WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 July 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

-*§*?s*• T- —r. -- » ? •.--«^.-.C-". *- POSITIONS IMPROVED. BY FRENCH Ai»D AMERICANS. Received July 3, 2.30 p.m. London, July 2. A French communique states: West of Chateau Thierry a local operation was executed in conjunction with the Americans, and enabled us to improve our positions on the front Vaux-Hill 204. The Americans captured the village of Vaus to a height westward thereof. Over three hundred prisoners were taken. We raided between Montdidier, Noyon. and east of Eheims. Knemy attempts near Belloy and in upper Alsace failed.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. THE COMING BLOW. AWAITED IN CONFIDENCE. London, July 2. Reuter says that the fact that the Allies' persistent and successful policy of pin-pricks has failed to provoke a resumption of the German attacks shows that the delay of the latter is imposed by necessity, which is probably due to difficulty in concentrating material on ground far in advance of railways. There is no doubt that the Austrian defeat disorganised the German schemes, hence the coming blow is awaited with confidence, though it is recognised that the next three months will be critical.— Reuter.

AVIATORS BUSY. GOOD RESULTS OBTAINED. Received July 3, 9.5 p.m. Lpnlon, July 2. Sir Douglas Haig's aviation report states: Owing to fine weather on the Ist, out aeroplanes were very active. We destroyed 25 aeroplanes and three balloons. drove down 15 aeroplanes uncontrollable, also two large enemy night-fliers landed behind our lines and the occupants werf made prisoner. Eight of our machines are missing. We dropped 22 tons of bombs in the daytime and 13 tons at night. All our night-fliers returned.— Aus.-N.Z- Cable Assoc, and Reuter. AMERICANS ADVANCE. Washington, July 2. The Americans advanced half a mile on a two-mile front west of Chateau Thierry and took prisoner 550 Germans. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. SUCCESSFUL BRITISH OPERATIONS. London, July 2. Sir Douglas Hftig reports: We carried out successlul local operations at night north-westward of Albert. We also rushed a post southward of Morlancoun. During June we took 1957 prisoners, including thirty officers.—Aus. N.Z.Cable Assoc.

EXAGGERATED GERMAN CLAIMS. London, July 2. Wireless German official: We have taken prisoners, since March 21, not including wounded, 191,453, of whom 94,939 aTe English, including four generals and 3100 officers. The French number 89,099, including two generals and 3100 officers. The remainder are Portuguese, Belgians, and Americans. We also captured 2476 guns and 15,024 machine-guns.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. CAILLAIIX'S^TRIAL. Paris, July 2. M. Caillaux has been interrogated for the fiftieth time. It is not expected that he will be tried before the middle of August, as the Malvy trial begins on July 10, and will last at least a month. ;—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

MUTUAL ARTILLERYING. Received July. 3, 8.15 p.m. London, July 2. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Nothing has occurred beyond the normal mutual artillerying.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. ENEMY ATTACKS REPULSED. London, July 2. Sir Douglaß Haig reports: An attack on the night of July 1, north-west of Albert, with a view of recapturing the ground taken on the night of the 30th, was repulsed except at one point where the enemy obtained a footing in a trench. We repulsed raids in the neighborhood of Aveluy Wood, Avion, and Hingen.-*-Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. SUCCESS OP FRENCH AVIATORS. London, July 2. A French communique reports: There was nothing important on the whole front. Twenty-one German aeroplanes were brought down or disabled on the 30th. Six captive balloons were set on fire, and 22 tons of bombs dropped at' night on enemy aerodromes and sta-1 tions.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. LUDENDORFF*S REASON FOR FAILURE. London, July 2. General von Ludendorff, in an indignant army order, denounces the German prisoners and deserters who disclosed to the enemy the plans for the attacks on the Chemin-des-Dames on May 25, so that the enemy knew the hour and form of the attacks and units engaged, and similarly on June 9. Ludendorff says: "I am amazed at the accuracy and wealth of detailed information the French derive from German prisoners. The infamous conduct of a few individuals may have the gravest j results on the victorious issue of the I war."—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.