German Offensive

Taihape Daily Times, 20 July 1918, Page 5

German Offensive

GERMAN ADMISSION OF FAILURE OF OFFENSIVE. LONDON, July 18. Every hour's news fromi the front emphasises the utter failure of the Germans to recover from their first checks east and west of Rheims. Even the Cologne Gazette, in an inspired article, admits no success, and attributes the German failure to changed tactics of the French, who delivered fierce .counter-attacks with reserves, thus upisetting the plans of the German High Command, who expected the same easy adViance as at Chemin "des Dames.

The "Cologne Gazette" says:—'German losses are within moderate limits . —& significant admission, because it . has always "been announced formerly ''".- that losses were consderiably fewer than the enemy's. Documents captured on German prisoners show that the main plan was to seize the country fromi the mountain of Rheims to Mont Mirail. Ludendorff Realised that Rheims would be a formidable object of attack frontally, but saw that if the French, line on either side were broken Eheims would fall to itself. The first lateral thrust was directed ait Chalons, and thence to Reuilly, and the second upon, Epernay, thence to Mont >: Mirail. Ludendorff ■thus hoped to secure room for the.deployment, of forces capable* t>£ attacking Pari?. , . x . Already, the Crown Prince has abandoned his attempt to drive for- ,, ward the whole front, and has substituted a series of local attacks. The result of the whole battle thus far shows that Ludendorff attempted a great deal more than his strength perniitted # 'General Gouraud was aware of the actual date of the attack a fortnight before it happened. On the night of the attack he withdrew all troops from the front lines, and an hour before the German attack opened the French artillery poured devastating fire upon the Germans assembled in the front line, while the German guns were playing upon the empty French trenches. . AMERICANS CLEAR TOWNS AND VILLAGES. TAKE 4000 PRISONERS. LONDON, July 18. ;.£ The United Press Association's correspondent on the West front states that the Americans captured more than a dozen towns and villages in the operations between Soissons and Chateau Bhierry. They also captured 4000 prisoners. COMBUSTED ATTACK BOTH SIDES OF SOISSONS. FRENCH AND AMERICANS ADVANCE TWO MILES. LONDON, July 18. The United Press Association's correspondent on the West front states that the French and Americans assumed the offensive between Fontenoy, six miles north-west of Soissons, and Belleu, two miles south of the city. The attack was pushed successfully, and at certain points an advance of from a anile and a-quarter to two miles wias achieved. WHAT IS THE ENEMY'S PLAN? LONDON, July 18. The French afro still bombarding the j Marne bridges, v J>v The enemy uuffluobtedly has an alternative plan in Wse of failure. It now remains to be seen what it is > He . probably means to combine the present offensive with something else.

Epernay is now in no danger, and is unlikely to be taken. The enemy is still half-,a-mile from Pourcy. Heavy rain fell yesterday. KAISER ON THE BATTLEFIELD. LONDON, July IS. A Berlin official says: The Kaiser was on the battlefield north-east of Rheims all day on the 16th, without rest.