ENEMY-PREPARATIONS IN THE WEST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 235, 22 June 1918, Page 7

ENEMY-PREPARATIONS IN THE WEST

•. .... ' • . _ ■ ■ . RUPPRECHT'S DIVISIONS GETTING READY FOR " WILD BULL DRIVE" GERMANS BADLY DEFEATED AT REIMS . . • ■ . . New York, June 20. The "New York World" correspondent on the British front in Franco states that Prince Bupprecht's divisions are getting ready for a wild bull drive. There is great enemy aerial activity in the vicinity of Arras. It is still uncertain, if the blow will'strike against the French or the British. All along the front the Germans are bombed night and day by 'the British and American air squadrons. • The" Germans ■confine their bombing to the , nights". The use of gas by the Germans is increasing, but'the Allies' measures in the same-direction are superior • to those of the enemy. German prisoners say that in the future isolated units will be supplied with ammunition and rations by aeroplanes equipped with a basket-parachute device.—Aus.-N.Z. Cabla.Assn. . ■ GERMAN OFFENSIVE LIKELY TO BE HAMPERED BY MUD. '. . London, June 20. ■ Mr. Philip Gibbs writes:—"There lias been much rain and the-mud is increasing, which 'promises to hamper tho German offensive. The Americans are cohiinp in in vast numbers. They aro -billeted in tho districts where in 191* and 1915 British troops were encamped on their-wav to the" fighting line.- The ■:Americans'seem' , wonderfully 'young."—aus.-N'.Z. Cable , A'ssn: ' , • ■ • ■ ■■ ■ :'■■■/■■'■■ . " ". GERMANY'S USELESS SACRIFICE , . ' Amsterdam, June 20. ' Speaking in the Prussian Chamber of Deputies, Herr Hoffman (Independent •Viociiilist) declared that' Germany had■ uselessly sacrificed- half a million men since March 21 (the date when the Western ' offensive began).—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ■ ■■• ■ . ... THE ATTACK ON REIMS ENEMY. SUFFERED HEAVY LOSSES. Paris, June 20. • The attack on fieims was.carried out by three divisions of picked troops. The enemy, believing that he would nchiiev* his objective in a few hours, began the attack at the close of the day.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE FRENCH HAD BEST OF THE FIGHTING. '. ' ■ ' (Eec. June 21, 8.55 p.m!) . -.-..' • ,' . . .... Paris, Juno 20. Reuter's correspondent ht French Headquarters states.: "The German attempt against Eoims last night was made with a view to buckling the loop already made round two-t'hirds of die city and completing its capture. Tho attack was delivered on a front of 13' miles. The Germans were already in tho suburbs to the'north-west'mid north, between' St. Biice and Betheny. In addition to defeating the main attacks, the-French ha<i the best of the fighting .among the outlying houses, the Germans blundering in tho dark against cleverly uasked defences. ,, —Iteuter... ■ ; ■ • • '■ FRENCH PENETRATE ENEMY LINES London, June 19,10.10 p.m. A. French communique states:—"On the periphery of Reims violent fighting occurred in which the enemy sustained heavy losses, -find was everywhere repulsed. ' East of Keims the struggle also ended in our favour—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Kcuter. London, June 20, 12.35 p.m. A Trench communique states:—"Detachments penetrated the enemy lines between Montdidier and tho Oise, and in the region of the Bois le Chaume, and brought back prisoners."—Aus.-N.Z. Cabde Assn.-Keuter. O§ THE AMERICAN FRONT London, June 20. An American official report states:—"Gas was extensively used on tho AVoevro and* Lorraine front. Our patrols cross?d the Marne and brought back prisoner*. We repulsed with loss an attempted raid in the Woevre. Our aviators successfully bombed tho railroad yards and tracks at. Conflans."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable .Assh.-lt'euter. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT ■ ; London, June 20, 2.15 a.m. Sir Donglns Haig, reports:—"Wo made a successful raid during the night north-east of Bethune. and repulsed raiders early this morning east of Hebuterne, intiicting loss."—Aus.-N.Z. Gable Assn.-Kc-uter. Sir Douglas Haig reports :—"Wo carried out a number of raids in the neighbourhood of Boyc'llcs, Lens, and Givenchy, and in the Strazeele-Ypres sector. Some of them led to sharp fighting, in which the enemy had many casualties. Our artillery.«nd rifle lire dispersed raidere in the neighbourhood of Morlan'couvt. The hostile artillery is activo between the Sominc and the Ancre, and there is considerable reciprocal artillery fire north of Albert and on tho La .Haeseo Canal sector."—Aus.-N.Z: Cable- Assn.-Itcuter. . (Rec. Juno 21, 11.10 p.m.) London, June 20, 11.20 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig-reports:'There were- two successful French raids on !he night of June 19 in the neighbourhood of Locre. We advanced oiw lins slightly this morning north-west of Merris. Wo repulsed two counter-attacks on our new positions. Hostile gas shelling h active in the, daytime in the vici.'iily of Ayetto. Low clou'ds and rein are ir.rorfcrini; with flying'. We destroyed nine and drove down two enemy machines on June 19. One British machine is missing."—Aus. : N.Z. Cable Assn.-Rcnter.

. THE WAR IN THE AIR London, Juno 20, 1.15 n.m. yir Douglas Haig reports:—''The aeroplanes, in spilu of cloudy weather, csirriud out observation work, and destroyol iiitcen German machines in air lighting. Eight British machines arc missiiiy. We dropped nineteen tons of bombs dining the day. Night work is impossible, owing to the ruin." A French official uoMmuniquo states:—"The day was quiet. Ton lons of bombs wore dropped upon railway stations in the region of Villcrs i'ranqueuse, i'avcrolles, and i'ismes."—Aus.'-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-lteuler. I

'.. DEPOT AT BIIUGES DESTROYED. Amsterdam, June 20. Allied aviators bombed and deatroyed a. depot at Bruges, ivhcro torpedoes were stored.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.