AUSTRALIANS AGAIN TO THE FORE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 250, 10 July 1918, Page 5

AUSTRALIANS AGAIN TO THE FORE

AN ADVANCE ON THE SOMME BIG OFFENSIVE STILL DELAYED , .... „ r , „ • Paris, July 8. Colonel Itousset, writing m "La. Liberte," says tha". von Ludondorff will probably attack before the end of tho iveok. Our situation is somewhat changed, and strong reserves will be echelonned so that a surprise will be practically im-possible.—Aus.-N.Z. C'ablo As6n. ALL PREPARATIONS COMPLETE. London, July 8. Mr. Philip n'tbbn states:—"Tho success of the Australians must not blind lis to tho truth about the general situation. The enemy is ftill holding a powerful army against the British, and all preparations are complete for a violent offensive on a big scale. Good fortuno has enabled us to strengthen our defences and build up our bayonet strength, so tliat tho peril is less than it was two months ago; but tho menace is still there, whatever the meaning of tho delay. The enemy bus recently sent only odd shells into Amiens. Every few hundred yards gained by the .Australians,' English, and Americans ensures greater safety for tho old city. It is to the enemy's credit that the Runners havo-hitherto not made a target jf Amiens Cathedral. A fow shells havo pierced it, but no irreparable daniDge has been dono. Wo now know that many Gorman companies have been reduced to a low strength, owing to influenza, which is rife in the German ranks. Typhoid is also reported. It would be rash to assumo that delay in tho otl'ensivo is primarily duo to sickness. Thore must be other and more potent reasons, but it is belioved that tho widespread outbreak of sickness is really affecting tho enemy's striking power, and may hinder his plans for immediate operations."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. GERMAN RESERVES DIMINISHED. J 1 Paris, July 8. Experts are of opinion that the Gorman reserves amount to only fifty-live divisions, as compared with eighty in tho spring. They therefore expect tho!coraing blow to bo made on a much restricted front.—Heuter. ANOTHER ADVANCE BY THE AUSTRALIANS New York, July 8. The United Tress Agency correspondent on the West front states ».hat the Australians on the Sommo havo mado n slight advance on a front of two miles,— Aus.-N.Z. Cable iEsn. A DISCOURAGED ENEMY. London, July 8. Mr. Percival Phillips writes:—'"Tho Germans, ovidontly worn out by tho previous fighting, and discouraged by their failuro to receive relief, fell back from the shollholcs and allowed tho Australians to occupy them. Their low spirits are shown by tho readiness of an officer and twelve men to-surrender to a single Australian. A grey-haired Australian officer daringly climbed to the roof of the market place in a village and unfurled the French flag. Tho German artillery opened fire, but the daredevil officer reached the ground safoly as a shell knockcd off a corner of tho building. Tho shelling of tho flag continued all day, but it is 6till waving triumphantly from tho battered masonry." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SIR'DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT. London, July 8. Sir Douglas Baig reports:—"The Australians advanced thoir lino slightly on a front of 3000 jards astride the Sommo, and captured prisoners. The Scottish troops conducted a successful raid south of La Basseo Canal. Australians entered the enemy trens'ios east of Hazebrouck. Hostile artilleij. is active astride the Sommo, following on our operations, and also west of Beaumont Hamel and in the neighbourhood of Bothune."—Aub.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Eeuter. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT. (Rec, July 10, 0.50 a.m.) London, July 8. A French official communiquo states:—"There is artillery activity between Villers Cotterets Forest and the Marne."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. AMERICANS IN THE FIRING-LINE 251,000 ON JULY 1. Washington, July G. General March (Chief of Staff) states that there were 251,000 United States troops in the firing-line on July I,—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn., THE ATTACK ON COBLENZ. (Ecc. July 9, 9.40 p.m.) Amsterdam, July 8. A German message states that eleven aeroplanes participated in Friday's raid on Coblenz. Twenty bombs wore dropped, and damaged tho town. Four peoplo were injured."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.