WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 12 June 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

THE GEEMAN DRIVE. 8 HELD UP ON WINGS. LONDON, 10. A French communique states: "The German drive continued last night with the same desperation. On our left wing, in-the Montdidier~section, violent attacks weie renewed several times, but were shattered" by our fire and counter attacks at Courcelles, which was captured and recaptured, and remained in our possession. On our right, near Noyon, we held on south and east of Ville, which have been bitterly disputed. We took over 500 prisoners in these actions. In the centre the enemy tried by using new forces and succeeded in" reaching the southern outskirts of Cuvilly le Bois Rissons swr Matz, and the plateau of Bellinglise, south-west of Lassigny. Further east the fighting "continues in the Bois de Thiescourt. Prisoners unanimously state that the battle has the present cost the attacking units enormous losses. North of the Aisne the artillery duel was somewhat lively. We concluded local opreations undertaken last evening east of Hautbaye, and' took prisoner a hundred and fifty. Betwen the Ourcq and the Maine we jepulsed several attacks east of Veuiliy. Continuing their progress in the region of Bouesches, .the French and American units gained ground and took 250 prisoners, while they also captured thirty machine guns.

OVER 700,000 AMERICAN TROOPS IN FRANCE. • WASHINGTON, June 10. Mr. N. D. Baker (Secretary for War) announced to-day that the United States has sent more than 700,000 troops to France. SATISFACTORY TIDINGS. LONDON, June 10. The news .rom the battle-front continues most satisfactory. Despite enormous losses, the enemy only succeeded in penetrating on an average from half to three-quarters of a mile. His chief success was in the centre, round Lassigny, where the Germans aTaUnaking a fierce thrust for the Bellinglise Plateau. His general purpose is to avoid forest fighting around Compeigne and Villers Cotteret, where the French and American defenders have already taken a huge toll of the attackers, and brought the Crown Prince's thrust towards Paris to a standStill. In conjunction with the advance on the Marne, Ludehflorff's new move represents a vast encircling project for the purpose of getting the French and Americans within the jaws of gigantic pincers. The Germans between Montdidier and Noyon had no advantage in surprise, though they used new gas shells. The heroic French never flinched. Five German divisions have already been withdrawn. The attack was launched from a ridge 320 feet high at Armund. Assinvillers and Orvillers. The enemy forced his way into the hollow, frit failed to scale the opposite slope towards Plateau Polyfonmery, and is still pinned in the depression. The Germans were scarcely more successful on the right wing, between Lassigny and Noyon, where they carried the isolated knoll of Plemont, but were stopped before the French strong point at Thiescourt Wood. BRITISH AIRMEN DO TJOOD WORK fj? LONDON, June 10. Air squadrons, co-operating with, the worked on the NoyonMontdidier front on June 9th, continually from dawn to dusk. Bombing

aeroplanes impeded the enemy's advance and harassed troops and transport with constant machine gunning* Strong patrols of scout machines swept the battle area throughout the day, high-fliers protecting them. Target hits included an aerodrome near Roye, where aeroplanes were set afire upon tb ground; an ammunition dump at Montdidier, which burst into flames; also teams of waggons afiu infantry in the trenches and on roads along and behind the whole fighting line on the British front.

One of our artillery aeroplanes forced a German two-seater to land and surrender. We brought down fourteen others and drove down four uncontrollable. Four British machines are missing. GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS OF ANGLO-FRENCH. PARIS, June 11. The "Echo Ce Paris," referring to the Anglo-French aerial,,activities in. destroying the enemy's lines of. communication, says: A single attapk recently caused a hundred trucks ; of shells and numerous ammunition dumps to explode .at the station of Longnyon. A single German chasing squadron lost in one night sixty airmen and practically all its machines. Cantonments full of troops received as much as. twenty tons of explosives in two hours. FRENCH HOLDING UP GERMANS. LONDON, June 11. At 1.30 this morning a French communique stated: During the second day of the offensive, the enemy sought, by powerful attacks, unceasingly strengthened by new effectives,. to advance in the direction of Estires St. Denis and Ribecourt. Our troops resisted tenaciously. The enemy captured by repeated assaults, at the cost of heavy sacrifices, the villages of Nery, Belloy, and St. Maur. Heroic combats occurred on the Plateau.of Belloy. south of Ressons-sur-Matz. The enemy gained a footing in Marqueglise, further east. The battle continues on the southern outskirts of Elincourt.

Keuter's correspondent at French Headquarters, writing on the afternoon of the 10th says: Throughout the night and morning a battle raged along the new front of attack with unabated fury. On the wings rue enemy was still held on practically the same line despite persistent and reckless attempts to push forward. On the extreme right of Plemont, >alhough almost 'in 'our 'first ULStfe; we are/ still holding out, the French garrison having beaten off successive waves of German infantry, Mont Eenaud is still ours. Im the centre of the battlefield the enemy, by pouring in fresh battalions, penetrated deeper into our line. The fighting was of a most bloody character, French and Germans fighting hand to hand over the ruins, of every hamlet and farm. The enemy's loss has been extraordinarily heavy. This time the element of surprise was absent. The enemy's dense masses had been exposed to fire from our machineguns and artillery for the past thirtysix hours. The Germans had to assemble behind their lines ;under our counter-preparation fire, which had been sweeping the German rear for three days before "the battle. The enemy had between eighteen and twenty divisions in the attacking line, the divisional. front being yards behind the line, His reserves are ready to replace shattered divisions. A prolonged and desperate struggle must be anticipated, also the possibility of meeting the shock of the reserves at Hindenburg's disposal before enemy breaks off the battle. The enemy, instead of sweeping on victoriously as in the fight in the days of the Aisne battle, is advancing painfully yard by yard, paying

full price for every step of advance. The main effort is still in the centre towards the Oise, with, the object of turning the salient we hold in his line, with the apex at Pont Leveque on the Oise, comprising Carlepont, and Ourscamp Forest in the angle in the bend of the river. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. LONDON, June 10. Wireless German official. —Our attack penetrated the hilly district south-westward of Noyon. We captured French positions westward of Metz, near Miortemer and Orvillers. We adavneed beyond Cuvilly and Ricquebourg and fought through the Piicqucbourg and Lamotte Woods. We threw back the enemy beyond B'ourmont and and penetrated far into Thiescourt Wood, in the neighbourhood of Lassigny. We pris-oni-i-ed 8000. PARIS STANDS FIRM. PARIS, June 10. M. Brunet, Socialist Deputy, in an article in the "Matin" summarising labour views, says: The long range bombardment may arrest industrial life and munition work, but the Government must not be paralysed by fear of sacrificing non-combatants. Peace is impossible as long as Germany seeks victory. Our duty is to fight and subordinate everything to this determination. Following Gallieu 's example, Paris will be made the great pivot of French resistance.

M. Clemonceau assured Seine Deputies that nothing would be neglected to protect the capital, but it was not considered a menace was likely. During the recent dark days rumours vrere general that Paris would be evacuated. Ox waggons piled with household goods were frequently seen in the streets. Nothing was more calculated to shake the city's nerves than signs of farmers' and peasants flight, yet Paris has stood firm. Most of the rich departed soon, only the real Paris grimly planning to sell life dearly. It would be left to the people to know the fate of their beloved city. If the gates were opened, the Kaiser would attempt to force peace upon the terror-stricken Frenrh by devastation of the capital, quarter by quarter.

. RUSSIAN MUNITIONS. AGAINST ALLIES. ' LONDON, June 10. A correspondent states that vast quantities of Russian equipment, hundreds of horses, thousands of guns and millions- of shall which the Bolsheviks sold at ridiculous prices, are appearing in France. BRITISH LINE ADVANCED AT AMIENS. Received 5.45 a.m. LONDON, June 11. The British east of Amicus advanced half a mile on a front of a, .mile and a half south of Morlancourt. The Australians on the Morlancourt advanced their lines half a mile, taking 250 prisoners. Twenty-one machine guns were captured. FIERCE DETERMINATION OF GERMANS. IN SPITE OF SHOCKING LOSSES. FOURTEEN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTACKS. Kcceived 9.30 a.m. LONDON, June 11. French Headquarters report that on Monday evening the last dispatch runners who got. through from Plcmont before its fall say they themselves saw fourteen unsuccessful German attacks on the hill. There were others after they left. It is estimated the Germans engaged comprise twenty to thirty divisions. At night the enemy's advance was so slow that he was able to bring up light artillery, while the heavier pieces were still firing from the old ; positions. The artillery forces were accordingly practically equal. The fierceness of the fighting and the inflexible detcrminawith which the enemy accepts shocking losses show they are determined to continue until complete victory is achieved or complete exhaustion follows. GERMANS' SLIGHT ADVANCE. POSITIONS LOST AND GAINED SEVERAL TIMES. GROUND PAVED WITH DEAD. Received 9.10 a.m. LONDON, June 11. A despatch from Headquarters on Monday evening states that the enemy in the course of the day at immense cost succeeded in pushing the advance .from a mile to three miles deeper into our front at Marque Eglise, at the southeraost point of which his salient is situated. He is. about seven miles from his starting point. Yester-

day morning fighting was almost of unprecedented fury. The Germans continue to attack in compact masses, which arc mown down by gunfire. Others and still others followed. When the position was finally taken by the enemy it was as often as not promptly taken back by the French. In these counter attacks the French invariably found the ground littered with German dead, often lying in heaps. A little height called Plemont, south of Lassegny must be paved with enemy dead.

"THIS IS THE REAL BATTLE." EFFECTIVE FRENCH ARTILLERY. ENEMY'S RANKS TORN AND PLOUGHED WITH SHOT AND SHELL. Received 10.10 a.m. LONDON, June 11. Mr. Perris quotes French staff officers as saying: "This is the real battle," meaning, on contrasting the present fierce fighting with the attack on Chemin des Dames. The Allies' line between Noyon and Montdidier is stronger, while the reserves are nearer than at Chemin des Dames. The French batteries are so effective that at many points it amounted to a massacre of the columns of assault. There is unanimity among prisoners as well as among our own combatants that the enemy's ranks have been tern and ploughed with shot and shell. Never, perhaps, has the German army paid so dearly for an advance which' nov/here exceeds five miles.

FIGHTING OF A SANGUINARY NATURE. DESPERATE CONTEST FOR PLEMONT HILL. FRENCH DEFENDERS PERISH TO A MAN. Received 8.55 a.m. ' LONDON, June 11. Mr. Perris continues: The smallness of the enemy's gains is merely a sign that von Hutier found an adversary prepared and able to contest every yard. Fighting of, a most sanguinary character, and terrifying hand to hand combats took place amid the ruins of every village. Violent struggles occurred at Courcelles, only two miles from the did front. The French lost, retook, lost again, and recovered the village.' Similiarly there is ding-dong fighting around Plemont. At daylight on Sunday, although encircled and covered with fire, the French defended the hump of ground til evening. Since then no carrier pigeon has arrived, and it must be presumed the heroic handful of men have been overcome.. Their countrymen will not forget. A rain storm on Sunday night was rather in our favour.

GENERAL MAURICE'S VIEWS. ENEMY'S SMALL GAINS. Received 10.10 a.m. LONDON, June 11. General Maurice writes: Von Hutier has again taken the offensive, though it is too early to judge whether it is the beginning on a grand scale of an attempt to advance to Paris, or merely a local effort to draw in more Allied reserves. It is estimated von Hutier used a force of nineteen divisions on nis attacking [.'rent between Chiery Our.scamp ana Ayencourt—a distance of about twenty miles, but he made little progress except in the centre sector of a ten mile front, where he gained four a-half miles down the Matz Valley to the south of Ressons. He also gained a footing in Thiescourt Wood. It remains to be seen whether Prince Rupprecht will resume the offensive against the British or participate in a direct advance towards Paris.

HOW THEE ATTACK WAS LAUNCHED. Received 10.10 a.m. LONDON, June 11. A Paris correspondent points out that the new battle is the first the Germans have launched on a Sunday. The newspaper "Le Journal," says, in order to avoid giving the alarm the Germans brought no troops up till the last moment, but there is a point at which troops must pass from marching formation into formations of attack, and most deploy on each side of a road. It is an operation that requires several hours. A good barrage of fire dropping on them during this period renders the o/pertaion most difficult. We don't know exactly what happened,, but our counter artillery efforts have been well directed, and it is clear the advance has been stoppod on both wings, with losses which it is claimed put out of action an equivalent of five divisions.

THE ENEMY'S PLANS. PARIS CONSIDERED SAFE. LONDON, June 11. Reuter's correspondent aX French Headquarters, writing on the 10th, says: The scene of the latest off en-, sive is wooded, hilly country, dissected by the river Matz, which, flowing south, joins the Oise at Montmacy. The Enemy's principal progress yesterday was along the course" of the Matz. Their first objective was probably to reach the Oise and thereby take in the flank of the whole French salient north of the Oise, which might result in our withdrawal to the south bank. Supposing the enemy's objective to be Paris, he would naturally begin thrusting a powerful tentacle south-westward down the' Oise Valley, and another westward from the Ourcq line, thereby encircling a vast mass in the Aigle, the Compeigne, and Villers Cotteret Forests, which, being impregnable to frontal attack, the enemy probably intends to pass north and south thereof, bringing the tentacles together. This enemy plan is over-ambitious and impossible of accomplishment. Soon the impossibility will be realised, and the enemy's efforts will probably be directed against Amiens or Calais. Meanwhile, his battalions are being depleted by constant fighting from Noyon to CSateau Thierry, and Vermeuil to Rheims. His reserves of manhood are declining. Out cf 200 prisoners taken during the first few days of June, over a fourth belonged to the 1919 class, and class 1920 has made its appearance on the battlefield. Among the prisoners captured at Bligny, a considerable proportion were lads of this class.