junj 10 tho Germans attempted to enlarge their salient and curved our front by pushing forward both wings as well as the centre. On the left tho enemy made no progress, and has been driven back in places between Mery and Vignemont. 'A magnificent counter-attack by native Africans, supported by tanks, enabled- us to retake Porte Farm, west of Compicgno road, with the high ground to the north and the neighbouring farm. Checked end even thrown back on the right and centre, tho Germane have thrown fresh masses on the left wing with a view to reaching the Oise."—Router. » AN ADVANCE BY THE AUSTRALIANS , London, June 11. "he Australians, on the Morlaiwourt front, advanced the line balf a mils on a front of a mile and a half, and took 230 prisoners. Twenty-one machine-guns were also captured Mr. Philip-Gibbs writes: "The Australians attacked on a front of four thousand yards to a depth of seven hundred yards. As soon as the attack was launched the Germans knew they were lost. Tho Australians killed many by bombing the trenches, and practically wiped out an entire German battalion, taking 300 prisoners."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.. THE OFFICIAL REPORTS ENEMY'S PRESSURE CONTINUES. ' ' „ T t London. June 11, 4.20 p.m. A Irencb official communique stoles: "Last evening and nigiit the enemy continued his pressure in the direction of Estrees-St. Denis and Eibocourt. On the left our resistance was effective, and tho enemy was unable to capture Lb Ployron or Courcelles. We rtoaplured the village of Merv."—Aus.-jV.Z. Cable issn.-Eeuter. (Rec. June 12, 7.30 p.m.) , t. , • , . „ Londo »> June 11, 4.30 p.m. A Frondi communique states: Iho chief German effort is directed on the Belloy-Murque-Lglise trout. A, powerful attack with large effectives succeeded in driving us at first arf far as Aronde, but a magnificent counter-attack throw back the enemy on his whole front and restored the positions on the line south of tfelloy and south of Marque-Egliso and Vaniiolicourt. On our rHit iiereo fights occurred on tho wooded hills north of Dre.slincourt. The enemy" who had accumulated gnat force in this region, has been ablo to reach Antovaf compelling us to carry our line of resistance to the west and south of liibecourt J Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eouter. BRILLIANT COUNTER-ATTACKS. ißee. June .12. 11.50 p.m.) « ■ London, June am A Irench official communique states: "Tho battle continues to-day from Mont didier to the Oise. On flit ifctt our troops, supported by tanks, couuterittaclced during the atto.-noon on a front twelve kilometres (over seven miles) between Kubecourt aud St. Maur. Notwithstanding desperato resistance wo reached tho southern approaches of Lo lire toy and cjptured tho height between Courcelles and Mortemer. We carried tho enemy s lines over two kilometres (over a mile) east ot Mery. Wo also recap':ural ljoiloy and Trois Genles, and he southern outskirts of St. Maur. The enemy lost heavily and left a thousa nd prisoners and several guns in our hands. In tho centre, tho Germans who hid succeeded in pushing to the south of Hoges Faring Ai.theuil, wen dri'-en back bejond both points. On our light tho pnemy, accentuating the pressure soui'li' to gam the Matz Valley. Several violent attacks at Chevincourt wero repulsed the enemy gained a footing at Machenioiit and fiethancourt, which are beii - bitterly disputed. The Americans south „f the Ouircq brilliantly captured Bef leau Wood, taking three hundred prisoners."—Aus.-N.25 Cable Assn. ANOTHER SUCCESS BY THE AMERICANS (Rec. June 12, 0.20 a.m.) . ' An American communique states: "North-west of TM„^ U " 0 12 ' • ASnXute'.' P ° SltlonS at BolleaU W °° d ' takills 250 P»i°™s.-Aus,N.Z? K ON THE BRITISH FRONT guns were captured. Wo made successful 'raid" £ 0 t h-weof\rJ "T south ot the Searpe, and cast of "Minnnn TiYwnW- mV diorhucourt, ttias THE GERMAN REPORT (Rec. June 12, 8.15 p.m.) A wireless German official report states: "Tho between the Ancro and tho Somme, effecting a local break throiHi tho Corl>ip D Brayeroad. Our counter-attack stopped the advance. We maiiifain the ltes' wJ JrA V < ,r 7i.r a »'"v'n 50 "toward of Assainvillers against violent counter-attacks We aie fighting in the neighbourhood of Courcelles and Mery, and have cantuied a now eastward of Mery, breaking through the fourth enemy pos ion and thrown back tl.o enemy on the Aronde. We fought across the Matz, and in sS i of a stubborn defence stormed the heights of Marque-Eglise and vUemmt and pressed forward as far as Antheuil. Wo ndvanccd ns far as Eibocourt Tho ha f incrensed by more than ten thousand May i? wnf rufSu TI • l>'isoner 75,000. Renewed enemy attacks north-Assn.-Eeutor! olio down wlttl hcav y losses."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo