WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 June 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

POWERFUL GERMAN ATTACKS Critical Battle Impending. London, June 2. A French communique says: The day ivas marked by a series of powerful German attacks oil the whole front between the Oise and tile Murne. We only gave "up certain po.-itions befrAe still superior traces, on which heavy losses were inflicted. Between the Oies and the Aisne we carried back our positions to the northern outskirts of Carlepont Wood, and ;in the heights west of Audignieourt to Fontenoy. All the enemy attempted attacks west slid south of Soissons to north of Viezzy were futile. The battle further south was violent on both sides of the Ourcq. The enemy holds Chouy and Xeuillv-St. Font. w« continue fighting on the line Yillera, Helon, Xouroy, Inez, Monthiers, Repillv. We hold the Chateau Thierry. The situation north of the Marne is unchanged. The Germans during the night along the Marne made a rapid advance between Chateau Thierry and Chaudun. This in accepted in Paris and London as meaning that a vast open battle for Paris must soon be fought. It is indisputable that the Crown Prince has led unceasing reinforcements in a paroxysm of efforts, and made ft considerable advance to-day, making it a matter of only a few hours when the most critical hattle with the Allied reserves will be fought. Paris commentators are grimly confident and agree that the Allies will meet the offensive by an offensive similar to the battle of the Marne. The Matin anticipates that this will be 011 the Montdidier-Compeigne-Chateau Thierry front—United Service. Another French communique says: German pressure continues intense on the front between the Oise and the Marne. Extremely violent enemy attempts in the region of the northern outskirts of Carlepont Wood and of Moulin-sous-Touvent were checked. Our troops threw back the enemy 1n the north of the last-named locality. Mo-it-de-Choisy, after four attacks, was taken by the Germans. We recaptured it at tiie bayonet point and remain in possession of it.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Association. The Paris correspondent of the Daily Chronicle reports that desperate fighting continues along the whoie 70-mile battle front between the Oise and northward of Rheims. It is regarded there as only the beginning of a gigantic battle.

The afternoon's news produced a eheeriii? effect, indicating that the French had not only stopped the enemy rush on the left wing, between Roissons and Chateau Thierry, but had brilliantly counter-attacked. The Germans made a violent effort in the direction of Villers-Cotterets. which is 45 miles from Paris, but completely failed, and the French drove them back, gaining ground on tlje Crise river.

The enemy made some gains on Hip north bank of the Marno, but did not attempt to cross, remembering his former costly experience.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

Important Aid by Aircraft London, June 2. A French communique states: Despite constant enemy pressure on our right we practically maintained our positions in the region of the Domann-Rlieims road, and north of VUIe-en-Tardenois. The situation north-west and north of Rheims is unchanged. A violent enemy attack southeast of Rheims, supported by tanks, momentarily seized Ponipelle Fort, on the railway. An immediate counter-attack recaptured the fort and restored the position. Twenty-three enemy machines were brought down and 14 were badly damaged in air fighting on Friday. Our scouts reconnoitred the enemy movements day and night. Our squadrons fired with machine-guns on marching German troops, inflicting heavy losses. Bombing squadrons worked (lay and night on Friday, and dropped G6 tons of projectiles on troops, convoys, stations and aerodromes. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Renter. Encouraging News. London. June 2. The newspapers do not minimise the seriousness of the situation, but are confident that the German liammsr blows will prove a costly failure. They point out that, despite a most violent effort, the enemy is no nearer Paris, while the gloomy predictions reaarding Rheims have not been fulfilled, although the Germans have thrown a semi-circle of fire round the town. M. Marcel Hutin says that the Crown Prince is receiving an unlimited number of fresh troops, but our reserves are also arriving. Developments within the next forty-eight hours will show whether the German enterprise is a mad one.

General Petain has issued a stirring order, which concludes: "May the battle of t'>c Marne begin as it did four years ago-" , Correspondents declare that the French retreat from the Ailette was a skilful manoeuvre, carried out with the smallest losses. —Aus. N.Z. Cable As-

Position at Zeebrugge. London, June 2. The Admiralty reports that n photographic reconnaissance of Zeebvugse shows clearly a submarine or other vessel lying on her biljre close to the mole. This vessel was probably torpedoed bv the North Star on the night of April 23. The reconnaissance also shows a destroyer with her deck awash 300 yards from the mole, presumably sunk bv a bomb from an aeroplane on May 20. Ans.. N.Z. Cable Assoc. : Paris. .Tune 2. Crowds of refugees are arriving in IParis, and are beinj sent to Normandy and the middft of" France.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc..

A VAST TRIANGLE. Enemy's Hammer Blows. Meant to Destroy Allies' Morale. Received Juno 3, 9.50 p.m. London, .Tune 3. The latest telegrams show that the bait]('field now forms a vast triangle, with the apex pointing to Chateau Thierry, with Dormans on'the east side, running thirty miles to Eheims on the west side, and fifty miles from the Oise, near Noj-on, to the Marne.

Mr. Ilillaire Belloc, writing in Land and Water, says that since March the enemy's scheme for rapid victory has changed from a single topographical strategic plan to a general effort to destroy the Allied armies, dissolve the organisation, and shake the civilian an<t military morale by the weight of rapid blows, whereof the exact position is less important than the cumulative effect, of shock upon shock. The enemy never forgets that his great success luts been the di-ii'tegration of the civilian morale in Russia, and he hopes to achieve similar results on the West. Tt is our business to disappoint him.—Press Assoc.

Allies' Supreme Effort. London, June 2. French comments dated 3 o'clock this afternoon state that the most desperate fighting continues between the Ourcq and the Marne. The enemy is constantly throwing in fresh picked divisions and the ina\imum artillery resources to compensate for the extremely heavy losses.

The Anglo-French are making a supreme effort, to secure a halt. The density of the Allied reserves is increasing at several points. The fighting is of the greatest tenacity and valor. The enemy is in a strong position between Dormans and Chateau Thierry, but has not yet attempted there to cross the Marne, the bridges having been destroyed.

A late message, dated 10 p.m., says the enemy made progress west of Chateau Thierry alone; the Marne and 'Ourcq valleys.—Ails. N.Z. Cable Assoc. Enemy Troops Poured In. London, June 2. Reuters correspondent at French headquarters, writing yesterday morning, says: In this salient of the Western front the enemy continues his pressure over the great plateau west of the Oise valley and southward toward Neu-illy-St. Font, which is about six mile:* from the nearest sector of the enemy's line. At mid-day yesterday, on the Marne. the enemy held the river- bank for a distance of three miles east of Chartrevea.

The enemy continues to pour fresh troops into the struggle. The Germans have already encaged nearly 50 divisions. Forty divisions were ordered to participate in the offensive as originally planned on the Aisne. Another five were engaged in the extension of the enemy's front north-west of Soissons. An'on;; these troops are some of the best and most carefully trained storm divisions in the German army.

Of the 23 divisions composing Von Hautier's armv of assault on March 21, 15 have been identified in the attack on the Aisne. These divisions were withdrawn from the 'Pieardy battlefield at the end of March, brought up to strength and given a few weeks of strenuous training for the new offensive. —Reuter.

Successful British Raid. London, June 2. Sir Douglas Hnig reports: The Londoners made a successful raid during the night south-eastward of Arras. There was considerable hostile artillery fire in the morning at Villers-Bretonneux and Ypres and on the front between Albert and Arras.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter.

A Man-Power Struggle,

Washington, June 2. General Bridges, head of the British Mission, commenting on the situation on the West front, said that American troops had become a vital factor in the great battle and might Jioid the br.lance between defeat and victory. The objectives of the Germans appeared to be threefold—to capture Paris, to separate the Allied amies by a drive through Amiens, and to eiptuTe the Channel ports. We must expect the resumption of the offensive in the north soon or the withdrawal of German divisions from there to exploit the new successes to the southward. The battle was likely to continue for weeks and become a *tnregle of man-power. Washington army men are confident thnt the German drive will stop at the Marne. They do not believe tlmt the snemv will seriously attempt to cross the river. They expect German attempts to straighten the lines from the Marne to Amiens and Rheims. Rome snnaestions are current that important Allied events are impending. A British high official savs: "The situation has not yet reached the crisis. Before autumn we shall survive a more critical period and suffer even greater losses, but there will be no change in the ultimate dpcision.''

French militni-i- authorities are optimistic.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

Foch Propounds a Riddle. Paris, .Tune Deputy Ttanliigny. a member of the Armv Commission, has returned from the front. General Foch told him. "The offensive, of March 21 required eight or ten days to re-establish the situation. The present offensive began on Monday, and this is the sixth day. Draw your own conclusion."' TliU is interpreted to mean that «,pneral Foch reckon* that in a few days the enemy will be stopped and the situation re-established. —Router. Ludendorff the Autocrat. London. .June 2. German deserters say that Ludendorff warned the Crown Prince not to interfere with the offensive, and told him to c 0 ant i amuse himself wherever he liked. Hindenburg is suffering a similar eclipse.—Aub. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

THE STRAIN RELAXED. Confidence in Foch and iha Reserves. The Drive Westwards Regarded as Serious. Received June 3, 7.'25 p.m. London, .Tune 3. The latest telegrams from Paris show that the strain is relaxed, although the public are still most anxious. The people have faith in General Foch and lhe quality of 1 lie French reserves, although the thrust towards Purls is obvious. The scenes recall the earliest days "of the war, people crowding the newspaper kiosks a.nd crowding round readers in the streets who are fortunate enough to secure copies of a late edition. The general belief is that the German thrust towards the Marae is less serious than the drive westwards, between Soissonss and Chateau Thierry towards the Oise.

General Foch informed Deputy Daubigny that it took ten days to re-estab-lish the situation after March 21, adding that we are only in the sixth day of the present offensive. M. Daubigny stated the unanimous opinion at the front is that full confidence must be reposed in General Foch and General 'Petain.

WOODED GROUND. Favorable for Defence. Received June 3, 11.15 p.m. London, June 3. The latest telegrams show that the ground between the Oise. the Marne, and the Ourcq is characterised by a wealth of woodland, the innumerable small coppices offering excellent camouflage for troops. Whole armies call easily be hidden from aviators by the trees. Therefore the battle-ground offers fine opportunities for surprise resistance. News of the battle is eagerly followed in the British, American, Australian, and Canadian camps in the Sonunc and Flanders regions. Mr. Philip Gibbs, telegraphing on Sunday evening, said: Our troops arc awaiting new German attacks. Meanwhile, every British heart is gladdened by the news of the French counterattacks.—Press Association. AVIATION REPORT. 25 German Machines Brought Down. Received .Tune 3, 10.25 p.m. London, June 3. Sir Douglas Haig's aviation report states: Fine weather on the Ist enabled much observation work to be done. We brought down 21 German aeroplanes and drove down four uncontrollable. Four British machines are missing. We dropped twenty tons of bombs on Zeebruoffe mole, the railways at Armentieres, Hosiers, Busigny, and Flers, also other targets. Long distance bombing aeroplanes heavily bombed the railways at Kaithans and Metz Ablons. One British machine is missing. On the night of the Ist, in misty weather, we dropped five tons of bombs on targets in the Somme valley. All returned. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. French Successes. London, June 2. A French communique says: Between Vierzy and the Ourcq the enemy took possession of Longpont, Corey, Faverelles, and Troesnes, which, however, we reoecupied by a counter-attack. On the Marne the Germans reached the heights west of Chateau Thierry. We hold part of the town situated on the left bank. After violent fighting we occupied the neighborhood of the road from Donnans to Rlieims, which (he Germans had slightly crossed south of Olizy, Violane, and Ville-en-Tardenois. There is no change on the Rheims front.

Maurice's Views. London, June 2. General Maurice writes: The battle which began with a rapid drive southwards has changed to a fierce struggle westwards on a 40-inile line from Chateau Thierry to Koyon. There lias been plenty of time to destroy the bridges over the Marne river, which here constitutes a pronounced obstacle, running through a pronounced gorge.

It is a most difficult military operation to force a passage over a, river I)}' troops exhausted by hand-to-hand fighting and long marches, in the face of fresh reserves, but the river constitutes a valuable screen for the 'eft flank of the cner.iv advance south-westward towards Paris. The enemy's progress is slower, but he is still gaining ground. The Crown Prince is gettinir to the end of his share of the reserves, and the further development of the battle on any large scale depends 011 whether Hindenbnrg will allow the Crown Prince to call on Prince Rupprecht's reserves, or whether Prince Rupprecht will make fresh attack on another part of the front. The real German objective is neither Paris nor Amiens, but Foeli's reserves. The situation is grave, but Foch is fully alive to its gravity and is still nursing his reserves for the crisis of the battle.—Aiis. X.Z. Cable Assoc.

ARTITJLTCRYTNG OX BRITISH FRO'XT Received June ?>, S oO p.m. London, June 2. Sir Douglas Haig reports: —There has been only reciprocal artillerving on the different sectors of the British front.— Au?.O?.Z. Cable Asaoc. and Reuter.

RISING LIKE A WALL. French Reserves Against the Germans. Foch Won't Show His Hand. Until Enemv Plays Devisive Card Received June 4, 1 a.m. Paris, June 3. Other Frencli military experts opine that Sunday had been a good day. The French reserves are rising like a wall against the Herman wave. Wo re-estab-lished the situation at Rheinis, forbade the passage of the Marne, stayed the German advance in the direction of the Oise. The only German success is the taking of Faverolls. Klsewiiere on the Oise sector the Germans exhausted themselves in furious efforts, but it must not be forgotten that, the Germans thus far have only engaged fifty divisions, and still have more reserves. Until the enemy plays a decisive card Focli won't show his hand. LINE OF PRESSURE CHANGED. increased French Resistance. Germans Pay Dearly for Slight Advantage. Received June 4, 1 a.m. I

London, June 1. Von Boehm's (rnr.; on Friday afternoon, penned u. ;u"v i,o:-l:et. beyond Ouleliy, to a depth oi jive mile 3 along the Ourcq valley. This salient was extended on Saturday, the main line of pressure being thus changed from south to southwest, the most acute stress of battle being represented by two bulges, the first between the Oi9e and the Aisne, directed towards Compaigne, and the second between the Aisne and the Marne, pointing towards Ourcq ill the direction ot La Fertemilon. There were violent struggles on Sunday on both sectors, with a notable increase of power in the French resistance. Herman assaults north of the Aisne wore nearly everywhere broken. The slight advantage at Ourcq has cost the Germans the heaviest losses.—Press Association.

FRENCH SUCCESSES. EXEMY DRIVEN BACK. SEVERAL RECAPTURES. Received June 3, BSO p.m. London, June 3 (12.1 a a.m.). A French communique states: —The battle continues, especially north of the Ourcq to the Marne, where the enemy has made his main efforts. Our troops withstood the shock of the enemy forces with obstinate braver}'. The enemy succeeded in regaining possession of Fawerolles, but iiis attacks on Corey and Troesnes failed. t Ourattaekß west of Neuilly: drove back the enemy at Passy-en-Vabo:s. We retook Hill 11S3, and immediately west thereof, after desperate fighting. Further south of the Aorcy-Bourcsehes front two successive enemy attacks broke. On the right, wo recaptured Champlatan, and gained ground in the direction of Villi? en-Baretenois.

Tlhe situation elsewhere is unchanged Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. FRENCH RESOLUTION. ATTEMPT TO PUSH WESTWARD PROBABLE. Received June 4, 1.10 a.m. London, June 3. Mr. G. H. Perris, writing in the Daily Telegraph, states that the Frecnh are standing with splendid resolution along the Savieres stream, marking the border of the forest of Villers Scotterets. An attempt to push westward along the north bnnk of the Marne may be expected.—Press Assoc. LUDENDORFF'S, IDEA. A Concentric Movement. The Theory of Disintegration. Received June 4, 1 a.m. Rotterdam, June 3, It is believed in Germano-Dutch circles Ui&t von Ludendoril's idea vt a halt oil the Marne is to try and carry out a concentric movement directly westward from the Marne and southwards of Xoyon, over the Carlepont j>£iteau. General Ardenue, writing ill the Berliner Tageblat, says the plan of battle follows the theory of disintegration compara/ble with the method used in firing at apparently impenetrable armor plate. Many hits close to each other will gradually weaken the .power of resistance until'the plate falls to pieces.

THE GERMAN VERSION

Received June 3, 8 50 p.m. London, June 2. Wireless German oDicial: Despite violent resistance south-east of Xoyon, we pressed back the enemy to the wood from Carlepont and Montague- We captured the height's east o£ Moulin-sous Touvax and the lines west of Xouvron. We attacked astride the Ourev, throwing the enemy back over the Savieres sector, capturing the heights of Trassy and Courehamps- The situation oil the Marne is unchanged. We repulsed violent French counter-attaclo north-east of Verneuil, astride the Ardre. We captured an enormous Franco-American decot near Fere-ea-Tardenois