WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 July 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

FRENCH SUCCESSES.

BLOCK SHORT-CUT TO PARIS. Received July 2, 11.40 p.m. London, July 1. Although merely local affairs, the French week-end successes are valuable, because, in addition to advancing six hundred yards of a three-mile front between Mosley and Pas9y, the gains include the heights overlooking the Ourcq valley, which is tin shortest and most convenient line to Paris.

The new positions make the enemy Surprise attacks more difficult.

INTERESTING STATEMENTS.

London, July 1. Reuters corespondent at headquarters reports the important part played in the battle of the 28th between the Aisne and Villers Cotterets Forest by the new small tanks which for the first time were engaged in considerable force. They are about a quarter the size and weight of the ordinary battle tank and carry a crew of two. They are much faster than the ordinary tanks, can climb a slope which the latter could not attempt, and can be swung round in their tracks in a few seconds. Their small size and high speed make them a more difficult target for the enemy's artillery. —Renter.

Washington, July 1

General March announced that the first division of the conscripted army has been placed on the West front in the firing line. Five divisions have finished their training with the British and been placed under General Pershing's direct command.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Association.

SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS. London, July 1. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We rushed a post at Aveluv Wood on Sunday and raided at night-time trenches westward of Dernancourt. Eastern County troops early in the night were successful in minor operations north-eastward of Albert and improved their position. A counter-attack was beaten off. Hostile artillery is active northward of Albert, south-eastward of Arras, eastward of Robecq, and in the neighborhood of Merris and the Ypres-Comines canal. A French communique says: We made several raids between Montdidier and Noyon. We captured an enemy aentre of resistance north of CutTy, and improved our positions between Passy-en-Valois and Vinly and advanced our line to east of the Chezy-Vinly railway. The Germans counter-attacked our new positions south-east of Mosloy, but we maintained yesterday's gains.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Paris, July 1.

A French communique says: South of the Aisne we improved our position in the region of St, Pierre de 1 Aigle. It ■was quiet elsewhere. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Renter.

GRAVE OF (PRINCE MAX.

London, July 1

Mr. Percival Phillips writes that the Kaiser asked the gunners to spare Mont-des-Cats as faT as possible, because there is a trappist priest there who is the only person "who knows the grave of Prince Ma* of Hesse. This was previously inquired about through the Vatican, and the priest replied that the Kaiser would be informed when the injury to France had been repaired. At present suffice it to say that Prince Max had received Christian burial.—United Service.