Offensive Begun.

Taihape Daily Times, 16 July 1918, Page 5

Offensive Begun.

THE RIVER MARNE CEOSSED. Received 7,35 a.m. LONDON, July 15. A new German offensive has begim in the Argonne district. It Is reported they have crossed the Marne. PEENCH VIOLENTLY ATTACKED ON A 50 MILE FRONT. Eeceived a.m. VANCOUVER, June 15. The United Press Paris correspondent states that the Germans are violently attacking the French on a fifty mile front north-east of Chateau Thierry. GEEMANS CEOSS THE MAENE BY MANY BEIDGES. DESPITE AMERICAN RESISTANCE Received 7 # 35 a.m. LONDON, July 15. The Germans are crossing the River Marne by many bridges, despite American resistance. The Germans also 'attacked' the Americans at Chateau Thierry. The Amreicans successfully counter-attacked in the Vaux region. A BITTER BATTLE RAGING ROUND DORMANS. AMERICANS DRIVE GERMANS BACK. . j ~ Received 11.5 a.m. ; .."',"'. LONDON, July 15. A bitter battle is in progress around Dormans, the Germans seeking to cross the Marne. The Uunited Press correspondent Teports the Americans counter attacked at Chateau Thierry and drove back the Germans 700 yards. THE FIGHTING AT VAUX. SITUATION SATISFACTORY. Received 9.35 a.m. VANCOUVER, July 15. The United Press Paris correspondent reports that the Germans are heavily attacking the Americans at Vaux. The situation is satisfactory. SCENES OF THE FIGHTING. One of the points at which the German offensive has been launched, .mentioned in our cables to-day, is Vaux, -which is situated slightly north of Verdun, about twelve miles distant. The spot is a hallowed one In the annals of the French Army, as it was round Fort Vaux £Ee life and death struggle for Verdun centred, when the Crown Prince set out to cap- . ture Verdun, and where the French troops fought with a heroism unparallelled in the history of war, exclaiming, 'You shall not pass!" Dormans, where our cables state, a very bitter battle is raging, is on the banks of the River Marne, about 15 miles east of Chateau Thierry. NEW CHARACTER OF THE FIGHT. ING. WHAT WE HAVE LEARNT FROM THE ENEMY. Received 9.15 a.m. LONDON, July 15. The "Daily Chronicle's" Paris correspondent states there is a' deep change in the character of the fighting on the Western front. Both sides enjoy the shelter AfMie old trench system in the fronl lirre, but the proufiiglous field works, which typified' the Hindenburg line have been abandoned Ijy both sides. Instead of the old

ditches and dugouts which aviators easily mapped and massed batteries of heavy guns wiped out, both sides have introduced a method of defence callea" "echelongment in depth." The defensive front has main bodies and the rear by reserves. We have learnt from the enemy during the last three months, but Ludendorff's latest invention has this weakness, it precedes enemy spasms, while the best German divisions are being trained for the next onset. Inferior units are placed in the front line, which we are easily master of.

SAFEGUARDING AMIENS.

ADVANCES BY FRENCH AND AUSTRALIANS*. '

LONDON, July 14,

The "Morning Post" states: : The French advance in the Rouvrel sector supplements the brilliant Australian action at Hamel. Both forced the enemy from dominating high ground. The position at Amiens is now decidedly stronger than ten days ago. The Frencjb. have acquirell j elevations which control long reaches along the valley and the Avre River, which deprive the Germans of direct observation into Amiens, nine miles aisfant. The ground taken at Hamel achieved similar results. We also continue to reach out northward. The Australians on the Merris sector absolutely dominate No Man's Land. The unhappy Germans dare not show their heads; Baiting the enemy goes on daily. Large numbers have been killed. British artillery is ceaselessly harassing the German lines of communication. ;

OPERATION NEAR YPRES

LONDON, July 14

Sir Douglas Haig reports:—We carried out succesful local operations early in the morning of the 14th. English troops advanced their line east of Dickebusch Lake (south-west of Ypres) and prisonered over 260.

BRITISH AIRMEN BUSY.

LONDON, July 14

Sir Douglas Haig reoprts: We c»stroyed twelve aeroplanes on the 13th, and drove down four uncontrollable. Three of ours are missing.

We dropped 4| tons of bombs in the daytime, and over 1100 bombs, weighing nineteen tons, at nght-time ,on enemy camps; railway lines, trains antf billets. All our night-fliers returned.

GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. LONDON, July 14. Wireless German official. —We sanguinarily repulsed an atack west of Chateau Thierry. Our night-fliers atacked enemy railway works between Dunkirk, Boulogne, and Abbeville, also in the re. gion of Lillers, Saint Pol, Doullens, Grepy en Valois, and Villers Cotterets.