FRENCH ATTACK SOUTH OF THE AISNE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 251, 11 July 1918, Page 5

FRENCH ATTACK SOUTH OF THE AISNE

ADVANCE ON TWO-MILE FRONT RIDGE POSITIONS CAPTURED ■ . . By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright London, July 9. A French communique states: "South of the Aisno wo attacked thie morning the Gorman positions nnd the approaches to Eciiz Forest* north-west of Long, ponf, on a front of two miles, an<l advanced l? 00 yards. Wo captured Chavigny farm and the ridges north and south'of it."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. "Re:. July 10, 8.15 p.m.) . : ' London, July D. A French official communique etates: "Betweon Montdidier and tho Oise we carried out, at 3.30 this morning, a local operation west of Antheuil, on a front of 2} miles. Sunjiorted-by tanks wo penetrated the enemy's Jines and carried Porte farm, Des Loges farm, and advanced over a milo at certain points. Tho ' enemy's countev-attack nt Des Loges farm was repulsed. We maintain all gains. Hitherto we have taken prisoner 450 unbounded Germans, including fourteen officers. South of the Aisne the artillery duel has continued activoly at nighttime- in the region of Glmvigny farm, whp.ro we made progress, taking several prisoners.' There is reciprocal artillery firing on\tho west and north of Chateau Thierry, especially nt Hill 204."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Aesn.-Eeutcr. (Eec. July 10, 10.40 p.m.) London, July 10. ' 'A French communique states: "South of the Aisne the enemy counter-at-tacked against the positions we captured in tho region of Chavigny farm, but failed. We took prisoner 530 in this morning's attack west of Anthouil, and captured thirty machine-guns."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. ~ ~.; ON THE .BRITISH FEONT. . London, July 9. Sir Douglas Haigr reports;'"There is-nothing to report beyond local encoun-ters."—Aiis.-N.Z. Cable Aesn'.-E-euter. (Rec. July 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 9. ' Sir Douglas Haijf reports: "The Londoners made a successful raid eastward of Arras. The enemy's artillery ie active against the positions we recently captured eouthward of the Somme."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. • . (Eec. July 10, 10.40 p.m.) Lendon, July 10. Sir Douglas Haig states that there is nothing to report.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable 'Asen.-Eeuter. ' . ENEMY ISOLATED BY THE GUNNERS t ■ _____ , OUT OFF BY BARRAGE FROM FOOD SUPPLIES. (Rec. July 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 9. Router's correspondent at British Headquarters Bays: ''The dry weather broke on the night of July 8 with, violent thunderstorms, followed by terrifio hail. Prisoners captured in the Australian sector paid a tribute to tho weight and accuracy of our shell fire, in consequence of which thev wero without rations for two days and tho moral of the troops was sensibly lowered. It is bo difficult to ration the outpost line that the enemy has been forced to use aeroplanes for this purpose. A bo* of bully beef and biscuits was dropped by_ mistake from a hostile low-flying 'plane on one of our forward posts. This is the first time such a practice has been adopted on tho Western front."-Kenter. AMERICAN. TRIBUTE TO THE AUSTRALIANS New York, July 9. The newspapers givo great .prominence in cross-page <headlines ?to tho Anzace' advance on the Somme and the capture of trenches at Hnzebrouck. Correspondents pay a tribute to tho Australians' valour and success as agsrressive Tho' "New York World's" correspondent at the British front states that a remarkable spirit of camaraderie has grown up betweon tho Australians And Amoricanß.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BREAKING THE NEWS, 1 OF THE AMERICANS. Amsterdam, July 9. A Berlin semi-official report refers to the frequent Allied patrol attacks, and significantly alludes to the appearance of big American detachments in several parts of the front. It is evidently deemed advisable to break the news of the appearance of the Amerioans to the people.—Aus,-N.Z. Cable Assn. > THE AUSTRALIANS AGAIN The High Commissioner reports:- . London. July 8, 1 p.m. Sir Douglas flaig reports: "Astrido of the Somme to-night tho Australians advanced their line slightly on 3000 yards of front, taking several prisoners. They also raidod the enemy eastward of Hazebrouck." "BALANCE OF FORGES PRACTICALLY LEVEL." London, July 9. Mr. George Perris writes: "The balanoe of forces on the West front is now practically level. Every day finds several new American battalions ready for the field. Time is working steadily for us, and surprise is von Ludendorff's only hope. Gorman espionage has been extended upon daring and scientific lines, and is compelling the Allies gradually to improve their information services, but it is impossible to refer to what has been, done in this direction."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. THE WAR IN THE AIR ' RAIDS OVER THE FRONTIER. London, July 9. The Air Ministry roports: "We attacked the station and factories at Kaisoralautern on Sunday. Hostile machines were ongaged over our objectives. Our squadrons on Monday bombed the railway station, workshops, and sidings at Luxemburg. Bursts were observed in the etatiou and the workshops."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeutor. (Eec. July 10, 11.50 p.m.) London, July 9. The Air Ministry reports: "Our aeroplanes on July 3 inicces-ifully bombed an onemy aerodrome licmbs wero observed to' burst on tho sheds awl hangars. At night timo tho enemy's aerodromes woro again attacked, witli goo.l results. Two hangars were roportod on are. Trains and searchlight wero attacked at a low altitude. All the British machines returned eafely.'—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.Eeuter. ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL RAID ON BELGIAN COAST. London, July !). Admiralty aircraft, between Thursday and Monday, dropped six tons offcombs on Zeobruggo and tho docks at Ostond and Bruges. They also bombed four destroyers and four torpedo boats near Zeobrugge. Sixteen hosfcilo machines attacked ono of our formations. Wo destroyed threo and drove down three, and all our machines returned. Savon hostile machines attacked tlireo of our large seaplanes, and during a fifty-live minutes' engagement two of tho onemy "a <$ere deßttoyed.-AuB Jl -N,Z ! Cable Asm.-Keator, 1

Sill DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT. London, July il. Sir Doughs Haig reports: "Hazy weather interfered with air work. Wo dropped sixteen tons of bombs-in tho daytime and tho following night, the principal turrets attacked boiug the Ostend docks and the railways'at Tournai and Comtrni."-Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Router. (Rec. July 10, 10.40 p.m.) London, July 10. Sir Doughs Haig , reports: "Seven German machines woro destroyed and eix were driven down out ot control. Four British machines are missing. We dropped nineteen tons of bombs, principally on railway connections at Tloulcrs, Tournai, and Wavrin, and dumps at Warneton and Bachtmaur. Thero was practically no flying possible on the night of July B."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. COBLENZ BADLY DAMAGED. London, July !). Advices from Geneva show that Friday's air raid at Coblenz caused serious damages to the railway station and two bridges across the Rhino, and the Moeelle (which joins tho Rhine at tho city). The majority of tho bombs fell on tho Ehronbrietstein fortress, which is on tho right bank of the Ehine, and is invariably full of recruits.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn. THE GERMANS' NEXT OFFENSIVE j REPORTS OF ABANDONMENT NOT TRUSTED. J (Hoc. July 10, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, July 9. j Military writers distrust tho circumstantial rumours that von Ludondorff is abandoning his offensive in tho West in favour of a tremendous thrust at the Italian front.—Aue,-N,Z. Cablo Assn.