THE WESTERN FRONT

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1918, Page 2

THE WESTERN FRONT

[per PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.]

THE COUNTER OFFENSIVE

LONDON, July Iff. Tho counter-offensive began at six in tho morning. ,

The ground was favourable for the use of mosquito tanks,* cavalry and artillery, whereof full advantage was token.

The French aimed to get astride of the Poissons and Rheims railway thus enabling thorn to force the enemy back along the Marne- valley, by cutting off tho line of supply.

GENERAL FOCH’S OFFENSIVE

A COMPLETE SURPRISE

PARIS, July 19,

Paris is overjoyed at the news of General Foch’s masterly manoeuvre'm striking a lightning the neck of the German salient, and scoring an instantaneous victory.

It.is opined that we are at the last tide of tho Gorman successes which have reached high water mark and hat e now begun to recede. Tho newspapers publish details of yestordav's fighting, emphasising the rapidity and completeness of the success of General Maguin’s troops. Between the Aisne and the Ourcq they advanced two miles within an hour.

The Germans were unable to bring up reinforcements by railway, which was early under our direct fire, hut used enormous numbers of motors and threw in troops recklessly. General Magnin rapidly jin proved the position, and cleared the wood west of Savibri River. He then pressed on energetically across the plateau. Tho Americans at the other end of the line, northward of Chateau Thierry, under General Rogotte, collected vast reserves overnight and began to hop over at dawn, behind a terrific barrage. It was a perfectly managed engagements. The French everywhere swept ou, leaving tho reserves to clean up the centres. The resistance qf the attack was pressed so hard that the element of surprise in some pnrt6 of the field lasted for hours.

Germans officers were unable to believe that General Magnin and Dcgoutte could embark on a flank attack.

One German officer prisoner was asked whether tho Germans had not feared a flank attack. He replied: “An attack, with what, we thought Foch’s reserves wore exhausted.” Tito German infantry in some, sectors were of poor quality, and offered very little, resistance suggesting that the German policy of selecting storm troops was proving demoralising to the remainder of the units. This is confirmed by several captured army orders, signed by General von Boehm rrnd von Mnrwitz Complaining that tho discipline of their armies had boogravely shaken, and directing officers to show np clemency where punishment was due.

Everywhere our objectives were oon.siderablv exceeded.

At least a Jjundrod Germans guns wero captured.

Gigrman counter-attacks on Thursday wore nowhere really on a large scale. The French continued to advance on Friday morning when the Gorman resistance was much greater .

The High Command is using reserves Freely.

The struggle became more severe when General Alagnin saw troops in possession of the heights dominating Poissons.

On Thursday evening (he sighs of deepest satisfaction were, heard along the entire front.

The Germans attempted to rush in men and artillery supplies under the in tensest Allied shellfire.

The American units, renewing the battle on Friday, encountered German reserves in the woods and villages and grain fields south of Soissons, but the Americans, in conjnotiou with the French, advanced to the north-west of Chntoa ti-Tliierry. Other American units engaged in the vicinity of Dormans, all excited and confident, are dealing a big blow to tho enemy.

EVE OF THE OFFENSIVE,

the FRENCH ARMY ORDER

KILL TI/ENTY OF GERMANS. PARIS, July 18. General Gourund’s army order on the eve of the offensive pointed out that a defensive battle was never taken under more favourable circumstances. Strong infantry and artillery reinforcements had arrived while the ground had become a formidable fortress, which was invincible, and if well guarded, every man must have only one thought; “Kill Germans and kill them in plenty, until they aro exhausted.” Tho French counter-attack was a surprise it opened without any bombardment on a front of twenty-seven miles from the heights northward of Fontentoney Belleau. Tho French at one o’clock captured tho heights overlooking Fontenoy on the extreme left. They progressed to Mont de Paris, overrunning the plateau in front of Soissons and reaching within a mile of the city. They also gained a ravine at the river Criso, which runs into Soissons, on a front of five miles to eastward of Busany, which means a maximum adyancp of five miles pi- (his point.

The Army Corps attacking boro, imprisoned Tout - thousand, with JO gnus and' considerable material.

Tho Americans participated in this advance.

Up to noon, tho French between Belleau and the Aisne Valley, advanced between three and four miles and were especially successful in tho Aisne Valiev.

The American artillery co-operating in the biggest Allied counter-offensive since April lfll7. Meanwhile Tho Germans made no further advance at Epcrany, and were slightly thrown hack in places v

The French recaptured the whole front on the Bcausejour Fein7—Massignee line. They also recaptured Lasscoil, Vengeul, and Roisdcroi, on tho Marne.

gey, advancing three miles beyond the village. The Germans farther south, on tho heights northward of Ourcq Valley hastily counter-attacking.

The situation for the moment is obscure.

The French, still farther south, gained the western outskirts of the Chouy Nevilly’s front; they also advanced to a depth of three miles eastward of Rheims and recaptured Prunay. The Counter offensive is regarded as having succeeded exceptionally well. The situation now is extremely promising .

The enemy’s artillery replied weak-.

The French counter battery work is reported os being reinarKably good. German aviators, flying low, used machine-guns, endeavouring to impede the attack with small success. The French attack has already been much moby successful than either of the German attempts at Xoyon, Mont- Ridier, or the latest attacks at Rheims. The French advanced considerably a greater depth in six hours than the Germans did in tbfec. days.

The attack threatens the German communications within the salient, especially nt two points Ouchay, Le Chatcaij, and Fismcs. , The French now have the enemy communications, under direct observation.

They have thus achieved a most important strategic position, whatever, the next developments will be, this is a valuable advance, and is regarded as one of the most brilliant performances of the war. In local fighting southward of the Marne, the French lost some high ground at Dormans, but come back farther on the southern slope. Although perhaps losing observation their guns remain within effective range of the bridges. * "

GENERAL FOCH’S SURPRISE

GERMANS CAPTURED IN BED

AN EYE WITNESS’S NARRATIVE

LONDON, July 19

An eye witness of the counter-offen-sive says that the outstanding feature was the completeness of Foch’s surprise.

Some German officers wero captured in bed.

The prisoners include German workmen, who had !>con sent out to reap the harvest. The weather conditions were most favourable. A violent cyclone raged on Wednesday night, covering the arrival of the Fronch tanks nt the front, line noise and concealing the advance. When tho attack was in full swing, the following morning the spectacle of tho battlefield was great, and the beauty of the infantry could bo seen approaching the red-roofed villages, clotting the country which rose gently from the rivers to the high ground, which passed into French possession by the evening.

Parties of cavalry could be seen ahead of the infantry, and tanks crossing the wheatfields, golden and ready for harvest. The woods looked olivegreen in the windy sunshine, which made up the rest of the countryside. Above fleets of aeroplanes manoeuvred among the trailing low clouds, set against the deep blue skv.

Within an hour and a half of the commencement of the battle the German front was broken at several points.

The French cavalry- were immediately called, aDd were soon some miles ahead of the original French line, while the infantry was still fighting for the villages behind. By 2 o’clock tho Dragoons were fight ing in tho streets of a village six miles ahead of the starting point.

AMERICANS’ FIRST WAVE.

SEIZES ALL OBJECTIVES,

PARIS, July 19.

During the first wave the Americans seized all objectives, the second came over them and captured the positions hardly completed the consolidation, when the first wave swept on again, clearing the ground well beyond the fixed objectives..

Tho tanks co-operated importantly throughout the proceeding, ns well as following tho infantry and clearing the enemy out of pockets. Tho advance in some places was so rapid that tho Franco-Americans hurriedly dined at tables, whereat the Germans had breakfasted.

The attackers met Germans working batches of French prisoners on the roads. They liberated the latter who joined in the fight. There! is ample evidence that the French offensive surprised the German attackers.

They encountered a division which was being relieved. They also found officers aalcqp *in dug-outs. Tho aircraft did splendidly, spotting enemy concentrations, which were promptly bombed. They q]&o bombed ihroo troop trains

ABORTIVE OFFENSIVE. 2o DIVISIONS USED UP. FRENCH COUNTER STROKE. LONDON. July 20. The enemy used twenty-five divisions from his general reserve in the abortive offensive, wherein he suffered very heavy losses. His breakdown was principally due to the accurate estimate of the Flench Higher Command, and the rapidity, wherowith ho disposed of their forces to meet iho attack. The French successful counter-stroke may profoundly alter the situation on the Champagne front. Tho French position on the ridge, overlooking Soissons, will enable tho bombardment of an important railway net work.

The enemy in this sector, is now entirely dependent on road transport, so that the troops round Chatpau-Thierry must draw supplies by road for thirty miles.

ROW THE BLOW FELL

NO SURPRISE SO COMPLETE,

LONDON, July Iff. Gerald Campbell states that the blow fell like a Hash of lightning. During the whole course of the war tliere has been no surprise so complete. As the advance proceeded the Germans were lound sleeping of peacefully gtirnering and harvesting crops. At first the enemy officers who were taken prisoner could not credit the offensive, declaring that General Fooh had not the necessary troops. Tho spectacle of the advance was a glorious and inspiring one. The French were unrest rain able while tho majority of the Americans who wore never under fire before dashed along in tho sunny smiling landscape, through th; yellow cornfields, and plunged into tho rivers, breast deep, under heavy artillery, singing choruses. •As for the cavalry they came into their own at last. It was a sight

sore eyes as they rode eastwards along the valleys debouching from the forest. The airmen saw the cavalry fighting in the streets of the villages so far ahead that I dare not name them. Everything went like clockwork, and by nine o’clock, Ouchy and Coucliamps were captured. Heavy counter attacks were repulsed here by two o’clock in the afternoon. Farther up towards Ouchy, and over- the whole front saw the same success. It was a great day in Franco and materially changes the situation. The effect on the French was like a glass of champagne on a tired man.

GENERAL MAGIN IN COMMAND

FRENCH PROGRESSING

PARIS, July 19. General Magin commanded th© new attack, which was directed on to tho whole right flank of the German Army. It was upon the left side of a right angle formed by the German advance on Cliateau-Thiery. The operation resembles tho first Cambrai success, the French using tanks instead of bombing the infantry advancing, under a scientific creeping barrage. The French at Soissons. and •• Chat- , cau-Thierry are fighting with their faces turned eastward. The Germans at Chateau and at Chatilons are fighting south-wards. The French endeavouring to carry out operations while tho Germans are endeavouring to push to a .conclusion between Rheinirand Epernay. Both .sides are seeking to flatten out an isoseleles triangle. Latest information is that the German push is held and that General Mangin is still progressing.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

SECOND ATTACK LAUNCHED.

MANY PRISONERS TAKEN

LONDON, July 20th

Reuter’s French Headquarters correspondent, writing on Thursday evening states, that the importance of tho success becomes hourly clear. Tho advance cut Soissons and Thierry highway and the Soissons-Villiers railway at several points. The Germans infiltration movements, were affected by the cavalry riding through the gaps in the enemy’s retracting Hues, and establishing them-, selves in villages further ahead. Writing on Friday afternoon the correspondent says that the night was relatively calm on the Aisne and the Marne front.

The German reserves wero brought up in considerable strength and the fighting was most hitter. Over ten thousand were taken prisoner and over fifty guns were captured.

The enemy made a move up the river towards" Eparnay, hut they eeem to be definitely arrested. The cpiTespondenfc at the French Headquarters writing on the evening of the nineteenth says that the Americans and French south of Soissons launched a second attack at- noon and swept on so fast that the cavalry were thrown in during the afternoon. All the headquarters staff tonight w:»,s well inside tho captured territory.

The Americans, south of Soissons, up to neon counted 2,000 prisoners, and fifty guns. They also captured an immense quantity of material, including several aeroplanes, which the enemy was unable to remove. Many prisoners were not. counted. The Americans north of ChatauThicrry have captured more prisoners with an equal quantity of material.

20 VILLAGES RE-CAPTURED.

PRISONERS AND BOOTY

LONDON, July 19

Twenty villages have been recaptured, a-thousand prisoners taken and much booty taken.

ALLIED ADVANCE CONTINUES. LONDON, July 10. Tho Franee-Amorican advance continues. The Germans are bringing up a hundred thousand reserves. The British have advanced a mile south of HebuWne. PENETRATED 10 MILES. WASHINGTON-, July 20. General Marsh states, by a ten mile penetration of tbo German front, the German drive against Rheims is definitely stopped. The Gorman offensive against the British, to the northward, was recently postponed for an unknown reason. In further gains towards Soissons the French have captured Marfaux. Tho Gormans are recrossing tho Marne in several places.