IN THE WESTERN FRONT. FOCH;S TRAP.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1918, Page 3

IN THE WESTERN FRONT.

FOCH;S TRAP.

;[.t*ER FEEB9 ASSOCIATION. —COPTRIOTIT.I

CLOSING ON GERMANS.

AN OPTDIISTIC POSITION

|f 4'CSTR.UiIAN & N'.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

(Received This Day at noon.) NEW YORK, July 25th. The latest British gains on tho Rheims front bring entirely, the base the Marne salient within the range A the Allies guns. It is believed that General Fork's trap is now closed around the Gernan armies. A profound, impression has been Croat id by the Chief of Staff, General tiarch’s statement that if tho Germans ole remaining railway between Rheims .mi Fere en Tardenois is captured by he Allies, the Germans within the sal?nt will be pocketed. Immediate optimism was created and he Stock Exchange closed strong, uner the influence of tho situation which i progressively growing against Gerlanv.

MILITARY

QPINION

DANGER TO GERMANS

(Received This Dav at noon.) WASHINGTON. July 25. Military circles consider the fact that fifteen fresh German divisions have been thrown into Soissons sector of the fighting, indicate how serious the Kaiser*? Generals consider the situation. . Chicago visible wheat and flour is .5,396 thousand bushels.

THE BRITISH GRIP

HOLDING AT VRIGNY

■(Received This Dnv at 11.25. a.ni.) PARIS July 25. • Correspondents warmly tribute the •tenacity of the British at \ riguy,

which is regarded as a vital point. A ..gj- considerable advance there would seriously endanger the whole of the German communications. Tho position is particularly critical in view of the food shortage. Nearly 'a score of trains are needed daily to feed the thirty • five divisions in the salient. The difficulties am daily increasing. <*

FRENCH REPORT.

THE POSITION OUTLINED

(Reuter’s Telegram.)

(Received This Day at 1.5. p.m.) LONDON, July 25. French headquarters report at midnight on the 24th said the enemy’s position in the salient south of the Aisne has become untenable. He is lighting a rotr editing battle while he gets away the material. He has left the smallest amount of artillery on this front. Fere en Tardonois is about the centre of the salient. An advance of a few kilometres, such as we made to-dav, would enable us to sweep back with our long-range artillery, the whole remaining area to the east front whereon the are 5 engaged with the FrancoBetween Vrignv and Marne the pressure is steadily relaxing the enemy hold on the Chateau Thierry-Soissons road, and are linking up the front form ed between Ouleliy le Chateau • and Fere en Tardenois. Montagje le Reims is on the eastern side of the triangle. The British advance north of the Ardro river is most important, threatening the Germans left, with onvelopement. while the Franco-Americans are advancing from the Marne and menace the German centre. The British success at Vrigny, threatens Fismes, another important centre. It is estimated that four hundred thousand Germans are fighting within the triangle, whose sides the Allies are squeezing. Their numbers apart from their obstinate resistance, rugged country, constitute an obstacle to the W closing of the pinchers at the narrow Rheims-Soissons opening, but the relentless Allied pressure is gradually emptying the triangle of the enemy.