WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 11 June 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

THE NEW ATTACK. OF TWENTY-FIVE MILE FRONT. LONDON, June 9. Mr G. Turnbull writes that a tremendous gas shellng preceded the new attack, which was launched along a 25 mile front. FIELD FORTIFICATIONS. TO DEFEND PAEIS . PARIS, June 9. The Petit Parisien states that the decree setting up a committee, under the Minister of War, for the defence of the capital, and providing the formation of an entrenched camp, proves that the Government means to stick at nothing to keep the capital inviolate. The events of the past fortnight proved the necessity for preparing for a surprise, however improbable an eventual attack may be. The entrenched eamp contemplated may be most t distant and may perhaps still be avert 2 k ed. The decree is an act of foresight, t not despair, and should strengthen, not disturb the pophlation. . : ' DEFENCE OF PARIS. STATEMENT OF PREMIER. Received 9.25 a.m. PARIS, June 10. M. Clemenceau has assured the Deputies for Paris and neighbourhood that the newly-formed defence committee was completing preparations that would defend Paris to the last suburb. THE INVINCIBLE GERMAN ARMY. ITS DEFEAT BY AMERICA SCORNED. Received 0.25 a.m. AMSTERDAM, June 10. Herr Fehrenbachs, the new presiflent of the Reichstag, declare'd the climax of the war was imminent. He ridiculed the idea that the Americans were turning the scale in favour of the Allied arms. Could anybody imagine that the invincible German army whijKi defeated the greatest armies of Europe, in addition to Canadians, Australians, and Asiatics, retreating before the Americans? THE LONG.RANGE GUN. ITS HISTORY. Received 9.25 a.m. PARIS, June 10. It transpires that the long range gun is not a new invention. Frau Krupp-Bohlemn showed a model to an 'American general before ,the war abating the range was 90 miles, the cost being £240,000 sterling. She added it was only a marvel gun, as it could not. fire over 25 shells without repairs. ENEMY FOLLOWING SAME TACTICS. ATTEMPT TO DOMINATE PARIS. Reieived 8.55 a.m. LONDON, June 9. The Morning Post's correspondent on tie French front says it is ridiculous to forecast the development of ' the new German offensive;, but it can "be said the Germans are attacking a line which is strong in itself, also easily accessible to French reserves. The IMnjßny is pursuing his old principle of delivering hammer blows on two ad- • jacent salients, the apex points being Montdidier and a line held on the Marne. It is unquestionable he hopes to ae'eure positions wherefrom to ef-

fectively bombard Paris, believing bypressure on Paris to force the conclusion of the war before America can throw in her weight; but at present f there is no reason to fear this section will not be victoriously defended. GERMANS ATTEMPT VAST ENVELOPING MOVE. TO SURROUND FRANCO-AME-RICANS. Received 5.55 a.m. LONDON, June 10. The United Press states the Germans attacked with an average density of a division every two kilometres, concentrating the fiercest effort on the long Metz valley with the object of reaching the Oise in the vicinity of Compcignc. The French are putting up the stiffest .resistance, and the fighting is likely, tp continue for several days. The French owing to heavy artillery concentration, inflicted the severest losses. >.. The enemy 's attack apparently. constitutes the northern arm of a vast encircling project in co-ordinance with a southern enveloping . attack .starting at Chateau Thierry, with a view to pushing nearer Paris and. seeking to envelope the Franco-American troops between Montdidier and Chateau' Thierry. iVI '''•''■• ■.•>;! •,< THE FRENCH FIGHTING HEROICALLY. ENEMY'S SMALL GAjtfS, ■ ReeeivecTS.lO a.m..,,, . LONDON, June 10. French Headquarters' latest report from the battlefield is encouraging. The French are fighting with great bravery and tenacity right and left of the battlearea. The enemy, despite his powerful efforts, is unable to progress beyond the advanced positions, technically called the "covering zone." which is swept by the fire of his minnewerfer. In the centre "the Germans succeeded in cutting an obtuse salient out of our line, with its furthest point at Rossons-sur-Metz. Their gain consists of a bit of ground twelve hundred yards deep which they were able to batter with heavy trench artillery.

USING PRISONERS IN FIRING LINE. HUN BREACH OF AGREEMENT. Received 5.55 am. LONDON, June 10. The Daily Telegraph's correspondent on the French front quotes a letter found on a German prisoner revc'aling further infamous breath of the agreement whereunder the French and German Governments recently promised not to employ prisoners within twenty miles of the front. The letter states: "After breaking into French positions our minethrowers were dragged by French priosners who climbed up to Chemin des Dames, cutting a way for artillery.'' EVIDENCE OF GERMANY'S SEVERE LOSSES. ABSENCE OF ENTHUSIASM. Received 8.55. LONDON, June 10. Mr. Perris states the French are resisting doggedly in their covering positions, which are beyond the range of mine-'throwers. Evidence has accumulated of the heaviness of German losses in the recent fighting, and the disappearance of the shallow enthusiasm wherewith the offensive be- ! gan. We continue to have the best of the lodal actions elsewhere

THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE. AS VIEWED IN JAPAN. Eeeeived 8,55 a.m. TOKIO, June 10. While the lesser newspapers comment on the German offensive gloomily, better informed journals express the utmost confidence in the Allies' strategy. General Nichinichi declares the Allies' tactics arc unexceptionable It is clearly their duty to 'await the developments of America's strength, and the latter's participation removes all doubts of the outcome of the war. ATTACK ON TWENTY MILE FRONT COUNTRY DRENCHED WITH GAS SHELLS. TRYING TO CAPTURE ROADS TO PARIS. Received 9.25 a.m. LONDON, June 10. Mr Perris says the new phase of the German offensive opened this morning on a front of twenty miles, between Montdidier and Noyon. Artillery preparation was again rich in gas shells. It began at midnight, and covered not only the front, but the z.one behind, especially the villages and roads, where the/enemy thought they would catch the local reserves. There are evident reasons for the choice of this sector, particularly its central part, for a successful push south along the Roye-Compeigne railway. This would add another converging read to the four roads Pariswards, namely, by the Oise, Aisne. Ourcq, and Marne valleys. On the other hand the enemy could not reasonably hope to effect a surprise such as at St. Quentin and Chemin des

Dames. THE FIGHT FOR BLIGNY. BRITISH TROOPS PRAISED BY FRENCH GENERAL. Received 9.10 a.m. LONDON, June 10. . The French general commanding the Franco-British at Bligny on Thursday warmly praised the British Nineteenth Division, which has been thrice engaged since March. The British held, on to a precarious position at Bligny Hill with splendid determinaonly withdrawing when it was absolutely untenable owing to the. German occupation of the village. Then counter-attacks followed for two hours, till they regained the Hill. The French prevented the enemy debouching from, and ultimately drove them out of, the village when the'Feserves arrived. The German attack in the evening proved a complete failure, costing losses. The general says the engagement had a splendid influence on the morale, and contributed notably to establishing the complete fusion between armies.

ARTILLERY DEMONSTRATION AT ALBERT. SLEEPING WOMEN AND CHILDREN BOMBED. UNCONQUERABE SPIRIT OF . FRENCH PEOPLE. Received 9.10 a.m. LONDON, June 10. Mr. Philip Gibbs says the Germans fiercely bombed several sectors between Villers-Bretonneux and Arras, reaching its most extreme violence westward of Albert and the valley of the Scarpe abcut Telegraph Hill. Guns uf all calibres participated, with periods of gas shells against our battery positions. This seemed* to indicate the possibility of heavy attacks, but none followed, and proved nothing more than a demonstration of gun power coinciding with the battle agI ainst the French. Mr. Gibbs spent two days among the French soldiers and people. It is sad to see the drift of refugees westward as the German guns advance, ; reaching fresh villages, smashing old | chateaux, market squares, farmsteads, and cottages. The German aerodromes also advance, and night Taiders are ■ seeking out new targets, flinging down explosives on the sleeping women and children. It is pathetic to see farm , waggons crowded with the little families of France, crawling along the roads on the long, long trail. But few weep; they have a strange stoical pa-I tience and resignation. The soldiers and people are astonishingly and admirably calm and confident, refusing to lose heart or hope. They say even if the enemy took Paris it would not end the war. 'We will go on fighting but we are confident the Germans will never enter Paris." ENEMY PAYING A TERRIBLE PRICE, FOR HIS ONSLAUGHTS. Received 10. 15 a.m. LONDON, June 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We successfully raided a German post in the

:-*eqtor nojrth-jpast Bjfcthuate and repulsed an attack in the evening on a post at Aveluy Wood. A French headquarters report of the 9th says there is nothing discouraging about 'the results of the first day's fighting The enemy's method of attack is the same as on the 27th March, namely heavy gas bombardment for 3* hours; folljOwedi by an attack in jclosely passed formatior>; of great strength with the object o'f swamping our line before the defence organisation could take effect. The denseness of the enemy's .formation is greater than in previous attacks, and his losses must be extraordinarily heavy, for the guns had him at their mercy, and did terrible execution. Several anxious days are ahead, as it is certain the enemy will make an extremely bitter fight for it, but is paying the fullest price for every kilometre.