THE MARNE OFFENSIVE.

Taihape Daily Times, 27 July 1918, Page 7

THE MARNE OFFENSIVE.

ENEMY'S OBJECTIVES. CONFIDENCE OF ALLIES. London, July 16. Mr. James Campbell, correspondent of the "Times," with the French army, states that the line chosen for the German advance avoids a dangerous frontal attack on the Mountain of Rheims. The necessity for occupying the Cittern Massif, and Moronviller», will prove the enemy's chief obstacle eastwards, unless a turning movement is intended*

The country to the southward, of which the Champs de Chalons forms the centre, is almost flat. Suippe and Vesle are the only natural defences north of the Marne, hut the defensive works in this area" are strong and elaborate.

I went over a a portion of the field on the eve of the March offensive. the correspondent says, and I believe the wire entanglements and machine gun positions are as strong as they can be made, considering the openness of the country, which is broken only hy small and scattered pinewoods.

Even if he penetrated the front defences here, the enemy would be rakea by the artillery in position on the Mountain of Rheims, and he would also suffer severely during his advance towards Chalons.

On the whole, it seems most likely that the Germans will make their most stubborn and most dangerous effort on the west sector, with a view to increasing the size of the pocket produced by the Aisne offensive, forming a wider *front for an advance towards Paris.

The Germans made most desperate efforts to cross the Marne on a 'sevenmile section, between Dormans and Fossoy. The French splendidly resisted these attacks, and calculated with extraordinary accuracy the enemy's choice of time and positions. We have undoubtedly to be prepared for an onslaught more violent than any yet made. It is impossible to know tae total strength of the enemy at present, but it can be assumed that he is stronger than the Allies. Taking everything into account there is no reason -why we should not face the next few days with perfect confidence, even if the enemy gains some ground.