WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

GERMANS WORM OUT. DARK DEVIL AUSTRALIAN. Received July 9, 2.20 p.m. London, July 8. Mr. Percival Phillips writes that the Germans were evidently worn out by the previous fighting and discouraged at the failure to receive relief. They fell hack from the shell holes and allowed the Australians to occupy them. Their low spirits was shown by the fact that a gray-haired Australian officer daringly climbed the roof of the market-place and unfurled the French flag. The Herman artillery opened, but the dare-devil officer reached the ground safely as a shell knocked off the corner of the building. The shelling of the flag continued all day. hut it win still waving triumphantly from the battered masonry—Press Assoc. SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS. London, July 8. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The Australians advanced their line slightly on a front of 3000 yards astride the Sorame, capturing prisoners. Scottish troops made a successful raid southward* of the La Bassee Canal. The Australians entered the trenches eastward of Hazebrouck. Hostile artillery is active astride the Somme, following our operations, also westward of Beaumont-Hamel and in the neighborhood of Bethune.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. SICKNESS PREVALENT AMONG GERMANS. London, July 8. Mr. Gibbs writes: The enemy has relently sent only odd shells into Amiens. Every few hundred yards gained by the Australians, English, and Americans insures greater safety for the old city. It is to the enemy's credit that his gunners hitherto have not made a target of Amiens Cathedral. A few shells have pierced it, but no irreparable damage has been done. We now know that many German companies are reduced to low strength owing to influenza, which is rife in the German ranks. Typhoid is also reported. It would be rash to assume that the delay in the offensive is primarily due to sickness. There must be other more potent reasons, but it is believed that the widespread outbread is really affecting the enemy's striking power and may hinder plans for immediate operations—Aus. 5.7.. Cable Assoc. WOMEN RECEIVE MILITARY MEDAL. London, July 8. The King has awarded the Military Medal to six women for gallantry during an air raid in France which destroyed a Women's Auxiliary camp, also for removing wounded from the vicinity of un exploding munition dump.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. ENEMY OFFENSIVE EXPECTED. iPaxis, July 8. Colonel Rousset, writing in the newspaper Liberte, says that Ludendorff will probably attack before the end of the week. Our situation is somewhat changed. Strong reserves will be echelonned, so that surprise is practically impossible.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. GERMAN RESERVES WEAKER. Paris, July S. Experts are of opinion that the German reserves amount to only 55 divisions, compared with 80 in the spring, hence they expect the coming blow to be on a much restricted front. A German expedition to Moscow is anticipated as the result of Count Mirbach's murder.—Reuter. A FRENCH OFFICIAL. Received July 0, 11.45 p.m. London, July 8. A French communique states: There is artillerying between Villers Cotterets forest and the Marne.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter.