German Offensive

Taihape Daily Times, 17 July 1918, Page 5

German Offensive

RIVER MARNE CROSSED. AT THREE PLAGES. DRIVE REGARDED AS GERMANY'S LAST EFFORT. f > LONDON, July 15., The United Press Asoeiation's correspondent on the American front says that the German drive extends from the west of Chateau Thierry to the east of Rheims. Bitter fighting is In progress, especiallly at Chateau Thierry. The Germans crossed the Marne at three places, Mezy, . six •miles east of Chateau Thierry, La - Brettonmere Farm, a mile to the northeast and Jaulgonne, on the north bank of the river, 7 miles north-east of Chateau Thierry. :!.; • The Germans threw pontoons across the Cfyfarne amid fieree fire. The Americans quichly recovered the . ground, at Chateau. Thierry and then forced : the enemy back half a mile beyond the original line, -: - Military, officers in America .regard attempt. -They believe, that Germany will:push,the.offensive .regardless of losses, but. : #re confident that she will not reach her objectives..,-."...-.

FOCH SATISFIED,

BRILLIANT AMERICAN COUNTER ATTACK ■ ' ' . LONDON, July 15. Mr Bonar Law, in the House of Commons, announced that Mr Lloyd George, in telephone communication with General Foeh, had learnt iihat General Foch is well satisfied with Monday's fighting. The attack, on an eighty kilometre front, penetrated west of Rheims of an average depth of four or five kilometres. The Americans south of the Marne, by a brilliant counter-attack, drove the enemy back, prisonering 1000. The enemy is ■completely checked east of Rheims,

GOOD WORK ON DICKEBUSCK SECTOR.

LONDON, July 15. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Sunday's operation in the Dichebuseh sector on two thousand yard front in the neighbourhood of Ridge Wood, resulted in the capture of a recently disputed position of some local importance We took the enemy by surprise and were completely successful, all oor objectives being gained; 296 were prisonerc-d. Our casualties were light. We slightly improved our positions southward of Villers B'rotonneux, and made a successful raid in the neighbourhood of Ayette. Hostile artillery was active southward of Arras, northward of Bethjune, and in the LocreDickesbusch sectors

GERMANS PENETRATE THREE MILES.

LONDON, July 15.

'At 11.45 this evening a report stated. The Germans have penetrated to a depth of 5060 yards (almost three miles) west of Rheims. They hare captured Chezy, south of Chateau Thierry. They have also captured Avo. court and Chanunzy. They attacked east of Rheims, but were stopped in the French hack positions after capturing Brenly. qijfcsituation there IS . satisfactory. ~" The total the front is 55 miles. Probably sixty German divislons are engaged.

A FORCED OFFENSIVE. LONDON, July 15. The Exchange Telegraph Agencys Paris correspondent says to-day's offensive was largely due to the enemy's difficulty in concentrating troops arid material over a circulation so reduced that during the day even thirty-five kilometres behind the lines he cannot move at one time more tnas one battery or company. OFFICIAL FRENCH REPORT BATTLE PROCEEDING. LONDON, July 16. 9 A French'communique states: After violent artillery preparation the Germans attacked in the morning from Chateau Thierry to Main de.Masseges, our troops energetically sustaining the enemy's 'shock on a- front of,about SO kilometres-. The battle is proceeding.