GERMAN RESISTANCE INCREASING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 279, 14 August 1918, Page 5

GERMAN RESISTANCE INCREASING

DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO SAVE ROVE-LASSICNY LINE ENEMY'S CASUALTIES ESTIMATED AT 100,000 By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright. London, August 12. The British have reached the western edge of Bray, and also captured Ramecotirt .and Lilinns. The French advanced roughly over the whole 6ector, in- . volvinjf a front of about eighteen miles, between the Ayre and tho Oise: The attack apparently continues: Tho French are very close to iho Lassigny mns«iif. The wholo position of .the German southern line depends on' their holding the massif. If we secure I 'it we may expect a considerable advance, otherwise our progress will be more or less slopped. The position further north, between the Roye Road and the Somme, is more or less established. The enemy is rending very heavily with considerable fresh divisions and a lot, of artillery, and is constantly'counter-attacking. Tho reaction bv tho enemy is very marked in front of Roye, but to the southward the enemy does not seem to have so many guns, though ho is plentifully supplied with machine-guns, which prevent the French' moving rapidly. Thirty-one divisions have been identified, including eight from von Morwitz's army. These-wero completely overrun. Wo secured prisoners not only in the front lines but from tho rear services, such as the divisional staffs arid !.rained detachments. Their losses wore very heavy, ■ and we may consider the divisions to be out of action for the time being.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. \ ENEMY'S CASUALTIES ESTIMATED AT 100,000 \ London, August 12. The enemy's casualties arc reliably estimated at a hundred thousand. The report of the capture of Chaulnes railway junctiuu is not confirmed. The fall of Roye was reported, but this probably arose from a confusion of names, lip to yesterday afternoon the enemy had thrown in twenty reserve divisions south of the Somme.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BRITISH ADVANCE ON BRAY-SUR-SOMME. Now York, August 12. Tho British have captured the western edgo of Bray-sur-Somino (six miles south-east of Albert).—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ; i I ROYfe UNDER FIRE (Hoc. August 11, 0.5 a.m.) London, 'August 1?. Renter's correspondent at. French Headquarters, writing on the afternoon, of August, 12, says: "This morning some villages behind our front wero heavily bombarded by tho enemy, '-who hoped lo disperse our troop concentrations. Tliero is now. a pause while we are gathering strength, for a further push on the new line.is probable. Von Hutier'sarmy, with its left, resting on the Thiescourt Massif and the Oise at Noyon is sufficiently well placed for'a. defensive, except for the threat of a further advance of tho British gt tho Amiens-Eoye Road. The Allies at Andechy are only four miles away from Roye, which is' already under fire from the Allied guns. 'J he enemy's position in this pari of the ime is anything but solid."—Renter. • ENEMY'S REINFORCEMENTS SWELLING ■ , (Rec. August 14, 0.5 a.m.) * ■ London, August" 12. Reuter's correspondent at British Headquarters, writing on tho evening of August 12, says: "Stiff fighting was in progress to-day, the main feature of which is a great increase ill tho'enemy's'artillery and machine-gun fire, proving the rapid swelling of tho German reinfovcemenls. Our long-rango sixly-pouudevs have some bridges on tho Somme under a steady lire,' so tho enemy's communications must be difficult and sometimes deadly. In the neighbourhood oMlullu ground was retaken by a counter-atttack, after wo had been forced to nil back from there."—Reuter. AUSTRIAN DIVISION DISCOVERED I (Rec. August 14, 0.5 a.m.) London, August 12. An Austrian division has been discovered on tho AVest front, but thus far it has hot been engaged. The object of its presence probably is to demonstnto tho solidity of the Austro-German Alliance, and improve the moral of the troops. It would be.premature' torfgavd the pause on the West front asckMing the offensive, Time is needed to bring up the artillery and reorganise, prior to a further push.-i"The Times." ' FRENCH ESTIMATE OF CAPTURES Paris, August. 12. Tho Press estimates the total prisoners at forty thousand, and the guns captured at seven hundred.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AUSTRALIANS' FINE RECORD,' tßcc. August 14, 0.5 a.m.) • . London, August 12. It is estimated that t.lu Australians have overrun sixty square miles sineo Thursday, captured fifteen villages, and eight thousand prisoners and 120 guns.— "The Times" ' . FALL OF LASSIGNY MASSIF IMMINENT /Rec. August 14, 0.5 a.m.) .. i , i • London, August 12. A violent bnttlo is proceeding between Bray and Villers lo Roy. The -\ineri.can division is hotly engaged.on the Bray sector, and the Germans everywhere are vigorously counter-attacking; The French are now practically on tile crest of the U'ssigny massif, and are firing into the German rear. It is anticipated that the massif, which is a heavily wooded plateau eight miles square will fall to-night. Its loss would involve a further retirement, menacing Noyon.' The \l- - captured Gury this morning. Wo ar.- now bringing-up the heavy guns The German artillery is also coming up. Twenty-nine German 'divisions liavo already been identified.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. IN THE 1916 TRENCHES , ' (Rec. August 14, 1.5-a.m.) hi, di- i mm • .London, August 12. Jlr. l'erry Hobinson writes:- iho.enemy is recovering from his panic although his divisions which have borne tho brunt of the attack on the British front were practically blotted out, only tho remnants .escaping. The new divisions are fighting with greater determination, and are resisting an advance in tho 1013 trenches and dug-outs along tho river on the Chuignellos-Froyart-Bray line, where the machine-guns are so fierce that the attackers are compelled to -rawl on Ihiir stomachs for the last thousand yards. ' Nevertheless, the Australians determinedly attacked and won ground, but failed to get fieyoud Froyart, owing • to the great number, of machine-guns. We captured a wood north of Froyart after a two-hours' stiff' battle, while the Australians on the left worked through the strong defences, winning the ndge from Chuignolles to Rainecourt and capturing tho latter, greatly improving the situation for tho troops on the north side of the river.. New German forces heavily counter-attacked at Lihons, and succeeded in forcing us buck. Iho Australians dashingly run Hacked and flung tho encniv back, placing Lihous safely "in our handa."— I Times."

OFFICIAL REPORTS •SUCCESSFUL LINKING-UP OPERATION. o- T> i rr • , ,<m. • ' London, August 12. hit JJouglas Haig reports:- The enemy in the evening again attacked our positions southward of Lilions, but were repulsed. As the result of a successful operation immediately south of the Somme, we linked up the positions east ot Moricqurt with tho line east of Etinehem, on the northern bank of the river On the right of tho British fourth Army the French on Sunday afternoon made progress towards Roye, capturing Armancourt and Tilloloy. On tho northern iront (i landers) c Gftoctcd local improvoniGnts to tho lino sustward of Robccn and between Vieux Berquin and Merris."--Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. August 13, 8.15 p.m.) s; n i rr • t „ m 1 London, August 12. i ?" D ou glas Haig reports -''There successful fighting in the neighbourhood of the Roye Road, eastward of Fouquescourt, and on tho south bank of the bomine. AVe advanced our line in each of these localities, taking hundreds of prisoners. We captured Froyart, southward of the Somme, after sharp fighting, m which the enemy lost heavily i n prisoners and killed. Figlitins continues. The French on tho British right havo taken Les Loges.' ? -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ON THE FRENCH FRONT . n , • ~ ' tm London, August 12. . A French commumquo states :-"Between the Avre and the Oiee the situation is unchanged. Tliero wero bombardments during the night in tho region of Marquevillers and Grivillers."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec.' August 14, 1.5 a.m.) London, August 13. A French communique spates:—"Between the Avre and the Oiso we captured the village of Gury, and made progress north of Roye-sur-Matz and north of Chevincourt. On the Vesle we repellod two counter-attaclcs against our positions on the north bank, in the region of Fismes."—Aus.-N.Z. Gable Assn.-Reu-ter. THE ENEMY'S REPORT \ (Rec. August 13, 8.15 p.m.) London, August 12. A wireless German official report states:—"Wo repulsed violent attacks northward of the Soranje and between the Somme and Lilions. The enemy advanced beyond Lilions.. Our counter-attack threw him back to the northern and eastern edge of the village. We took Hallu. "During July we shot down 518 aeroplanes, of which 239 aro in our possession. We lost 129."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. DESTRUCTIVE AIR FIGHTING * . (Rec. August 13, 8.15 p.m.) ' London, August 12. The Air Ministry reports:—"On the afternoon of . August. 11, in addition to the bombing already reported, we bombed a railway triangle at Metz. Wo attacked on the night of August 11-12 two aerodromes and various targets with bombs and machine-guns. In spite of tli3 weather to-day, we successfully attacked the aeroplane and chemical works at Frankfort.- Bursts wero observed at the centre of the objective. Largo numbers of the enemy's aeroplanes kept up a running fight for thirty miles. Wo destroyed two. All the British returned. Another squadron attacked an aerodrome at Hagenau with excellent results. They encountered many hostile machines, and severe fighting ensued. Wo destroyed four of the enemy's machines and drove down another. Two British machines are missing. Our squadron re-formed after the fight and proceeded to bomb their objective, directly hitting a large hut. A bomb destroyed four of tho enemy's machines on the ground."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter.

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT. (Rec. August 13, 8.15 p.m.) . . ' London, August 12. Sir Douglas Haigs aviation report states:—"During tho day and on tho night of August 11 wo dropped fifty tons of .bombs, chiefly on tho Somme crossings and certain railway junctions. We bombed the Courtrai station and sidings af. daylight from a low height, without loss. Many direct hits were observed. At night wo attacked l'eronno and Cambrai stations. All the night-bomb-ers returned; The enemy's aircraft in largo formations were active-on tho 'battlefront. AVo destroyed twenty-nine and drove down twenty-four. Fivo of tho British aro missing. Our anti-aircraft guns brought down a Gotha."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. COMMENT ON THE SITUATION "OUR GAINS TO-DAY THOROUGHLY SATISFACTORY." t> i i j j i i'n' itt i 1 London, August 12. . lieuter s correspondent at French Headquarters, writing on Sunday afternoon, slates"Our gains to-day are thoroughly satisfactory. If our progress has slackened, this is duo less fo tho enemy's resistance than to the fact that tho roads are so encumbered with tho enemy's abandoned material and numerous trees, which ho lias felled ns he did in the. spring of 1917, that our ammunition and supply columns find it. difficult to follow the infantry and cavalry. On the other -hand, the retreat .differs from last year's in that tho Germans hurried back too quickly to mine Iho roads and set death-trapa'.in tho villages I visited Montdidier, and found it completely wiped out; but it is already only a small incident m tho battle. Our troops are at JDancourl;, ten miles beyond ' Montdidier, and are Ihreo miles from Roye. Hero meet the railways from Montdidier,' Compiegne, and Chaulnes, whereon tho enemy depended to feed his 'mo m the salient menaced by General de Bency's advance in the region of TiMoloy towards Roye, and General Humbert's advance between tho Mats and the Oise. The Germans are throwing the whole of their available strength into the endeavour to make a stand on the Royc-Lassigny line, in order to get timo to withdraw the vast stores they had accumulated in this region for tho Juno offensive. Our troops are confident that they can turn or drive the enemv from any line they organise. Already wo havo bitten off a third of the huge pocket the Germans dug 111 our Imo last March."—Reuter, FOCH'S SURPRISE BLOWS rri. • f r il. • „ london,-August 12, ■ The promise of further surprise blbws by General Foch was fulfilled more speedily than was anticipated by tho entry of General Humbert, whose swift and successful rush on the southern sector equalled tho magnificent advance on the opening day. Tho the great strength of General Foch, who was able lo embark on a third-attack when the two offensives wero alreadv in progress. General Humberts stroke will probably force tho Germans to send lo tho south some of the reserves whose counter-attacks have slowed down tho rate of the advance in the northern battlefront. Some experts anticipate that the battle may soon change the whole faco of tho war. Correspondents'describe the confusion in the Montdidier pocket as exceeding even tho scenes on the Marne. Tho roa'ds are full of exhausted' fugitive mingling in the disorderly procession of wagons, limbers, and ambulance"' .There are fires aud explosions everywhere.—Renter. GERMANS FACING SUPREME CRISIS The New York'"Times," in an editorial, states:—'"The criticd'stego'for' tho Germans has .been reached on the West front, because they are utterly unable to throw in fresh divisions to check the Allied advance. Tlie whole French and British lino is moving forward with few checks.' Tho enemy, however, has strengthened his ranks, and has tho defenco in hand for the present. Tho next forty-eight hours will disclose whether the enemy is able to hold the lino; if ho fails ho faces disaster."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn . i GERMAN GENERALS CASHIERED FOR NEGLECT , ~ , Amsterdam, August 12. Three German generals commanding at Montdidier have been cashiered for neglect. A large number of soldiers were court-martialled at St. Quentin for high treason. Tho Germans v in Belgium nro showing signs of uneasiness. Tho Kaiser is now slaying at Brussels. The Stuttgart "Neu'es Tageblatt" has published an official note preparing the German public for a considerable evacuation of territory between the Avto and tho Somme.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. " . THE GERMAN VIEW OP THE DEFEAT SEMI-OFFICIAL EXPLANATIONS AND PRESS LAMENTATIONS. (Rec. August 13, 7.25 p.m.) / London, August 12. A semi-official message from Berlin attributes tho latest Gorman defeat to tho fact that only hasty defences wero possible in the overrun area owing to lack of time and transport for material. The message mentions that "a hurricane of fire was concentrated on tho trench garrisons, breaking down tho telegraph and telephone communications; also that tho signal rockets wero invisible in the thick fog. Gunners suddenly found themselves attacked in flunk and rear by squadrons of tanks, whose machine-guns ulaye'd terrible havoc." Tho German newspapers aro beginniiii to admit tho Allied success, though orofessing' calm confidence in the future. The "Cologne Gazetto" says:— "There is no good hiding the fact that this check by an enemy not numerically superior hits us hard," The "Tages Zcitung," tho organ of the Pan-Germans, 6ayß:—"This, tho first serious defeat of tho war, is duo f,o tho stato of tho moral of Prince Rupprecht's troops." Tho "Vorwaorts," commenting on the crisis confronting Germany, says:— "The moral of the nation has been damaged by tho Pan-Germans' wild cry of conquest." General von Ardenne, in the "Berliner Tageblatt," says:—"Tho failure of tho defence must be admitted. The losses of ground, guns, and prisouers must be painful, as the Germnn High Command is now particularly anxious to economise forces." The military critic of the "Mittags Zcitung" prepares tho public for a further retreat.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ON THE MARNE-AISNE BATTLEFIELD ATTACK ON AMERICANS REPULSED. (Rec. August 13, 10.25 p.m.) , , . . . , , ~ London, August 12. An American communiquo states:— We repulsed attacks in the vicinitv of Fismes. Tho enemy's losses were severe."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. VANDALISM AT MONTDIDIER , (Rec. August 13,7.25 p.m.) The Germans before evacuating Montdidier left tho thin a mass of wreckage. The Palais of Justice was devastated and ancient tape*SLSSSA Cablte BaCk6d th 6 BnSiUca of St " Petw '