STORIES FROM THE BATTLEFIELD

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 228, 14 June 1918, Page 5

STORIES FROM THE BATTLEFIELD

TOLD IN CORRESPONDENTS 1 DISPATCHES

CONFLICT STILL AT ITS HEIGHT

, r ~ „ London, June 12. Mr. iioorgo Perns writes to the "Daily Uironiclo : "Following the orthodox •iTorinaii plan, in order to avoid proclaiming a first-class failure, Von Hutier has been obliged to throw in his reserves regardless of lasses. It will probably Iw found that a hundred'- thousand fresh troops were employed (luring the pa 4 twenty-toiir hours, ;iml a!»uiit twenty-five divisions engaged, -if which eight'hnvo been already brnkpu up and wMhdrawn. By this means pi-etly considerable result-; wera obtained. Tlij Germans forced their -,viy down Iho Jliitz Valley in constantly renewed wave.--:, and reached Marquc-lv,'lisp, Vandelaincourt, and Eliucmirl, iluis lui-iiiii« the wooded plateau of Thic-sccurt by the south-west, and leaving the French conwred in a narrow range of hills bc-forc Ribccourl, with another salient across the Oise. consisting of tho low-lying woods of Ourseamp- and Carlepont. The Germans secured less success on their right, though they are eight miles from Estrees-St. Denis' and Coinoicgnc. Hoth these junctions aro of some importance. Everywhere tho French are fighting with fienj, stubborn bravery. As an example , , (-he dismounted men defending Plemont repulsed fourteen assaults on the hill, ,ind the remnant of the garrison is still holding out." Useless Risk Avo r tled. Mr. Pc-rris, 111 a later message, states: The evacuation of tho DreFinnourl:Ribeconrt angle v.-ag carried out early this morning. This is a region of deep valleys and thickly-wooded hills; most favourable ground for infiltration tactic-, The defenders, with the Oisa at their backs, would havo risked useless ioss of life and material by continuing to hold nut. Tho lino of the Mat?. River, .five miles beyond tho Gorman point of departure, now marks the front on this side, To the westward the French have done better. A new enemy drive last night, with masses of fresh troops, threw back the French alone; tho Estrces Read as far as the Arondo Valley. The Frtr.ch reserves, however, were ready to intervene, and a fine connter-attank broke the German ranks and brought back tho French to their 'former positions scuthwnrd of Belloy and Marque-Ejrliso. One of the chiof incidents of this admirable tccoii'.was tho ch.irgo by black troops, supported by tanks. The strength cf the French resistance an this flank greatly limits thft value nf such success as the enemy obtained. The artillery forces are approximately equal. Our aviation work is definitely superior." No Pause in tho Fighting, llfr. Pern's,- in his evening message, says: "Tho battle, continues without pau.se. Tho enemy may regard tho completion of the manoeuvre at Thiescourt and liibecourt as permitting a halt, and enabling him to bring m> the guiis and make good bis losses. Thn problem nf transport am] supply is d'fficult in such :i region. Tho (icrnians nro hurriedly embodying in the, combatant units, iiarti'iiilnrly in-Ihe artillery, men who hitherto have l:?eii regarded as fit only for auxiliary tfcrvicos. This indicates his anxiety rsjjanliii" the available rffoclive.e. It is well.known Hint the Arnw's food situation is not good." . Tho Australian Coup, Mr. Philip Gibbs writes; "The Australians do not leavo.thp enemy in pence. The attack the Australians made in tho sMnall hours of last night was similar 111 operation and niicce/,? to their recent atvafk nt Straznele. I'lieir latest exploit was between Morlancourt and Sailly-lo-Sec, beyond Amiens. Tho.prisoners aro a good crowd of men. Already 200'havo oassed back, including a good ninny yonnjr fellows of tho 191!) class. Tho attack surprised thorn. .When the bombardment began thiy oxpoctod to havo time' to reach their miiehiiie-jjuus. 7ho moment HlO barrage lifted a German officer shpvtod 'Take up machine-gun position;;,, but they saw tho Australians wero on them, and knew their fate was sealed. Tho battalions consisted of Prussians and Wiirtembergers, and apparently reserves were sent up from the south side of tho Sommo in readiness in the event of. tho Australian attack spreading. "The attack included a saddle overkoking Morlnncourt and Sailly Daurette. The Australians dashed forward and captured all this gronnd with their usual SDirit. The Australians regard these adventures as a sort of fierce sport, involving tho risk of death, which only tunes thorn ud to moro intense vitality. The Australians fight with wience as well as spirit because courage alono without the severest trainint; and disciplined action would certainly lead to failure. There must be absolute .harmony throughout, like tho different inBlrumente in an orchestra. It was certainly an orchestra of death, for the Germans suffered many los?es from the hand grenades in the eloso fighting after the Australians entered tho trenches. The-prisoners were glad to escape," a German officer admitted that they had no chanco after tho Australians started." With tho Airmen. Mr. Pcreival Phillips writes: "The British airmen were active in the French 7.0110 between Montdidier and Noyon, firing on the infantry with machine-guns and bombing concentration depots and camps. On Sunday night tho British dropped over 300 bombs around Royo and fired 30,000 rounds. Two of our aviators hod a remarkablo escape, 'after being brought dowu by anti-aircraft guns behind the German lines. They had many exciting adventures in the enemy's front trenches and No. Man's Land. Tho observer was stunned by tho fall, but the piiot revived him, and both walked towards tho French lines, when they stuinblod on a German heavy battery in action, and the aviators wero forced to lie in a hedgo all day. Eventually they swam a river and reached a French post, after hairbreadth escapes among Gorman sentries, who frequently challenged them and fired at them. On another occasion a German decoy machine signalled Iho approach of a British patrol. Six German : albatross machines swooped to the attack, and simultaneously another six ai- ' batrosses appeared, confusing tho first batch, who thought them British. A ' general dog-fight ensued, during which the British aviators neatly brought down the German decoy, and also two alba- ' trosses.. They then withdrew. leaving tho ; remaining albatrosses fighting among themselves."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.