WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 13 June 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

GERMANS’ DIMINISHING FRONT. defensive must be pushed. LONDON, June 13. Mr Gerald Campbell, writing on the evening of the 10th, says: “I expect in the centre we have merely given up the advanced, lightly-held zone posts. The enemy attacked in close formation, and would not have attempted the venture without considerable superiority in his forces. It seems impossible to prevent certain territorial gains, even without the element of surprise. It is noteworthy that the extent of the offensive fronts is* diminishing. It was 60 miles in March, 30 in May, and is now 20. On the whole they must he disappointed with the first day’s efforts. The ground over which they advanced had been carefully studied by French artillerists. The continuance of the attack with the greatest energy and desperation is expected. It means everything to Germany. So the enemy has only begun to ascend the heights which form the main defensive , line. Further would compel a French retirement from the Noydn salient, but that would not be serious. The road to Paris is defended by the Forest of Compeigne, then the three forests of Halatte, Ermonville and Chantilly.”

ENEMY HOPES TO END THE WAR THIS MONTH. PAkIS, June 11. The “Echo de Paris’’ says that the Germans are throwing in their whole strength, hoping to end the war by the end of June. It adds; “We will,not be surprised if the throws in his whole naval strength simultaneously with a great attack on the British front.” BIG OFFENSIVE CONTINUES. SITUATION NOT DISQUIETING. PARIS, June 11. The situation is not disquieting. The ground gained by the enemy is without strategic value. South-wes-terly wind favours French gas attacks. Rain is delaying the enemy’s advance. General Rutin, with two ffesh divisions of Prussian Guards and two Bavarian divisions lent by Prince Ruprecht, participated in yesterday’s fighting, the attacks being directed towards Ribecourt, on the right of Estrees, with St. Denis on the left. More fresh divisions which were seen echeloned behind the waves of assault indicate the enemy’s intention not to relinquish the effort, which, if successful at these points, would menace Clermont, Creil, and Senlis with an over-running manoeuvre from the forest of Compeigne by the west. 'A French communique states: “The enemy yesterday and last night continued pressure in the direction of Estrees, Saint Denis and Ribecourt. On the left our resistance was effective. The enemy was unable to capture Le Playron or Courcelle. We recaptured the village of Mery, MORLANCOURT FIGiiT. LONDON, June 11. Mr Philip Gibbs writes that the Australians attacked on a front of four thousand yards by a depth of seven hundred yards. As soon the attack was launched the Germans knew they were lost. The Australians killed ... jnany with bombs, while the trenches V’Jwcro practically wiped out. A German battalion, numbering 300, was taken prisoner.

FRENCH COUNTER ATTACK. LONDON, June 11. At 2.30 this morning, a French communique stated: The battle continues to-day from Montdidier to the Oise. On the left our troops, supported by tanks, counter attacked during the afternoon on a front of twelve kilometres ,between Rubescourt and St. Maur. Notwithstanding desperate resistance, we reached the southern approaches of Le Fretoy and captured a height between Courcelles and Mortemer. We carried our lines over two kilometres east of Mery. We also recaptured Belloy Tiosgenles, and reached the southern outskirts of St. Maur. The enemy lost heavily and left a thousand prisoners and several guns in our hands. In the centre, the Germans, who succeeded in pushing to the south of Heges Farm and Autheuil, were driven back beyond both points.

On our right, the enemy, accentuating his pressure, sought to gain the Matz Valley. Several violent attacks at Chevincourt were repulsed. The enemy gained a footing at Machemont, and Bethancourt, which are being bitterly disputed. GREAT WORK BY FRENCH AVIATORS. LONDON, June 11. French communique: Our day-' bombing squadrons continued to work on Monday despite bad weather. Groups of aeroplanes, flying Tow over exposed points of the battlefield, dropped projectiles on enemy concentrations, dispersing reinforcements and inflicting heavy losses. Several crews made several trips. Eight tons of explosives were dropped, with best results. The enemy rear was actively bombed on Monday night, twenty tons of projectiles being dropned on convoys, cantonments and stations. Two munition depots were blown up. Four enemy aeroplanes and captive balloons were felled on Monday by chasers. GERMANS INCREASE PRESSURE LONDON, June 11. Router’s correspondent at the French Headquarters, writing on the 11th, states: During the evening and night of the 10th the Germans attempted- to enlarge their salient and curved our front by pushing forward both wings as well as the centre. On the left the enemy made no progress; he has been driven back in places between Mery and Vignemont. A magnificent counter-attack by native Africans, supported by tanks, enabled us to retake Porte Farm, west of Compeigne road, with the high ground north thereof, and a neighbouring farm. The enemy was checked and even thrown back, on the right and centre The Germans have thrown fresh masses on the left wing with a view of reachtho Oise.

TRENCH RE-ESTABLISH THEIR LINE. LONDON, June 11. At 4.30 this evening a French communique stated: The chief German effort is directed on the Bclloy-Maeque-Eglise front. A powerful attack with large effective succeedde in driving us at first as far as the Aronde, hut a magnificent counter-attack threw back the enemy on the whole, front and restored positions on the line south of Belloy-Syaur, and south of Marque-' EglisC-Vandelfeurt. . On (our right fierce fights occurred on the wooded hills north of Dreslincourt. The enemy, who had accumulated a great force in this region, has been able to reach Antoval, compelling us to carry our line of resistance to the west and south of Ribecourt

BRAVE PARIS. PARIS, June 11. Paris is still the most optimistic city iu Europe, stoically regarding the campaign and the prolonged effort for the destruction of the French armies. THE ALLIES’ HOPE. PARIS, June 11. Henri Bidou, writing in the “Debats, ’ ’ bases the hope of Allied success on the stupdendous wastage of German effectives in the first two- offensives. The enemy employed the equivalent of a further fifty-three divisions in the. offensive commence ing on May 28th, and further fifteen divisions in the present attack. M. maintains that this prodigious effort cannot be kept up indefinitely and calculates that the time is approaching when the German army will reach a state of dangerous fatigue, which will synchronise with the final preparedness of America’s young and vigorous army . Marcel Hutin states that the advance in the, centre was due to sudden launching of -a large number of tanks which the artillery had not succeeded in destroying. The enemy’s object is clearly to establish a straight front from Montdidiier to- Compeignc and Cheateau Thierry, outflanking the Fillers Cotteret Forest.

ANOTHER AMERICAN . SUCCESS LONDON, Juno 11. A French communique says: Americans south of the Ourcq brilliantly captured B'cllcau Wood, taking 300 prisoners. An American communique states: North-west of Chateau Thierry, we again advanced our positions at Bcllca Wood, taking prisoners 250. BRITISH AIRMEN’S GREAT ASSISTANCE. LONDON, June 11. Sir Douglas Haig’s aviation report states: Our airmen on the French battle front, despite cloudy weather, worked early and late, dropping eight tons of bombs on troops, transport, ammunition dumps and troops in trenches. Direct hits were obtained on the railway at Roye-sur-Matz, and on concentrations of infantry in the triangle of Montdidier, Ricquebourg and Roye. Low fliers machine-gunned every target offered along the roads behind the fighting line, with immense numbers of rounds, and with good effect. We shot down in this area six aeroplanes and drove dow r n seven uncontrollable. We lost two machines.

Our night filers dropped seven tons of bombs on Cambrai and Bapaume. All returned. FRENCH HEROISM AND SUFFERING. GERMAN LOSSES JUSTIFIED. IP OBJECTIVE IS GAINED. STAGGERING BLOW AT CHANNEL PORTS. IF ALLIED RESERVES ARE WEAKENED. Received 9 a.m. LONDON, June 12. It is estimated that three hundred thousand fresh troops were thrown in during the last twenty-four hours. It is impossible to summarise the French suffering and heroism, but this episode is typical. A party of dismounted cavalry defending Plemont beat off fourteen assaults upon the hill. The latest German tanks are lightly armoured, with a weight of aboyt forty tons and a speed of nine miles. They carry 2\ inch guns, mounted forward, in addition to half a dozen machine guns. Unlike the British machine the caterpillar movement band is under cover, except when in contact with the ground. German .advices report that Eibccourt menaces the French holding Mont Eenaul, which is the key to the Oise Valley and endangers the whole salient marked by the Oise, Ribecourt and Soissons. The German success in the centre is attributed to the unexpectedly large number of tanks employed, some of which slipped through the French anti-tank barrage. The success of Foch’s counter attack in the centre in recovering 33 miles of country, however, shows the fighting qualities of the defenders is still unimpaired. The seriousness of the position must not be minimised, as Von Hutier’s present objective is strictly limited, namely, to straighten out the b.attlefrqnt between MontdidSer and Soissons. The German losses manifestly are very great. The losses may be justified if von Hutier’s objective is gained or if Foch is compelled to weaken his defence in order to bold the Oise Valley. All critics agree that if Foch is compelled to put in his reserves Ludendorff will launch a staggering attack in the direction of the Channel ports. It is estimated von Hutier has twentyfive reserve divisions, most of which

have already been used once. The fact of von Hutier continually putting in fresh shock divisions in massed formation shows the German determination to carry the enterprise through. ;i

THRUST FOR COMPEIGNE. GERMANS GAIN GROUND. A TERRIFIC COST. Received 9 a.m. LONDON, June 12. Mr.''Perris writes; Following the orthodox German plan in order to avoid proclaiming his first class failure, Yon Hutier has been obliged to throw in h is reserves regardless of losses It will probably, be found that lone, hundred thousand fresh troops have been employed during the past twenty-four hours, and about twentyfive divisions engaged, whereof eight have already been broken up and withdrawn. By .this prodigal means pretty considerable results were obtained and the Germans forced their way down the Matz Valley in constantly renewed waves. They reached Marqueglise, Yandicourt, and Elincourt, thus turning the plateau at Thicscourt by the south-west, leaving the French cornered in the narrow range of hills before Ribecourt, with another salient across the Oise, consisting of the low lying wood of Ourscamp and Carlepont. The Germans secured' less succysb on ihcijj right, though they are eight miles from Estrces, St. Denis and Compeigne Both junctions arc some importance, everywhere the French fighting with fierce stubborn bravery. Later in the evening a message was received stating that the battle continues without pause. The enemy may regard the completion of the manoeuvre at Thicscourt and Ribecourt as permitting a halt, enabling them to bring up guns and make good his losses. The problem, of transport and supply is difficult in such a region. The Germans are hurriedly embodying men into combatant units, particularly artillery, who hitherto were regarded fit only for auxiliary services. This indicates anxiety regarding available effectives. It is well known the armies’ food situation is not good.

AWKWARD ANGLE .EVACUATED. a German attack thrown. • BACK. GALLANT charge by black TROOPS. Received 9 a.m. LONDON, June 12. The evacuation of the DroslyncourtRibccourt angle was carried out early this morning. This ' region has deep valleys and thickly wooded hills, most favourable ground for infiltration tactics. The defenders, with the Oise at their backs, Would have risked a useless loss of life and material by continuing to hold out. The line of the Matz river, five miles beyond the German departure point, now r marks the front on .this side. More to the westward the French have done better. A now enemy drive yesterday evening, with masses of fresh troops, threw back the French along the Estres wood, as far as the Arondc valley. French reserves, however, were ready. They intervened and by a fine counter-attack broke the German ranks and brought back the French to their former positions southward of Belloy and Marquesglise. One of the chief incidents in this admirable recoil was the black troops, charge, supported by tanks. The strength of the French resistance on this flank greatly limits the value of such success as the enemy obtained, the artillery forces arc approximately equal, and our avaition definitely superior.

THRILLING ESCAPE OF TWO AIRMEN. HUMOROUS INCIDENT IN THE AIR. ALBATROSSES FIGHT AMONG THEMSELVES. Received 9.25 a.m. LONDON, June 12. Mr. Perceval Phillips reports that British airmen, are active in the French zone between Montdidier and Noyon, machine-gunning infantry, and bombing concentration depots and camps. On Sunday night the British dropped over three hundred bombs around Roye and fired thirty thousand rounds. Two of our aviators had a remarkable escape after being downed by anti-aircraft guns behind the German lines. They had many exciting adventures in the enemy front trenches and No Man’s Land. An observer was stunned by the fall, but the pilot revived him. Both walked towards the French lines, and stumbled on to a German heavy battery in action. The aviators' were forced to lie in a hedge all day long. They eventually swam the "river and reached a French post

after hair-breadtlT escapes among German sentries, who frequently challenged and fired. On another occasion a German decoy machine signalled and approached a British patrol, when six German Albatrosses swooped to attack. Simultaneously another six Albatrosses appeared, confusing the first batch, who thought them Britishers, A general dog-fight ensued, wherein the British neatly downed the German decoy, also two Albatrosses. They then withdrew, leaving the remaining Albaj trosses fighting amongst themselves. GERMAN COMMUNIQUE. ).:■ :,‘i LONDON, June 11. Wireless German official. — We fought across the Matz, despite stubborn defence, stormed the heights of Marqueeeglise and Vigpemoni Hill and pressed forward as far p.s Antheuil. We advanced as far as Ribecourt. Prisoners have increased more than 10,000 since the 27th May. The Crown Prince’s total prisoners have . reached 75,000. Renewed enemy attacks north-west of Chateau Thierry broke down with heavy losses. At 11.30 this evening a wireless German official stated: The enemy attacked this evening between the Ancre and the Somme, effecting a local break through on the Corbie-Bray Road. Our counter attack stopped the advance.