WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

„ FRENCH SUCCESSES^ A FURTHER ADVANCE. London. July 11. A French communique states: South of the Aisne the infantry finally overcame the enemy resistance at different points. We captured La Grille Farm, 1 the quarries north of Chaviony, and a farm eastwards. Our patrols reached Longpont and entered the northern part of Corey, taking prisoners.—Aus. N.Z. , Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Washington, July 11, A wireless American official report says that strong French forces advanced several times, and established themselves westward of Antheuil and northward of Longpont.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. AUSTRALIAN OPERATIONS. SERIES OF PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENTS, London, July 11. Mr. Gibbs writes that it is dangerous to underestimate the fighting qualities of the enemy. Prisoners captured 6y the Australians on July 4 were as sturdy a crowd of men as ever seen, The Australians northward and southward of the Somme established the initiative in their sector in a remarkable way by a series of progressive operations in which there was no counter-attack. The German guns yeterday and to-day heavily bombarded tho Australians, and some infantry unsuccessfully attempted to enter the trenches eastward of Villers Bretonneux.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. MAURICE'S VIEWS. ON ALLIES' MAN POWER TROUBLES Received July 12, 5.5 p.m. London, July 11. General Maurice writes: "The cause of all our man-power troubles in 1918 was that we began too late and adopted a number of unsatisfactory expedients, whereof placing the 19%-yeai-olds in the trenches was the most unsatisfactory of all. The French have not yet called up this class, and the Germans have liot put them in the trenches. America has fbjed the age at 21. On the other hand, France and Germany have long used older men." General Maurice urges tie Government to immediately prepare its 1919 programme.—Press Assoc. RESUMPTION OF OFFENSIVE. FRENCH OPINION. Received July 12, 5.5 p.m. Paris, July 11. There is a unanimous opinion that a resumption of the offensive will immediately follow Baron von Kuhlmann's downfall, which was a victory for the j German command, who must prove tho fallacy of Kuhlmann's declaration that peace was unobtainable by a military decision.—Press Assoc. OFFICIAL REIPORTS, Received July 12, 5.5 p.m. London, July 11. A French communique states: We increased our gains during the night on the outskirts of the forest of Retz, and took possession of the village of Corey entirely, from Corey station to the chateau and farm of St. Paul.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter.. BRITISH (POSITION IMPROVED. Received July 12, 5.5 p.m. London, July 11. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We slightly improved our position east of Bretonneux. Hostile artillery is active astride of the Somme. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Asoc. and Reuter. TENSION ON BRITISH FRONT. CONFIDENCE OF TROOPS. London, June 28. A telegram from Rotterdam says that the German preparations for the new ' blow in the West are complete. Every available man has left the German barracks and camps for the front. The indications are that the main attack will be in Flanders, with simultaneous attacks on other points of the British front. Mir. Perry Robinson says that the tension on the British front is comparable to that on the eve of the offensive of March 21. Apart from the ordinary evidences that the new effort is ready, the general opinion is that the Austrian dis- ' aster will compel an extra effort to ] achieve a spectacular success. The only ] question is whether it will be Paris, i Amien3, the Arras front, or the Channel ports, via Ypres, that the blow will be < launched. The Germans are doing everything possible to attempt to cover up their plans, but we think that we know their intentions.

The whole of the Allied front is in the best of spirits and confidence. The correspondent of The Times at American Headquarters says that the American-Genuans lose no opportunity of telling the prisoners the truth aAwut the war, but it is difficult to dispel the teaching of a century. The prisoners' docility strikingly demonstrates the thoroughness of German propaganda. There is little hope of revolution yet, or even of local mutiny. Mr. Hamilton Fyfe, correspondent of the Daily Mail on the Western front, states that nearly three-quarters of the German reserves are massed on the British front. The back areas are full of troops ready to be rushed up at the last moment. The roads have 'been improved, ammunition dumps have been increased, and everything is ready. Reuter'3 special correspondent at British Headquarter* -£§2%-

seems to be rather an unusual amount of sickness among the German troops, but it is impossible yet to say that it has reached proportions vmich might affect the German plans. What undoubtedly has delayed them most is the skill with which our airmen are striking at vital points in the enemy's communications. Rcuter'3 correspondent at Amsterdam states that General Liebert writes in the Taglisehe Rundschau:—lt will not be long before another blow of the German hammer falls, and the Entente will again be surprised when it once more falls precisely where they now do not expect it. The writer also sajs: We must familiarise ourselves with the painful thought that our Allies are unable to carry through the assault across the Piave, which they so boldy and dashingly began. London, July 2, Router's correspondent at British Headquarters telegraphed to-day:— The enemy's puzzling restfulness continues on the whole front. It has been conjectured that he is awaiting the arrival of guns of a type intermediate between the heavy Berthas and the naval guns. By means of such guns, a large number of shells could be thrown on Paris, from a distance of 40 or 50 miles, a range which has been made possible by the most recent advance of the enemy, line.