ALLIES STILL ADVANCING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 267, 31 July 1918, Page 5

ALLIES STILL ADVANCING

INCREASED RESISTANCE ENCODNTERED

BITTER BATTLES RAGING ALONG THE FRONT By Telegraph-Prese Assooiation-Oopyright. r , London, ,luly 29. / the Germans have started a now battle east of Reims, in the neighbourhood of Mout-Sans-Nom. It is now in' progress. Tho enemy's retreat continues all along tlio line of. tho Ourcq. The French are now on tho north bank, and farther to tho east have secured practically the whole of the road botween lJeims and Dormans. Tho enemy rearguards are resisting very strongly, especially in tho wooded country between tho Ardro and tlio Samoigne, a small tributary of tlio Marne. So far they liavo succeeded in checking, but not in slopping, tho French advance. The Americans between Ferc-en-Tardenois and the source of tho Ourcq are pressing oil closely and vigorously. Generally speaking, iho ndvanco between noon on Sunday and Sunday night, on twenty miles of front, is from two to three miles in depth. The enemy has now abandoned the lino of tho Ourcq. where it was thought ho might make a stand. There is little doubt he will now take up positions behind the Vesle, occupying a straight lino from Soissons to Eeims, which is probably well entrenched and, very strong, with good rearguard communications. All tho villages between Soissons and Bazachos aro on fire. The enemy is burning them as a preliminary to further retreat. The enemy's new lino will to a certain' extent threaten Reims from tho northern outskirts. Thorc has been heavy fighting in the neighbourhood of Buzancy. That the enemy retirement is being made in good order is emphasised by tho fact that wo have captured only a hundred prisoncre and four guns.—Aus.-N.Z. Cnblo Assn.

VILLAGES IN FLAMES EIGHT MILES BEHIND THE LINES

(Eec. July 30, 9.40 p.m.)

London, July 29, S p.m. Hie latest report states that villages eight miles behind the lines are burning, and. heavy fighting is raging. Sergy was taken and retaken four times, and is now in/French hands. The Fourth Prussian Guards attacked the Americans south of Se'rgy, but tho Americans stopped the assaults dead, with heavy losses. The French surrounded Buzancy, but were unable to hold it.—"Tho Times."

CAUTIOUS ADVANCE BY THE FRENCH

(Eec. July 30, 9.10 p.m.)

, -r, , , London, July 29. Correspondents on the French front state that the infantry, cavalry, 'and tanks on Sunday followed up the artilleiy's destructive work, and cleared the enemy out of Fere-en-Tardenois towards tho north-east, after hand-to-hand encounters. The enemy's destruction of the bridges over tho Ourcq has not greatly delayed the French, who lmve forded the shallow stream at several points. Tho French are proceeding cautiously, and not wasting men. Tho cavalry has located the Germans at Bois "Meuniere, where it is anticipated they will resist strongly.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE OFFICIAL REPORTS

THE FRENCH COMMUNIQUE

London, July 29, 3.45 p.m. A French official communique states:—"North of the Marne there was no change during tho night. We took 400 prisoners hero yesterday."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Keuter.

(Dec. July 30, 10.10 p.m.)

London, July 30, 2 a.m. A French communique states: "During tho day very violent fighting occurred along the whole front north of the Marne. The enemy, whose resistance has strongly increased, disputed every foot of ground and attempted to drive us back by numerous counter-attacks. We repulsed all assaults and made a further advance to theoutski;tsof thrwillage of Buzancy. Tho Scottish captured Park Chateau, and maintained their positions in spite of repeated German assaults. East of Plessehulu aud Oulchy-lc-Chateau we passed tho-Chateau Thierry Road and captured Grandrozoy,. Cugny, and the Butto de Chalinont, after a brilliant action north of Fere-en-Tardenois. Wo extended our gains 4nd entered Sergy, further south. Roncheres fell into our hands 'on the right. We passed the Dor-mans-Reims Road south of Villers Igron, and gained ground west of Bligny and St. Euphraise. A German attack in thoiChimpdgno region 60uth of Mont Sansnon failed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asa 11.-Router. THE AMERICAN REPORT (Rec. July 30, 10.40 p.m.) ... , - , , „„„ . London, July 23. An Amencan official report states: There is severo fighting beyond the Ourcq. Sergy, after changing hands four timps, remains in our hands."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. SiR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT , m , London, July 29. Sir Douglas naig reports:-' The Australians in tho Morlancourt sector (east of Amiens) captured two lines of trenches on two miles of front astride the BrayCorbie Road, Tho enemy's casualties wore heavy, ours wcro light. A hundred prisoners and a number of machine-guns were taken. Tho Canadians made two successful raids iu the neighbourhood of Gavrolle."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reu-ter. (Rec. Jnly 30, 7.30 p.m.) . . London. July-29. Sir Douglas Haig reportsln a successful minor operation on the night of •July 28, in tho Morlaucourt sector, we took many prisoners and gained all our objectives. Wo beat off three counter-attacks, inflicting losses."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. THE ENEMY'S REPORTS (Uee. July 30, 8.50 p.m.) London, July 29. A wireless German message reports :—'"ln the evening severe attacks on our new positions west of Fere-cn-Tardenois failed with sanguinary lusses."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. July 30, 10,25 p.m.) London, July 29. A wireless German official report states: "Wo evacuated on the uight of July 2G and 27 the fighting zone between tho Ourcq and tho Ardre, and shifted our defence to the region of Fere-en-Tardenois and Ville-en-Tardenois unobserved by the enemy. Our fore-field guards, after fulfilling their task fell back before strong enemy attacks south-east of Fcre-en-Tardenois. Violent combats onsued, in which wo repulsed the euomy.'"—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn.-Routor,

RAID BY THE AUSTRALIANS

Tho High Commissioner reports-.— London, July 29, noon. Sir Douglas Ilaigr reports: "Tlio Australians oil tho Morlaucourt section captured two lines of trendies on two miles of front astride tho Bray-Corbio lload, taking ono hundred prisoners and a numbor of machine-guns." COMMENT ON THE SITUATION , IMMENSE SET-BACK TO GERMAN PLANS. London, July 29. Heuter's correspondent at American Headquarters, writing on tho afternoon of July 28, says to tho dense woods, on the wholo the gncniy has been able to delay the advancing armies, holding them up with thousands of nests of ma-chine-guns. Henco tho enemy's losses are infinitesimal compared to tlio time gained. The Germans saved most of their guns, although they were obliged to destroy ammunition. The abandonment of the Marne, however, -which the enemy held as long as possible in order to keep tho important railwjij- from Epernay to Chateau Thierry under observation, will considerably accentuate our progress. Indeed; the paco lias already quickened, and it is already certain that tho enemy will not stand on tho Ourcq. Doubtless, when we reach His prepared positions we will find tlio enemy in great strength. What the Germans chiefly have suffered is an immense setback to their plans, and it is possible they will bo unable to recover before the end of the campaigning season. Tlio Germans desperately resisted on the Villencuve Plateau (south-west of Fere), which was swept by gunfire. After the French drove off the defenders, our batteries turned tho balance of gun-power, mid, with the plateau won, wo had an ideal gun platform, which mado the enemy's lino on the Ourcq intolerable. The French and Americans were then a.blo to advance on the open slopes'at a rate previously impossible through tho woods. Mounted troops proved useful, but the armoured cars and light tanks were ideal weapons for clearing out nests, both on the ground and in tho trees. Gumplatforms on. the trees served tho enemy admirably in the forest country. American marksmen made a sport of bringing them down."—Renter. j . "WE MUST EXPECT AN ATTACK" n i i -r, • ■ London, July 29. Colonel Kemnglon, military correspondent of the "Morning Post/' write--in January Germany had three million men in the West anil the power of getting a million and a half more during 1918. 1 reckon the Germans' casualties, including sick, during 1918, thus far at a million, of which number 700,000 are a permanent loss. In four months the Germans* have spent the value of two annual contingents of recruits. . Prince Eupprechfc has only twenty-three divisions of storm troops left intact. Tho softness of tho rest has becorno remarkable. It is most likely that the Germans wiJl uiako d'determined effort to restore the situation. We must expect ail attack all along the whole front.I—Ausi\.Z.1—Ausi\.Z. Cable Assn.. ~ • * HINTS OF A GERMAN DIVERSION IN ITALY New York, July 29. Mr. Charles Grasty, writing (o tho Now Tork "Times" from London, says there is much official talk of the possibility of a new Austro-German di>To in italy, >is a, means Of cscape from, tho unpleasant dilemma on the West front. Iho veporied movement/ of six German divisions from Franco to Italy indicates serious designs.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. AIR ATTACK ON BERLIN MERELY A MATTER OF MOTORS. ' . New York, Julv 2!). General Branckner, Comptroller of British Air Equipment, says that if, tho Allies reorganise and co-ordinatc their resources they 'will be able in tho near future to bomb German cities, even Berlin. He urged tlio speeding up of production of ncroplauo motors. The United States ought to have an Air Secretary to organise a great air arnly. Britain found it essential (o establish centralised control of Iho air forces in order to fight the Zeppelins and Gothas and dc.vclop hei- air strategy. General Branckner considers it certain that tho Britishi will ho able to bomb Berlin next spring. Hugo numbers of aeroplanes will still .be required befo'ro a great Allied air offensive can bo undertaken. Britain ho said, lacked the capacity for engine-production at tho necessary rate, at prescnl, and therefore depended upon tlio United Slates. As tho -United States was unable to spare Liberty, motors, a largo.portion of Iho British air offensive was seriously delayed. It would be rjuito fcasiblo to deliver aeroplanes by flight across tlio Atlantic.—Aus.-N.Z. CaJ>le Assn. ' ' SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT. (Ecc. July 30, 5.50 p.m.) C -n ' , rr • , • , , , London, July 2D. bir Douglas Jlaigs aviation report states"ln spite of low clouds on Julv 28 wo dropped ten tons of bombs on dumps, railway staions, and billets at Do'uat, Armciiticres, Bapaumo, and Chnulnes. Wo brought down nine aeroplanes. FourBritish planes are missing. Wo bombed at night Bapnumu and active batteries north of the Soimiic. All our machines returned."—Aus.-N.Z. Cableten - Ileutcr.