WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 5 August 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

General German Retreat. ' GERMANS ABANDON LIMES OF RESISTANCE. 810 HAUL OF PRISONERS. ALLIES CROSSING THE VESLE (Extraordinary—Press Association.) (Received: Sunday, 6 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 3. American official: On tie morning of August 2nd tie enemy commenced to fall bad. We are in close pursuit. Our advance las already progressed to a depth of five miles,, and continues. Frencl communique: Attacks during the last two days by tie French and Allied troops north of the Marne obtained a complete Success, Hard pressed on the whole line the Germans 'were forced to abandon all positions of resistance between Fere-en-Tardenoise and Yille-en-Tardenoise. \ r ' k French troops have entered Soissons. NEW YORK, Angust 3. The French have reached the Aisne east of Soissons, near Yeuil. There is a big haul of prisoners. After the capture Of ! Soissons’ the enemy’s retreat became' general. The Allies arc preparing to cross the River Ycsle, CAPTURE OF SOISSONS. v" ■ - ENEMY MUST RETIRE BEYOND THE VESLE. - LONDON, August 2. The French attacked yesterday between the Ourcq and the Soissons. Chateau Thierry railway, capturing the ridge forming the watershed between the Ourcq and the Aisne on a five-mile front, with a maximum advance of three miles. The- French, with British co-opera-tion, pushed their line well down the northern slopes. This operation was probably the most important since the German retirement from the Marne began, because the ground gained commands the whole area north-west to the Crise and probably to the Aisne and the Veslc. It attacks the flank and the rear of the whole western gatepost of the pocket through which the Germans have been retiring, and on which the safety of their retirement depends. The valley of Crise is a nest of German reserves and field artillery. The importance of the Allies’ operation is almost incalculable. It is difficult to see how the enemy can avoid retirement with all speed beyond the Vesle, also haw he can be safe until he gets there. The most interesting developments may be expected shortly. The situation is regarded as extraordinarily good in Home circles, which look upon the latest movement as the turning point in the summer campaign, and possibly in the whole war. The enemy can only remedy it by a successful counter attack, or by em. ploying heavier forces to stave off r«. treat. If he fights to the utmost it will be all the better for us, as he will use up more divisions and suffer greater wastage. The situation on the whole West front is now good. The enemy’s numerical superiority is very small GREAT REJOICINGS. WASHINGTON, August 4^ The Anglo-French pounding directly cansed the fall of Soissons. Tie Germans retreated without burying - £heir dead, leaving enormous quantities of guns and supplies. A further advance ifc expected. There is great rejoicing at the French entry into Soissons, portent viccory.

'Semi-official advices show that the German morale is greatly weakened by the Allies’ success. German officers are now so enraged that they have ordered the Germans to shoot any Allied soldiers attempting to bury dead or recover wounded. FIRECE FIGHTING. LONDON, August 3. Mr. Perris, writing on Friday morning, says intense fighting ensued when General Mangin resumed the offensive between Plessier-Hulen and Fere en Tardenois to the -north of the Ourcq. The British joined the French in the onslaught, which resulted in the capture of a number of strongly-organised villages and woods, and important heights commanding the sole rail-way whereby the Germans are bringing up food and ammunition and reliefs for their sorely-harassed troops. Every thicket and hamlet was a minature fortress bristling with machine 'guns, but failed to stay the Allies’ rapid advance. The important village of Harten Nesettauk, which was the scene of most desperate combats a week ago, when the Allies were crossing the Soissons road, was captured. < STIRRING NEWS. LONDON, August 3. Reuter’s correspondent at French Headquarters, writing at eleven on the evening of the 2nd, states: The retreat is general. The Germans may hold on the line of the Vesle, but it is possible they will be obliged to retire on the Aisne. Anyway, they have lost all they gained in tie offensives of May, June and July. The question now is whether they will throw the remainder of their reserves into a sudden blow on another part of the front; If they decide to tempt fortune again they will find the Allied armies ready. The British are now pressing througn Coneroy Wood, mile east of Villy MonThe French army is advancing steadily. Cavalry patrols are far advanced, and horse artillery and ea r gineers are accompanying the infantry. It has been raining heavily all day, and the condition of the roads retards the advance. FRENCH REACH THE AISNE. LONDON, August 3. French communique, issued on the 3rd, at 4.50 in the evening: , During the night-time our troops continued to advance 9 towards the Vesle, and reached the Aisne between Soissons and Venizel. OVER 50 VILLAGES RECAPTURED. LONDON, August 3. The High Commissioner reports: French official: We have reached Courville and Campgny. More than fifty villages were recovered yesterday. a ■ a i ENEMY GIVES WAY. RETREATING ON A WIDE FRONT. FRENCH ENTER SOISSONS. LONDON, August 3. Further south we crossed the Gris® on its whole length. In the centre we progressed on a wide front. •North of the Ourcq we advanced beyond Arcy and Sainte Reitiue and penetrated the Pols de Dole. Further east, we took possession of Coulonges. On the right we took possession of Goussan Court, Vlllers Agron and Ville Tardenois. On this part of the front we carried our lines five kilometres north of the Dormans-Rhelmu road, on the general line of VezillyEchery, between the Ardre and the

Vesle. We occupied Gueux and Thillois. During the 31st July seven German aeroplanes were downed. Twenty-two tons of explosives were dropped oa aviation grounds between the Aisne and the Vesle, and cantonments and bivouacs in the valleys of the 'Ardre and Vesle. A DESPERATE RESISTANCE. PARIS, August S. Semi-official. —The capture of the heights north of Grand Rozoy was desperately resisted. The woods, villages and thickets were so many fortresses swarming with machine guns, but the assault was assisted by tanks and pressed on with such vigour that the chief poitions were captured, after two hours’ violent counter-attacks, superbly met. By the evening, the Germans were fleeing northwards. CROWN PRINCE BEATEN. LONDON, August 3. The situation is satisfactory beyond the most optimistic calculations of a few weeks ago. The completeness of the success is evinced by the FrancoBritish batteries being at 8 o’clock established on ground from which they began to drive the enemy at 4 o’clock The Germans are only able to use artillery to the smallest extent, and are compelled to rely on machine-guns, which are steadily silenced. The Germans’ casualties are of the heaviest. Their bravery is unquestionable, to the point of hopelessness. The advanctf showed splendid combination between the Anglo-French and Americans. The Crown Prince’s offensive may be regarded as having ‘collapsed, leastwise until September, when the newest recruits appear in the field. •BRILLIANT FEAT BY ANGLOFRENCH. LONDON, August 3; The evening of the anniversary of France’s entry into the war was appropriately marked by the stirring news that the Cown Prince’s army is again in full retreat. The immediate cause of the retreat is the brilliant success of the armies under Generals Mangin and De Goutte north of the Ourcq, who effected a junction at a right angle, enabling a beginning to be made on the Ist of August to the task of clearing the important ridge dividing the Crise from the Ourcq. The British in General Mangin’s army started the operation from the Grand Rozoy, the French co-operating. They carried not merety the summit, but the reverse slope of the ridge, securing observation behind the Harlennes Plateau. Meanwhile, in the centre, the enemy bastion in Meuniere Wood, two square miles in extent, was carried. Thus the enemy’s hope of establishing his line disappeared. He has indeed already suffered a strategic disaster owing to the reversal of the strategical position brought about by Foch’s counter-stroke and his hasty retirement upon the Vesle cannot be easy as the only good road available passes' Coulognes, which the French (captured yesterday. The"Allies’ guns are now within range of Bazoehcs, where the only railway connection from the north crosses the Vesle into the salient also to Fismes, which is the main storehouse for the German offensive, while Braisne, between Bazoches, and Soissons, through Avhieh the main road out of the salient passes, is also exposed to gunfire. Hence experts arc now prophesying that the withdrawal is likely to continue over the Aisne. FRANCE SALUTES BRITAIN. PARIS, August 3. General Bcrthelot, commanding between the Marne and Rheims, in an army order to the British, Australian and New Zealand troops, says: Directly you arrived, you threw your army corps ardently into the stuggie, and harassing the enemy in the Ardre Valley, which was so liberally sprinkled with German blood. Thanks to the proverbial heroism and tenacity of Britons, you mauled four enemy divisions, and prisonered 1300 Germans and took 140 machine-guns and forty cannon. All added a glorious page to your history. Marfanx, Ohaumazy, and rßligny- mnst be inscribed in letters of gold in the annals of your regiments. France will remember with deep emotion your brilliant bravery and perfect comradeship in the battle. ENEMY RETIRE IN GOOD ORDER. ALSO FALL BACK IN ALBERT SECTOR. Received 9.5 a.m. LONDON, August 3. An evening report states:—The ad. vance continues. Fismes was set on fire, also two villages north-west, and fourteen others in the area between Muizon and St. Thierry, indicating that the enemy does not intend to make a stand on the Vesle, but behind the 'Aisne, possibly even at Chemin des Dames. He will probably fight a delaying action on the plateau between th cVcsle and the Aisne. The French are apparently occupying the

whole of Soissons,, and have advanced troops to the northern edge of the plateau. French cavalry are on the Vesle between Champaigny and Jonchery, but all bridges over the river are broken. No French troops are across the river. The enemy retired rapidly and there has not been a great deal of fighting, and large captures of prisoners are unlikely. The enemy in the neighbourhood of Albert and A veiny Wood retired to the east bank of the Ancre. There Is only a small retirement, on a front of five miles. This is significant, as the former position'was good for an offensive but no good for defence. GERMAN RETREAT AT ALBERT. OFFICIAL REPORT. Received 10.40 a.ra. LONDON, August 4. Sir Douglas Haig reports:. Our patrols progress in the Albert sector continue. We hold the greater part of the ground previously in the enemy’s possession west of the Ancre. We are closely following up the enemy in his withdrawal, indications whereof were previously observed. We repulsed strong raiding parties south-eastward of Hebuterne and eastward of Eobecq. There is increased hostile artillcrying at Kemmel. The aviation report states that the weather interfered with air work. We dropped thirteen tons of bombs in daytime, three tons whereof fell on Bruges docks. Night flying is impossible. GERMAN OFFICIAL STORY. Received 10.10 a.m. LONDON, August 4. A wireless German official, referring to the Crown Prince’s Army, says von Boebm’s successes on August Ist, contibuted to the complete success of yesterday’s movements. The enemy is hesitatingly following our troops, who arc slowly withdrawing. AN INSPIRING SIGHT. BRITAIN’S' GRAND OLD ARMY LNDON/ August 3. Mr Perris, in describing General Bcrthelot’s reception of the Bfitons, Australians and New Zealanders, who marched past the, general along the •road wdthin the enemy’s gunfire, says: What every Frenchman murmured was, “Just look at their stride! How sturdy they are. They must be a fresh division. ’ ’ Mr Perris says: The Frenchmen were wrong. The British corps bad been fighting for ten days ceaselessly. They had taken a brilliant part in defeating the Crown Prince, but had swung along to the sound of the bagpipes and brass bands in perfect order. Though some companies were, sadly thinned, all wore brushed clean of trench mud, their rifles were polished, their horses well groomed, and their waggons spotless. They fully deserved General Bcrthelot’s praise.