WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 July 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

OFFENSIVE RESUMED. | On Extensive Front. London, July 15. A new German offensive has begun in the Argonne. It is reported that they have crossed tlie Jlarne. The Germans are crossing the Jlarne by many bridges, despite the American resistance. The Germans also attacked the Americans at Chateau Thierry. The Americans successfully counter-attacked in the Vaux region. Vancouver, July 15. The United Press Paris correspondent states that the Germans are violently attacking the French on a 50-mile front north-east of Chateau Thierry. London, July 15. A bitter battle is in progress around Dormans. The Germans are seeking to cross the Mame. The United Press correspondent reports that the Americans counterattacked at Chateau Thierry and drove ' back the Germans 700 yards.—United Service. AMERICANS ATTACKED. SITUATION SATISFACTORY. Vancouver, July 15. The United Press iParis correspondent reports that the Germans are heavily attacking the Americans at Vaux. Tie situation is satisfactory.—Aug. N.Z. ) Cable Assoc. | DEFENCES TEN MILES DEEP. LUDENDORFFS TACTICS. London, July 15. The Paris correspondent of the Daily Chronicle states that there is a deep change in the character of the fighting on the Western front. Both side 3 enjoy the shelter of the old trench systems in the front line, but the prodigious field works which typified the Hindenburg Line have been abandoned by both sides. Instead of the old ditches and dugouts, which aviators easily mapped and massed batteries of heavy guns wiped out, both sides have introduced a method of defence called "echelonment in depth." The defensive front has become an area ten miles in depth, of which the most advanced positions are held lightly by scattered machine-gun posts and little forts, the middle parts by the main bodies, and the rear by the reserves. We have learnt from the enemy during the last three months, but Ludendorifs latest invention has this weakness, it proceeds by spasms. While the best German divisions are being trained for the next onset, inferior units are placed in the front line, which we are easily masters of.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. GERMANS CROSS THE MARNE. BITTER FIGHTING (PROCEEDING. GERMANY'S LAST DESPERATE ATTEMPT. Received July 16, 2.15 p.m. New York, July 15. The United Press correspondent on the American front saye that the German drive extends from west of Chateau Thierry to oast of Rheims. •There is bitter fighting, especially at Chateau Thierry. The Germans crossed the Marne at three places, namely, at Mozzy, La Brettoil Mere Farm, and Jaulgonne. The Germans threw pontoons across the Marne under a fierce fire. The Americans quickly recovered the ground at Chateau Thierry, and then forced the enemy back for half a mile beyond the original line. —United Press. Washington. July 15. Military officers regard the drive as Germany's last desperate attempt. They believe Germany will push the offensive regardless of loss, but are confident slie will not reach her objectives.—United Press. THE ENEMY CONGESTED. ENDEAVORING TO SECURE ©PAOE EOR MOVEMENT. Received July 16, 5-30 p.m. London, July 10. The Exchapge Telegraph Paris correspondent says that to-day's offensive is largely due to the enemy's difficulty in concentrating troops and material owing to their circulation being so reduced that during the day, even thirty-five kilometres behind the lines, he cannot move at one time more than on# battery or company* —Press Assoc. THREE BIG AMERICAN ARMIES. ORGANISED IN FRANCE. Received Jtdy 16, 100 p.m. Washington, July 15. General Mardh has announced that three American army corps of 225,000 each, have been organised in France- He said shipments of troops to France continues as in previous months. —Press Assoc.

I ENEMY GAINS THREE MILES.

SIXTY DIVISIONS IMAGED. Received July lfi, 7.j0 p.m. London, July l"i (11-45 p.m.). The Germans penetrated to a depth of 5000 yards we=t of Rhciuis, and captured Cliezy, south of Chateau Thierry. They also captured Avocourt and Chaunizy, and attacked oast of Rhiiims, but were stopped iu the French back positions, after capturing lirenly. The situation there is satisfactory. The total leuj'tTT of the front is llftyfive miles. Probably sixty German divisions arc engaged. FOCH WELL SATISFIED. ENEMY CHEOK.BD EAST OF RHEIMS. Received July 10, 7.50 p.m. London, July 10 ('1.30 a.m.). ill'. Bonar Law, in the House of Commons, announced that Mr. Lloyd George, in telephonic communication witli General Foch, learnt that General Foch is well satisfied with Monday's fighting. The attack on an eighty kilometres' front penetrated west of Rheims to an average depth of four or five kilometres. The Americans south of the Marne, by a brilliant counter-attack, drove the enemy back, prisonering a thousand. The enemy was completely checked east of Rheims. BRITISH SURPRISE ATTACK. 'DISPUTED POSITIONS CAPTURED. Received July 10, 7.50 p.m. London, July 15. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—Sunday's operation at the Dicketasch sector, on a two-thousand-yard front, iu the neighborhood of Ridge' Wood, resulted in the capture of a recently-disputed position of some local importance. We took the enemy by surprise, being completely successful, all our objectives being gained. We took 290 prisoners. Our casualties were light. We slightly improved our positions southward of Villers Bretaimeaux, and made a successful raid in the neighborhood of Ayette. Hostile artillery was active southward of Arras, northward of Bethune, and in the Locre-Dickebusch sectors. —Aub.-N-Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. READY FOR THE CRISIS. FRANCE'S UNBEATEN ARMY. AUSTRALIANS' TRIBUTES. London, June 10. Australians are offering their French comrades in the trenches sundry undemonstrativo tributes of esteem for the magnificent fight they put up against the recent terrific German onslaught south of the Ainse. It is evident that the Germans are again beaten to a standstill, and, except for the gallant British handful near Rheims, the full brunt of this drive was borne by French troops, lighting rearguard actions back to the reserves. The Germans were brought to a halt at the Marne, as at Albert and Meteren, and have still failed to force the Allies to relinquish theJr combined plan—still failed to drain the allied armies of its reserves. Australian officers who earlier this year were privileged to visit the French armies returned impressed in the highest degree not only with the soldierly qualities of the French infantry, but with the skill of the French highest I military command, which, during these four years of war, when the French were supposed to have been "bled white," conserved and nursed France's man-power against just such a supreme crisis. The verdict of these officers is now being justified. Unquestionably the French are not "bled white," as the I German propaganda has proclaimed. I The maturer classes have been called up, but they are still well ahead of the Germans, an increasing proportion ol whose fighting troops are now mere boys. The Australians behind the lines during the last two months have frequently seen magnificent French divisions containing fighting men of such quality as makes it hard to believe that this country has been battling for its very existence for nearly four years. These soldiers are in the prme of life, in splendid physique, and at the top of their form. Australians and villagers alike turned out to cheer some of them quartered near as they went singing down the road towards the south, decorated with the first summer flowers. It was very plain, both in numbers and in quality, that they were not the last combed-out remnants of a destituted, white-bled country. The French Army is still whole, strong, and utterly unbeaten.