WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 26 June 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

GERMANY'S DELAY j ' IN RESUMING OFFENSIVE. LONDON, June 24. Mr. Hamilton Fyfe says that the suggestion that the delay in the re- j sumption of the offensive was due to influenza in the enemy's Tanks appears to rest on a flimsy foundation. It would he unwise to accept the concurrent report that sections of the German soldiers are unwilling £o fight, but there is evidence of increasing dissatisfaction due to scarcity and inferiority of food, which consists of under twelve ounces of bread daily, coffee brewed . from roasted acorns ■>• and barley, and very little meat, while I -the tobacco is made from dried oak leaves and birch bark. There have been some recent desertions, but It' - would be stupid and criminal to as-' { - sume a; real general lowering of The enemy's moral. Moreover, his numbers are still .increasing from. Russia. % OFFICIAL FRENCH RERORT.' :T \h -.- ••'•':;.-.-Received 9 j *s; a.m. . LONDON, June 25., ,-,At 1 aumT.a French communique re- ' ported: On the plateau to the north - ,bf-Lenqrte we improved our position by a local operation and a counter attack ; was immediately repulsed. Fairly lively artiHerying is proceeding be- ? tween the .Aisne t'.nd the Marne. ; Fif- , teen tons of bombs were dropped on .. enemy; aerodromes in Picardy end tne ~.J Aisne, also on bivouacs in the region .ofcChaulnes and Montdidier. v ,"» ADMERICANS ADVANCE AT CHATEAU THIERRY. i ' ———— '; >" Received 11.10 a.m. LONDON, June 25. " Hostile artillery was active during the night between Villers Bretcnneux and Morlancourt, southward of Avion and Westward of Merviile; gas shells were freely employed. American official: In local operations in Chateau Thierry region wo made a further advance. A hostile counter attack southward of Torcy broljadown with heavy losses.