FIGHTING A RETREATING BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 264, 27 July 1918, Page 7

FIGHTING A RETREATING BATTLE

■ London, July 2D. ' v Router's correspondent at tho French Headquarters, writing at midnight on AVe'nssday, says the enemy's'position in the-salient south of tho Aisne has become untenable. c.ikl lie is fighting a relisating battle while he gets away his material. Ho has left the smallest amount of artillery on tins'* front. Fere-en-Tardenois is about tile centre of the salient. '"An advance of a' few miles such as we made to-day will enable us to sweep back' with our long-range artillery the "whole of the remaining area to tho east front, on which the Germans are engaged by the French and British between YrignJ- and the. Marne. Tho- Allies' pressure is steadily relaxing the enemy's hold on the Chateau Thierry-Soissons road, and linking up tlis front formed by Oulchy-le-Chateau, Fere-en-Tardenois, aiid tho Montagno de Reims. On the eastern side of the triangle the British advance north of the Ardre River is most important, as it threatens the German left with envelopment, while the French and Americans advancing from the Mnrne menace the German centre. The British success at Vrigny threatens Fismes, which is another important centre. It is estimated that £00,000 Germans are fighting within the triangle, the sides of which 'the Allies are"'squeezing. Their numbers, apart from tlieir obstinate resistance and tho rugged country, constitute an obstacle to Hie closing of the pincers ;\t the narrowing opening between Reims nnd Soissons; but the. relentless Allied pressure is gradually emptying the triangle of the enemy— lieuter. SENSATIONAL REPORTS OF A BIG SUCCESS ■ . » y ' NO CONFIRMATION YET. ' ; | (Dec. July 26, 7.40.p.m.) • Washington, July 2a. Official dispatches from tho American frbnt stale- that the advance continues slowlv V strengthening of the German resistance is noted. There is no confirmation of the'report from London- that the British have made, a sensational gain, thou"h it is known that they are pressing hard towards Fismes."—Aus.-N.Z.-Cable Aisn. " ', ■ . ' GERMAN LINE STRENGTHENED ENEMY DESPERATELY COUNTER-ATTACKING. (Rec. July '27, 0.25 a.m.) ■ London, July 26. ' Renter's correspondent at French Headquarters, writing on the afternoon of liilv " r . savs "The Germans have strengthened their line, and arc counter-at-I 'iu,w' determinedly on tlieir whole front-in the Tardenois salient from tho Ourai°to Vri<mT They arc thus attacking towards the west, south, and cast, and apparently have decided to refuse to accept defeat, and arc making a further stand for the salient and a footing north of the.Mnrne. Ilio Genitalis south of the Ourcq are attacking in a south-easterly direction Bgainst tho Bois de la Quarnelle, nnd the line of Beuar de. St. Chalmel. further south atlack and counter-attack are alternating in rapid succession the hghting being most violent. , The enemy on tho eastern imb-pt the salient attacked the new British salient which encloses the woods west of \ rigny, in strong force.. AYo arc vigorously counlor-a.tta.cki nij- —liculei. - I THE OFFICIAL REPORTS (Rec. July 20, 5.5-p.m.) ■ London, July 25, 4.15 p.m. A French official communique states:—''North of Boule, on the Mnrne, ■ the enemy at night-time powerfully counter-attacked in the region of Hermans, and occupied a-small wood north of Treloup and the village of Chassius. ■ Our counter-attacks- speedily recovered the position. There was -violent; artilleiy activity south jf tho Ourcq and in. the region west of Reims. -Aus.-&./5. Cable Assu.-Keuter.

Tho High Commissioner reports:— London, July 20,1*3.20 a.m. . A French official report states:—"Tho Franco-Americans at certain points south of tho Ourcq advanced about two miles. Wo oc-.-upied Oulchy la Ville, captured ITill 141, crossed the Nanlcuil Brook, took Coincy and (lie bulk of the Touniello Wood, and made appreciable progress, in the Forest of La Fere." AMERICAN COMMUNIQUE London, Jul.v 25. An American official report stales'.—".Between the Ouivci and Hie jMarno local combats resulted in further forcing back the enemy's lines. The enemy s positions north-west of Jaulgonno '("ere penetrated to a depth of from olio to two miles."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assu.-Eeutor. ; - ' , SiS 39UGLAS -HAIG'S REPORT London, July 25. Sir flou'las Haig reports:—-'Early in tho night the enemy entered one of our posts southward of Yillers Bretonneux. An immediate counter-attack , ejected him. We repulsed ft raiding party north of Somme. slightly ad- . .vanced our lino during the'night south of Eossignol Wood,' 111 the llebuterno sector."—-Aus.-N'.Z. Cable Assn.-licuter. THE ENEMY'S REPORTS ,/ . \ London, July 25. ■V German ol?-;al report states:—"The French advanced as far as the Avre, near ilaillv-Eaincv (north-west'of ilonldidier). Our counter-thrust restored the situation frv' :al von Boehin defeated repeated thrusts between the Aisne and thn Marne in -inch the French and tho Americans suffered heavy losses. Tho eneniv five times vainly attempted to storm the positions between j Noyant and Hartcnnes, south-east of Soissons and temporarily gained ground on-both sides of Ville Alontoire, which we recaptured. We smashed attacks north ot the Ourcq. Tanks which pierced our linos were shot to "pieces. " A "counter-thrust drove the enemy back from a height north-east of ■ Kocourt and from Chatelet Wood The enemy four times vainly attacked between the Marne and tho-Ardro. We repulsed the French and British north df the Ardre after a desperate etrug-gle."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asan.-Heuter. .. - (Eec. July 27, 1.20 a.m.) . London, July 26. A wireless German official report states: "Wo repulsed attacks between Bucmiov and Hebnterne, westward of Albert, and in the vicnutv of HaiMy, and threw hack violent attacks south of the Ourcri, and south-west of Helms. - Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. COMMENT ON THE SITUATION WHAT THE GERMAN PRESS THINKS ABOUT IT FIRST PART OF FOCH'S PLAN ADMITTEDLY SUCCESSFUL. (Eec. July 25, 7.25 p.m.) i ■ ' . Berne, July 2d. Tim "Frankfurter Zeitun?" says that Foch's offensive is. Jiot inerelj; an attack on both sides of Eeims, but is-intended to upset von Hindenburgs entire plan, compelling him to use up his strategic reserves, ".lhe.finit parl of tho plans, consisting of tho stoppago'ot our offensive, lias iiden successful. -Aus.-IS.Z. • Cable Assn. RESERVES FROM FOUR GERMAN ARMY GROUPS DRAWN IN (Eec. July 26, 7.25' p.m.) ; . . London, July 25. Sktv-four German divisions have been identified,, includingr-this is signifii IL ta the armv ei'oups of the Crown Prince, General von Galhvitz, ?, a,? ™.r«ndS Albrecht of Wurtemburg. Nearly one-third of tho mncoHuppirel t, ItVs been proved that the German units aro eneinj san . < o » expected to remain 60 until September, unless tho lm ' ch ,1 f e °Liftswhoha" not yet been used extensively. . The Germans ha\'o\>r6digally used their storm troops, and therefore their losses aro doubly serious.—United Service.