WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

GERMAN MORALE AFFECTED. MEN DESERTING IN LARGE ; NUMBERS. Received' June 19, UJO-p.m. London, June 19. Refugees from northern France state that German troops, even in the first line, are now on very short rations. The morale of the army is affected by the sight of endless trains of wounded from the front, and the men are deserting in groups of 200 to 300, crossing the Dutch frontier, bribing the sentinels, who are unable to cope with the deserters, who are too numerous In some cases whole regiments refuse to advance. They are isolated and deprived of food until they consent to fight. Summary execution has been abandoned as a punishment, as the men are too valuable. The American peril is the chief them* of conversation among the German, soldiery.—ftess Assoc. THE XIVRAY ATTACK. AMERICANS (PUT ENEMY TO FLIGHT Paris, June 18. In the defeat of the German attack on Xivray, cabled on May 0, the Americans gave a brilliant display of their capabilities The enemy shelled the first and rear lines with heavy artillery and launched 6000 storm troops oh the position be--1 tween Vargauxpool and Seicheprey. At the beginning of the bombardment the Americans withdrew from Xivrsy to | positions of resistance, leaving the enemy to penetrate the village. They then attacked the Germans with machine-guns and hand grenades, inflicting serious losses, and re-entered Xivray after violent hand-to-hand fighting, in which they displayed the greatest tenacity. The enemy ultimately fled.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. ANOTHER GREAT ATTACK. BEENQ PREPARED BY LULENDORFF. Received June 20, 12.50 a.m. Paris, June 18. The rapidity of the developments in the American camps exceed all anticipations. The latest inspections disclose an extraordinary growth of munition, aeroplane, tank and gun factories, powder magazines, hospitals and railways. The Figaro says the brief calm on the Oise will not deceive the French. Ludendorff is saving every moment to prepare another great attack. Marcel Hutin believes that Hindenburg is planning that Prince Rupprecht BhaU make an attempt to take Calais.—Aug. and Ni. Cable Assoc, and Renter. MINOR ACTIONS. —— AERIAL ACTIVITY; Received June 19,11.45 pjn. London, June 19. Sir Douglas Eaig reports: We repulsed a raid south-east of Villers Bretonneux. We made successful raids south-west of Albert in the neighborhood of Moyenville. Patrol encounters occurred eastward of the Nieppe forest. Hostile artillery is more active southward of Albert, and is active westward of Serre. The Admiralty reports that aeroplanes from the 13th to the 16th dropped 24 tons of bombs with good results on Zeebrogge, Ottend and the docks of Bruges, the railway junction and aerodromes at Thoront, Ghistelles and Aertrycke Hits were observed on the first four objectives. A fire started at Ostend. We also bombed enemy vessels and anti-aircraft guns at Bruges. A French communique, issued at four o'clock in the evening, states: There have. been local operations southward of Ambleny, east of Mont Gobert, and patrol activity between the Ourcq and Marne at night. There is quietness elsewhere. —Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. NO CHANCE FOR THE GERMANS. Received June 20, 12.30 p.m. Sydney, June 19. The Governor, speaking at Murwillumbah, said that the press descriptions of the military situation this year had not been very fair. He knew more and had better sources of information than the press, and he said: "I tell you most emphatically there is no chance of the Germans taking Paris, Calais or Amiens. The Germans are staking all on the West front, but they are doomed to failure." HEROIC FRENCH AVIATOR. (Paris, June 18. A gallant feat was performed by Lieut. Rochefouchault, while acting as observer. The aeroplane fell abruptly 20 metres from the German lines and the pilot was wounded. Rochefouchalt dragged the pilot from the machine, then ignited it, and carried his comrade through terrific shell and machine-gun fire into the French lines He was immediately decorated with the Cross of the Legion of Honor,—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. PLAN TO CAPTURES CALAIS. Pari9, June 18. M. Marcel Hutin states: After instructing the Crown IPrince to take Compiegne and then march on to Pari*, Hindenburg is now planning for Prince Rupprecht to take Calais. _ _ The German losses between Montdidier and Noyon were not far short of 80,000. —Aug. N.Z. Cable Assoc.