WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 June 1918, Page 6

WESTERN FRONT.

ON THE RHEIMS FRONT. FUTILE ENEMY ATTACK. Loudon, June 20. A French communique says: At (i o'clock last night the Germans launch-' 1 violent artillery preparation on tli. whole Rheims front, from the region ot Vregny to east of La Pompelle. The enemy attacked at 9 o'clock in the evening between these points, and we resisted with full success. Between Vregny and Ormes the German storm troops were stoppad by our fire and had to fall back several times, and finally could not reach our positions. The struggle round Rheims also ended in our favor. The Germans succeeded in penetrating the wood north-east of Sillery, but were driven out by counterattacks. IPrisoners declared that the city, which was attacked by three divisions, was to be taken by night-time at all costs. A Paris message states that the attack on Rheims was carried out by three divisions of picked troops. The enemy, believing he could achieve the objective in a few hours, began the attack at the close of the day.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. A WILD BULL DRIVE. GERMANS GETTING READY. New York, June 20. The New York World's correspondent on the British front in France states that Prince Rupprecht's divisions are getting ready for a wild bull drive. There is great enemy aerial activity in the vicinity of Arras. It ia still uneer. tain whether the enemy will strike againri the French or against the British. All along the front the Germans are ' bombed day and night by the British and American air squadrons. The Germans confine their h|ombJjig3 to the nights. The use of German ga3 is increasing, but the Allies axe still outgashing the enemy. German prisoners say that henceforth I isolated units will be supplied with am- : munition and rations by aeroplanes ; equipped with a basket parachute de- > vice.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc,

| official Reports. MINOR ORATIONS. London, June 20. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We made a successful raid at night north-east of Bethune, and repulsed raiders in the early morning eastward of ffebuterne, with loss. Our aeroplanes, despite cloudy weather, carried out observation work and destroyed 15 German machines in air fighting. Eight British machines are missing. We dropped 19 tons of bombs in the daytime. Night work was impossible owing to the rain. A wireless German official message says: The French attacks early in the morning at the north-eastern part of the Villers Cotterets Wood failed. The assaults were repeated several times during the day and slightly pressed back our line eastward of Mont Gobent. Ou> artillery and mine-ttiroweirs strongly bombarded positions near Rheims. A French communique reports: The day was quiet. Ten tons of bombs were dropped on the railway stations in the region of Villers Franqueux, F&vrolles, and Fismes. An American official report says: Gas was extensively used in the Woevre and Lorraine. Our patrols crossed the Marne and brought back prisoners. We repulsed with loss an attempted raid in the Woevre. Our aviators successfully bombed the railroad yards and tracks at Conflans.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Renter. GERMANS REPULSED EVERYWHERE. _____ London, June 19. A French communique states: On the periphery of Rheims violent fighting occurred, in which the enemy sustained heavy losses and was everywhere repulsed. East of Rheims a struggle also ended' in our favor. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. BRITISH RAIDS. London, June 20. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We carried out a number of raids in the neighborhood of Boyelles, Lens, and Givenchy, also in the Strazeele-Ypres sector. Some led to sharp fighting, the enemy suffering many casualties. Our artillery and rifle fir» dispersed raiders in the neighborhood of Morlancourt. Hostile artillery is active between the Somme and the Ancre, and there is considerable reciprocal artillery Are northward of Albert in the La Bassee canal sector. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. AMERICANS POURING IN. London, June 20. Mr. Gibbs writes: Much rain and increasing mud promises to hamper the German offensive. The Americans are coming in vast numbers, and are billeted in a district Where Sn 1914-15 British troops were encamped on their way to the fighting line. The Americans seem wonderfully voung.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. TORPEDO DEPOT DESTROYED. Amsterdam, June 20. Allied aviators bombed and destroyed a depot at Bruges where torpedoes were stored. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.