WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 20 June 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

hlstden burg planning attack ON CALAIS. PARIS, June 18. M. Marcel Hutin says that after instructing the Crown Prince to take Compeigne and then march to Paris, Hindenburg is now planning for Prince Rupprecht, to take German losses between Montdidier and Noyon are not far short of eight thousand. AMERICA’S PIGHTING QUALITIES. POSITIONS CAPTURED. PARIS, June 18. In defeating the' Germah! attack on Xivray bn Sunday the Americans gave a- brilliant demostration of their capabilities. The enemy showered first and rear lines with heavy artillery and launched 6000 storm troops on the position between Yargaux pool land At the beginning of the bombardment the Americans withdrew from Xivray to positions of resistance, Jiving the enemy to penetrate the village. They then attacked the Germans with machine-guns and hand grenades, inflicting serious losses. They reentered Xivray after violent hand to hand fighting and displayed the greatest tenacity. The enemy ultimately fled. GERMAN ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE RHEIMS. STOPPED BY FRENCH COUNTERATTACK. Received 910 a.m. LONDON,- June 19. The Germans began a new offensive on the Rheims front. Their attack on Rheims was intended to capture the town, but was stopped the French counter-attacking successfully. A COMPARISON OF BELLIGERENT MAN POWER, WHEREIN LIES THE ENEMY’S SUPERIORITY. Received 11.10 a.m. •“ NEW YORK, June 19. A Paris correspondent quotes Senator Berengen as stating that the Allies are not appreciably inferior in numerical strength, as they have about seven millions, which roughly is the same as the Central Powers, The enemy’s apparent superiority is due to massing men at points he selects for attack. GERMANS' MORALE GOINIG. LONDON, June 19. Refugees from Northern Prance state that German troops, even in the first line, are now very short of rations. The morale of the army is affected by the sight of endless trains of wounded from the front. Men are deserting in groups. Two to three hundred crossed the Dutch frontier, bribing the sentinels, who are unable to cope with the deserters, who are too numerous. In some cases whole regiments refuse to advance. They are Isolated and deprived of food until they consent to fight. Summary execution has been abandoned as a punishment, as men are too valuable. The ‘American, peril is chief theme of conversation amongst German soldiery.