ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1918, Page 3

ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIoHS.)

FURTHER AUSTRALIAN ADVANCE.

fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

& REUTER, j

Received This Dav at 10.15. » in.) LONDON, July 7. General Haig reports the Australians on the night of the. sth advanced their lino north-eastwards of Yilliers Ilrettonnoux on a front of two thousand yards.

AVIATION REPORT. Received This Dav at 10.15. s.»n ) LONDON, July 7 th. General Haig’s aviation report says there has been little air fighting. We carried out a large amount of successful artillery work, and dropped nineteen tons of bombs on selected targets.

FRENCH REPORT. fßeceived This Dav at 10.15. a.m.) LONDON, July 7th. A French communique says west of Chntteau Thierry e progressed in the region of Hill 204 and took prisoners. It was quiet elsewhere. Eighteen enemy aeroplanes were felled and fifty-six tons of explosives were dropped on the enemy .zone, from the first to the sixth.

THE HAMEL FIGHT. Received, this day at 8.45 a.m. LONDON, July 7th. Mr. Gibbs writes that after the Australians attacked Hamel, the enemy whose guns had almost been silenced, shelled some of our new positions rather heavily, and made three counter-at-tacks in the evening on the Australian line, but they were feeble and unsuccessful. ft

Groups of German machine-guns were established within fifty yards of tin* Australians who decided not to tolerate their close approach. A number of Australians during the night, drove hack the. German outposts and captured fifty prisoners. The Americans fighting were not many compared with the Australians, but these few companies were eager to meet the eneTny for the first time. They proved their fighting quality to the hilt. The utter surprise of the enemy, and the silencing of his guns made the battle less fearful than tlies Americans expected. The intensity of our gun fire was the most horrible feature. After the barrage passed the Americans j and Australians found groups of | strange uncanny creatures with gas j masks and their hands up. Any who j showed fight-had not a chance of life, j The Americans were not tender-heart- j ed. They went forward with fixed hay- j onets shouting “Lusitania” as a battle | cry. The shout seemed to strengthen j the American souls and terrify the | enemy. The Germans might well be | terrified, for the Lusitania is the call | of vengeance, J

AMERICAN GRIT. (Received, This -Hav fit S.of). a.m.' LONDON, July 7. Mr Robins writes that the Americans behaved magnificently. If they had a fault, it was excessive keenness. They suffered some casualties by pressing into their own barrage. A corporal aged twenty-one was wounded thrice. He killed seven Germans. A sergeant captured seven, single handed.