TWO SUCCESSFUL STROKES IN THE WEST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 242, 1 July 1918, Page 7

TWO SUCCESSFUL STROKES IN THE WEST

■-■' FRANCO-BRITISH LINES STRENGTHENED TUNING UP FOR THE NEXT BIG ATTACK ' By Telegraph-Press Associatlon-Oopyright. ' London, June 28. Military writers in Paris state that it is impossible to disguise the fact that Germany has made enormous preparations for an attack. Correspondents on the British front draw attention to indications of the imminence of big events in the shape of almost uninterrupted cannonading, exceptional aorial activity, and numerous raids on both sided, with the object of disturbing the enemy and gathering information. Everywherei theft is an air. of expectancy. Everyone is on the qui vive. ; The "Daily Telegraph" ■ Rotterdam correspondent says tho German preparations appear to bo complete for the heavy transport of .troops from the German barracks and camps. "Tho general indications point to .the main attack' being in Flanders, though the enemy is able to throw in troops simultaneously at other points."' Apparently-Von Ludendorff intends to make a desperate effort to gain the ridge west of Kemmel, where lecently-arrived reinforcements include formations specially trained in hill fighting.—Aus.-N.Z.. Cable Assn. WHERE Will. THE ENEMY STRIKE? . AN INTERESTING SPECULATION. (Rec. Jiino 30, 5.5 p.m.) '■ - London, June 28. The Australian Press Association correspondent learns that Germany is undoubtedly preparing for an offensive on a huge scale. Although there are no present indications where the main attack will.be made, there is some reason to believe that they will strike on tho British front in the north. The enemy will ■ do his utmost to mislead us in regard to his main effort by making subsidiary attacks at various points. We must be prepared'for an attack between Eeims and the Heuse, where the enemy's object will be to cut the French Army in two. Although the disposal of the enemy's. reserves does not point to it, yet they might there try a surprise attack.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SUGGESTED BLOW AT THE AMERICAN FRONT. (Reo. Juno 30, 5.5 p.m.) < New York, June 28. The New York "Tim.es" correspondent at the front learns that Von Hindenburg has planned a great offensive against the Americans. The main point of the drive will bo between Montdidier and Chateau Thierry. The German plans provide for minor offensives in July, which include an attempt to capture Reims. ' The fact that' fifty German divisions were not used in the !as,t two drives ie evidence that the enemy is preparing a euper-offensive.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ■' BRILLIANT LOCAL COUP BY THE BRITISH ' OVER FOUR HUNDRED PRISONERS TAKEN. ' London, June 28. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"An attempted raid on a British post in the • neighbourhood of lloyenneville, south of Arras, was repulsed with loss. The . artillery is active in the neighbourhood of the Eossignol Wood, south-east of Gommecourt, where our patrols inflicted casualties on tho enemy."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Beuter. , • . - (Eeo. June 30, 5.5 p.m.) ■ : London, Juno 29. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"English troops carried out successful minor operations on a three and a half mile front 'eastward of Nieppe Forest, and advanced their line to, an average depth of nearly a niilo, taking prisoner over three hundred and capturing twenty-two machino guns. They captured all their objeotives, and gained the hamlete of lTUjtinette, Vert Hue and Lβ liecquo. Wβ surprised the enemy, and our casualties were light. "The Australians attacked and captured posts westward of Merris, taking 43 prisoners and six machine-guns." In a later report, Sir Douglas Haig says:—"Wo took over 100 prisoners as the result of Friday's successful operation east of Nieppo Forest. This does not include thoso who woro taken prisoner west of Morris. Two field guns and a, number of machine-guns and trench mortars were captured. Active hostile artillery firing is going on opposite Vairs Wood, south of the Somrae, and west-, of. Eeuchy. There is also increased reciprocal artillery activity on the Nieppe Forest seotor."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. ffiec. Juno 30, 11.25 p.m.) i • ' • ■ London, Juno .29. Sir Douglas Haig reports :—"There is only tho usual reciprocal artillery firing to report."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeutcr. TWO GERMAN DIVISIONS COMPLETELY SURPRISED A SORRY LOT OF PRISONERS. , (Eec. J.une 30, 5.5 p.m.) London, June 29. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes;—" The sudden British attack east of Nioppo Fbreat" utterly surprised two divisions of Saxons and Prussians. Tho English battalions advanced after a short but violent bombardment. _ Thcro was little fighting, and the Germans were quickly overwhelmed. They wero an unhappy crowd, including many new drafts who must have been the scrapings of tho German dopots. .They wero mostly undersized fellows, unfit for tho front line, and were probablv there in order to hold the line only until fresh storm troops arrived for thenow offensive. Tho prisoners'spirits were low, because of the general misery of their surroundings—flat, shelterless country. They were also suffering from an opidemic of influenza, whicli seriously affected their strength. Both divisions speak gloomily of the prospects, and express Von Kuhlmann's views that a military decision will not bring peace."—Aus.-N.Z, Cablo Assn. TACTICAL VALUE OF THE COUP (Rec. Juno 30, 5.5 p.m.) London, Juno 29. Eeutor's correspondent at British Headquarters, writing on the evening of June 28, Bays:—"We successfully advanced this morning to a dopth of Marly ii mile, capturing ground at the roost dobatcablc point on tho (-ntire front just west of tho Bois d'Aval, which forme the north-cast anglo of Nieppo l< orotic. This point was tho last iu the Flanders offensive at which tho enemy thrust Ihh hardest in order to bring off his flanking attack on tho high ground cast of Kcmmel. BU possession of tho forest would open tho way In nn advance on Hazebrouck, entailing a possiblo retirement from Ypros and tho dismemberment of our forces at present holding tho hilly country between Cassol and Schcrponberg. The enemy's former attempts in that direction, though, frustrated,

rendered our position a cramped one for future operations. This morning's advancq was designed thereforo to onlargo our holding. Tho attack was launched at six o'clock on a front of six thousand yards, from Vieux Bcrquiu on (lie left to Pontournant On our right our objectivo was the lino of a small stream named tho Plalebiquo, fifteen hundred yards away, which was attained completely without a hitch or contretemps. Lancashire arid Yorkshire troops woro engaged, also regiments from tho southern counties. The enemy mndo a light, but never looked to have a chance of winning. His losses must have been considerable."—Eeutor. SUCCESSFUL THRUST BY THE FRENCH OVER 1000 PRISONERS CAPTURED. (E«. Juno 30, 5.5 p.m.) London, June 20. A French official communique states:—"South of the Aisne wo attacked this morning from south of Ambleny to the east of Mont Gobert, our object being to drive tho enemy from his fortified positions. We penetrated the enemy's organisations on a front of over four miles, and carried two trenches above the Laverhine Heights, north-west of Outry, oarrying our line to the western outskirts of St. Pierro Aigle and tho crest to the' south of that. Our advance attained a maximum depth of over a mile. Prisoners to the number of 1060 were counted. "North-west of we slightly advanced our positions at Seneca Wood, taking a few pri6onors. A local operation south of Damhand resulted in some prisoners being taken."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Eeuter. RESULTS AWKWARD FOR THE ENEMY. (Eec. June 30, 5.5 p.m.) Paris,. June 20. A semi-official report states:—"The successful French attack has enabled the strengthening of the defence against any hostile attempt to surround the Forest of Villers Cotterets towards Compiejjnc from the north by pushing back the enemy's line. East of Nieppe Forest the British advance will have the important result of preventing any attempt at German infiltration tactics."—Eeuter. / NEW POSITIONS HELD AGAINST COUNTER-ATTACKS. (Eec. Juno 30, 11.25 p.m.) Ltmdon, June 29. 4 French official communique states:—"Tho Germans twice attempted to drive us from the positions we captured yesterday. A counter-attack by several battalions between Fosso-on-Bas and Eavin-de-Cutry was repulsed. Our new front was maintained in its entirety. South-west of Eeime lively fighting occur-red."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. ALLIES'/ DEFENSIVE BY NO MEANS PASSIVE. (Eec. June 30, 5.5 p.m.) i London, June 20. Tho French success in capturing one thousand prisoners southward of Ambleny coupled with the British advance at Mervillo and the Australian capture of points westward of Merris, indicates that the Allies are not waiting the German offensive passively.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE FIELD OF OPERATIONS. (Eec. June 30, 5.5 p.m.) 1 London, Juno 20. lleuter'e correspondent at French' Headquarters states:-"The French made an advance on the morning of June 28 between, the Aisne and Villerei Cotterets Forest along the valley separating Montigny from tho Domnieres Plateau, on a front of four -miles and a half, tho objective being the capture of a number of points which might bo useful to the enemy in ,thc event of a new offensive, chiefly at Fossenbas, in tho valley two miles and a half south of the Aisne, and AcutiV, two miles further south, below tho crest of the tastorn wall of the valley The infantry advanced at fivo o'clock in the. morning, and attained most of their objectives in one hour and a quarter, including Hill 162, five hundred feet high, overlooking St. Pierre Aigle and Domnicres. The German artillery was dominated by our guns."—Keuter. SUCCESSFUL ATTACK BY THE AMERICANS . (Eec. Juno 30, 5.5 p.m.) London, June 29. An American official report states:-"We again improved our positions southward of Toroy. ■ The number of prisoners taken in tho operation ot Juno 'in now totals three hundred."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. AMERICAN FRONT NOW EXTENDED ALONG EIGHT SECTORS. (Bee. June 30, 11 p.m.) i New York, June 29. The' New York "Times" correspondent at tho American front eays:—"The Americans are now on eight sectors, of tho West front, including Montdidier, Toul and Lorraine, at throe points in Alsace, and north-west and east of Chateau Thierry. ■ Some of the sectors are held exclusively by Americans, others in conjunction with tho Allies."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. London, Juno 28. A German official report states :-"Thero was liv?ly enemy activity from ■north of tho Scarpe to tho.Somme, west of Soissons, and north.of Henus. l.lie enemy's-observers-were again seen on Eenns Cathedral. . We. repulsed a etrong enemy attack north'of St. Mihiel."-Aus.-iN.Z. Cablo Assn.-Eeuter. (Eec. June 30, 5.5 p.m.) London, Juno 29. A German official report states :-"There is lively Anglo-French activity astride tho Somme. Tho enemy's fire has attained great intensity astride the Lys between Bailleul and Bethune, and southward ot the Aisne. -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. '„„..,„-• v ■ (Eec. June 30, 11.25 p.m.) ' London, June ,29. A-wireless German official, report states : -"Threo British assaults against TtfeiTis broke down. The enemy penetrated our lines at Vieux Berlin but were thrown back by a counter-attack. We repulsed the French near Ambleny, but'they gained ground beyond Cutry. Our counter-attacks threw them back on the heights oh both sides of Cutry."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. THE WAR IN THE AIR London, Juno 28. The Air Ministry reports :-"Our aeroplanes at night attacked the chemical works at Ludwigshafen, factories and railway sidings at Saarbrucken, and an aerodrome at Bolchen, setting on fire two hangars. ' All our machines returned. Enemy machines at night bombed one of our aerodromes, but did no damage to the aeroplanes."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. ■ DAMAGING RAID ON THIOn/iLLe! (Eec. Juno 30, 5.5 p.m.) London, June 29. The Air Ministry Teports:—"Our aeroplanes on tho afternoon of Juno 28 dropped threo tons of bombs on the railway workshops, stations, and sidings, at Thionville. Hits were observed on the workshops. and on the railway line. Hostile aeroplanes attacked our formations, and severe fighting ensued, in which threo hostile aeroplanes were shot down, while another was driven down. JVo of ours have not returned, ono being forced to land owing to eiigino trouble. We successfully attacked an aerodrome at Bolchen on ■ tho night of June 27. Bombs were released at a low altitude and our machine-guns tired on the hangars All returned. The enemy bombed one of our hangars, but did no material damage."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. A FULL DAY'S WORK. . : (Eec.''June 31, 5.5 p.m.) i London, June 29. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"Our aeroplanes did a full day's work on June 27. There is some increaso in tho enemy's air activity, and there was more air fighting. Wo destroyed twenty aeroplanes,' and drove (low nine out of control. Fourteen British 'planes are missing. Wo vigorously bombed tho enemy behind his lines, dropping twenty-one tons of bombs on railway junctions and other targets."—AUß.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. / ; i ' I ' < A GERMAN REPORT. London, Juno 28. A German official report states :—"W o havo shot down five enemy aeroplanes in tho past two days while they wore raiding the Karlsruho and tho Offenburg industrial region in Lorraine. Our bonibing squadrons attacked Paris and the railway junctions and aerodromes en route."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Aesn.-Ecutcr. FRENCH SQUADRONS BUSY. (Eec. June 30, 5.5 p.m.) London, June 29. A French official report states:—"During June 26 and 27 twenty German aeroplanes and four balloons were brought down. Fifty-eight bombs were dropped on tho enemy's aerodromes in tho regions of the Somme and the Aisne, cantonments and bivouacs at Eozieres-en-Snnterre, Fisines, Giiignieourt, and tho railway stations at Soissons and Fcre-en-Tardenois. Two ammunition dumps wero blown up, and several fires were observed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Ass.n.-Router. BEHIND THE LINES London, June 28. During a debato in the House of Commons on tho hardships of conscripting men over J5, Mr. Lloyd George, in replying, said that tho older men were needed for work behind tlie fighting lines. It would be folly to put them in the trenches. It was true that the Americans were coming, and that they preferred to be brigaded with the British divisions, but that was on the distinct understanding that when tho comb-out was completed, British soldiers would take tho place of the Americans, who would form l.heir own divisions. That was an honourable understanding, under which .President Wilson was ready to send a very largo forco of Amoricans to France—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn.