WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 May 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

FURTHER PROGRESS BY GERMANS. ' 15,000 PRISONERS CLAIMED. LONDON, May 28. The Evening Standard states that the Germans have made further progress against the French, who suffered considerable losses in prisoners. NEW YORK, May 28. A Berlin message claims the capture of 15,00 ft prisoners. NORTHERN LINE QTJIET. LONDON, May 28. The United Press corespondent reports that while the French and British were battling heavily on the heights above the Aisne valley comparatively quiet reigned along the south-westward of Ypres, where the French and British counter-attacks today have already practically regained all the ground won by the enemy's' initial onset yesterday, thereby .thwarting Von Arnim's armies. > " -'. ; IN THE YPRES SECTOR. "- '' ■ SITUATION "j > / . Reuter's corespondent at British headquarters says that when the battle died down on the evening of the 27th the situation on the right and in the centre of our frint remained practically as before northwards between La Olytte and Dickebusch Lake, the French left. rested on the British flank. The Germans were still in possession of a small length of the front line. The night was fairly quiet, and nowhere north of the Somme has the enemy renewed his heavy bombardments. The French and British were again actively engaged at daylight this morning east of Dickebusch. The issue of yesterday's battle in Flanders may be regarded with complete satisfaction. The Germans practically attained nothing, while their casualties ■were of >the heaviest. GREAT OFFENSIVE IN CHAMPAGNE. ENEMY ADVANCES. LONDON, May 28. 'A report issued at 8.45 this evening sa&-' Tfl e Champaigne attack has developed into a great offensive. The enemy crossed the Aisne on a front of eighteen miles. New troops are constantly arriving. The British are guarding Rheims. FIERCE BATTLE CONTINUES. LONDON, May 28. At 4.40 this evening, a French communique stated: Thanks to t!ae arrival of fresh enemy forces, the Germans on the night oTThe 27th succeeded in crossing the Aisne between Vailly and Berry au Bac. Franco-British troops have continued to gradually withdraw. The battle continues violently between the rivers Vesles and Aisne in the region of the plateaux, in the rear whereof our reserves are arriving. There has been fairly lively reciprocal artillery fire in Champagne, on the right bank of the Meuse and in the Woevre. A strong coup de main against our positions in the Chambrettes sector Jbroke down under our fire. THE AMIENS STRUGGLE. 4 LNODON, May 28. 5 ,JThe High Commissioner reports:— official: Counter-attacks on «nr left arrested the German advance.

In the centre a battle is developing with sustained violence on the Laverles line, which the Germans crossed at several points, notably in the region of Bazoches and Fismes, west of Montdidier. 'The Americans, supported by tanks, caried a front of two kilometres. AN AMERICAN SUCCESS. A VILLAGE AND PRISONERS TAKEN. Received 8.50 a.m. WASHINGTON, May 29. A communique from the American army in France on the Picardy front, states the American troops attacked on a one and a-quarter mile front, and captured the village of Cantigny and 2(-0 German prisoners, and inflicted severe losses in killed and wounded on the Germans. The American casualties were relatively small. v '' BRITISH AND FRENCH FALLING BACK. ; ' GERMAN ADVANCE WILL BE •»* STOPPED. WITHIN FORTY-EIGHT HpURS. ■r\v,\ ;; Received 8.50 a.m. '"»'' ! LONDON. May 29,The. British have fallen back south of Saint Thierry. It is expected that within forty-eight hours the German advance will be definitely stopped. The French are falling back to the eastern outskirts of- Soissons. MILITARY CIRCLES QUITE CALM. FRENCH EXPERT OPINION. FIRST SHOCK EXTREMELY HEAVY. Received 8.50 a.m. LONDON, May 29. British and French military circles take a calm view of the new battle. They opine that Foch will not be induced to weaken the forces under his command, which must be kept to deal with the enemy's main attack. It is by no means certain that the real offensive has been launched on the Aisne.

General Berthaut, in the Pet.it Parisian, however, opines that this time we are in the presence of German offensive operations on a forty kilometre front, which cannot be a mere diversion. Nevertheless, the enemy has enormous reserves and his strategy may be planned on a huge scale. Other critics say the first shock on the Aisne was extremely heavy. The Germans returned to the assault again and again, but the Allies' front did not break at the end of the day as sufficient reserves were present.

FOUR ENEMY DIVISIONS LOSE HEAVILY. LONDON, May 28. The High. Commissioner reports: Sir Douglas Haig reports: The French and British this morning counter-attacked and re-established their line eastward of Dickebusch Lake. Yesterday four German divisions lost heavily, and the Allied line was maintained at all points. THE FIGHTING AT CRAONNE. GERMANS DISAPPOINTED. Received 11.10 a.m. LONDON, May 29. The frontal attack at Craonne Ridge promised little owing to the declivities of the ground and the paucity of good roads across the valley of the Ailette. Thechief assault is between Juvincourt and the Aisne, most of which sector is held by British troops, who were pressed back to Pon.

tarcy. The French also fell back in good order. British troops at Bermercourt withstood the pressure. The Germans hoped by breaking the line to throw the French holding the ridge into confusion, and make a German capture of prisoners. The hope .was disappointed, as the British retirement was dogged and slow_ [ LATEST OFFICIAL REPORT. Received 1 p.m. LONDON, May 29. French official report: Towards Soissons we are fighting foot by foot as far as the borders of the town. The battle continues towards Rheims. The British and French forces, after an en-' ergetie defence at Saint Thierry, were bent slowly back, but are holding between the Vesle and the Aisne Canal: in the centre with varying success. (Soissons is a fortified town in the Department of the Aisne and has a population of about 14,000. The Allied line on February 1917, was just to the north of this town. St. Thierry, is .situated 30 miles east of Soissons and about 34 miles north of Rheims. The Vesle .and Aisne are two rivers runconverying lines to within five miles of Soissons. At St. Thierry the rivers are about 10 miles apart, and it is in the space between that the German drive is being pushed with the greatest vigour.)

THE CROjWN PRINCE'S SUCCESS. REJOICINGS IN GERMANY. THE FINAL BLOW OF THE WAR. Received 12.10 p.m. AMSTERDAM, May 29. The German papers are enthusiastic over the success of the Crown Prince's attack on the Chemin des Dames. It is hailed not only as a demonstration of Germany's unbroken offensive powers but as a dynastic victory of the Hohenzollerns. It is a matter of the utmost importance that the final blow of the war should be meied out by the future Kaiser.