WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 22 July 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

THE NEW ATTACK. ON .GERMAN LEFT FLANK. ! PARIS, July 19. General Mangin commanded tie new attack, which was directed on the whole flank of the German army, upon the left side of a right angle formed by the German advance on Chateau Thierry. The operation resembles the first Oamibrai success, using tanks instead of bombardment, while the infantry advanced under a scientific creeping barrage. The French at Soissons and Chateau Thierry are fighting with their faces eastward, and the Germans.at Chateau Thierry and Chatilons are fighting sduthwards ... The French are endeavouring to carry; out operations with the Germans wem- endeavouring to push to a conclusion between Rheims and Epernay, both seeking to flatten out an isoscle* triangle. The latest information is that the German push was held and General Mangin. is still progressing. ENORMOUS ENEMY- LOSSES. LONDON, July ,19. , The German losses in front: of the American positions are enormous. American artillery wiped but an entire German regiment before it i was able to ; bss the MarncLlt is believed to have been the famous'German grenadiers. * Three Gerio.au divisions were so demoralised that they have not reappeared fighting again. the region of Mezy and Jaulgonhh the German dead were four and five deep. The Amereian regimental commander estimated the German dead in front of his command at 5,000. PEBBLE RESISTANCE. .TO AMERICAN ONSLAUGHT. LONODN, July 19. A correspondent at American headquarters reports: Large numbers of American storm troops co-opeatcd with th cFrench in the attack. The Americans went over the top with a yell without artillery preparation. The Germans for the most part resisted feebly here and there. Stubborn fighters appeared but were quickly vanquished by the American bayonets. The enemy everywhere was completely surprised. The attack was most successful in the region of Soissons, where the Allies’ final objectives were parsed. The whole operation up to the present is more sucecssful even than was expected. Many guns were captured, including eighteen in one town. The whole German left flank is menaced, and the enemy must bring up troops from the Marne front or leave them in danger. The Americans were trained to the last notch, and behaved like veterans, nothing stopped them. There was the closest co-operation between the artillery and infantry. Many light and heavy guns moved up most swiftly ancl deluged shells on the enemy’s retreating forces or reserves. The tanks did all that was expected of them, preceding and aeompanying the infantry and clearing many places that escaped artillery fire. Hastily organised enemy counter-at-tacks here and there were all broken ■ap. .The resistance was stubborn east Of Chaudin. Fighting is likely to become heavier as the German reserves arrive. TIDE OP GERMAN SUCCESS. BAR BEGUN TO RECEDE. A -LONDON, July 19, ■,Up to noon the French between Bellean and the Aisne Valley had advanced between thre and four miles.

They were especially successful in the Aisne Valley* The American artillery are co-opor-ating in the biggest Allied counter- offensive since April, 1917. Meanwhile the IGermans made no further advance at Epernay, and were slightly thrown hack in places. The French .recaptured the .whole front on the Beausejour-Femz- Massiges line. They also recaptured Lauteil, Venguel, and Boisdcroi, on the Marne.

The American division captured Vierzy, advancing three miles beyond the village.

The Germans farther south on the heights northward of Oucq Valley hastily counter-attacked. The situation here for the moment is obscure. The French still farther south gained the western outskirts of Gouey, on the Nevillyst front and also advanced to a depth of three 1 miles. Eastwardof Rheims they recaptured Prunay.

The counter-offensive is regarded as having succeeded exceptionally well, and the situation is extremely promising. The enemy’s artilery replied weakly. French counter battery work is reported to be remarkably good. iGerman. aviators, flying low, used machine-uns, endeavouring to impede the attack, but with small success. The, French attack has already been much more successful than either of the German attempts at Noyon, Montdi.di.Qij, or their latest attacks at Rheims. , The French advanced to a considerably greater depth in six hours than the Germans did in three days. The attack threatens German communications within ..the. salient especially at two points—Ouchy ie Chateau and Fismes. The French now have the enemy, communications under direct observation, and have thqs achieved an important strategic position whatever may bo the next developments. This valuable advance is regarded as one of the most brilliant performances of the war in local fighting. Southward of the Marne the French lost some high ground at Dormans, but came back further on the southern slope. Although perhaps losing observation, their guns remain within effective range of bridges.. Paris is overjoyed at the new r s of Foch’s masterly manoeuvre in striking a lightning blow in the neck of the German salient and scoring instantaneous victory. It is opined that at last the tide of German successes has reached high-water mark, and has now begun to recede, “KILL GERMANS, AND KILL THEM IN PLENTY,” FOCH’S ARMY ORDER ON EVE OF BATTLE. PARIS, July 19. General Gourand, in an army order on the eve of the offensive pointed out that a defensive battle was never undertaken under more favourable cir. cumstances. Strong infantry and artillery reinforcements arrived, while the ground became a formidable fortress which would be invincible if well guarded. Every man must have only one thought, to kill Germans, and kill them in plenty until they were exhausted. The French counter-attack was a surprise. It opened without bombardment on a front of twenty-seven miles, from the heights northward of Fohtenoy to Belleau. The French at one o’clock captured the heights overlooking Fontenoy, on the extreme left, and progressed to Mont de ParlsT, ~ overrunning the plateau in front of Soissons, and reaching to within a mile of the city. They also gained a ravine at the River Crise, which runs into Soissons, on a front five miles to tire

eastward o i Busancy. which means a maximum, advance of five miles at this point. An army corps attacking here took prisoner 4000 of the enemy, and captured 30 guns and a consider, able quantity of material. The Americans participated in this advance.

ENEMY’S DISASTROUS OFFENSIVE.

-25 RESERVE DIVISIONS USED

LONDON, July 20

The enemy used 25 divisions from his general reserve in the abortive offensive, wherein he suffered very heavy losses'. His breakdown’ was principally due to the accurate estimate by the French higher command and the rapidity wherewith they disposed their forces to meet the attack. The French successful counter-stroke may profoundly alter the situation on the Champagne front. The French position on the ridge overlooking Soissons enables them to bombard the important railway networks. The enemy in this sector is now entirely dependent on road transport, so that the troops round Chateau Thierry must draw their supplies by road forty miles.

AMERICANS’ CLOCK-LIKE ' WORK.

PARIS, July 20

The first wave of Americans seized their objectives. The second came over them, capturing ‘ positions according to programme. They had hardly completed consolidation when the first wave swept on again, clearing ground well beyond the fixed objectives. Tanks co-operated importantly throughout, preceding as well .as following the infantry, and clearing the enemy out of pockets. The advance in some places was so rapid that the Franco-Amoricans hurriedly dined at tables at which the Germans had breakfasted. The attackers met Germans with working batches of French prisoners on roads. They liberated the ■'latter, who joined in the fight. There is ample evidence. that the French offensive surprised the Germans The attackers,encountered a division which was being relieved. They also found officers asleep in dug-outs. Aircraft did .splendidly, spotting' enemy concentrations, which were promptly They also bombed three troop trains. The Franco-American advance continues. The Germans are bringing up 100,000 reserves, Tlie British advanced a mile south of Hebuterne. SURPRISE OP THE WAR LONDON, July 20. Mr Gerald Campbell states: The blow fell like a flash of lightning. In the - whole course of the war there has been no'surprise so complete. As the advance proceeded, Germans were found sleeping, or peacefully gardenharvesting crops. At first, enemy .officers prisonered could not credit the offensive, declaring that Foch •had not the necessary troops. The spectacle of -rthe advance was gorious artd inspiring. .The French could not be restrained. The majority of the Americans had never peen under fire before, and dashed along tlie sunny, smiling landscape, through yellow cornfields, and plunged into rivers breast deep under heavy artillcrey, singing choruses. The French everywhere swept on, leaving the reserves to clean up centres of resistance.

Everywhere objectives were considerably exceeded. 'At least 100 German guns were captured. German counter attacks on Thursday were nowhere on a- raally largescale.

The Fencb continued to advance on Friday morning, when German resistance was much greater, the High Command using reserves freely. The struggle became more severe.

When Mangin saw"the troops in possession of the heights dominating Soj. ssons on Thursday evening he heaved a sigh of satisfaction. Along the' entire front the Germans attempting to rush in men and artillery supplies under very intense Allied shell fire.

American units, renewing the bat. tie on Friday encountered German reserves in woods, villages and grainfields south of Soissons. hut the Anie. ricans, in conjunction with the French advanced to north-West of Chateau Thierry. Other American units were engaged in the vicinity of Dormans. AH wore excited and confident of dealing a a big blow at the enemy .

As for the cavalry, they came into their own at last. It was a sight for sore eyes as they rode eastward along the valleys, debouching from the forests. Airmen saw cavalry fighting in streets of villages so far ahead that I dare not name them. Everything went like clockwork. By 9 o’clock Torcy and Couchamps were captured, and heavy counter attacks repulsed here by 2 o’clock in the afternoon. Farther up„ towrads Onrcq and over the whole front saw the same success.

It was a great day in France, and materialy changes the situation.

Eye-witnesses of the Allied counter offensive say that the outstanding feature was the completeness of Foch’s surprise. Some German officers were captured in bed. The prisoners include a German working party who had been sent out to reap the harvest. The weather conditions were most favourable. A violent cyclone raged on Wednesday night, covering the arrival of the French tanks, the front'line noise concealing the advance. When the attack was in full swing the fob lowing morning, the spectacle of the battlefield was one of great beauty. The infantry could be seen approaching the red-roofed villages dotting the country, which rose gently from the, rivers to the high ground, which passed into French possession by the evening. Parties of cavalry could be seen ahead, and infantry, and tanks 1 crossing the wheat fields, golden, and ready to harvest, or the woods of olive green, in the windy sunshine, which made up the rest of the countryside. Above, fleets of aeroplanes manoeuvred among the low trailing clouds, set against the deep blue sky. Within an hour and a-half of the commencement of the battle, tbe German front was broken at several points. The cavalry were immediately called in. They were soon some miles ahead of original French line, while the infantry were still fighting for the villages behind. By 2 o’clock the Dragoons were fighting in the streets of a village six miles ahead of the starting point. The attack was pressed so hard that the element of surprise in some parts of the field lasted for hours. German officers were unable to believe that Generals Mangin and De Goutte could embark on a flank attack. One German officer prisonered was asekd whether the Germans had not feared a flank attack. He replied; “An attack with what we thought were Foch’s exhausted reserves? BRITISH FRONT MOVING. ;! r METEEEN VILLAGE CAPTURED ■ j, O'V A JA'CO LONDON, July 20. Sir Douglas Haig states: As a result of operations on July 20th our line in the Mcteren sector was advanced on a front about 4000 yards and the village of Mcteren, with a group of buildings to the south-westward, is now held by the British. On the extreme left the enemy offered considerable resistance. At other points our obcctive was gained rapidly, without difficulty. We prisonered 436.

The Britsh made a successful raid near Beaumont Hamel.

After sharp fighting, ,wc pushed our line forward on a front of about -a mile southwarn of Hebuterne. There was hostile artillery firs' in the neighbourhood of St. Tenant anil' “Yprcs. The United Press correspondent states: Haig’s artillery is giving' the Germans fits. ’ This strengthens the indications that thc Allies'iare slowly buff surely increasing their punch, and that in places the initiative is his. The Allies’ guns throughout the Armentorics salient and elsewhere are perpounding the -enemy along roads, support trenches and reserve positions, also more distant rest billets, Wherever Prince Rupproeht replaces tired troops by comparatively fresh divisions, British high explosive shells harass moving troops. Sir Douglas Haig state that Scottish troops captured Mcteren village, gaining all their objectives, and prisoncring over 300 and taking a number of marhine-guns. Under cover of this operation, the Australians advanced their lines a short distance southward of Mcteren.

Wo prisonered a few in raids and patrol encounters in the Nieppe Forest sector.

BRITISH PRESSURE INCREASING ‘LONDON, July 21. This morning Sir Douglas Haig reported: Minor operations in thc Hobuterne sector continued with success. Our pressure compelled the enemy to withdraw from Ressignol Wood, between Hebuterne and Burcquoy. This important local feature is now in possession, Wo followed up the enemy, who suffered heavily.

GOOD OBSERVATION GAINED. GERMANS NO LONGER BELIEVE IN VICTORY. Received 11.45 a.m, LONDON, July 21. Mr. Philip Gibbs says the capture o! Meteren Wood gives us good observe. tion of the enemy lines. The garrison was living wretchedly in abominable circumstances. . Our guns pounding above made the place hellish. The Germans are now disillusioned and no longer believe in victory.

VARIOUS OPINIONS ON GERMAN OFFENSIVE. “SHATTERED TO PIECES.” (Delayed in transmission.) Received 9.30 a.m. LONDON, July 16.

The “Times” considers it very encouraging that the speed of the German offensive is slower than the first and second phases. The Allies face the future with strong faith. The, New York Herald says the results of the second day’s fighting, show the! drive. EaOe'en stopped, within 36 hours of its commencement. The 1 costly failure will have a recoil at home, where the German people have 7 If , been deluded with vain promises of victory.

The New York Sun says so far the German armies have failed to reach their objectives. Their initial movement has been shattered and a readjustment of their forces necessitated, which will materially affect the general plan.

Mr. Frank Simmons, writing to the New York Tribune, says the offensive has not disclosed the violence of the March or May operations, but maybe we’ve only witnessed the preliminary feints precgffTng the real drive immediately. The threat to capture Rheims is real and considerable. The wisest comment to-day is , “So far, so good.” The New York World says whatever the eventual results, the fact remains that the drive was blocked the second day, and the Germans have practically nothing to show for the j enormous losses. Washington military students say it is too early to arrive at a final decision. but it locks as if the German offensive has been broken to pieces. GOOD AERIAL, WORK. OVER A WIDE AREA. . Received 9.25 a.hi. ; :,) LONDON, July 21, Sir Douglas Haig reports that acro-f planes on the 19th dropped seventeen tons of bombs on hostile dumps, railway stations, and aerodromes. One pilot landed ,at an aerodrome and machine-gunned the hangars before rising. We downed ten aeroplanes, and six balloons. Seven B’ritish machines are missing. . Our nightfliers dropped fourteen tons of bombs on ralways between Mons and Valinciennes and .at stations at Cambrai and Lille. THE WHOLE OF MARNE HELD BY ALLIES. IMPORTANT GROUND GAINED. SPLENDID WORK BY AIRMEN. Received 10.20 a.m. 1 : LONDON, July 21. A* French communique states: The result of our victorious counter offensive were soon apparent. The Germans violently counter attacked on their right flank and south of the Marne, but retreated across the river. We hold the whole south bank. The Franco-Americans between tbe Aisne and Marne continue to progress, and •have driven back the enemy, who are resisting stubbornly. We reached Ploisy and Parcitigny, and passec Steinyblenzy and Roozestalbin farther south. We hold th c general line of the Priez Plateau, north-east of Cour. chemps. Violent fighting progresses between the Marne and Rheims. The Franco-British troops, attacking vigorously, encountered large forces, but notwithstanding desperate enemy resistance W'e gained ground in Courbau Wood, Ardre Valley, and towards Steuphraise. Thc number of prisoners since the 18th exceeds 20,000 and four hundred guns were captured. Our aviators are redoubling their efforts and multiplied their raids day and night. On the 19th there was a fierce 1 fight with the enemy forces. The Franco-British bombing squadrons, making the Marne crossing their chief objective, ceaselessly hampered and at some points completely stopped enemy supplies (this is an important factor in the enemy’s retreat) by ma-chine-gunning and bombing concentrations of enemy preparing for a counter attack, also his columns of convoys. Our aircraft inflicted heavy losses, Twentyfour and twenty-seven tons of projectiles were dropped day and night respectively along the Marne I an( 3 the rear of the battlefield.

AMERICANS CONTINUE TO ADVANCE. Received 10.30 a.m. LONDON, July 21. American communiques state that between the Aisne and the Marne we again broke the enemy’s resistance, and continued to advance, taking many additional prisoners.

STORY OF GERMAN OFFENSIVE

HOW THE AMERICANS FOUGHT,

Received 9.55 a.m

(Delayed in transmission.) NEW YORK, July 17.

The New'York Times correspondent on the American front describes how the Americans fought the Germans at Chateau Thierry. Never before was there such artillery preparations. The Germans not only deluged the front lines, hut threw thousands of shells ten to thirty miles behind our lines. The Germans kept up a terrific barrage fire which was so perfect that a curtain or fire and steel moved backwards and forwards over our sector hour after hour. Simultaneously the Germans brought up 200 canvas boats wherein fifteen thousand crossed the Marne. Then the barrage lifted, and the Germans advanced bravely against our rifle and machine gun fire. Mean, while we perforated their boats and then countor-atacked, driving the Germans backward until they reached the river. Some swam to safety while others surendcred. We took more than one thousand prisoners, and wc killed or wounded about six thousand Germans. The banks of the river were literally lined with German dead. Our losses were small compared ■with the Germans. The Americans are now confident of their ability to repel the next attack.

OFFENSIVE HIGHLY ENCOURAGING.

LONDON, July 21

Latest news is that the French counter offensive is highly encouraging. Despite vigorous resistance the average depth is five miles and the deepest point seven. The Marne is in high flood. The Germans counter attacked at many point, but all were repulsed; 18,940 prisoners and 364 guns have so far been counted,, mostly ficldpiecs and one battery of heavies. It has been ascertained the Germans usued twenty divisions on a twentythree mile front. ’ .•

COLONEL REPINGTON’S OPINION

COUNSELS PRUDENCE,

Received 10.20 a.m

LONDON, July 21

Colonel Repington estimates that during the last four months’ campaign the Germans’ losses cannot be less thna six hundred thousand. Successive efforts show steadily diminishing results, while the Allies’ hopes for the future are greater. To this fact is attributed Ludendorff’s reluctance to attack Amiens or the North, and the avoidance of Rheims, to internal German trouble, while his strategy is affected by the dread of- losing men. Colonel Repington adds. The cheerful Tommies are -convinced they can, ,dp what they like with the, German armies. When the scales are beginning to turn our side be cool and prudent, as the 'Americans are the last army reserve of civilisation. The Allies must not open a great offensive till their superiority of force ensures victory.