STRONG ATTACK ON AUSTRALIANS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 252, 12 July 1918, Page 5

STRONG ATTACK ON AUSTRALIANS

; AFTER PROLONGED BOMBARDMENT E I EVIDENCE OF ENEMY'S WEAKENING MORALE i By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright, I \ London, July 10. , After prolonged fire the Germans launched this morning a strong attack on ■ tho Australians at Villers Bretonneiu. So far they have been repulsed— Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. » ANTI-TANK RIFLES. , London, July 10. Mr. Gordon Gilmour (Australian Press Association correspondent), writing from Australian Headquarters, states .that amongst tho Australians' trophies taken at-Hamel are three anti-tank rifles, which wero being used for the first time. Tho rifle is a large heavy weapon almost twice tho size of the ordinary Gorman rifle, but constructed on the samo lines. It is capable of piercing Ihe ■ armour of the tanks at 500. yards. The Germans had no success with '.ho new weapon, as the gunners fled before the tanks, whoso total casualties were three wounded.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT. (Reo. July 11, 10 p.m.) London, July 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports: : 'Wc repulsed local attacks eastward of Villers Bretonneux. The enemy's guns have developed considerable activity from Villers Rretonneux to the Ancre. We drove, off raiders southward of Bucquoy and • elightly advanced our lino in the neighbourhood of Merris."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. . ■ FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT. (Re:. July 11, 10 p.m.) London, Julv 10. ' A French communique et,lies: "There is reciprocal artillery firing north of Montdidier, -south of the Aisnc, and in tho region of Chavigny Farm. We'carroid out scvornl coups dc main in tho Cluiiupngno and took prisoners, j Seven German aeroplanes and tivo captive balloons wero brought down/'—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. "THE HOUR OF THE OFFENSIVE IS CLOSE" I (Rec. July 11, 31.20 p.m.) ' Paris, July 10. Military experts are of opinjon that the first German lines are now thinly held by second-rate troops, as Ihe first-rato troops havo beou withdrawn to the rear, preparatory to an .attack. 'J'his suggests that tho hour of tho offensive is close.—Aus.fN.Z. Cable Assi. MR. LLOYD GEORGE MORE CONFIDENT THAN EVER BEFORE London, lulv 10. Mr. Lloyd George, speaking at tho House of Commons dinner in honour of Dr. Jowett, tho distinguished Congregational preacher, who has just returned from America, said he was more confident to-day than ever he hail been of the issue of the war, one reason being the appearance of Ihe American troops. What he saw in France also increased his confidence.—Renter. "RAIDING WITH RELENTLESS INDUSTRY" (Rec. July 11, 8.20 p.m.) London, Julv 10. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: "Tho ferocity of the German artillery bombardment on Monday was mainly intended as a retaliation against tho Allies'raids. I do not think it was a forewarning of big attacks. Tho Canadians on the Arras front have also been raiding with relentless industry, carrying ou.t <1.3 raids in 90 dny6. Recently tho raiders left 90 German dead in the enemy's trenches, in addition to many wounded, all bayoneted. The Canadians say they prefer the bayonet lo the bomb, because it makes a cleaner job.' "—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. THE MONTH'S "BAG" IN LOCAL OPERATIONS ? Paris i July io. Semi-official—"Since Juno 15 the French in local operations have capturcd 5400- prisoners."—Router. GERMAN DISCIPLINE ADMITTEDLY SHAKEN. London, July 10. Mr. Robinson writes: "Captured army orders issued by General von der Marwitz state that discipline, which is the keystone of the German Army, has been seriously shaken. The cases of soldiers refusing to obey orders arc* increasing to an alarming extent."—"The Timse." (Rec. July 11. 8.20 p.m.) London, July !). Mr. Pcrcival Phillips, referring to General von der Manvitz's order regarding tho want of disciplino in tho German ranks, says: "Manvitz's division, siuoe taking its position at tho end of .March facing Amiens and astride tho Somnie, has had a series of disheartening reverses and constant artillery punishment. No wonder a dry rot has sot in. Thero arc reports of excesses in the back areas, including tho iooting of supply trains and misconduct by some of the infantry entrusted with the forward defences. There is .no evidenco that the decay of disciplino is general and widespread, hut significant cases of pillaging occurrod in tho 18th Army zone, on Manvitz's left. Meanwhile the long-promised offensivo has not materialised, for reason of which we- can only guess. Marivitz has not. made a single effectivo counter-attack."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMAN SECOND ARMY IN UNENVIABLE PLIGHT. London, July 10. Mr. I'erciral Phillips writes: "The lot of tho Gorman 2nd Army is unenviable, In (ho Ancre Valley, ahovo Albert, whero repealed attempts to climb out of (he river bed havo been frustrated, and also south of Albert, they suffer con- ' .-tantly from tho pernicious activity of the Australians. The many roads are ; so swept by shell-fire that aeroplanes are the only medium of bringing rations to ■ the front lines. Prisoners state that, the soldiers wanted to lynch somo of the airmen who managed lo drop their rations on the wrong side of No Man's Laud." —Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. THE WAR IN THE AIR (T!ec July 12, 1.5 a.m.) London, July 10. Sir Douglas Maig's aviation report states: "The enemy aircraft is active on the northern part: of tho front. Ton were destroyed and one was driven down out of control. We dropped fourtoou tons of bombs over tho oiieiny's lims, two tons on Lillo Junction, and one and a half lons oil Bruges docks. Three liritish machines are missing.. We dropped at night timo three tons of bombs on ttic enemy's railways and camps. All our machines returned.''—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-licu.ler. PARIS LOSSES FROM LONG-RANGE GUNS AND AIR, RAIDS. London, July 10. From January 1 to tho end of June 111 people weiro killed and !32 injured by tho long-rango gun and aorial bombardments of Paris. Tho figuir»s excludo 00 who wero suffocated in tho panic on March 11.—Router.