THE SITUATION AT A GLANCE

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

THE SITUATION AT A GLANCE

(Rec. July 28, 5.5 p.m.) Washington, July 2fi. Summing up the situation on the Fitnch front, General March, U.S. Chief of Stall', says:—"The Allies liuvo forced the Germans back cloven miles. Tho Germans are retreating towards the centre of tho salient. The British gains were especially dangerous to tho enemy becuuso they placed tho southern Germans in au awkward plight—Alts. N.Z. Cable Assn. STRONG RESISTANCE ON SOISSONS FRONT (Rec. July 29, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 2G, 7 p.m. • Tho French have made little progress round Soissons, where the German resistanco is strong. Tho French situation hero is rather unfavourable, owing to the enemy being able to keep up an enfilading fire. Still, the French can maintain their position in tho heights overlooking Hoisson!. Th'aro is good reason to think that the enemy maclo up his mind on July 19 to undortako iv general retirement to the Ardre and the Veale, but that later the Staff cancelled the orders. He may now try to hold his present lino at all costs, or straighten his front between Soissons and Reims. His object in hanging on may be the desiro to save hie enormous accumulations of stores, and reduce tho confusion in the congested transport area. Should he fall back on the Ardro or tho Vesle, it. will bo an admission of complete failure, and.eeriously affect the literal of the Central Powers. The Crown Prince's reserves havo been entirely used up. Prince Bupprecht's thirty fresh divisions arc all that are left on the Western front. The prospects for an attack are less apparent than a week ago. Kupprecht appears to be disinclined to stake everything on an isolated attack on another front. Another reason is that the nuui-power situation is not an good as 'the Staff would like, but they cannot expect an improvement until tho 1920 classes aro ready to take tho field, two months hence.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PREPARING THE GERMAN PUBLIC FOR THE WORST GRAMOPHONE" STATEMENT BY THE NEWSPAPERS. (Rec. July 2S, 5.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, July 2G. The German military critics are preparing tho public fur a withdrawal on the front at Soissons and Beims. The "Lokal Anzeiger" states:—"A change in tlio present lino is probable. It is a matter of indifference whether our troops move forward or backward provided our adversary's aims aro impeded." ■ The "Tagoblalt" warns tiie public not to get excited if von Hindenburg sees fit to retire to the Aisne ov even further north. It will mean nothing more than a strategic movement, which will code no German ground. "We may have to retire in order to prepare new blows."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Atsn. LUDENDORFF THE SCAPEGOAT (Rec. July 28, 5.5 p.m.) Borne, July 27. Von Hindenburg disapproved of tho recent offensive. His name figured improperly in the official communiques, but after tho German defeat he insisted on von liUdeudoriT's being substituted, holding him really responsible—Reuter. • THE WAR IN THE AIR , INCESSANT ATTACKS ON THE MARNE. Washington, July 2G. French and British aeroplanes aro raining bombs day and night on tho German communications in tho llarno salient. The French aviators have fought, more than two thousand combats in threo weeks, and 360 German machines were brought down. Every line of retreat is now under artillery five night and day. —Aus.-N.Z. Cnblo Assn. 4900 GERMAN AEROPLANES LOST IN TWELVE MONTHS. (Hoc. July 28, 5.5 p.m.) New York, July 26. lord Weir (chairman of tho Air Board) has appealed to the United Slates to send every air-motor possible. Major-General Branckev, British Controller of Air Equipment, announced at a luncheon here that the British had destroyed d!)0O enemy airplanes during tho last twelvo months, and had lost 1217. British supremacy in tho air was increasing daily—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. "SEND EVERY MOTOR, YOU CAN." (Rec. July 28, 11 p.m.) Now York, July 27. Lord Wier, in his appeal to the United States to rush aeroplane motors to Britain, said: "Send tho Eoyal Flying Corps every motor you can, especially during tho next threo months. We will instal them in 'planes in which our pilots will give tho enemy a foretaste of. what ho may expect in steadily increasing volume."—Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'B REPORT. * London, July 28. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Towards the evening of July 24 the skv cleared, permitting _ air-fighting. Twenty-four tons of bombs were dropped in tho nighttime ou railways at Valenciennes and in tho s aiieiit at Courtrai and Armentieres." Various billets and two trains were hit. The aeroplanes fired thousands of ma-chine-gun rounds at targets, including active- anti-aircraft guns, searchlights, and transport."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. July 28, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 26. ' Sir Douglas Haig's aviation report states:—"Wo attacked three largo am- , munition dumps, and also tho docks at Bruges and numerous villages used as billets. A strong west wind greatly favoured the enemy in the air fighting, but twenty-five- hostile machines were brought down and six others were driven down out of control. Fifteen British aeroplanes are missing. Our nightflyers attacked the enemy's railwajs at Courtrai and Scclm, and dropped 300 bombs on rest billets. All tho machines returned. Our anti-aircraft guns shot, down enemy night-flyers behind our lines."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter.

(Hoc. July 28, 11.10 p.m.) London, July 27. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Flying was only possible for a short period (S the day on July 26, but we brought down thrco hostile machines. Two olthe British are missing."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-lteuter. ATTACKS ON BELGIAN PORTS. (Hoc. July 28, 11.15 p.m.) ' London, July 27. The Admiralty reports: 'During the period July 18 to 24 the air force units co-operating with the Navy dropped fifteen tons of bombs, with good results, itt military objectives at Zcebnigge, Bruges, and Ostond. Six hoslilc machines wero destroyed and eight driven down out of control. Fivo British machines are missing."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. i AIR MINISTRY'S REPORT. (Rec. July 28, 5.5 p.m.) Tho Air Ministry reports :-"Our. high flyers on July 25 sumUullyVtadc'ed rw f 101 t and , fact " r y. at M™*'*™' «nd the factory and balloon station at Orenburg Two fires broke out at Offenkrg. Wo bombed and also ° s d machineguns on four aerodromes, hitting the hangars. Wo also used mactoe"gui!s™ trams and aircrait batteries. All our machines returned."-.\w -N Z Cable Assn.-Reu.ter. ;.;; THE FRENCH REPORT. (Rec. July 2S, 5.5 p.m.) i-n u ir • , , , , „,,- , London, July 26. A Ironch official report states: 'Wo brought down seven of the enemy's aeroplanes. The British brought down oigh Iceu on July 25. We dropped thirtyeight tons of bombs by day and night on stations, roads/'hangars, and dumps, near the battlefield, l'ires and explosions wero observed. The British dropped tour tons on Btizockee, lero-en-Tartlenois, and Mont Notr<.danie."-Aus.-N Z Cable Assa.-Reuter. TWO ADDITIONAL AMERICAN ARMY CORPS ■• (lice. July 28, 5.5 p.m.) m„. , i-f , , • Washington, Julv 2G. tt -~ a d , d,tlolial American army corps are being organised in France.' Tha Uited Mates, according to General Jlaroh, sent 230,000 men to Franco in Julv. Ino total number now nil ranee is a million and a quarter, of whom 60 per cent, are fighting men.-Aus.-ri'.Z. Cablo Assn.