German Offensive

Taihape Daily Times, 19 July 1918, Page 5

German Offensive

FROM THE AMIENS FRONT. ’ GERMAN RESERVES MOVED. LONDON, July 17. Amongst Prince Rupprecht’s reserves identified on tfie Tbattlefront, it appears that one-third was withdrawn from the Amiens front. Military circles are convinced that the Germans are unable to simultaneously attempt elsewhere anything on a similar scale to the present offensive. A SERIOUS REVERSE. NOT DEFINITE REPULSE. LONDON, July 17. Reuter’s correspondent at French headquarters, writing last evening, says that, generally speaking, the enemy’suffered a serious reverse, but it was too early to say that the attack as definitely repulsed. The situation m'ay, however, be regarded as distinctly good. " It is now clear that the enemy concentrated all his efforts on the offensive. He employed fiftysix divisions, including many" crack ones' There were fourteen of each in the .front line west and east of Rheims, and the same number in the second line. Prisoners state that the German army christened the battle the “Friedensturm,’ ’or peace attack; The correspondent says that most of the ground lost was not particularly valuable . The Moronvillers massif had to be abandoned, after hard fighting and the enemy again holds the five crests of Cornillot, Blanc, Haut, Letin, Teton, and Casque. The French did not attempt to hold them strongly, thus avoiding a large haul of prisoners, when the front was withdrawn two or three miles to the Souain-Perthe les Hurles line. ’ Telegraphing at 11.30 on Tuesday evening the correspondent says that the general attack as not renewed today, the operations being of a local character. It is expected that the* stabilisation of the line will be reached in a few days. To-day’s operations were dictated by the position in which the various German commanders found themselves after yesfailure. The German guns ■east of Rheims to-day fired from their ■old positions, the enemy not finding it worth the while to advance them. ** ■ FOCH STILL SATISFIED WITH SITUATION. LONDON, July 17. The Australian Press Association learns that General Foch is satisfied with the situation in the extended area of attack. The enemy’s only progress to-day is in the Prunay sector, east of Rheims, where, despite" terrible losses, he compelled the French to retire behind the river Vesle, two miles from their original line. TBis small success was gained after repeated heavy assaults, aided by tanks. The ground won bears no comparison with the German losses. * The French line is practically unchanged west of Rheims, owing to successful American counter attacks, and the Germans have not progressed beyond Reuilly, in the Marne Valley, this being a maximum advance of five miles. They are now subjecting Chalons to a long-range bombardment owing to failure to reach the town according to the offensive’s timetable. AMERICANS' GREAT HELP." LONDON, July 17. Colonel Repington slates: The French and British armies have Been freshly disposed. The troops we lent each other have now (been returned to

their own armies, American divisions, however, are fighting at various points. The American divisions are much stronger than Allied or enemy divisions, and are capable of holding their own against three German divisions. Von Amin’s army has been definitely thrown into the battle eastward. Of Rheims. GERMANY'S CLAIM. VANCOUVER, July 17. Berlin claims that the Germans took 18,000 prisoners and downed thirtyseven aeroplanes on Tuesday. ENEMY'S SERIOUS FAILURE, ACCUMULATING EVIDENCE. - : . i 1 . .1. LONDON, July 17: ' There is accumulating evidenceas to the seriousness of the enemy’s failure. The German claim that ’13,000 prisoners have been taken is believed to Ibe a wild exaggeration. The Allies’ captures have not yet been counted. BITTER FIGHTING CONTINUES. LONDON, July 17. At 5.30 this evening a French communique states: South of the Marne the Germans attacked last night with fresh forces north of Agnan Cliapolle and Monthoson. They succeeded in penetrating La Bourdonncrie. The battle continues bitterly on the wooded slopes immediately south of these points. . , • ’.v. Further east, despite very lively attacks, : we held, the enemy on the southern edge of Bouquigny and j NesIcs Woods.’ f , v , , i •The Germans also attempted/a powerful effort in the direction of Mont Voisin, which they seized, hut, .a coun-ter-attack drove them out. ; Between the Marne and Rheims violent fighting is proceeding in Courton Woods. An enemy attack ‘ in the region of Vrigny completely failed. East of‘Rheims local enemy attempts were without result, notably in the region of Prunay. The Germans, who were endeavouring to renew assaults at Beaumont, sustained a sanguinary defeat. We ' everywhere entirely maintained our positions. A GREAT COUNTER-ATTACK. LONDON, July 17. The French counter-attack south of Dormans was most valuable. The French advanced 3000 yards and recovered the heights, bringing the German bridges under effective fire' from six-inch guns. FEANCO-AMERICAN SUCCESS. LONDON, July 17. Correspondents on the American front state that the Franco-Americans’ counter-attack eastward of Chateau Thierry last night ro-took the towns of La Chappelle and Monthedon and cleared portions of B’ois de Conie. Fighting continues. The Americans everywhere are holding ground both eastward of Rheims and in the Chateau Thierry region. Milittary authorities in London regard the repulse of Von Einem by the counter-attacks south of Dormans was unquestionable. The gains have been secured. FIVE FIERCE ONSLAUGHTS. ALL REPULSED WITH HEAVY LOSS. LONDON, July 17. Von Einem delivered five fierce onslaughts yesterday between the Suippe Valley and Massiges, . They were magnificently repulsed with very heavy losses,

The German tanks failed. Anti-tank guns and land mines destroyed many. The French losses were absurdly light, but further fighting in this sector is expected. The Germans’ furthest advance in the Marne Valley is six miles, GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. LONDON, July 15. ' Wireless German official: Southwest of Coutremont we advanced as far as the Surmelin sector. Violent enemy counter-attacks south of the Marne broke down. We extended our successes north of the Marne. We advanced to the heights northward of Venteuil and fought our way through Rodetat Road woods. We threw back the enemy on the Montague de Rheims, and captured fortified heights north-west of Massiges.