TERRIFIC BATTLES IN CHAMPAGNE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 268, 1 August 1918, Page 5

TERRIFIC BATTLES IN CHAMPAGNE

ALLIES STILL ADVANCING

BRILLIANT EXPLOITS B! BRITISH AND AMERICANS " "

' THE WAR (M ) THE U-BOATS

STATEMENT BY SIR ERIC GEDDES

Struggles of almost unexampled ferocity are recorded in to-day's dispatches from the Marne and Ourcq fronts, but on the whole, in spite of persistent and powerful counter-attacks, tho Allies arc maintaining their relentless pressure and steadily gaining fresh ground. Sergy was taken and retaken nino times. Tho stirring accounts of tho Americans' gallant crossing of the Ourcq and a brilliant attack of tho British at Beugneux, show that with the Allies tho offonsivo spirit is high. The Australians have captured Merris with surprisingly few casualties. Tho truth about the Allies' counter-stroke is n ovr beginning to dawn on the German public, and both von Hindenburg and von Ludendorff are attracting what, for them, must bo an uncomfortable degree of attention from the Press and the public. Holland i 6 full of rumours 'about a .breach between these two generals, each, if re ports bo true, being at present busily engaged in gnawing away the other's military reputation. There is practically no news from the other war theatres, and at the time of writing, nothing from Turkey. Sir Eric Gcddes, First Lord of the Admiralty, has made an optimistic statement regarding tho work at the shipyards for combating tho German submarines. A record British credit vote for seven hundred millions is announced. Mr. Bonar Law has stated in the House of Commons that the present stato of tho Sinn Fein movement and the general condition in Ireland make it impossible to grant Home Rule to that country.

ENEMY POWERFULLY REINFORCED. FRENCH ADVANCE MAINTAINED GERMAN COUNTER-STROKE PRESSES BACK AMERICAN LINE By 'flolejraph-Prflsi Association-Copyright. London, July 30. The French a.ro advancing, in spite of the powerfully increasing resistance. The heaviest fighting is between the Ourcq and Villers-en-Tardenois, where tho Frnnch are nearing tho crest of the plateau between the Vcslo and the Ourcq. The Germans violently attacked Gorges, and drovo out the Americans; ami also ousted the French from Beugneux. Sovonty-or.e enemy divisions havo been identified, including ten of Princo Rupnrccht's. The pinching off of the salient is no longer a possibility, but tho driving back of a numerically superior forco and tho capture of many prisoners is a mifficient cause for congratulation. It : s unnecessary to lament, tho nonfitlfiluient of the ill-founded and extravagant hopes based on the prospect of the cutting off of tho enemy.—Aue.-N.Z. Gable Assn. ' L THE FIGHT FOR SERGY AMERICANS DEFEAT CRACK GERMAN DIVISION. ' London, July 2D. Heater's correspondent at American Headquarters, writing on July 29, dotls with 'he hard fighting leading to the final capture of Sergy by tho Americans, who also captured Scringes and Roncheres. The fight for Sergy resolved itself into a fiorde struggle with the UK Guards Division, one of "the, crack divisions of the German Army. Tho Guards swept down the hill, when tho Americans wore reorganising their lines. Tho Germans were all picked, fresh men, , determined to strike terror into the hated Yankees, with whom this was thoir ' first" engagement. TJie Americans were overborne by the vast weight of numbers, and gave ground foot by foot to tho brink of the Ourcq, but fiercely recoiled and drove the Germans helter-skelter at the point of the bayonet 'from the ruins of the village. The Germans suffered fearfully, their dead lying in heaps in, all parts of the field.—Router. AMERICANS CHARGE ACROSS THE OURCQ ':!!!> THRILLING EPISODE OF THE FIGHTING. (Rec. July 31, 7.20 p.m.) New York, July 30. The New York "Times" correspondent on the' American front states that tho Germans are retreating "so fast that they havo abankmed hundreds of tons of ammunition." While the retreat was not a rout, the American pressure played havoc with tho Crown Prince's Army. The Americans charged across the Ourcq. It was the most thrilling episode of the fighting. The Germans withdrew to a strong position on the hills overlooking the river,'and placed hundreds of ma-chine-guns and artillery in positions from • which they had command of the stream. They also placed two fresh Guards divisions opposite the Americans, and destroyed the bridges on the American left, hut were driven back bv tho merciless machine-gun fire of the Americans there. The Americans finally bringing up bridges spanned the river under the heaviest fire and forced the Germans to retreat to another series of hills. The Americans crossed the river in a dozen places. The Germans fired on tho Allies' stretc'ior-bearors who were carrying the wounded across the stream. German aeroplanes swarmed up behind a truckload of wounded—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. (Rec. July. 31, 10.20 p.m.) London, July 31. "The Times's" correspondent at Am;ricai Headquarters states that tho struggles at Sergy and Seringos were am ng the most intense and terrible in the Allied offensive. With fierce fluctuations tliiy extended from Sunday afternoon until iast evening, when the Americans were victoricus at both points. Sergy changed hands nine *imes. The Americans on approaching the Ourcq waded the river, but were slightly repulsed, owiiw to heavy machine-gun fire, and therefore awaited tho artillery preparation, a'>d then recrojsed and climbed the north bank.' They ardently accepted the Prussian Guardsmen's challenge, and four bitter swaying attacks and counter-attacks followed. German artillery of every calibre shared in the din, unexpectedly, the attacfers assuming that they had been withdrawn earlier. The enemy fought well, but made no headway. Ultimately the Americans saw the nncly-built Guards melt away. It is believed that the ferocity of the Germans was designed to "am time for the removal of valuable stores of munitions and guns concealed in tho Forest of Neslcn Many of tho American wounded were found at Sergy to have been bayoneted. Tho Germans took up a position for the machine-guns in a church, and a Ked Cross' buildin?, and the enraged Americans took few prisoners during the final stnges of tho fight. Tho defeated Germans hold tho heights to the northward.—"The Times." BRILLIANT ATTACK BY THE BRITISH (Rec. July 31, 9/10 p.m.) J ' ' London, July 30. Air. Gerald Campbell writes: "Strong enemy resistance has become general south of Soissons. The British are fulh- sharing in the fightiiig, and bore tho hardest part in simultaneous Anglo-Fro'ich attacks at Grand Rozoy and the Butto de Chalmont. Tho French captured Hi.; latter with ease and remarkably small losses. The British, after talcing Grand ozoy, advanced on Bevgneux, where tho enemy held strong positions and were dolornuned not to move. The first assault was met by heavy artillery and machine-Tim fire, and checked, irhe French onlookers describe the second dashing attack as a wonderfully brilliant affair. Tho British climbed the slope over perf-etly open [round and gained the woods facing their objective, important heights to the northward, and not attempting a further advance."—"The Times.' THE OFFICIAL REPORTS QUIET NIGHT NORTH OP THE MARNE. , «... • , l „„ . ■ London, July 30. A French official communique states: 'Nothing important has occurred during tlio -night north of tho Marno."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reutcr. (liee. July 31, 7.45 p.m.) „ , . , i London, July 30. A French official communique reports: "On the right bank of tho Ourcq we ndvuic'ed to'tho in the Fere-on-Tardcnois region. Our gains at Sergy were maintained, in spite of an enemy ccintei'-allack. South-west nf tteiins Ihe enemy counter-attacked on both .sides of Sainle Fuphniise, which resulted only 'in a slight enemy advance we<t of Sninto Enphruiee. All attempts lu capture this villago failed. —Aus.-N.Z. C.iblc Assn.-ltouter.

ADSnUIUNS ENTER IMRIS, London, .Tuly 30. Sir Douglas Ilaig reports: "We conducted a successful raid in the neighbourhood of Avette. Australian patrols enteied positions about Mcrris, There is hostile gas-shelling north-west of Albeiw"—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Routcr. (Rec July 31, 7.15 p.m.) London, Tuly 30. Sir Douglas Ilaig rcporis: "On ihe night of July 23 the Australian First Division patrols who entered the German po.s'tions about Merris successfully established themselves east of the village, which they surrounded and captured. Our casualties were remarkably light. Patrols captured prisoners on the Nieppc Forest sector. A hostile artillery fire is being directed on our now positions at Mer-ris.''—Aus.-N.il. Cable Assn.-lieuter. THE'ENEMY'S REPORT (Bee. July 31, 9/10 p.m.) London, July 30. A wireless German official report 6tates: "We repulsed partial attacks in the region of Merris. The enemy strongly attacked our new lines north of tho .Ourcq and on the wooded heights south-west of Reims. Wo ihrew them back, inflicting the heaviest losses. Repeated attacks against the Hartennes-Fere-en-Tar-denois front and also as far ns Mcunsero Wood' broko down."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router. THE AUSTRALIAN EXPLOIT AT MORLANCOURT tßec. July 31, 5.5 run) London, July 30. The "Daily Chronicle" states that tho Australian exploit on the Morlancourt sector was entirely successful. The Ancro, flowing from the north-east in a deep, wooded valley, meets tho Sommo six miles eastward of Auiicns. Tho high tongue of land between the rivers forms a spearpoint thrusting towards Amiens. It,was essential for the safety of Amiens to push back tho enemy's line along this prominent ridge. ■ Tho Australian Corps commander succeeded in this restraining movement by a series of small repeated actions. Tho Australians rushed two Gorman lines. The. first consisted chiefly of unconnected posts without continuous trenches; the second was entrenched throughout. Both were vigorously held in parts as is proved by tho number of bayonet wounds recoived by our men—a rare occurrence; yet our casualties were slight.--Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. COMMENT ON THE SITUATION AMERICAN WAR MINISTER'S VIEW. (Bos. July 31, 7.20 p.m.) . Washington, July. 20. • It is officially announced from Washington that Mr. Baker (United 'States Secretary for tho Army), commenting on tho Allies' successes, said: "It is fortunate that the American pcoplo nro accepting our successes at their.true significance, Tho successes are cause for congratulations, but will not justify us in relaxing our efforts. Wo must redoublo these efforts."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. REPORTED SPLIT BETWEEN HINDENBURG AND LUDENDORFF < (Rec. July 31, 7AS p.m.) London, July 30. The story is widely believed in Holland 'hat von Hindenburg and von LudsiHorlf liavo.liad a. split. The former, not'believing in the present offensive, withdrew to tho background and left the management solely in Ludemiorlf's hands. Many German papers aro attacking, von Hindenburg. The "Daily Mail's Hague correspondent says that von Ludendorff is inspiring them, being anxious to throw ihe blapie upon the public's old idol. —United Service. , GERMAN PUBLIC LEARNING THE TRUTH PRESS ATTACKS'VON HINDENBUIIG. Berne, July 30. The full significance of the retreat was only made known to the public in Berlin early on Monday, and increased tho extraordinary nervousness which has been noteworthy during tho past fortnight. Tho official newspapers continue to protend that the loss of ground 'is without importance. Other newspapers aro attacking von Hindenburg. He is described as the leader of the old gang opposod to von Ludendorff, who is leading the younger Imperial Staff officers.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GLOSSING OVER THE DEFEAT. . London, July 30. The Hague correspondent of the "Daily Express" states that the German newspapers aro painfully endeavouring to convince- tho .public that everything is going well. They take the lino that the object of (ho Gorman offensive was not to gain ground, but to destroy the enemy forces, aud that when-this was impossible ' the attack was stopped in order to spare the troops, while tho enemy was allowed to 6acrifico his troops without res.ilt. The newspaper*; refer to ungrateful attacks upon, von Hindenburg, whereas von Ludendorff is not criticised. Apparently German Headquarters w divided into two parties.—Reuter, THE WAR IN THE AIR EFFECTIVE RAIDS-INTO-GERMANY. (Rk. July 31, 9.10 p.m.) • . London, July 30. The Air Ministry's report states: "On tho night of July 29 we attacked tho railway stations at Offenlnirg, .Rastadt, and Baden, and also attacked Stuttgart and Solingen, bombed and machine-gunned three aerodromes, and also bombod the railway station at Offonburg in daylight with good results. Ws 6hot down three aeroplanes and one other out of control. One British 'piano is missing." —Aua.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reutcr. • "I SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT. (Roc. July 31, 9io p.m.) London, July 30 Sir Douglas Haig's aviation report states: "In spite of tho mist we dropped cloven tons of bombs on tho enemy's dumps and billets and destroyed fourteen aeroplanes. Two British machines are missing. Wo bombed, in a night raid, Bray and Bapaume. All our machines returned."—All6.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter,