WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 6 June 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

ENEMY DEFINITELY CHECKED. June 4. Yesterday's news was the most satisfactory to hand since the 27th of May. The reports had heen growing brighter for the two previous days, but yesterday brought the first indication that the enemy was being definitely checked. The entry of Allied reserves undoubtedly is taking effect, and the recapture of Mont Choisy was most important, as it is one of the main bastions defending the road to Paris by way of Cornpeigne, while the repulse of the enemy attempts to enter the Forest of Reit? was no less significant, for it is now evident that the enemy plans to capture the forestclad heights of Villers-Cotterets and Cornpeigne, and then enclose Paris in an enormous salient by way of the Oise and Ourcq.

The defence of Rheims was one of the most important features of , the battle. French troops guarding the approaches on May 27 gradually fell back through the suburbs. In conseqifopr.R of this withdrawal of the line the troops on the left held out for eight days without relief. Those encircling the city oh the right retired' only' a hundred ' yards until the: increased gap oh their, left necessitated modification of the line. .. All enemy attempts to capture the city by frontal assault were fruitless. They were unable to employ tanks to rush the suburbs as they intended. Three tanks approached on Friday afternoon, but were driven back.

DRIVEN BACK ACROSS MARNE. NEW YORK, June 4. vA Paris message dated Tuesday, 9.45 a.m., states that the German advance has been definitely checked. The Germans were driven hack across the Marne near Chateau Thierry. The French recaptured Favrelles, on the Ardre, 15 miles south-west of Rheims, while the Germans captured Pernaut at heavy cost. ON THE TRENCH FRONT. ~ LONDON June 4. A French communique states: Between the Oise and the Aisne the enemy, held by our energetic resistance, m&*p no progress. Between the Aisne andthe Ourcq the battle continued at night with equal desperation from seven in the evening. Violent attacks occurred in the region of Pernant, Saconin, Mis3y Aux Bois, and Troesnes. Pernant fell into the enemy's hands after an obstinate defence, in which the enemy lost heavily. .Further south we yielded a little ground west of Saconin and Missy Aux Bois. TREMENDOUS FIGHTING FAVOURS ALLIES. LONDON, June 4. Mr Gerald Campbell, the "Daily Mail" representatives with the French army, states: Superiority of numbers on the Oise-Rheims front enabled the enemy to make an immense series of sectional attacks, Small wedge shaped parties advanced in Echelon and attained definite points, then extended into a line double the aggregate of the original front. Not fewer than fifty divisions attacked,; including special shock troops. The Allies' screening troops, already scanty, were increasingly placed at a disadvantage as the line widened. The enemy encountered most savage resistance on Saturday between NeuiHy front, and Villers Cotteret, and threw in fresh troops, including divisions replacing the Guards wTjkO 'suffered heavily during the earlier advance. Corey and Troesnes were lost duting the swaying fight, but

.■■■* were recaptured by the French cavalry which figured brilliantly in the day's engagement below Troesnes. The enemy was pushed back to Possyd. between Dormans and -R'heims, The Allies retook and progressed towards fordenos. German airmen were dominant during the early offensive owing to the French being compelled to extemporise in fresh quarters but the latter soon regained the upper hand. The Germans are bringing up large numbers of heavy batteries and will probably use them in greater masses, attacking weaker places, but that does not matter. "Since the French reserves arrived,, I am convinced that we have enough men or guns to secure victory."

THE ENEMY HELD. LONDON, June 4. Renter's correspondent at the French Headquarters,„ writing on the morning of the 4th, states:. The latest reports of yesterday's fighting confirm the statement that the enemy is being held; Figthing is bitter along he whole front from the Oise to the Marne. The balance of advantage is on the side of the Allies. Such progress as the Germans have made has cost an exaggerated price in casualties. 'There isi extraordinarily *bitter fighting in the Ourcq Valley for possession of the road to the southern edge of the Villers Cotterets Forest, in the direction of La Ferte Milon, where a French cavalry division, fighting on foot, are engaged in an obstinate conflict with an- enemy crack division, including the first division of the Prussian Guard, making them pay dearly for every foot of ground gained. CROWN" PRINCE'S PROBLEM. LONDON, June 4. Router's correspondent writes: In pursuit of his object to enclose Paris in a salient by way of the Valleys of the Oise and Ourcq and the Marne, the enemy is now uesperately trying to free his left wing on the Marne. He has a front here of barely fifteen miles between Chateau Thierry and La-ferte-Nulon, and as it is impossible to manoeuvre an immense army of assault on such a front without exposing enormous risk, the Prince is striving to widen his front. If the Germans are now brought to a standstill, as Allied opinion is confident they will be, thero is likely to be a prolonged confict east of Paris in further pursuit of the aim to destroy the French armies and bring batteries to bear on the city.

PRESENT PHASE OF .OFFENSIVE NEARING END. LONDON, June 4. General Maurice states: The battlefront from Noyon to Chateau Thierry is becoming established. Progress should continue with little more than local Progress should continue with little more than local developments. The new situation is such that Allied reserves must be reaching the battle-front faster than the enemy's. If the Crown Prince proposes to continue the battle on the present front he must be prepared for 'c. slogging match—at the best slow progress at heavy cost. Since Verdun, German opinion has been against a prolonged hammer and tongs fight. Therefore the probabilities are that the present pha*se of the offensive is nearing its end, though pressure may be continued for a time with the object of drawing i n more Allied reserves The next stage of the extension of the battle may. be northward towards Montdidier, where the Americans distinguished themselves with at least half their reserves Intact. The enemy cannot rest content with what he has already achieved.

ALLIES MAKE STRONG ADVANCES, LONDON, June 4. Berlin Official.—The enemy made strong advances at several points. KAISER VISITS THE BATTLEFIELD. SOME ROYAL HYPOCRISY. Received 9.10 a.m. AMSTERDAM, June 5. The Kaiser on Saturday, accompanied by Hindenburg, visited the conquered regions north oT. the Marne. Standing amid the ruins of a French village, he said: "Whenever I see these horrors of war, which has rendered thousands homeless and changed prosperous regions into awful deserts, I cannot help thinking with grief what sorrow France might have spared herself if she had not rejected my peace offer in December, 1916." The Kaiser then visited Soissons battle front and returned to Headquarters via Fismes. NEW YORK, June 5.

A United Press message from Paris states the American troops on the Marne pushed back the Germans attempting to reach Nieuilly Wood. GERMAN LOSSES VERY HEAVY. HEROIC CAVALRY WORK. SPLENDID CHARGES BY AIRMEN. Received 9.15 a.m. PARIS, June 5. Critics are unanimous that the recent German losses are exceedingly heavy, especially during the last three days. This alone is sufficient to explain the diminution in pressure. Solid barriers are now erected on The three principal roads to Paris. It is a matter for congratulation that the latest great effort after only eight days, may be regarded as broken. The Germans have virtually, surrounded Rheims, but failed to make any impression at Villers Cotterets or Retz Forest.

The work of the defence has largely fallen on the French cavalry, particularly in the Ourcq sector, where they bore the brunt of the German attack. Between Nesles Forest and Davigny one battalion b~f cavalry was surrounded, but refused to surrender, and instead charged in the direction going south:; They, ; fought their way through with the bayonet. When they got free the cavalry turned northward and drove-back the enemy. French airmen also performed most brilliant service. An officer in command of an air squadron on Thursday launched fifty machines against an enemy column occupying three miles o' road. Like a cavalry charge, the aeroplanes flew ten and twenty yards above the ground, pouring a hail of machine-gun fire into the column until the latter dispersed.

DESPERATE FIGHTING PROCEEDING. TOWNS TAKEN AND RETAKEN. Received 11.10 a.m. LONDON, June 5. Reuter's correspondent at French Headquarters, writing yesterday afternoon, states the enemy is still pressing heavily on the whole line from the Aisne to the Marne: Neuilly and Lapoterie were taken and retaken several times, our counter attacks holding the enemy in check. His gains were purchased at an excessive price. The American troops again distinguished themselves in the righting at Neuilly. Their machine gunners cooperated in minor engagements at Jaulgonne, on the Marne, on the night cf 2nd June, when a party of Germans who crossed the river were surrounded and captured. AMERICANS IN ACTION LONDON, June 4. American official North-west of Chateau Thierry we broke an enemy attempt to advance" south through Neuilly Woods. A counter-attack drove he enemy northward of these woods. On the Marne a German battalion which crossed the river at Jaulgonne was counter-attacked by Fran-co-American troops and forced to retreat to the right "bank, sustaining severe losses in killed and prisoners. We shelled the cnerr.y 's position in the Wocvrc, using gas. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. LONDON, June 5. Wireless German official, — We captured, after hard fighting*, a few trenches north of the Aisne. We took the heights of Vauvbuin. and west of Chaudin. We stormed Pernant and Missy-au-Bois, driving the enemy back to the Lcsoulier-Dommiers line. Several batteries and a few thousand prisoners were captured. French counter-attacks astride the Ourcq failed.

GERMAN LOSSES GROWING PARIS, June 4. Senii-offieiaL — German losses are more serious daily, but the enemy is i still numerically, superior on the whole front and may be able to embark on a new offensive in some other sector — perhaps Montdidier or Noyon. The French command' therefore is wisely biding its time before putting forth I all its efforts. HUN ARlvi'i OF CONVICTS. Received 11.20 a.m. AMSTERDAM, June 5. Hindenbn."g, despite „ne Kaiser's opposition, persuaded the Government to introduce a Bill '.- the Reichstag drafting into the i.rmy convicts of military age. These will be constituted into special regiments commanded by officers known for their ruthlessl ness, and sent to the most dangerous points. Many shirkers have committed crimes in order to be imprisoned so as to escape Army service.