German Offensive

Taihape Daily Times, 18 July 1918, Page 5

German Offensive

VI NO NEW TACTICS.

THE FILTRATION PROCESS.

PROGRESS EAST OF EHEIMS.

3 MILES ON 20-MILE FEONT.

LONDON, July 16

Reuter’s corespondent on the French front' states that the enemy adopted no new methods. He advanced under cover of a mist, and relied on the usual filtration tactics, sending columns along the small valleys. The Germans are not using anything like one division, to the mile, as in previous attacks. The French Higher Command, is most pleased with the situation. Latest reports,, >at noon on ‘Monday, show that on the Prunay—Massiges sector the offensive was held everywhere except at Prosnes, while the enemy occupied Prunay, which was, half a mile behind the line.

In the attack west of Efrems, between Cloomieres and Fresnoyj tho tenemy made .progress on a twenty-mile front on an average of two or three miles, with a maximum depth of 3| at Belval and Camhrezy. ; ■ ; The Times says: “We are witnessing the beginning of an enterprise which . will ultimately surpass in magnitude the previous., greatest battles - of-the war. Wo' may assume that, the enemy - hopes to reach an effective bombarding range of Paris. We are convinced that Foch and the French army will counter the menace.” ITEM RESISTANCE. TO NEW OFFENSIVE. LONDON, July 16. - A French communique says: Between Dormans, on. the Marne, and Eheims, the French and Italians are tenaciously resisting on the line from Chatillons srur Marne, through Cauchery and Marfaust to Bouilly, East of Eheims the attack, which extended from Sillery to the Main de Massiges encountered an impregnable defence. The enemy renewed his efforts against Prunay and Ees Marquises in the regions north of Prosnes and Souain, but despite repeated attacks he has been unable to reach the fighting positions. AMEEICAN COUNTER- STROKE. 500 PRISONERS TAKEN. it*;. , LONDON, July 16. An American official communique says: “Eastward of Chateau Thierry, where the enemy succeeded this morning in gaining some ground, we coun-ter-attacked and drove tfrem back to the Marne. We took 500 prisoners. In the Vosges five trench raids attempted by the enemy broke down.” ENEMY AIMING AT THE CHALONS RAILWAY. etjfil Olft .-i T.T READY FOR ANOTHER BLOW ON . AMIENS FRONT. LONDON, July 16. The Australian Press Association’s special correspondent reports that the enemy advanced down the main highway of the Somme by the Souain road, im the Champagne. Details of progress are lacking, but the main thrust was apaprently south-west of Eheims, where the advance was rapid. The enemy crossed the Marne at a number of places before ten o’clock in the morning. The Germans apparently aim at isolating Rheims by attacking it from both sides, and also hope to P take the hills southward of ‘ the «*ty known as the mountains of Rheims, which are regarded as most important positions, hut the ultimate aim appears to break through and seiz'd ’ the Chal-

\ ons railway and the hill, which would serve to protect the right flank in a further advance south-west. It is not certain yet whether this is the main blow, but circumstanes indicate that it is. It is known that the Germans prepared a’ttJacks at other points, notably on the Amiens front. OFFENSIVE MAY NOT BE MAIN EFFORT. LONDON, July 15. Brigadier-General Sir F. B. Maurice, writing in the “Daily Chronicle,” says that in view of the *fact that the enemy took little trouble to conceal his preparations eastward of Rheims Toe offensive may not be his main effort. Rheims is not more than a name, and it is certain that Foch is ready to evacuate the awkward salient, projbably

retiring on strong, lines behind the mountains. Rheims being off the map the object is possibly to use up Foch’s reserves, drawing them from the north preparatory to attacking Amieris or northward, or the enemy may desire to widen the base of attack on Paris, or possibly the real effort may be to defeat the largest possible portion of the French army, without geographical. objectives. Hindenhurg has prepared his ground elsewhere, and can watch present developments, thrown in fresh troops, follow up this blow, or change his plans quickly. COUNTER-ATTACK EAST OF RHEIMS LONDON, July 16 No British troops are yet involved in the offensive. The French stopped the enemy eastward of Rheims by galv lant counter-attacks at nine in the morning, greatest depth of pene-

tration is represented by a line drawn through Souain, Prosnes, and Prunay. The enemy advanced fo a depth of three or four miles between Pourey and Baval. Though the opening bombardment was heavy, Rheims itself was not shelled. The enemy crossed the Marne at Dormans, Passy-sur-Marne, and Fossoy. The latest news contradicts the capture of Chezy, which the French held at noon. The Germans gas shelled the back areas | heavily along the Avhole front to a j depth of 18 miles. | GERMAN SPIRIT BROKEN. ‘ | LONDON, uJIy 17. Reutre’s correspondent at Headquarters, writing bn the 16th, reports: The whole battlefield indicates, except in a few minor localities, that the offensive has so far been a . complete failure. New prisoners say that they i are convinced they have been beaten. An enemy carrier pigeon, captured i east of Chateau Thierry says the situ- ! ation is serious, and' thaf there is no chance of making further progress in

that locality. East of Rheims, early this morning, we are not only bolding up the enemy attempts to advance, but apparently have broken their spirit. At one place here, our counter-attacks drove the enemy from a salient in the region of Fossoy. We improved our positions at night, and drove the encihy across the river. A French communique says: South of the Marne the Germans were unable to pass the line of St. 'Agnan La Cha-pelle-Monthon on the southern confines of the Forest of Douquigny. We prisonered 1000 in this~sector. We hold Mareuilsep, north of the Marne. We held the enemy at the southern approaches to Chatillon, and

on the south-eastern borders of Redemat Wood. There is no appreciable change on the rest of the line. The enemy made no attempt during the night east of Rheims. The Germans, exhausted by the fruitless struggle yesterday, wore unable to pass beyond

our cover zone, which runs through Prunay, the southern borders of tho woods northward of Roman, and the high read aS far as~ Suippe, in the region north of Souain-Perthes les Sur-

i lus. Our battle positions have not been i encroached upon anywhere. Prl- ' soners report that the German losses j yesterday were extremely high.

THE AMERICAN COUNTERATTACK

LONDON, uJIy 17.

Apart from the early morning fog, the weather was not favourable to the enemy. South winds prevented the use of poison gas, and on flie open moorlands of Champagne they were likely to blow back the fumes of their own shells upon the assailants. The American counter-atack in which they prisonered 500, was a most brilliant episode. The Americans held a fourkilometre front, where the bombardment, the heaviest the Americans had ever been subjected to, lasted for ten hours, .but they stuck it without turning a hair. The ferocity of the Ameri. can response, and their machine gunning and infantry in the counter-atr tack, drove the Bosches to the river in such haste that many of them were drowned while attempting to cross. One artillery unit which fell short of amunition called for volunteers to travel three miles of the shell swept road. Every man volunteered. A number of picked men drove their horses and caisons at a galop through the shell bursts, and when their horses were killed the men cut them out" of the harness. They managed to bring up the needed ammunition. At 4.40 p.m. a French communioAie states: The battle continued towards the end of the afternoon and yesterday evening with redoubled violence between Chateau Thierry and Rheims. The enemy, accentuating his efforts to enlarge his gains, launched ruinous attacks. The fighting was particularly violent south of the Marne in the region of Chatillou. Franco-American troops resisted the enemy magnificently and counter-attacked vigorously on several occasions. ..INDICATIONS OP MAIN OFFENSIVE. LONDON, July 17. Probably sixty German divisions are engaged. If so, it suggests that this is undoubtedly their main ofensive. They launched their first ' attacks between 4 and 4.30 a.m., while the mist was hanging over the Marne Valley, assisting the attackers. The bombardment, including gas shells, was most intense between Prunay and Masiges. It was reported at midday yesterday that fne assaults were everywhere held up except at Souain road, near Prosnes, and Prunay. The enemy westward of Rheims at midday

advanced to a maximum depth of from two to. three miles on a front of 20 miles. The Germans failed to gain the high ground eastward of Rheims, where the maximum depth of their advance was a mile and a half: They crossed the Marne in a heavy mist, it was difficult ground, .owing to thick woods and deep gullies. There ware adequate French reserves behind the sectors, POSITION DISTINCTLY GOOD. .CROWN PRINCE’S HEAVY BUT FUTILE ATTACKS. LONDON, July 16. Latest news states that the Crown Prince continues a heavy attack east of Rheims. The French arc resisting valiantly in their battle positions two miles behind the front lines. There is similar pressure west of Penetration nowhere exceeds four miles. Everything indicates that the enemy organised the attack on a great scale. The troops include a Targe proportion

of Prince Rupprccht’s reserves. It is thooforc regarded as improbable that the enemy will attempt a simultaneous attack on Amiens or Flanders. Thus far the whole situation is distinctly good. It is too early to claim a definite repulse. General .Campbell reports that there have been no further enemy gains. Counter-attacks slightly gained on the Marne. The Germans admit the severity of the resistance. They claim 13,000 prisoners. AMERICAN COMPLETELY UPSET GERMAN PLAN. LONDON, July pg.

American Headquarters repert on Monday evening: The Americans i n the river bend now command the river front so that the German plan here has been completely upset. A famous Gorman division on the left bend attempted all day to cross, but all assaults withered under our fire, and not a single German crossed. The prisoners taken in our counter-attack number between a thousand and fifteen hundred, including a complete stair. The Germans

hesitatingly at first, but soon many broke and ran. Within three hours the enemy was driven back from the river. American machine-gunners contributed most effectively in defeating the enemy plans. ENEMY’S ERRONEOUS TIMETABLE.

PARIS, July 16. Semi-official.— Orders found on prisoners show that the Germans expected to reach Epornay on ,the evening of the loth Chalons and Surmano on the 16th, and Sezanme on the 17th. They employed thirty to thirty-five divisions. Owing fo their heavy losses a shock division, instead of being relieved in the evening, was sent back during the morning to be re-formod. Hundreds of German dead arc hanging on the barbed wire, and numerous enemy tanks strew the ground. Mr. Gibbs opines that Prince Rupprccht of Bavaria may be ordered to make a number of holding attacks

against the British and strike a number of hammer blows with the object of keeping the British heavily engaged GENERAL FOCH FULLYPREPARED.

" ( LONDON, July 16. It will take throe or four days to learn whether this is the final German attack. There arc indications that Hindenhurg has not yet shown his whole hand. Probably the Germans themselves still do not know whether the attack has diclosod weakness which will make it desirable to launch their final attack. It is thus far certain that the attack is an attempt to capture Rheims by a converging operation east and west, thus straightening the German lino by linking the Marne salient with the lino oast of Rheims. General Foch was al-

ways prepared for this move, which has lona boon obvious.