WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

MORE HAMMER BLOWS. Heavy Enemy Losses. Attempted Enveloping Movement London, June 10. The Morning Post's correspondent on the French front says it is ridiculous to forecast the development of the new German offensive, but it can be said the Germans are attacking a line which is strong in itself and also easily accessible to the French reserves. The enemy is pursuing his old principle of delivering hammer-blows on two adjacent salients, the apex points being Montdidier and the line held on the Marne. It is unquestionable that he hopes to secure positions from which he can effectively bombard Paris, believing that by pressure on Paris he will foreo the conclusion of the war before America can throw in her weight, but at present there is no reason to fear that the section will not be victoriously defended. Mr Perris states that the French are resisting desperately in their covering positions, which ara beyond the range of mine-throwers. Evidence has accumulated of the heaviness of the German losses in the recent fighting and the disappearance of the shallow enthusiasm with which the offensive besnn AVe continue to have the best of the local actions elsewhere. The correspondent of the Daily Telegraph on the French front quotes a letter found oil a German prisoner revealing a further infamous breach of the agreement under which the French and German Governments recently promised not to employ prisoners within 20 miles of the front. The letter states: "After breaking into the French positions our mine-throwers, dragged by French prisoners, climbed up to the Chemin-des-Dames, cutting a way for the artillery." The United Ftess correspondent states that the Germans attacked with an average density of a division even' two kilometres, concentrating the fiercest effort on the lons Matz Valley, with the object of reaching the Oise in the vicinity of Compeigne.

The French are putting up the stillest resistance, and the fighting is likely to continue for several davs. The French, owing to their heavy artillery concentration, inflicted very severe losses. The enemy's attack apparently constitutes the northern arm of a vast encircling project co-ordinating with th« southern enveloping attack starting at Chateau Thierry, with the object of pushing nearer Paris and seeking to envelop the French and American troops between Montdidier and Chateau Thierry.—Aug. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

THE FIRST DAY'S FIGHTING. Dense Enemy Formation. Locality Well Selected. London, June 10. Renter's correspondent at French headquarters, telegraphing on the 9th, says: There is nothing discouraging about the results of the first day's fighting. The enemy's method of attack was the same as on May 27, namely a heavy gas bombardment for 4£ hours, followed by an attack by closely massed forma lions in great strength, with the object of swamping our line before the defence organisation culd take effect. The density of the enemy's formation was greater than in previous attacks, and his losses must have been extraordinarily heavy, for the guns had him at their mercy, and did terrible execution. Several anxious days are ahead. It la certainlv the enemy will niclke on extremely bitter fight for it, but he is paying the full price for every kilometre. Mr Pcrris says: The new phase of the German offensive opened this morning on a front of 20 miles between Montdidier and Noyon The artillery preparation was again rich in gas shells. It began at midnight and covered not only "the front, but the zone behind especially roads and villages where the enemy thought he might catch the local reserves There were evident reasons for the choice of this sector, particularly its central part for a successful push south alone the Rove Compeigne railway would add another converging road to the four roads Pariswards—namely, by the O'se, Aisne, Ourcq, and Marne valleys, which they already tread. On the other hand the enemy could not hope to eifect a surprise such as at St Quentin and the Chemiu-des-Dames.— Aus. N.Z Cable Assoc.

ANGLO-FRENCH FUSION. Successful Counter-Attack. London, June 10. The French general i" command of the French and British at Btiany on Thursday warmly praised the British lfltli Division, which has been three times engaged since March The British held on to n precarious position on Biigny Hilt with splendid determination, only withdrawing after it was absolutely untenable owing to the Herman occupation ot the village Then a counter-attack followed for two hours till they regained the hill. The French prevented the enemy debouching from the village, and ultimately drove them out of It when the reserves arrived. The German attack in the evening proved a complete failure, costing heavy losses. The general says the engagement haa a splendid influence on the moral, and contributed notably towards establishing a complete fusion between the armies.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. Minor Operations. London, June 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We made v successful raid on a German post In ithe sector north-eastwards of Bethuoe, 'and repulsed on attack in the evening , on a poßt in Aveluy Wood.—Ans. N.Z. CUbls Auoc. and Bcotar.

GREATEST BATTLE Or THE WAR. NOW RAGING N C .AR MONTDIDIER. ALLIES SUPREMELY CONFIDENT. THE COUNTER-STROKE. FOCH ABOUT TO LAUNCH IT. Received June 11. 8.45 p.m. London, June 10. The greatest battle of the war is raging. The Allies are supremely confident. The Germans are deeply engaged at Montdidier. It is hinted that Genera! Foch is about to launch his counterblow. A VAST ENCIRCLING PROJECT. Germans' Desperate Assaults. Heroic French Never Flinch. Enemy Pinned in a Hollow.

Received June 11, 7.50 p.m. London, June 10. News from the battle front continues to be most satisfactory Despite his enormous losses the enemy only succeeded in penetrating on an average from a half to three-quarters of a mile His chief success was in the centre round Lassigny. where the Germans arc making a fierce 'thrust for Bellinglise plateau. His general purpose is to avoid the forest fisrhtine around Compeigne and Villers Cotterets, where the French and American defenders have alrcadv taken a huge toll of the attackers and brought the Crown Prince's thrust towards Paris to a standstill, in conjunction with the advance on the Marne. LudendorfFs new move represents a vast encircline project for the purpose of getting the French-Americans within the jaws of his gigantic pinchers. The Germans between Montdidier and Noynn had no advantage in surprise. Though they used new gas shells the heroic French never flinched. Five German divisions have already been withdrawn. The attack was launched from a ridge ?20 feet in heisht, from Armund-Asservillers-Orvillers. The enemy forced his wav into the hollow, but failed to scale the opposite slope towards the platen" of Polvronmery, and is still pinned in the depression The Germans were scarcely more successful on the right wing, between Lassigny and No von. where thev carried the isolated knoll of Pelmont, but were stopped before the French strong point at Thiescourt, Wood. Here, again, the enemy remain in a hollow, dominated by French fire from a height of 250 feet. The only German success was on the Rove-Senlis road, where a few filtered forward for three miles astride the valley of Matz. which, however, was swept on all sides by French guns.

General von Hutier is directing the latest thrust. He is the pioneer of the new tactics. He has had six weeks to prepare since the stoppage of his March offensive, but the arrest of von Boehrn's armv before the forest of Villers Ootterets forced von Hutier to act. Tins time lie has not attempted to secure scrupulous secrecy in concealing his troops' movements.—Press Assoc The French command for scleral davs had been aware of the exceptional traffic and convoys, and there was suspicious activity of the enemy':, batteries in correction of the ranges. Otherwise the familiar von Hutier tactics were repeated. including shock battalions, the use of light machine-guns, machine-rifles, and the efforts to effect a local breach in the Allied line leaving the task of cleaning up the islands of resistance to the support troops while the shock troops went on to exploit the early successes. If von Hutier is able to push down to Compeigne, the Germans will probably bring their front to the line of the Aisne, within forty miles of Paris, for a final thrust towards the capital.

GREAT DAMAGE BY AVIATORS. Enemy Squadron Wiped Out. Received June 11, 9.15 p.m. London, June 10. The Echo de Paris, referring to AngloFrench aerial activities and their destroying of the enemy's lines of communication, says a single attack recently caused a hundred trucks of shells and numerous ammunition dumps to explode at the station, of Longnyon. A 1 German chasing squadron lost i "e night sixty airmen and practically ill Its machines and cantonments Ml of troops, who received as much as twenty tons of explosives in two hours. —Press Assoc.

THE M>VT ! JR£ OF THE COUNTRY. Ambitious Enemy Plan. Battalions Being Depleted. Received June 11, 5.45 p.m. London, Juno 10. Renter's correspondent at French headquarters, writing on the lOlh, says the. scene of the latest offensive is tiie wooded and hilly country dissected by the river Matz, which, flowing south, joins the Oise at Moritmacy The enemy's principal progress yesterday was along (he course of the Matz, their first object probably being to reach the Oise, and thereby take in the bank the whole French salient north of the Oise, which might result in our withdrawal to the south bank Supposing the enemy's objective to be Paris, he would naturally begin by thrusting a powerful tentacle southwestward down the Oise valley, and another westward from the Oureq line, thereby encircling the vast mass of Aigle-Compeigne-Villers Cotterets forest, which is impregnable to frontal attack. The enemy probably intends to pass north and south thereof, bringing his tentacles together This enemy plan is over-ambitious and impossible of accomplishment. Soon its impossibility will be realised, and the enemy's efforts will probably be directed towards Amiens or Calais 1 Meanwhile bis battalions are being depleted by constant fighting from Noyon to Thierry, and Vermeuil to Rheims. His reserves of manhood are declining. Out of two hundred prisoners taken in the first few days in June over a fourth belonged to the 1919 class, and the IH2O class has made its appearance on the battlefield. Among the prisoners captured ax Blignv was a considerable proportion of lads of this class.

FIFTY DIVISIONS UNUSED. What to Keep an Eye Upon. Received June 11, 8.30 p.m. London, June 10. Gerald Campbell writes to the Daily Mail that it if, mad folly to build extravagant speculations ttpon the evidence of the heavy Gorman losses. It is better, he says, to keep an eye steadily on the solid fact that fifty enemy divisions arc still in reserve. Received June 11, 8.45 p.m. Paris, June 10. A correspondent states that vast quantities of Russian equipment, hundreds of horses, thousands of guns, and millions of shells, which the Bolsheviks sold at ridiculous prices, are appearing in France. —Times. London, June 10. Mr. Gibbs says that the Germans fiercely bombed several sectors between Villers-Bretonneux and Arras, the attack reaching the most extreme violence westward of Albert and the valley of the Penrpe about Telegraph Hill Guns of all calibres participated with periods of gas shells against our battery positions, which seemed to indicate the possibility of heavy attacks, but none followed, and it proved nothing more than a demonstration of gun-power, coinciding with the battle against tile French —Aus. NX Cable Assoc Renter's correspondent at French headquarters, telegraphing on the evening of the fttli, says: The latest reports from the battlefield are encouraging. The French are lighting with great bravery and tenacity On the right and left of the battle area the enemy, despite powerful efforts, was unable to progress beyond the advanced positions, technically called the covering zone, which were swept by the fire of his minenwerfers. In the centre the Germans succeeded in cutting an obtuse salient out of our line, with its furthest point at Ressons-sur-Matz. Their gain consists of a bit of ground 1200 yards deep, which they were able to batter with heavy trench artillery.—Reuter. Paris, June 10. 3i. Clemenceau assured the deputies for Paris and the neighborhood that the newlv-formed Defence Committee was completing preparations and would defend the city to the last suburb. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. Pans. June 10. About twelve enemy divisions have been identified. There, owing to losses, were further reinforced toward- ;v ' close of the day by five mere Hi' l enemy multiplied his attack" :n the centre, but advanced at terrible oe-i.

One of the finest feats of (he »wv w (he defence of Plemont by Fror.cli cavalry, who were ord-M'ed m bold the position. A three limivs. tack on Plemont began at 4 o'clock. The cavalry held out till mid-duy and retired ill good order. The Germans late last night were bringing up fresh divisions.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. London, June 1(*. Mr. Gibbs says: T spent two days among the French soldiers and people. It iva< sad to see the drift of refugees westward as the German guns advance, rcachinir fresh villages, smashing old chateaux, market squares, farmsteads, and cottages. The German aerodromes, also advance, and the night raiders, seekin? out new targets, fling down explosives on sleeping women and children. It is pathetic to see farm wagons crowded with the little families of France, crawling along the roads on long, long trail But few weep; they have a strange stoical patience ana resignation. The soldiers and people are astonishingly and admirably calm and confident, refusing to lose heart and hope. They say: "Even if the enemy took Paris it would not end the war. 'We would go on fighting. But we are confident that the Germans will never enter Paris." —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. London, June 0. A French communique states: Between the Oise and Aisne we this morning carried out a, detail operation. East of" Hautbraye we gained ground, taking 60 prisoners. South of the Ourcq we improved our position. East of Che/.y the enemy, who yesternight succeeded in penetrating our lines in the direction of Vinly, was immediately ejected by a counter-attacK. We simultaneously carried Eloup wood and captured tho wood immediately south of Brusieres, taking 200 prisoners, including five officers. West of Rheims, after a short bombardment, the enemy attacked in the Vrigny district ans: sustained serious loss without result .!W.c. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Beutw.

FIGHTING OF THE BLOODIEST NATURE. Enemy's Persistent and Reckless Attempts. Fully Exposed to French Fire. German Reserves May Be Thrown in. Received June 11, 0.20 p.m. London, June 10. Reuter's correspondent at French headquarters, writing on the afternoon of the 10th, says: Throughout the night and morning the battle raged along the new front, the attack being conducted with unabated fury on the wings. The enemv is still held on practically the same line, despite his persistent and reckless attempts to push forward on the extreme right of Plemont. Although almost in our first line, we are still holding out, the French garrison having beaten off successive waves of German infantry .Mont Ron and is still ours. In the centre of the battlefield the enemy, by pouring in fresh battalions, penetrated deeper into our line. The fighting was of the bloodiest character, the French and Germans fighting hand to hand over the nuns of every ham'.et and farm. The enemy.'s losses have been extraordinarily heavy This time the element of surprise vras absent. The enemy's dense masses have been exposed t.o fire from our machine-guns and artillery (luring the past thirty-six hours. The Germans had to assemble behind the lines under our counter-preparations and fire, which had been sweeping the Geiman rear for three days before the battle. The enemy had from IS to 20 divisions in the attacking line, the divisional front being two thousand yards behind the line, liis reserves ready to replace the shattered divisions. A prolonged and desperate struggle must be anticipated, also the possibility of meeting the shock of Hindenburg*a disposable reserves, before the enemy breaks off the battle. The enemy, instead of sweeping on victoriously, as in the fight in the days ot the Aisne battle, is advancing painfully vard bv yard, paying the full priet for every step of the advance. The main effort is still in the centre towards the fiise, the object being the turning of the salient we hold in his line with the apex at Pont Le~eque, on Ihc Oise. comprising Carlepont and tile Ourscamp forest in the angle in the bend of the river -Router.

EFFECTIVE AIR WORK. Enemy Advance Hampered. Official Reports. Received June 11, 5.50 p.m. London. June 10 (10.20 p.m.) Sir Douglas Haig reports: Nothing has occurred except reciprocal artillerying on different sectors. Our air squadrons, co-operating with the French, worked the Noyon-Mont-didier front on June 9 continually from dawn till dusk. Bombing aeropanes impeded the enemy's advance and harassed the troops and transport, with constant machine-gunning. Strong patrols ot scout, machines swept the battle area throughout the day, the high biers protecting them. The targets hit included an aerodrome near Roye, where aeroplanes were set afire upon the ground, an ammunition dump at Montdidier. which burst into flames, also teams and wagons, as well as infantry in the trenches and on the roads along and behind the whole fighting line. On the British front one of our artillery aeroplanes forced a German two-seater to land and surrender Wc brought down fourteen others and drove down four uncontrollable. Four British machines are missing.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc and Reuter

A French communique states: Dunns the second day of thr- offensive the enemy sought by powerful attacks, and unceasingly strengthened uy new effectives, to advance in the direction of EstieresSt. Denis-liibecourt, Our troops resisted tenaciously The enemy captured, l>y repeated assaults and at the cost oi heavy sacrifices, the villages of Nery Belloy and St. Maur. Heroic combats occurred on tho plateau of Belloy, south of Ressons-sur-Matz. The onemv gamed a footing at Marquaglise further east. The hattie continues on the southern outskirts of Elincourt On the right Die enemy succeeded in debouching from the Bois de Thlescthirt. On the left, between Courcelles and Hubescourt, we broke enemy attacks, holding our positions. East of the Oise, a German attempt to retake Belmont failed. Our airmen brought down eleven enemy aeroplane. Bombing machines, which intervened in the battle, immediately attacked the enemy troops which were massed behind the front for attack, eighteen tons of projectiles being droptied on enemy convoys and railway Stations A great fire followed an ex-plo-sion at Hove railway station. An American communique states: North-west of Chateau Thierry we, cooperating with the French, again improved our position and inflicted losses. Our patrols crossed the Marne and successfully reconnoitred hostile positions. Received June 11, 5.50 p.m. London, June 10. Wireless German official: Our attack penetrated the hilly district south-west-ward of Noyon. We captured French positions westward of Matz, near Mortemer and Orvillers. We advanced beyond Cuvilly and Richquebourg We fought through Eichquebourg and the Lamotte woods, and threw hack the enemy beyond Bourmont and Mareuil. We penetrated far into Thiescourt wood, In the neighborhood of Lassigny We took 8000 prisoners.—Aus. JT.Z Cable The Super-Gun. Paris, Juno 10. It transpires that the long-range gun la not a new invention. Frau Krupp Bohlemn showed the midel to an American general who was visiting Essen before the war, stating that its range was 90 miles and it cost £240,000. She added that it was only a marvel gun and could not fire over 25 shells without repaint.—Au*-. &Z. Catol# Aue«>

UNABATED FURY. On the Entire Front. The Wings Holding. Received June 11, 11.20 p.m. London, June 10. Reuter's correspondent with Frencli headquarters writes- The battle continues with unabated fury on the entire front. The wings are holding. THE GERMANS ADVANCE Two Miles in the Centre^ Received June 12, 1.15 a.m.. London, June 11. The Germans have furt,hei- advanced' in the centre a distance of two miles.— Times Service