ATTACK ON THE NEW ZEALANDERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 265, 29 July 1918, Page 5

ATTACK ON THE NEW ZEALANDERS

(Rec. Jnly 28, 5.5 p.m.) im i- ~ , London, July 26. Xli© United Press correspondent states: "Tho Germans last night attacked tho Now Zealanders' left flank at Hebuterno under the protection of a heavy bombardment, but were vigorously thrown back, leaving prisoners. Elsewhere there is mutual shelling. The Germans are using mostly gas. Tho British heavily gassed the Germans west and north-west of Albert, simultaneously opening machine-gun and artillery firo on them. Judging by the feeble response, tho Germans must havo suffered considerably."— Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. THE OFFICIAL REPORTS The' High Commissioner reports: ,T, , „. , London, July 26, 2.50 p.m. A irench official report states: "After stubborn fighting vesterday we loolc Villa Montoire, capturing 200 prisoners and 20 machine-suns. " Oulchy-lc-Chateau is in our hands, and four guns were takei there. South of the Ourcq we havo taken hundreds of prisoners." The High Commissioner reports: London, July 27, 2.50 p.m. A French official report states: "On the right bank of the Marne we pushed our lino northwards of Pont Abison. On tho Champagno front, southwards of Mont Canhnon, wo advanced three-quarters of a mils on a front of about two miles, taking 200 prisoners." July 27, 7 p.m. A French official report states: "North of the Marne we captured Eeuil, and have thrown the enemy to the outskirts of Binson, Orquiysniy, and Villers-sur-Cliatillon. East of Suippc wo advanced 1500 yards on a front 'of over twelve miles, retaking the whole of the Main-de-Massiges and occupying our former first lines. Wo 'captured 1100 prisoners! 200 machine-guns, and seven cannon." THE FRENCH OFFICIAL ■ COMMUNIQUE London, July 2G. A French communique states: "The fighting on the Ouicq front is being continued. Wo occupied Oulchy-la-Ville, north of the river. The French and Americans south of the river advanced over a mile at certain points, despite the severest resistance, and especially in tho Dor-mans region. We captured Hill 111, scAith-east of Armontieres, and crossed the Nanteuil stream. Further south we captured the village of Coincy and the bulk of Tournelle Wood. Wo have progressed to Waiely, in the Forest, of Fere, as far as the general lino Beuvardes to Chnrmel. Our advnnco also continued favourably in the Bis Forest and north of Dormans.- The'onemy, south-west of Reims, after violent attacks on our positions between Vrigny and St. Euphraise, gained a footing on Hill 230, which wo soon recaptured."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. (Eec. July 28, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 26. 4.20 p.m. A French official communique stales: "Last night we captured Villo Montoire after a desperate struggle, capturing 200 prisoners and twenty machine-guns. Farthor south Oulchy-le-Chatean fell into our hands. We advanced east of tho town and captured four guns. We took priso ner several hundreds south of tho Ourcq yosterday."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Eeuter. (Rec. July 28, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 27, 3.30 a.m. A French official communique states: "South of tho Ouircq there has been reciprocal artillery activity, but no infantry fighting. Wo captured corlh of the Marno on Thursday evening the farm of Previl Savards, and drovo back .the enemy to the southern outskirts of Binson, Orquigny, and Villor-soii6-Cllatillon. Altogether seven hundred prisoners were taken on July 25 at Ville Monioiro and Oulchy-le-Chatcau. Ixicul attacks undertaken in the Champagne after the breaking of tho enemy's oft'ensivo resulted, notwithstanding tho en'emy's resistance, in our advancing a mile on a front of 13 miles east of Suippc. North of the general lino of St. Hilairc-Grand Sonain-Mesnil-les-Huiius, wc recaptured the wholo of the Main-de-Massiges, and reoccupicd the old first lino in that region. We captured in theso operations eleven hundred prisoners and seven guns."—Aus.-N.sj. Cable Assn. (Rec. July 28, 11.15 p.m.) London, July 27. A French communique states: "On the right bank of tho Marno we advanced north of Pont Binson. In tho Champagno wo carried out. a local operation. In the region south of Mont Sansom we advanced a kilometre (three-quarters of a mile, about) on a front of about three kilometres (about two miles), and took 200 prisoners, including seven officers."—Ans.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-lloutcr. (Eec. July 28, 11.40 p.m.) ' London, July 28, 1.30 a.m. A French communique stales: "Under continuous pressure by tho French and Allied troops for several days past, the Germans to-day retreated along their whole front north of the Marne. Our troops, pressing thn rearguards, reached tho line of Bruyeres, Villeucuvesur-lcs-Courmont, Passy, Gringny, Cuisles Neilville, and Chaumuzy. On the right bank of tho Marno wo cleared a wide front. Wo continue, to mako'progress, and havo reached more than fifteen kilometres north-cast of Chateau Thierry."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Ass.i.-Router. THE AMERICAN REPORT London, July 26. An American communique states: "Wo continue to press the enemy between the Ourcq and the Marne. Wc havo taken the southern half of tho Fere Forest." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. . (Hcc. July 28, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 2G. An American official message slates: "Wo captured Lo Charmer, between tho Ourcq and the Marne, on July 25."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Ecutor. iKcc. July 28, 11.40 p.m.) London, July 27. An American official report slates: "Tho enemy's resistance has been broKcn between the Ourcq and tho Manic."—Aus-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Eeuter. ON THE BRITISH FRONT London, July 20. Sir Douglas Uaig reports: "The enemy attacked four posts soutn oi Aietvrcn after a heavy artillery and trench mortar preparation.. Ro was repulsed, suttering many casualties, miring tho evening tuo enemy attacked our positions in the lLelMiterne sector, but was driven olf with severe loss. This morning tho enemy launched' a loeaL attack against tne line wo recently gained near Meteren, but was repulsed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Eeuter. (E-ec. July 28, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 2C. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "We repulsed attacks at Aveluy Wood anu in tho neighbourhood of Vieu'x Jierquiu. Wo took a few prisoners in the enemy's unsuccessful attack at Metwen."—Aus.-N.Z: Cablo Assn.-Eeuter. (Eec. July 23, 11.10 p.m.) \ London, July 27. Sir Douglas Haig reports-. "Wo raided tho enemy's lines in tho n&gubourhojd of Sawy, Laurette, Nouville St. Vaast, Arleux-en-Gokelle, mid Lens, and took several prisoners. Tho hostile arti.-ry :s active between the Soinuie and tno Ancre. Tnere is reciprocal artillery activity on the La Basso Canal sector." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Keuter. (Rec. July 28, 11.40 p.m.) London, July 27. Sir Douglas Haig reports hostile artillery activity on the northern portion, of tho British i'ront.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE ENEMY'i REPORTS (Eee. July 28, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 27. A wireless German official report staua: "We ejected tho enemy from his front lines north ot Uiilciiy-le-C'haieau aad drove olf attacks east of Orets aud south of the Ourcq. We cleared the wooded district west of Vrigny, and repulsed violent counter-attacks."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. COMMENT ON THE SITUATION FURTHER RETREAT OF YON BOEHM EXPECTED. London, July 26. Correspondents' messages from the French front to-day state that it seems likely that von Boehm's retreat will not stop short of the Vesle, though General Mungin, north of the Ourcq, is meeting with desperate resistance. But General Mangm's hard and repeated blows have not only forced tiie enemy, to abandon the :\larno, but havo enabled Generals jJegoutle and Demitry to continue their advance. Both French armies have now nearly reached Beuvardes. Apparently tho Germans still hold the centre of Oulchy-le-Chatean, though the Allies aro in the suburbs. The German resistance to the American, advance north-east of Chateau Thierry is increasing, and there is hand-to-hand fighting amongst tho pines in tho Forest of Fere. Another American unit is advancing in the Forest of Bis. Tho Germans are chiefly using machine-guns. Big fires are reported at Fere-en-Tardenois.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. ENORMOUS GERMAN LOSSES SINCE JULY 15 London, July 26. Eeuter s correspondent at French Headquarters, writing at 11 p.m. on Tluu-siuiy, says: "Since July 15. 25,000 prisoners, 400 guns, and several thousand machine-guns have been captured from tho enemy, whose loss in munitions and material is incalculable. Fires every night indicate where depots and stores which he is unable to remove are burning. It is now clearly proved that the Germans at tho beginning of the offensive were again deluded with the idea that uio trench Army was at length exhausted on tho left, and that the possibility of a counter-offensive oh their right (lank was ,out of the calculation. They failed to reckon upon the Americans' presence, which enabled the French couim.uiuers to lane measures which they might have hesitated to take with thoir own resources alone."—Eeuter. t TIIE ABSORBING QUESTION ON TIIE BRITISH FRONT WHAT IS RUPPRECHT GOING TO DO? „ ...... ~.,, London, July 26. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: "The chief problem is, What is Prince Eupprecht going to do? It is an historical situation, enormous in ils terrible interest, because .t is tho turning-point of the war. Meanwhile there is much harassing mutual artillery work. The Germans are violently bombarding the Scherpenberg and liethune areas, also Villors Bretonnctu, where as many as 70(10 gasshells are sent over in a day. Tho country round Hebuterne, where the New Zealanders aro working, is another sceno of activitv, but the enemy is getting the worst of it. I witnessed u bombardment beyond ltossignol Wood this morning, when the New Zealanders advanced their Hue. under intense the."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. SUCCESSFUL NIBBLING GOING ON ALL THE TIME (Rec. July 23, 5.5 p.m.) „ • , Pai-is ' Jn] y -'■ General Gonrard's army in many places has taken the original lino tho French occupied before the attack. The Main-de-Massiges is tho most important J gain of the ecriea which havo been socurod by the nibbling process.—Eoutor.