THE LULL IN THE WEST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 249, 9 July 1918, Page 5

THE LULL IN THE WEST

RECENT LOCAL SUCCESSES REVIEWED ' (Rec. July 8, 9.35 p.m.) London, July 7. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "We repulsed an attempted hostilo raid on tho mornin" of July 7 near Loore. Thero is hostilo artillery and trench mortar activity m the Bethune sector."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Keuter. . v —■ — THE ATTACK ON HAMEL STORY OF THE CAPTURE. London, July 6. Mr Philip Gibbs writes: "After tho Australian attack on Hamel, tho tncniy, whoso guns had been almost silenced, shelled some of our new positions rather heavily and made tlireo counter-attacks m tho evening on tho Australian line, but they wore feeble and unsuccessful. Group 3of German machine-gaiis were established within fifty yards of lie Australians, who decided not. to tolerato so clo=e an approach. A.number cf Australians at night drove back tho Gorman outposts, and captured Mty prisoners. The Americans in tho fighting were not many compared with the Australians, but a few companies, eager to meet the enemy for the first time, proved their fighting Quality to the hilt. Tho utter surprise to the enemy and tho filencing of his guns made tho battle less fearful than the Americans expected. Tho intensity of our gunfire was a most hornblo feature. After the barrage passed tho Americans and Australians found groups of strange uncannv creatures with gas-masks on and with their hands up. Any who showed fight had not a chanco of life. The Americans were not tGnder-hearted, and went forward with fixed bayonets shouting 'Lusitania! as their to}ttlc-ciy. Tho shout seemed to strengthen the Americans and tewify the enemy I lie Gormans might well bo terrified, for lusitania' is a call for vengeance. -Aus.-JN./,. Cable Assn. "KEEN TO A FAULT." London, July 6. Mr Perry Robinson vrites: "The Americans at Hamol behaved magnificently. If they had a fault it was excessive keenness.' They suffered some casualhw through pressing into their own barrage. A corporal, aged 21, who was wounded three times, killed seven Germans. A sergeant captured seven Germans singlehanded."—"The Times." , , THREE GERMAN DIVISIONS BADLY CUT UP. (Res. July 8, 10.35 p.m.) ■ London, July 8. 1 Mr Philip Gibbs writes: "The Australian push on Saturday amounted to four hundred yards on a mile of front. Tlireo German divisions were so out up on Thursday that they were utterly incapablo of delivering a counter-attack, and must be relieved and refitted."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. j AUSTRALIANS IN GOOD TACTICAL POSITION fllec. July 8, 10.35 p.m.) London, July 7. Mr Pcrrv Robinson states: "Tho advance on Brolonnoux gives the Auslralians command of an important valley position three miles in length."-United Service. ON. THE FRENCH FRONT London, July 7. A French official communique states: "West of Chateau Thierry we made progress in tho region of Hiil 204. and took prisoners. Tho front is c ; uiot cleen-here."— Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuteir. N -(Rec. Julyß, 10.10 p.m.) * London July 7. A French communique states: "Thero is artillery, activity soufci of the Aisno in the regions of Longpont and Courcy. Tho American troops executed a coup-de-mam in tho Vosges awl brought hack pnsoners."-Aus.-N.Z. -.able Assn.Ecuter. . THE WAR IN THE AIR AIR MINISTRY'S REPORT. (Eec. July 8,, 9.35 p.m.) London, July 7. The' Air Ministry reports: "On tho afternoon of July G our squadrons suc-i-n„ \L rnilwavs at MeU-Sablons. anil dropped 21 lons of bombs cessfully ateked the i™ B att . loke j our fornlat ion S over tho obj'ccon Uwsobjocb to. rbe « ™f£ iven down . All tho British 'planes retnrnlYtwr At nt time on Jdy 6 our machines successfully attacked the Utho railways at Meb-Sablons."-Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Keuter. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT. London, July 7. Sir Douglas Bftig's aviation .report states: "Thero has been little air fighting. of bombs at selected targets."-Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Awn-Benter. flteo. July 8, 9.35 p.m.) London, July <■ Sir Douglas Haii; reports:' "Three German aeroplanes woro destroyed and one was driven down' out* of control. One British machine .s missing, een tons of bombs were dropped on various targets during tho la*t twenlj-toiu hours."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eouter. WITH THE FRENCH SQUADRONS. London, July 6. A French official Teport states: "Eighteen enemy aeroplanes have been brought down. Fifty-six tons of explosives were dropped in the enemy acne from July Ito 6."-Aus.'-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Jlcuter. GERMAN AIR SHIRKERS. Copenhagen, July 7. A German ncroplano with three aviators landed on the Island of Masnedo (a tiny island in the strait between Sja'olland and Falster Islands). The aviators declared that they had descended owing to lack of petrol, but they wero evidently deserting. They refused to depart wh en tho German Consul sent them petrol.— Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assu.