The Latest.

Taihape Daily Times, 18 July 1918, Page 5

The Latest.

GERMANS UNABLE TO RESUME

GENERAL OFFENSIVE

UTMOST GAIN SIX MILES

ROOSEVELT’S’’SON KILLED

Received 9.20

LONDON, July 17

A French communique issued at 1.25 a.m. states that the Germans are unable to resume the general attack which was broken yesterday, cut are violently endeavouring to enlarge the local sucesses. Fighting was particularly. stubborn south of the Marne during the morning and evening. We impeded an attempt to advance up the river by defending the ground foot by foot, and held it on a line from Cevilly to Leuvigny. We codnter-attackcd on a "rout from Saizagnan and La Chapelle to Monthoden. We: tack these places and carried the lino to the heights dominating the valley :of ■ the Marne in the region of Labour.dcnuerre.- The Franco Italians between the Marne 'arid Rheims repulsed s'everal enemy attempts, and maintained their positions east of Rheims. The Germans in the morning resumed violent artiL lery preparations, after which attacks followed at several points. They made several powerful attempts in the dir-

ection of Beaumont-sur-Vesle, but were unable to debouch from Prunay, and therefore broke dotvn. Two attacks west of the river in the sector c:- Suipye were equally lively. PARIS, July 17. Lieut. Vincent Roosevelt was killed in the recent fighting. The Germans have advanced to Bourdonnerie. LONDON, July 17. The Germans’ farthest advance to the south of the Marne is a gain of six miles in Festionny neighbourhood. The German casualties in the present offensive are estimated at one hundred thousand. WASHINGTON, July 17. General Pershing reports that only 500 Germans were captured at the Chateau Thierry fight. ENEMY’S EFFORTS EVERYWHERE IN VAIN. AND SUFFER HEAVY LOSSES Received 9.40 PARIS, July 17. An additional French communioue states that the enemy’s efforts were everywhere in vain, and their storming trops were repulsed -with heavy

losses. Orders on prisoners confirm the opinion that the attack on the Champagne front was carried out oy 15 divisions in line and ten in reserve. It was intended to travel twenty kilometres the first day, and reach the Marne. LATEST BRITISH OFFICIAL Received 10.30 L-ONODON. July 17. At 10.35 p.m. Sir Douglas fiaig reports:—The enemy attache and en-

tered two of our new posts in the neighbourhood of Hebuterne. Our counter-attack immediately drove him out. We secured prisoners. There Has been hostile artillerying in the Locre region. The aviation reports states that storms handicapped air work. We dropped a few bombs. A violent thunderstorm prevented night bombing after midnight. Previously thereto we dropped over four tons of bombs on Seclin Fairway station and hostile billets. '

The Air Ministry reports:—We successfully bombed railway sidings and sheds at Offenburg and aerodromes. 'Good bursts were observed'. W T e also attacked the railway and sidings T at Thionville. Several bursts were ob'served on the railway, a large fire was started, and there were several heavy explosions. All our machines returned. AMERICAN AIR REPORT. Received 10.10 WASHINGTON, July 17. American airmen destroyed five enemy aeroplanes and one balloon in the fighting over the Marne. GERMAN CLAIMS 13,000 PRISONERS Received 10.55 iLONuON, July 17. A German official' states:—During the advance across the Marne to the southwards of Joulgonne we broke in the enemy’s lines and penetrated part qf the French positions. Southwards and eastwards of Rheims. our artillery, mine throwers, gas throwers, flame throwers and tanks opened a way into the enemy’s position. Von Boehm crossed the Marne east of Jaulgonne. The Germans stormed the slopes on the south bank of the. Marne, constructed bridges, and thrust through stubbornly contested woods. We drove the enemy back towards Conde la Chapelle,. Combling, and Marquiel. We also won the first Franco-Italian position between Ardre and the Marne, and also attacked ■ the enemy from Prunay as far. as Tahure capturing the first position. We crossed' Cornillet, Hock-borg,- and Kulberg heights, and reached northwestward ' of Prosbs, and Auberive. We progressed between Tahure, where the enemy maintains his second position, northward of Prosnes, Souvain, and Perthless. Our total 13,000. We brought down 35 aeroplanes. HOW THE HUNS ATTACKED. AN INTENSELY VIVID NARRATIVE. BRILLIANT FIGHTING FRENCHMEN. REMARKABLE WORK BY AIRMEN Received 11.30 a m. LONDON,. July 17,, r Mr George Perris writes: It appears the enemy practised no now methods in this offensive; he opened with artillery preparations at midnight, and began his infantry assault at 4.30 a.m. He soused the French lines everywhere with a combination of gas and smoke shells, producing noxious clouds, isolating the groups that were defending, making the giving and receiving of orders and combined movement difficult. His columns of attack were not directed evenly along the whole front, but by paralleled thrusts. When these did not succeed flank attacks by supports wore attempted to clear the ground. Many tanks supplemented the guns in the Champagne, as against the ■Trench old elaborate trenches, wire field, and blockhouses. Consequently there was a strong contrast between the character of the battle oast of Rhcims. The French will look with pride to their defence of the Champagne front; they took heavy toll of the grey-coats, before they reached the trenches, with some seventy-fives and some bellowing monster shells, which had less speed, but greater explosive, effect. They were instantly at work, it was impossible to long hold the front, however, against overwhelming numbers. A frightful running hand to hand struggle ensued along communication trenches and second lines, with short sharp counter-attacks, and successful rallies. Gradually local reserves came into play when the attack weakened and eventually came to a standstill The defenders with their entrenchments are largely intact; they had the advantage of everything except numbers, consequently the enemy losses wore enormous. Between Chateau Thierry and Dormans, woods and dales provided good cover for gathering bridging materials. A few contingents in the darkness of the night, in small boats, crossed the river, which hereabouts is 100 to 150 yards wide, and commenced the construction of bridgeheads, which the French destroyed as ofhen as they wore recommenced. The enemy constructed pontoons, where the valley was wider and more difficult for the French to hold. These positions were under German fire and masses of men peurrd aeress. Thoro were six bridges

on a fourteen miles sv-.kor, S to 10 yards wide. Meanwhile French airmen came into action sowing death among the close ranks of the advancing enemy, and -harrassing their rear. One squadron of airmen broke through the bridges while troops were passing and many were drowned.