GERMAN HOPE OF VICTORY GONE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 275, 9 August 1918, Page 5

GERMAN HOPE OF VICTORY GONE

The Franco-American troops have reached tho north bank of the Vesle and held their new positions against counter-attacks. On tho British front the position at Morlancourt has been restored, while progress has been made ah other points. Tho comment on the situation is very hopeful and encouraging. President Wilson, in a message to King George, states his conviction that the hour of decisive victory is at hand, while Mr. Lloyd„George, in a rousing 6poech in the Houbo of Commons, has declared that the military might of Germany is tottering. No longer do the neutrals, or her allies, sustain the belief and awe in her invincibility. News from German naval baaes discloses a mutinous spirit amongst the submarine crows, who aro boing nourished on revolutionary propaganda. TheTO is no radical ckango in the Russian situation.

ON ..THE NORTH BANK OF THE. VESLE

FRANCO-AMERICAN GAINS HELD AGAINST COUNTER- ■ ATTACKS BRITISH RESTORE THE SITUATION AT MORLANCOURT By Telegraph-Press Aseociation-Copyrißlit. New York, August 7. The Allies have crossed the Veslo, and have defeated the enemy counter-attacks.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable A6SD. BRITISH RECOVER LOST GROUND., New York, August 7. The British troops hare recovered all the lost ground on tho Morlancourt front,—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . THE MOTIF OF THE GERMAN ATTACK. London, August 7. The Gorman attack at Morlancourt was apparently aimed to recover the ground the Australians gained on July 28 and .29. Thoro had been several former unsuccessful counter-attacks, Yesterday's attack was limited to a strong enemy effort, in which twelve thousand mon were involved, and suggests that the Australians put up a spirited defenco and gave up a portion of tho ground grudgingly. It is noteworthy that tho fighting was still proceeding last night — Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. FURTHER GERMAN RETREAT REPORTED Berne, August 7. Two German-owned newspapers in Zurich announce a further retreat of tho Germans on the whole front from Airras to Reims.. They state this is duo to tho necessity for sending troops to Russia.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. OFFICIAL REPORTS LOCAL ATTACKS ON THE FRENCH FRONT. ' London, August 7. A French communique states: "In the region of Montdidier we niado local progress south of Framicourt. South-east of Mesnil we repulsed an enemy attempt against La Fere la Grange. We repulsed a local attack south of Auibarivo, in the Champagne.''—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. (Rec August 8,11.45 p.m.) London, August 8. A French communique states: "Between the Oise and the Aisnej after a violent bombardment, the enemy attempted two raids near Bailly and Tracy-le-Val. Both were repulsed. East of Braisiio the Franco-Americans crossed the Veslo and established themselves on tho north bank, maintaining their positions in spito of two violent counter-attacks. North of Reims onr line was advanced four hundred yards between tho railways to Rethel and Laon."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Reuter. SUCCESSFUL COUNTER-ATTACK AT MORLANCOURT London, August 7. ' Sir Douglas Haig reports:' "The English counter-attacked this morning in the sector south-west of Morlancourt, and regained all the more important portions of the ground lost yesterday. We secured all owr objectives, took prisoner a number of patrols, and advanced our line a 6hort .distance astride the Clarence River. Wo successfully rushed a -post north of Vieux Berquin. Hostile artillery is active east of Robec], and in the Merville and Dickebusch sectors. We repulsed an attempt to capture a post north-east of Morris. Thero is active hostile gas-shelling north of Vill'ers BrotonneuK. The cuamy's artillery is also active at Bucquoy, north of Bethuno.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuteir. (Rec. Aiigust 8, 11.45 p.m.) London, August 8. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "The enemy's further attacks during tho morning and afternoon astride tho Bray-Corbie road were repulsed after sharp fighting. Attempted enemy raids southward of Hamel and southward of La Bassec were driven off. The progress of our patrols east of Robecq was continued, and tho lino between the Lawe and Clarence Riven advanced to a depth of a thousand yards on a front of nearly five miles. Our patrols, entered tho enemy's trenches east of Nieppo Forest.'"—Aus.-N.Z. Cable A6sn.-Reuter. THE AMERICAN REPORT. (Eec. August 8, 11.45 p.m.) London, August 8. Tho Am3riean official roport states: "East of Bazoches we crossed the Veslo and gained the Reims-Soissons highway. A hostilo counter-attack was repulsed." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router.

.* COMMENT ON THE SITUATION j ENEMY IN A PERILOUS POSITION. ' i London, August 7. French experts' emphasise the badness of the German position on tho plateau with the Veslo in front of them and the Aisno behind. The plateau is exposed to French fire at all points, and often enfiladed, while all four crossings over the Aisno between Fismes and Reims are under tho firo of the French guns and aeroplanes. Tho opinion is expressed that tho enemy is preparing for an offensive in order to relievo tho Allied pressure—Renter. GENERAL MANGIN. INTERVIEWED FINE TRIBUTE TO THE BRITISH. New York, August 7. Tho New York "World's" Paris correspondent interviewed General Mangin, who said that tho crux of the Marne battle, was tho fight to obtain possession of the great crest on tho Rozoy sector, which dominated tho German lines north of the Ourcq, and which, when won, permitted the French to observo all that was happening behind the German lines. This position hail similarly commnad--9(1 a viow of the French lines. Tho Germans, realising tho imporla.ico of the position, made the most determined attempt to hold it, but wero forced out by the British shock troops, who compelled them to make a precipitate retirement. General Mangin regards tho British victory as tho most conclusivo single engagement in the Battle of tho Marne, and as showing tho Allies' superiority.— Auu.-N.Z. Cable Assn. HOUR OP DECISIVE SUCCESS AT HAND (Rec. August 9, 0.45 a.m.) London, August 8. In a message to King George, President Poincare Bays:—"l am at ono -with Your Majesty in tho conviction that tho hour of decisivo success will shortly arrivo for the Allies."—Routor,

"THE BATTLE HAS BEEN DEFINITELY AVON." Paris, August 7. General Mangin, speaking to correspondents,, outlined tlio main features of tho great battle, and concluded: "It can to-day l>o stated that tho baltlo Ims been definitely won."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DESPERATE EFFORT NEEDED TO RESTORE GERMAN MORAL Paris, August 7. M. Marcel Hutin states: "Proofs arc accumulating that the Germans are suffering soverely from a man-power crisis through losses and over-work. Somo Authorities do not believo that Ludendorff will bo able to attempt an offensive until tho ar-nios arc regrouped, but my information is that a desperate effort will bo made to restore moral and regain tho initiative by something big against tho British, with the co-oporation of the German Fleot/"—"Tho Tiroes.' GERMAN MENACE DEFINITELY REMOVED New York, August 7. In a speech in London, Mr. Lloyd George said that the Germans dill have largo reserves, but never igain will they be able to threaten tho Allies as they did on March 21.—Aub.-N.Z. Cable Assn. TO FINISH THE WAR EARLY AMERICA DECIDES TO RAISE 5,000,000 ARMY. (Rec. August 8, 7.45 p.m.) Washington, August 7. General March, tho American Chief of Staff, announces that the United States has decided to raise an Army of five millions, in order to achieve an early end to tho war. This decision is the outcomo of the recent inter-Allied Paris Conference.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable AEBn. SIAMESE CONTINGENT IN FRANCE London, August 7. Tho "Morning Post" reports that a Siameso contingent has arrived in France.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.