THE WESTERN FRONT

Hokitika Guardian, 1 August 1918, Page 2

THE WESTERN FRONT

[|»KK I'IIKSH ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.]

ALLIES MAKE HEADWAY

LONDON, July 30. Mr. Campbell writes: —The strong enemy resistance has become . general soutli of Soissons. The British are lullv sharing in, the lighting. They bore the hardest part in a aeries ot simultaneous Anglo-French attacks on Oranclrozev anil Buttede-Ghalmont. The French later captured the place with ease, sustaining remarkable small losses* The British, after taking Grandrozov, advanced poll Bevgneux, where the enemv held a strong position, and was determine! not to move. A hrst assault met with a heavy artillery fire, ns well as a hail from machine-guns, anil was consequently checked. To French, who were onlookers, describe the second effort of the British as a dashing attack, and wonderfully brilliant. The British climbed a slope over perfectlv open ground and gained woods that are facing their objective anil a number of important heights to the northward. They did not attempt a further advance. ORDEAL FOR AMERICANS. PRUSSIAN GUARDS WORSTED. LONDON, July 31. \ji American Headquarters’ report states: —The struggles in which the Americans engaged at Sergy and Seringes have been among the most intense and terrible in the Allied offence With fierce fluctuations the struggle extended from Sunday afternoon "until Monday evening, when the Americans proved victorious at both points. Sergy changed hands nine times. The Americans, in approaching it, waded through the Ourcq river. They were slightly repulsed, owing to a heavy machinegun fire, and therefore awaited for an artillery preparation. They then re-crossed the Oureq, climbed the north bank, and ardently accepted the Prussian Guardsmen’s challencre. Four bitter swaying attacks followed. German artillery of every calibre shared in the din. The enemy fought well, but made no headway. Ultimately the Americans saw the finely-built Guards melt away. It' is believed that the ferocity of the Germans was designed to gain time foi- the removal of valuable stores of munitions arid guns, which were concealed in the Neslea Forest. Many of the American wounded were found at. Sergy bayonetted. The Germans positioned machine-guns m a church and in Red Cross buildings. The enraged Americans took few prisoners during the final stages of the fight. The defeated Germans now hold tinheights to the northward.

DASHING BRITISH ATTACKS

GERMANS RETREATING FAST.

FIERCE FIGHTING AT THE OURCQ

NEW YORK, July 30. The-‘Now York Times” correspondent says that it is officially announced that on the American front the Germans arc retreating so fast that they have abandoned hundreds of tons of ammunition. While the retreat was hot a- rout, the American pressure played havoc with the Crown Princes Army. The Americans’ charge across the Ourcq was a most thrilling episode in the fighting. The Germans withdrew to strong positions in the hills overlooking the river. They placed hundreds of machine-guns and artillery in positions, from which they had command of the stream. They also placed two fresh Guard divisions opposite the Americans. Tho Germans also destroyed the bridges on the American left positions, but they were driven back by machinegun fire. Tho Americans finally repaired tho bridges and spanned the river, under the heaviest fire. They forced the Germans to retreat to another series of hills.

The Americans crossed the river in a dozen places. Tho Germans fired on the Allied stretcher-bearers carrying the wounded across the stream. Germans aeroplanes swooped up behind a truck-load of wounded.

| AN AMERICAN COMMENT. j LONDON, July 30. | Senator Baker, commenting on the ■ Allied success, said: “It is fortunate that the American people are accepting the successes at their true significance. The successes give cause for congratulation, but do not justify us in relaxing our efforts. We must redouble our efforts. I j AMERICAN REPORT. ■ fAUSTRALIAN A N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] j A KF.trrKß.] i (Received Thi* Env at 10.15 amA i LONDON, July 31. j An American official report states: ! Wb repulsed a counter-attack after severe fighting on the Ourcq, and we improved our position.