ENEMY, IN FULL RETREAT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 266, 30 July 1918, Page 5

ENEMY, IN FULL RETREAT

INDICATIONS OF A POSSIBLE DISASTER TO THE CROWN PRINCE FERE-EN-TARDENOIS RECAPTURED ■ By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright, ~ London, July 28, 9 pm -Iho French havo reached the line of the Ourcq. along the whole 'cowrse 'of the nver.—Reuter. HALF THE MARNE SALIENT CAPTURED tt,, ~ , , , , , New York, July 28. I Halt the Alamo salient has been captuired, and the Allies arc pressing forward' on all sides, French cavalry are near Ville-en-Tardenois. The enemy's losses aro unprecedented.. ' n. York " Tri} >' ino ' s " correspondent with the Fronch armies states that tho German casualties for six months total a million, which was designated by a Gorman statesman as the number Germany was willing to lose this year to win tho war. Six hundred thousand wore killed, permanently injured, or taken prisoner, chiefly elite shock troops. Seventeen-year-old boys are refilling the ranks. The totnl of tho German armies is now 2,760,000, and they aro infe"OT in moral to those of 1911. "Not only is Germany outnumbered by the Allies, but sue is also dominated militarily almost everywhere. If she elects to fight to a finish, tho figures show she will bo inevitably overwhelmed."—Aus.N.Z. Cablo Assn. A NEW GERMAN ARMY , FROM PRINOE RUPPRECHT'S RESERVES. n • ■, , „ Paris, July 28. it is reported that a new Gorman army has ibeen created from Princo Rupprechfs reserves. Other troops have been placed between tho Oise and the Aisne. As the result of the German retreat yesterday, the French reoccupied twenty villages and several important forests. It was the brilliant English attack at Marfaux and Chatinuzy (south-west of Reims), combined with tho irresistible and tenacious French pressure on tho southern part of the Mame pocket, which enforced the precipitate Tetreat of tho enemy. Many German forces wero literally overwhelmed. The Americans discovered north of Tournelle Wood an emplacement for One of the long-range 'guns' which bombarded Paris. Apparently the stubborn defenco in this region was designed to secure the withdrawal of the gun —Aus - N.Z. Cablo Assn.

PANIC-STRICKEN GERMANS (Kec. July 29, 11.15 p.m.) HI rm -1 n. • ~ London, July 27. cti , Cluonicles correspondent at French' Headquarters writes — iarly on Sunday morning the Allied jmtrols, making their way ahead, reached Fcro-en-lardenois, which will booh be in our hands. German opposition in the centre is much less determined than on the wings, but the enemy has massed many guns on the western flank along the Aisne, near Chavigny. Tho guns were hastily withdrawn in the centre, while troops engaged in a fierce rearguard battle. The Germans south-west of Reims are also trviug to hold fast under the protection of massed artillery round St. Thierry. The sudden panic of a German division at the height of tho battle on Thursday had much to do with the nnal. failure of tho troops to defend the Marne. The Germans defending positions north of Jaulgonne were seized with panic, dropped their arms and Tan like rabbits with the Franco-Americans in hot pursuit. Tho German Hisli Command threw in two fresh divisions which were brought up in motor-lorries and retarded the Allied advnjico during tho night, but tho rest of the Germans were forced to abandon tho Jlarnc."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ALLIES' PATROLS ENTER FERE-EN-TARDENOIS Hlec. July 29, 7.25 p.m.) m , ... London, July 29. morning. The Allied patrols have entered Fere-cn-Tardenois.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' * n A CHESSBOARD RETREAT FRENCH ADVANCE FOUR MILES. • fßcc. July 29, 7.25 p.m.) t, , . , London, Julv 28. -Keillors correspondent at French flendqunrters, writing on (hn evening of July 27, says: "The ouemy's retre.il on the chessboard 'system, .-idopted in the Somme retreat in March, 1917. has been greatly hampered by the daring of our infantry. Tho light tanks of General Mangin's army faced the strongest eneimpositions, protected by a powerful flank tire from the north bank of the Aisne. Uno British division with General Maugin was engaged in a local operation and gained much ground, in spite of the most obstinate resistance. Tho omnny's retreat began on Friday night, with Hie withdrawal of the main hollies I'roni north ?! tho Marne, ■strong rearguards covering Iho retreat. Twelve hours later the I'ronch advanced font miles on twenty miles of front, between tho Ourcq and the Ardre. _ tho Allied cavalry patrols are pressing forward at Clmmbrey, where j lie enemy is resisting with 'ong-range artillery and machine-guns, but is unable jo hold tho trench attack. Tho outstanding fact of the present situation is that'the enemy does not retain one single inch of tho ground he gained in his otiensivo on July J 5. There, aro good reasons for believing thai the retreat will bo on a bigger scale than was at first anticipated, but it will be an orderly withdrawal, not n rout.—Jteuter. '

GERMAN OUTPOST REARGUARDS SACRIFICED

(Rec. July 2!I, 7.25 p.m.)

The "Daily Chronicle s" correspondent with the French sUlesUia"' thi'cnemv fell back several limes on the whole of the Marne front on Friday nWft "he retreat was effected b.v the withdrawal of one coinnanv out of every tiro in tin first line, then two sections put of each company. The third section retired before dawri. leaving small outposts of pic tort men with machine-guns to cover the retreat. Many of the, outposls were wiped out as the .lilies pressed forwardJvcuter.

DISASTROUS DEFEAT INDICATED

(liec. July 29, 7.25 p.m.)

w . ~ . , , , ~~, . Paris,'Julv 28. _ Ucsvisbs from the front state that the enemy is fighting desperately on 'the wings in order to cover the retirement i.'ithe centre. Tho Allies' pres.-tiro on both wings continues. The nursnit, indicates that 'the Crown Prince's defeat will be on « electrons Kcnln. The are desperatelv trviii" to make "11 tli« vrmds impassable by blowing up tho bridges, m order to impede t'<e \llied advance The French now hold the southern bank of the Ourcq near Villers-sur-Ferp It is expected that tho Germans will retire to Vesle and the river Crise. couth of Sois6ons, whicn means that they lmvc still twontv miles to retreat.—Renter

THE OFFICIAL REPORTS

THE FRENCH COMMUNIQUE

* -n. t. . London, Julv 28, 5 n.m. COmi?, w ,qn ?. stal , M: T 01 !' 1 Qf wo ''ontinuod our progress during the night, when elements of ou,r forces reached the right bank nnd approached the road which runs south of tho Ourcfl. Our right approached the Dormans-Keims Road. We repulsed several attacks against our new positions south of Mont Sans Nom, and also north-east of St. Hilairo (in tho Chain-

n nCP ' r "' ,v o '"' ' nn ' w '* nvn a glorious part, in (lie 'hat Hp. They iwiießiiM . <,11C '"' V !" los t iu'il il i: tin! I lie forward iiush. of I lie infantry. Tliey rwisl'mo'! _" ICL ! om I'iUneil or preceded the Allied advance, mid attacked centres of nr iu'nt.iV *i''' ''aHeries in each, section. The tanks accounted fur fifteen Ithl-c r i» and intlicte;! Ihe heaviest losses. .Some of the Cable Assn'peutcr ' c- '' nc ' our '" lvo 011 'he SBWl ' day."—Aiis.-N.i!. (lice. July 23, 5.115 p.m.) A ■ London, July '20. 2 a.m. in l-lin c " lulll uiuriue ;tates: "North of the Maine we continued to advance at(emn(.ed°(n nrm™? n's" 0 ' 1 ' ol,vil ' ,s(ill| ding the resistance of the enemy, who Mr™ 11 of ,l,crivPr - *» "wwled in tl.rowi.iK back Xorth-pntV tu'p . TTir lo " 10 "Si' l Vi'e entered l'oro-en-Tardcnois. ri<*ht ciohireii nr ~ oi' l ' 'l ol' Champ Voisy. Our troops on tho the Heims l)orninn v''i ?' A loliiine, and brought tho line appreciably nearer bomb'irrfinenl in IV two enemy attempts, preceded bv a rCg,on of thl ' sonH > hills, were repulsed. —A us.-N.Z. Cable GERMAN RESISTANCE BREAKS DOWN (Hoc. July .20, 7.2.1 p.m.) t> i • , Washington, July 28. mil ill t™ repor!s - " B^ hvec ;» the Ourcci and the Marne the American wh <» o resistance has broken aonn. —Aus.-N,4. Cable Assn.-Beulcr. CRec. July 29, 8.35 p.m.) tho*ya™ r° r - " We , contimw the pursuit northwarf'of ami ™l \ ' ° f , d^ ei, l min «l rearguard actions. We crossed tho Ourcq Eeuter. Sennges-et-Nesles, Sergy, and Eoncheres."-Aus..N.Z. Cable Assn.: NOTHING TO REPORT ON THE BRITISH FRONT ißec. July 29, 7.25 p.m.) Assn.-Lutei\ kS Ha ' S that th ° r ° ' 3 noth "' s to "P^t-A^-Niz! 1 ' 7 Cable COMMENT ON THE SITUATION GENERAL PETAIN'S PLAN. viewtthe ZZTr dentl Wri i i,,g - fron ' Frcncll HMdquarteK LO o n n d# JulJ U 27 1 acting ,Ym,2i i i 1 J S allls t such an attack. Therefore ho ordered the ikl left to smnlt i f 7 acl "! ted «« soon as the bombardment began and its defence left to small de achments of determined men under connietent ofliee<lE mission was to delay the Germans as long as possible,TlLt LftuSh rould i " r c ii i lme rell ?l le d the principal l'no of resistance The nt™ pnimv Pe «° l y r' {l ? ma * n '' no " lc resistance was nowhere pierced The Zr7J°? l he Mai ' n 1 ? W was oMo to,Ml;c more progress, a'ainst toerat Berthelotj because Bwthelot was defending in unorganised ground.

The Counter-blow, counterattack e on' n the''?pff ,ron ni Urtller i r defence. He decided to mil Sit i t? , ' and assembled divisions under the shade nf Mm fillers Cotterets Forest, where they might hope to escape obwvation Tho double plan was submitted to General Focli on July 12, and approved o"'the f i enemy failed altogether east of Reims, and found himself engaged in a desperately dnliciilt attempt to advance up the valley of tho Marne Ais^^Thn'Jif 011 ] ie ., was suddenly attacked between Chateau Thierry and the Aisne. 1 ho.state of tho enemy 8 army atter the iailure of tho third offensive is liTnnr \ of three thousand prisoners taken in the last few days Hii-m * A men) belon S > class of 1919. Therefore five-sixths of tho 11 wn™°nf n ? ! V ° le C " i frollt ' ?m1 Class 1320 > aU of ,vhom are ,inilel ' 19 years of a Q e, have been warned to be m readiness to <bo called in Sentemlwr The breakdown of the third German effort to reach a decision (l is summer g due mainly to two fac s: first, the enemy underrated the FreiU power ™f resistance, and, second, the blow was not a surprise. Tho enemy raine to the con. nii?pii on 'f r au . (l AisDo offensives, that tho French had reached a n 1/ni li° X U J om 1 tiluy coultl not lrecovei '- The Germans contemplated the capture ot a number of important towns, Eperuav and Atontmim.l wero to bo captured on tho first day, and Chalons on tho second Instructions were issued regarding: tho exploitation of the conquered territory! end detachments were formed to plunder the houses in the national interest The i'mir armios under von Einem, von Mudra, von Boehm, and von Ebon were to strike simultaneously. Iho strategic object of the attack was to cut tho French Army m-i ia VC !7 a . then to turn tho whole strength of the Germans against whichever halt Has least able to resist. If tlua was successful, tho enemy could liavo chosen between a movo on Paris or the turning of the whole French linn noM. n r ? on r C i l °n tl! ° T > lo , GtM ; mins wcr e so confident that thev did not tiouble to hide then- intentions. The "delay was due to the fact that'thev wero no less pressed for men thaii the French. That the attack wo.i.ld be in tho Ciiampagno and on tho Marne was foreseen, but tho date was uncertain It was expected on the Bth; and again on the 12th, and, lastly, on tho 14th, oil the evo of which date General Gourand ordered a trench raid, which (resulted in information ibemg obtained that the enemy meant to attack at dawn."—lioulcr.

THE KAISER'S COMMENT: "WORST DAYS STILL IN STORE" -

(liec. July 29, 11.15 p.m.) mi , i , , London, July 29. ■ Iho Amsterdam correspondent of the "Daily Express" says that tho Kaiser at Headquarters, speaking to Karl Eosner, said: "The worst days of tho war aro still in store for Germany." Von Hindenburg said: "fell our impatient peoplo that tliey must learn to wait. Good preparation is half the victory. Wo aro not working with machines, but with German blood, which wc must spare for after the war. We need time to catch our breath between each fight." Hindenburg's belated effort has put aside the German High Command's notion of cannon foddor, and aroused amused comment.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FANTASTIC STORIES OP BRITISH BRUTALITY 0 (Rec. July 29, 10.5 p.m.) Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: "British, Australian, Canadian, ers are sharing in raids with a yiovr to discovering tho enemy's dispositions and damaging his lines. Wo aro taking numerous prisoners, and find that tho Germans are being doped with stories of (ho brutal wav in which the British tret their prisoners. Even Germans of normal intelligence 'iieleicvu these imhstic allegations. As an example, tho New Zealandew who 'brought prisoners from a raid wero amazed at the terror of the Germans, which only disappeared when they were well fed and kindly treated, as is our invariable custom. Tho Germans then confessed that their officers said tho New Zealanders were cannibals who first oiler cigarettes then eat tho prisoners. Tho New Zealanders noticed tint the Germans at first refused the cigarettes. The New Zealanders hii"elv enjoyed the joke at the expense of their reputation, though they wero'--la"gcred bv tho credulity of the German soldiers."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.

THE WAR IN THE AIR

'Rec. July 29, 7.25 p.m.)

«• n i xi • t r, T , , . . London, July 2S, 10 p.m. hu- Douglas Haig reports: Low clouds and rain prevented living during tho daytime. Bombs were dropped at night-time .on hostile billets aiid hutments ill the vicinity of Bapaitme."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter.