WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 2 August 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

LIVELY FIGHTING ALONG THE OUROQ. LONDON, July 31 A French communique reports: After a strong bombardment the Germans attacked our new positions east of Oulchy 1c Chateau. We repulsed the asault. maintaining our lines intact on the right bank of the Ourcq. Lively engagements were fought north-east of !Fere en Tardenois. The village of Scringes, a mile and a-half from Fere, passed from hand to hand, and was finally carried by an American coun-ter-attack. * ‘A number of enemy raids near Mesnil St. Georges, east of Montdidier, Bois le Pretre, on the right bank of the Meuse, and in the Vosges, proved unsuccessful, We raided the enemy lines north-east of Perthes les Hindus ’ ’ CAPTURE OF CHALMONT GREAT HAUL OF MUNITIONS. LONDON, July 31. correspondent at American headquarters, telegraphing on Tuesday evening, says:, “The Butte re Chalmont has been the centre of enemy resistance on the west of the Marne solicit. Its capture by the Allies brings much-heeded assistance to the flank • of the American line at Scringes, ,14 imile north-east of Fere en Tardenois. It will certainly be a costly business to take the Forest*of Nesles, but there; are alernative possibilities in the open ground west of the railway now that thb Butte de Chalmont is in our hands. “It is still impossible to estimate the enemy’s enormous losses of munitions, The forest roads are bordered by shells for miles, and dumps covering acres, and piled to the height of a man, have been discovered.” LUDENDORPF POSTPONES. ACTION. PARIS, July 31. Marcel Hutin writes: Ludendorff, in a semi-official note, intended for home consumption, declared that in view of the new situation, the German command has been compelled to postpone for some time the decisive blow against the British. Whether the postponement is long or short, the Allied command is keeping close watch on the enemy’s intentions. It is probable that time is required* for regrouping his forces, especially as divisions from Russia, who are not inclined to fight in France, are being sent back. The Japanese and American intervention in Siberia is causing the liveliest alarm in Germany, compelling a change Von Hintze (Foreign Minister) has arrived at the main headquarters and is conferring with commanders. ENEMY RETREATS 14 MILES. LONDON, July 31. General Marsh, in his weekly statement to the Press, says: The Allies’ sole object in the Marne salient is to kill as many Germans as possible. Whatever object either side had at the beginning had been submerged by the developments of the fighting. The Allies no longer hoped to entrap tlu enemy. The maximum German retreat totalled fourteen miles, thus shortening their line by fifty-four miles, and releasing additional troops, ON THE BRITISH FRONT. LONDON, August 1. Sir Douglas Haig reports; There is hostile artillery fire south-west of Alhert and east of Robecq. The aviation report states: We dropped over 11 tons of bombs on enemy sidings and aerodromes. More

pnfimy machines were encountered. We brought down fifteen and drove down six uncontrollable. Six British are missing. Our nigbt-fliers dropped 35 tons of bombs, in addition to those already reported. LOWERED MORALE OF GERMANS THEIR DEMEANOUR CHANGED. BULLYING ATTITUDE GONE. Received 8.40 a.m. / LONDON, August 1. The United Press correspondent, in an optimistic review of the situation on the West front, says that both the officers and men captured by the ’Australians around Merries in the north and Morlancourt, eastward of Amiens, are extremely depressed. After the first few weeks of the German oftensive. Jjhe enemy’s morale appeared higher ,tnan since 1914. They strutted inside the .prison .camps as though already owners of the world, replying even to kindly treatment by contemptuous smiles. They sneered at the American fighting men. But to-day, and I believe this is equally true of the Germans in * the field, the prisoners are more depressed than since the war broke out. . The prisoners admit that supplies are low and ammunition scarce. It is difficult to obtain recruits for the worn-out ‘ divisions. Instead of a smashing victory and an immediate peace which Hindenhurg promised In the early spring the’ Allies are growing stronger each week. The truth is slowly percolating to the front lines. The Germans are beginning to hear that the Americans are not only well represented on the West front, but are beating the best Prussian troops. They are also hearing that the Crown Prince’ is retiring instead of advancing. Rupprecht’s offensive against the British has been postponed because of this disaster. Some prisoners obviously fear the British may assume the offensive. ■ In short, the Germans are very unhappy. It is seldom the front is so quiet. Only the British are shelling, and there are spasmodic shellbursts. Everything shows the Germans are pretty sick. HUN SUPER-GUN EMPLACEMENT. A DESCRIPTION. Received 9.15 a.m. NEW YORK, August 1. Mr. Edwin James, New York Times correspondent on the American front, describes a visit to the German supercannon emplacement in the Bois de Chatelot “It is hard to tell just what it looks like. It reminded me of a Pittsburg steel mill emplacement, connected by three switches, running from the railway south of Fere en Tar Ce. nois, one of which runs into a pit fifteen feet deep and forty across. In the pit is a steel cylinder of compltcated construction, thirty-one feet across and twenty deep, the top of which is a huge rotary gun carriage, moved by massive machinery on ballbearings, each ball ten inches in diameter. The cylinder is constructed of armour plate of an inch and a-ha!f thickness, in sections, to each of which is atached big hooks for a derrick lift. An artillery expert said the cylinder weighs eleven hundred tons and the carriage is more than two hundred tons. The Germans had not left a barrel. The emplacement dwarfed the biggest dreadnought gun emplacement.” The Germans bombarded the 'AmerU. cans on the Woevre front and attack, ed, only to discover the Americans had previously evacuated the positions.

AMERICAN SUCCESS. Received 8.50 a.m, LONDON, August 1, An American official report states: The enemy, who penetrated our lines in the region of Stringes and Nesles, were either captured or killed. At Bois Menuer, after severe hayonet fighting, we drove the enemy into the woods. We captured Grompettes Wood and reached Cirgne, THE MARNE DEFEAT. 1 THE GERMAN EXPLANATION. i ’ WASHINGTON, July 31. The State Department’s information from France is that the Germans aro publishing an official note in the Press preparing the people for the Marne defeat, and forecasting a new offensive later. There is no reference to I the Americans. The whole retreat is 1 ascribed to the 'Anglo-French attacks, f which necessitate new tactical group--1 ings. The retreat was only twelve miles or thereabouts, and was neceasary. The people are begged to maintain confidence in Hindenburg, despite the reverse. \ German attacks against the American front overnight failed. The Americans withdrew from the village or Seringes. The Germans unsuspectingly advanced. WTheu they the town two companies of Americans attacked, killing or capturing the entire force of Germans. HAIG'S REPORT. Received 8,50 a.m. LONDON, August 1. Sir. D. Haig reports: We successfully raided enemy positions in the neighbourhood of Lens. Hostile artillery is active at Yillers-Brctonneux, Bucquoy, Merris, and Meteren. ALLIES ATTACKING ON TEN MILE FRONT. A SALIENT WIPED OUT. Received 10.10 a.m. NEW YORK, August 1. ; The Allies attacked on a ten mile front at' Buczany, and wiped out a considerable salient. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. TOTAL OP 24,000 PRISONERS CLAIMED. LONDON, August 1. Wireless German official: The en. emy captured Merris. Franco-American attacks between Fere en Tardenois and Meuniere Wodu broke down sanguinarily. We prisonered 4000 during the pas*r few days, making a total since July 15 ox more than 24,000. The ‘Times’ ” correspondent at American headquarters reports; The Germans are making a most determin- ’ ed stand at Seringes and Sergy. They have mounted rows of sunken machine guns along the ridges of the north bank of the Ourcq, destroyed all bridges, and mined roads. Bayonet encounters continue, in which the enemy is suffering heavily, i 5 GREMAN ATTACKS REPULSED. T Received 10.10 a.m; WASHINGTON, August 1 ) The Germans attacked the French > around Bligny ( south of Rheims) hut • were repulsed. 3 AMERICA’S TRIBUTE TO PRUSSIAN GUARDS. HEROIC GERMAN-AMERICANS TAKE PART IN BLOODY FIGHTING. Received 10.10 a.m, WASHINGTON, August I. s The New York Times’ correspondent. says in the vicinity of Sergy, the Am- ’ oriean divisions fought the Prussian ; Guards, who are different f;o 'Other ' German troops. They do not surrender when their ammunition is exhausted but figH? hand to hand to the death, and fire machine-guns until killed. Only eleven prisoners were taksn in two days of the bitterest fighting. Two companies of German Americans fought bloodily with the foe, showing ‘ no love for the foe. € > THE RAISER’S MESSAGE TO THE NAVY AND ARMY. r A DIFFERENT TONE, f ? Received 11.20 a.m. 3 AMSTERDAM, August i. 3 Tne Kaiser’s message to the Army - and Navy states: 'lt is not the arrival t of Americans ancr numerical enemy I superiority that will win the victory, - but the spirit In the making of tTn> German soldiers and sailors. We shall • fight on until the enemy’s will to Cc. - stroy us is broken.” The Kaiser » lauded the submarines’ gallant efforts - to prevent American forces crossing the Atlantic. -i . "i