FROM OTHER SOURCES.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 June 1918, Page 3

FROM OTHER SOURCES.

[per press association. —COPYRIGHT. 1 AMERICA’S FRONT. LONDON, May 31. An American communique, says enemy attacks on our new positions at Cantignv were again completely rqpulsed by artillery and infantry. Active artillerylng continues there and in I.orraine, where, gas shells were used. FRESH ENEMY TROOPS. PARIS COMMENT. LONDON, May 31.

The latest message trom the front show that tho armies of General von Bohm have been swollen by a fresh important reinforcement, and are attempting by battering ram blows to proceed towards Paris, by two routes; the first past Vfczilly in order to reach the main railway from Faria to Nancy; and the second route along the valley of the Oise. The two manoeuvres hang closely together as the Crown Prince cannot follow up the drive- towards the Marne without assuring his right. A French detachment put up a most' gallant fight at Terendtordenors, holding up the Germans for seven houio. The Paris newspapers, commenting on the advance, strike a note of confidence and courage, despite the pern threatening the capital. The “Journal” emphasises that the immediate .necessity is to shield tho valley of the Oise, and engaged in the battle in a perpendicular line from Soissons to Chateau Thierry.. The French Army is still intact ana in material is not inferior to Germany’s.

The Allied Air Service is superior and the soldiers are fully equal to the Prussians.

PUBLIC STARTLED. LONDON My 31. The announcement that the Crown. Prince had made a further advance or ten miles arid reached the Marne, startled the public and shows that the optimistic opirtions of military critics in. London and Paris are not Justified. The “Westminster Gazette,” in a. leading article, protests against the censor excising all qualifying and critic nl passages from its military correspondents. The article adds:—“General Maurice of the “Daily Chronicle,’’ also complains that the censor’s excisions made hie comment appear more optimistic than he intended.

A GRAVE POSITION. PARTS, June 2. The newspapers nr© / impressed with the gravity of events on the Marne and are anxiously awaiting a counter stroke to relieve Paris. The “Matin” states th© last two months have shown that defensive tactics are. a failure, and asks has not the hour arrived for attacking. Gustave Eriv© states, to be victorious to-day ns in 1914, it was necessary to believe in the superiority of the offensive over th© defensive. knows 'that th© enemy can be driven out of France only bv a new victory of the Marne.

ADVANCE AT MARNE. LONDON, June 2. Germans during the night along the Mam© made a rapid advance between Chateau Thierry and Chauden This is Accepted in Paris and London a* meaning that a, vast open battle for Paria must soon he found. ,It is putable that the Crown Prince has led unceasing reinforcements, in a paroxysm of efforts and has made a considerable advance making it matter of only a h °” r “ ’ he ”, most critical battle with the Allied reserves will be fought. THE MARNE FORCES. PARIS, June 1. The “Matin” states the German right forces which reached th© Marne aTe composed of cavalry, guns, an mitrailleuses, mounted on armoured cars.

GRIMLY confident, the GREAT clash coming. LONDON. Jund 2. Paris commentators are PT 1 ™ 1 ? c °!l" a nd agree that the Allies mil meet th© offensive by an offence similar to th© Battle of Mkirne. The “Matin” anticipates that tins will be on the Mont Didier Cbmpiegne, Chateau Thierry Front. THE FRENCH HOLDING. LONDON, June 1. Th© French are solidly holding the bridgeheads crossing the Marne, chec - ing the Germans who retired from the north bank to the rear of the plateau and ore endeavouring to swing their attack westward towards Paris,

A SKILFUL RETREAT. LONDON, June- 2. Correspondents declare that the French retreat from Ailetto was a skilful manoeuvre, and was carried out with tho smallest of losses.

NEWSPA PER S CONFIDENT. LONDON, June 3. The newspapers don’t minimise the seriousness of the situation, but are confident that tho German hammer blows will prove a costly failure. They point out that despite their most violent effort, the enemy are no nearer Paris, while the gloomy predictions regarding Rhe■jms, are not fulfilled, although theGermans have thrown a semi-circle of fire around the town. A CRITIC’,S OPINION. LONDON, Juno 2. M. Marcel Hutin seys the Crown Prince is receiving an unlimited number of fresh troops, but our reserves are also arriving. Developments in the next -forty eight hoifrs will show whether the German enterprise is a mad one.

, PETAIN’S HOPE. LONDON, June 2. General Petain has issued a stirring order which concludes—“ May the battle of the Marne begin as it did four years ago.” THE BATTLE LINE. PARIS, June 2. A semi-official report says the battle line runs approximately past tho following ptoints—-Pommieres, two kilo metres northwest of Soisson, Mercintvaux, Missyanxbois, Yjllershelon Louvre, Villers, Lepit Chony, east ot Veiullyslute, in front of Breny, Rocourt, east of Chateau Thierry, the Mar no as far as Vincelles north of Dormans, Vennevill, Olizyviolaine, Villi, Entardenois, -Blijfav, Saint- Enphrase, Coulomness, Thtelois nnd Usieres, to north of Rheiras.

Briefly the situation remains serious, DAILY TELEGRAPH’S REPORT. (Received this dav at 1.20 a.m.,) LONDON, June 3. Mr G. H. Perris, writing to tie. “Daily Telegraph,’’ states the French are standing with sploudid resolution along Saviere’s stream, marking the border of the Forest of Villers Scotteiets. An attempt to push westward along the north bank of the Marne may be expected. CHANGING ATTACK FRONT. (Received This Day at 1.20 a.m.) LONDON, June 3. Mr Perris added:—General Von Boehm’s troops on Friday afternoon wore penned in a new pocket beyond Oulchy, and lor a depth of five miles along the Ourcq valley. This salient was extended on Saturday, and the main lines of pressure were thus changed south to south-west, the acutest stress of the battle being represented by two bulges, the first between the Oise and Aisne, directed towards Compiegno and the second between the -Aisne -and the Marne, pointing towards Ourcq in the direction of La Fere Teinilon. There were violent struggles on Sunday in both sectors, with * a notable increase of power of the French resistance. German assaults north of the Aisne were nearly everywhere broken. A slight advantage at Ourcq cost the Germans the heaviest of losses.

holding the enemy., RBEIMS HOLDING. (Received this day at 1.20 a.m.,) PARIS . Jun o 3. Other French military experts are of the opinion that Sunday has been a good day. The French reserves are rising like a sea-wall against the German wave. We have re-established the situation at Rheims, have forbidden the passage of the Marne, and stayed tho German advance in the direction of the Oise. The only German success is the taking of Poverella. Elsewhere, on the Oise sector, the Germans exhausted themselves in furious efforts, but it must not be forgotten that the Germans thus far have onlyengaged fifty divisions, anil still have more reserves. Until the enemy plays n decisive card, General Foch does not want to show his hand.

GERMAN STRATEGY. (Received This Day at 1.20 a.m.) ROTTERDAM, June 3. Tt is believed in German and Dutch circles that General Ludendorff’s idea of a halt on the Marne is to try and carry out a concentric movement directly westward from the Marne and southwards from Noyon, over Carlepont Plateau. ) BATTLE THEORY. (Received This Day at 1.20 a.m.! PARI9, June 3. ’ General Arden©, writing in th© Berliner “Tageblatt,” says the plan ot battle follows the theory of disintegration, and is comparable to the method used of firing at apparently impenetrable armour-plate. Many hits close to each other gradually weakens tho power of resistance, until the plate falls to pieces.

GERMAN THRCST.S. 'Received, This Dav at 5.50. a.m.) LONDON, June 3. German thrust© in tho direction of Audignveourt and Ponte Noy line, and Oise valley, -further south, have a double object, to attain Oise valley and encircle the Forest of Villein Cotterets, which latter is now the enemy’s immediate objective. GERMAN CONCENTRATION. 'Received. This «•*» S.oO .a.in ' 1 LONDON, June 3. “Matin’s” military critic states that masses of Germnns are collecting towards Ferte Milon valley, hoping to de'bouch on the historic plateau whereon the Sixth Army fought its battle i 1914 The present battle is momentarily one of parallels, but a German lateral movement is expected. It is (minted out that the Germans are moving so i fast that the opportunity Will probably ;be given for one of,' those sudden i manoeuvres, capable of upsetting their ■ entire combination.

GREAT FRENCH RESISTANCE. Received, this dnv at 5 45 a.m. AMSTERDAM, May 30. German war correspondents emphasise the particularly stubborn resistance that the French are offering near Soissons, Where theM are large concentrations of artillery. ,

OFFICIAL NEnS. WELLINGTON, This Day. The High Commissioner reports from London 2.50 p.m. June 3rd. french official rcport-Southc. wnnl of Bouresches n nolont <•"«“? counter-attack on the road Chateau Thurry to Paris was smashed.