WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 4 July 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

GERMAN PLANS DISORGANISED. BY AUSTRIAN DEFEAT. 5 LONDON, July 2. : Renter's correspondent at British Headquarters says that a persistent and successful policy of pinpricks having failed to provoke a resumption of the" German attacks, shows that the delay in the latter is imposed fcy necessity. It is probably due to the difficulty of concentrating material on ground far in advance of railways, but undoubtedly the Austrian defeat disorganised the German schemes, hence the coming blow is awaited with confidence, though it is recognised that the next three months will prove critical.

LUDENDOttFF INDIGNANT;

AT DESERTERS' DISCLOSURES. . <: . LONDON, I July X-Tv c> General von Ludendorff," in ■■■ an in. ■ dignant i arpiy ; order, denounces German prisoners and deserters, who dis: - closed enemy plans, for the German on the Chemin des Dames on May 25. so that the enemy knew the hour, and form of the attacks,.: and 4iri■its engaged, and similiarly on June.. 9/ Ludendorff says that he is amazed at the accuracy and wealth of detailed information which the French derived from German prisoners. The infamous conduct of a few individuals have'the gravest results on the victorious issue of the war.

AMERICA'S GREAT PART.

WASHINGTON, July 2. President Wilson announces that American soldiers at home and aboard ■will, in January, number four million. American troops are now in France, of whom- 276,000 were sent in June. President Wilson adds: The United States rejoices to see her forces going faster and faster into the struggle which is destined to redeem the ■world.

OFFICIAL REPORTS.

i & LOSSES AND GAINS. Received 11.40 a.m. LONDON/ July 3. Sir Douglas Haig reports: After a iaeavy bombardment the enemy onfne night of the 2nd attacked and recaptured the greater part of the ground taken by us in minor operations. On the evening of the 30th we carried out successful raids in the neighbourhood of Boyelles, Moyeauville, and Merris. A French communique reports that between the Oise and Aisne we repulsed two raids east of VTngre, and captured the village of St. Pierre Algle, aouth of the Aisne. A German counter attack upon positions in the region of Vaux, west of Chateau Thi- * errjy captured by the Americans, completely failed. Fresh prisoners remained in our hands. '. ; American communique.—We storm- ' ed the village of Vaux. Laroche Wood, and neighbouring woods in co-opera-tion with the French, who advanced their line on Hill 204. We advanced oar positions a thousand yards on a 11 mile front, and the enemy's losses - in killed and wounded were heavy. ' regiments holding the sector recanted obstinately, and was practically annihilated. Our losses are relatively light. The German Counter attack ;was entirely repulsed . .

HOW VAUX WAS TAKEN

YANKS TOO MMANY FOR HUNS

Received 11.25 a.m

LONDON. July 3

The Daily Chronicle's correspondent at American headquarters says the Americans scored again in their operation in the Marne valley. They captured Vaux and four hundred prisoners after a forty minutes* attack. This is the logical development of earlier successes in the Chateau Thierry sector, and entailed ousting the Germans from Laroche Wood and the occupation of Knoblik crest, called Hill 192. Vaux was heavily garrisoned with many machine" guns, but the Americans found a French mason huilder, vifho knew, the ..interior of almost every, house. ; ;•.Scouting; parties were sent out night latter, nighty thus craftily drawing i the-, machine gun fire. When jeverything was .known the r attacks were: launched; -There were four thousand Huns in. Vaux when the American bombardment: commenced. All but seven hundred fled before the "doughboys" went over the top. ; The Americans, closely hugged an almost perfect barrage, advancing on a two miles front. Within twentythree minutes they were inside Vaux and had taken Hill 192 in twenty-six minutes; the wood was taken in for*y minutes. The American machinery was too -perfect for the Germans. ; There is ho doubt now that the Unit'ed; States is in the war.