WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1918, Page 4

WESTERN FRONT.

THE COUNTER-STROKE. A SURPRISE FOR THE EMMY. FRENCH AGAIN ADVANCES©. London, July. 19. The counter-offensive began at six o'clock in the morning. The ground was favorable for the use of mosquito tanks, eavalry, and artillery, whereof full advantage was taken. The French aimed to get astride the SoissonsRheims railway, which would enable thenv, to force the enemy back along the Marne Valley,by cutting their lines of supplies. It is definitely known that General von Mudra superseded General von Buelow on the Champagne front. Ban's,' July 19. General Gouraud's army order on the eve of the offensive pointed out that a defensive battle was never undertaken under more favorable circumstances. Strong infantry and artillery reinforcements had arrived, while the ground had become a formidable fortress which was invincible if well guarded. Every man must have only ono thought, to kill Germans, and kill them in plenty until they were exhausted. The French counter-attack was a surprise. They opened a, bombardment on a front of 27 miles from the heights northward of Fontenoy to Belleau. At one o'clock they had captured the heights overlooking Fontenoy. On the extreme left they had progressed to Mont de Paris, over-running the plateau in front of Soissons and reaching within a mile of the city, and had also gained a ravine at the river Crise, which runs into Soissons, on a front of five miles to eastward of Busanc, which mean 3 a maximum advance of five miles at this point. The army corps attacking here took 4000 prisoners with 30 guns and considerable material. The Americans participated in this advance. s The Aisne battle is continuing violently. The Allies have captured 100 gunsThe French are again advancing, and the German lines are imperilled.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Atom. London, July 19. The French captured 48 guns in the first day's attack. TWENTY VILLAGES TAKEN. AS WELL AS THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS. ; Paris, July 19. General Mangin commanded the new attack, which was directed against the whole right flank of the German army upon the left side of right angle formed by the German advance at Chateau Thierry. The operation resembles the first Cambrai success, using tanks instead of bombardment and the infantry advancing under a scientific creeping barrage. The French at Soissons-and Chateau Thierry are fighting with their faces eastwards. The Germans at Chateau Thierry and Ohaltillons are fighting southwards. The French are endeavoring to carry out their operations while the Germans are endeavoring'to push to a conclusion botWeen Rheims and Epernay, Both are seeking to flatten out an isosceles triangle. The West information is that the German push fa held and that General Mangih is stljl progressing.—Time* London, July 19. Twenty villages have been recaptured, thousands of prisoners taken, sod. much booty secured. A French communique states : that; j bombing machines ceaselessly attacked] the Marne bridges. Germans debouch- | int» on the northern and southern banks , were machine-gunned and bombed and lost heavily, being frequently scattered. A bridge thrown over the river in front of Dormans was flooded with projectiles and collapsed, convoys crossing at the time being engulfed. Twenty-one tons of explosives were dropped in the daytime and fourteen tons at night on the enemy's rear. Explosions and fires were observed, causing much damage. There were numerous air fights-Twenty-nine German machines fell dfa- ' abled.—Aus-N.Z. Cable Assn and Reuter

30,000 PRISONERS.

6OISSONQ RECAIPfPaEBSaj. "'■ Itodon, Jfefc; M^ Activity on the British feoot k owifined bo an Australian attack. Tfcttfris no sign of a general offensive,—4fe.. N.Z. Cable Assn. - _, Ptofa, July; U. The French have captured <iSm Germans. t Vancouver, July If. The United Press Washington co-re-spondent learns officially that tin French have captured Soissons. Washington, July 10. Official advices state that the French and Americans have captured SOfiOU prisoners.— AtulSZ. Cable AssnSITUATION EXTREMELY PROMISING. THREATENING ENJBMS COM MUNICATiaNS. IMPORTANT STRATEGIC POSITTON GAINED. "* '■- PARIS OVERJOT2IBD. London, July 18. Up to noon the French between Bel leau and the Aisne Valley advance* between three and four miles. r The; were especially successful in the Also* Valley. American artillery is cp-operwting in the biggest Allied oounter-offensive sinci April, 1917. Meanwhile the Germans have mad< no further advance at Epernay and were slightly thrown back in plaees. The French recaptured the whole front on Beausijour-Femz-Massigeg line, and also recaptured Lateuil, Venguel, and Bois de Roi on the Marne. An American division captured Vierzy, advancing three miles beyond the village. The Germans farther south, on the heights northward of the Ottroq Valley, hastily counter-attacked. Tee fHuation for the moment is obscure. The French still farther south gained the western outskirts of Ohouy and Nevilly St. Front, also advanced to a depth of three miles eastward of Rheims, and recaptured Pransy. The counter-offensive is regarded as having succeeded exceptionally well The situation is extremely promUiag. The enemy's artillery replied wesHy, while the French counter-battery work is reported as being remarkably good. German aviators, flying low, used ma-chine-guns in endeavoring to impede the attack, with small success. The French attack has already been much more successful than either of the German attempts at Noyon and Montdidier, or the latest attack* at Rheims. The French advanced to a oonsidetwbly greater depth in six hours than the Germans in three days. The attack threatens the German communications within the salient, especially at two points, Ouchy de Chateau and Fismes. The Fremjh now have the communications under direct, observation. The French have thus jchieved an important strategic position. Whatever the next developments may be, this valuable advance is regarded as one of the most brilliant performances of the war. In., 1 local fighting southward of the Marne the French lost some high ground at Dormans, but came back. On the farther southern slope, although perhaps losing the observation, their guns remain within effective rp.ncre of the bridges- * Paris is overjoyed at the news of General. Fooh's mastetly manoeuvre in striking a lightning blow at the neck of th« German salient,' scoring an instantaneous vietoyr. The opinion is held that at last the tide of German successes hat reached high water mark, ami now lb» gun to ecede.—Aug. N.Z. Cable Assoo, '

TURN OF THE TIDE. fiBOSIVB STRATEGIC HESULTS. aWHtRKP BY FOGH*S " -iSTCT. 6'l'iSUiiJi. own! Maurice, commenting on the t counter-attack, says thai General Foch 1 W always preached that a defensive attitude is no defence, so we may be I £ ■we that the reason he did not attack befare is that he did not have the MOMtary tdfa The counter-attack between Ai&ne and the Maine is an t indication that the painful period dur- t }"« which we have had to ait still is I d ferooght to an end. ( JUI who followed the 1018 campaign 1 nut realise that the deep-rooted belief r flat defence ia necessarily more econoluteal to life than an offensive is an il- * baton. A successful attack is almost always much lew coetly than an unsuc- ' eeaafnf defence. In the present battle Germans have lost more heavily, because their attacks failed. General Foch'a attack has thus far not been expansive, for it achieved a surprise IBM* in a direction where every yard ef. ground must directly influence the ecnXTse of the battle. II is almost certain that the enemy waa preparing an advance upon Paris aloag tin front attacked, and he will now haw to begin bis preparations afresh. General Foch has not only . driven the enemy back farther from Itafc, but has struck at the main artery of feeding the Germans in the great aallent General Maurice adds. Montagnc da Paris, which is' now in French balds, completely dominates Soissons and makes the railways pasnng through k osele* to Germans as the Frendi artillery dominates the lines. The | changes' of recapturing Soissons are **y- In any ease it is impossible for 11 the Germans to bring up the vast amount of material required for an attack on Paris and difficult to keep food and ammunition Unlike the I Crown Pri- effort, General Foch- in a few hot- ecared decisive strategic remits and i-: able to claim considerable captures of guns, while von Ludendorff fa unable to baact of one after a four days' battle. Counter-attacks south of the Marne General Poeh's local effort for regaining high ground whence be Will be able to shell the enerojy , bridges. It is obvious that the Ame- ( ricans have |aken part in the battle and , it was a very high trial for new troops j to take part in a surprise attack hasti- , It prepared as this must have been. It , looks aj if von Hindenburg waited overlone and under-estimated the Ameri- | cans, as bis predecessor in the first bat- \ tie of the Varne under-estimated the i Brititb. General Poch's attack was not an iffbrt to break the German front i Br has not had time to collect troops i for a far-rcacWnir offensive, «o we must i not expect the Franco-A meriean advance i to be much further.—'Aus.-N.Z. ( QtffrAHn. I | FURTHER GAINS. | i |£SEMY PEIVEK BACK. fieceived July 22,12J0 tin- 1 London, July SO (450 pjn.)A French eonrmuiiique states-.—Yes-terday, and daring the night, FranooAiaerican troops continued their advance along tho major portion of the front between the Aisne and the Maine. We readied Vierev, parsed Monloy Wood to But Vffienhelon, and captured Neuilly, Aquintfoot, and lieyhurowigncm, south >f tke Marne. We drove back the HMmy between and OetriHy, and gained gmad in the direction of the Ifante.—Aos--N.Z. Gable /ssoc. and Eeutm " IMPORTANCE OF SUCCESS. frHia OBRMAM SCHEME THBOWH GOT 09 GEAE. Received. Jtdj 21, 5£ pjn. London, July 20. Eentti's French cornspondent, writing on Thursday evening, ftatn that the importance of the succcm becomes hourly dearer. Th# advance cut the Scrissons-Tluerry highway and the Sorasons-VUMers railway at several points, lie Germans' infiltration movement was affected bv the cavilry tiding through tho gaps in tho nwmy's retreating line and establishing themselves in villages further ahead. Writing on Friday afternoon, the correspond ant gays that the night was rcMhrenlv eahn on the Aisne-Mame front, ud the French art resting in their now position. ' German reserves wen brought up in pasiderable strength. The fighting waa moat bitter, and over 10,000 pt boners «m taken and over 60 guns captured. Tho enemy's move tip the towards Epernay seeao definitely arrested. The correspondent at the ' French Headquarters, writing on the evening of Ike Mth says that*' the Ameriama and Preach, south oijjoigaans. launched, a eeeeni attack at ajjaajand swept on so fart tW the cavalry were thrown in'in the afUrnocn, and all fjie Headgmrtefe Staff to-night an w«tl inside the captured torituiy. fta Americans, aouth qi Soisaons, up, to noon, counted 25CQ prisoners and 50 gam. They ato jcapipred an immense quantity of material, including several aeroplanes, which (he enemy wen unabW to removs. Vaay primmi an etlll nneotated. Tho AmanlcaiM, north of Obateaa Thierry, eaptnred more prisoners and an •qua] quantity of nateriaL—Kenter.

ENEMY BRINGING UP RESERVES. HERMAN DRIVE DEFINITELY STOPPED. Received July 21, 5.5 p.m. London, July 20. The Franco-American advance continues. The Germans are bringing up < 100,000 reserves. The British advanced a mile south of Hebuterne,—Press Assoc. Received July 21, 5.5 p.m. Washington, July 20. General Marsh states that by a ten- < wile penetration of the German front 1 the German drive against Rheims has i definitely stopped, as has also the Gcr- i pan offensive to the northward, which < was recently postponed for an unknown I reason. In further gains towards Soissons the I French captured Marfaux. ' The Germans are re-crossing the l Marne in several places.—Press Assoc. I . 1 ] HAIG'S ARTILLERY, I i GIVING THE GERMANS "FITS." 1 1 Received July 21, 5.5 pjn. i London, July 20. I The United Press correspondent states < that Sir Douglas Haig.'s artillery is giv- ] ing the Germans fits. This strengthens , the indication that the Allies are slowly i but surely increasing their "punch,.'.' i and, in places, taking the initiative, His guns throughout the Armentieres salient and elsewhere are perpetually pounding the enemy along the roads, in the sup- i port trenches and reserve positions, also 1 the more distant west billets,. ' Wherever* 'Prince Rupprecht replaces c his tired men by comparatively fresh i divisions, British high explosive shells 1 harass the moving troops.—Press Assoc, A SWIFT ADVANCE. AMERICANS SURPRISE THE ENEMY Received July 21, 5.5 p.m. Paris, July 19 j The first wave of Americans seized the : objectives, then the second came over i them and captured positions according i to programme. They had hardly com- i pleted the consolidation when the first ; wave swept on again, clearing the ground well beyond the fixed objectives. i The tanks co-operated importantly throughout, preceding as well as following the infantry, and clearing the enemy out of pockets. The advance in some places was so , rapid that the Franco-Americans hur- , riedly dined at tables whereat the Ger- i mans had breakfasted. The attackers ] met Germans who were working batches ' of French prisoners on the roads. They ; liberated the latter, who joined in the ] fight. j There ig ample evidence that the ] French offensive surprised the Germans, j The attackers encountered a division j which was being relieved, and tKoy also found officers asleep in their dugouts. < The aircraft did splendidly, spotting ( enemy concentrations, which were promptly bombed. They also bombed , three troop trains.—Press Assoc. : A BRITISH ADVANCE. ' Received July 21, 5.5 p.m. London,. July 20 (morning). Sir Douglas Haig states: The Scottish ■ troops captured Meteren village, gaining all objectives and prisonering over 300, ; also taking a number of machine-guns. - Under cover of this operation the Aus- ' traliaaa advanced their line a short dis- , tance southward of Meteren. We prisonered a few in raids and patrol encounters in the Nieppe forest sector. We bombed many target?, including dumps at Armentieres and Mericourt, also railway stations at Rosieres and Bray, and the docks at Bruges and Ostend. We downed nine aeroplanes. Seven British are missing. Oar night fliers dropped eight tons of bombs on the Mons-Valenciennes railway, six tons on the Courtrai, Seclin, and Lille railways. Two aeroplanes have not returned.—Aus. NX Cable Assoc. and Renter. Received July 21, 5.5 pjn. London, July 20 (evening). Sir Douglas Haig reports; As a result of operations on July 20 our line in the Meteren sector was advanced on a front of about four thousand yards, and the village of Meteren with a group of buildings to the south-westward is now held by the British. On the extreme left the enemy offered considerable resistance. At other points our objectives were gained rapidly and without difficulty. We prisonered 436. The British made a successful raid near Beaumont Hamel. Further north, after sharp fighting, we pushed our line forward on a front of about a mile, southward of Hebuterne. There is hostile artillerying in the neighborhood of St. Venant and Ypres. Received July 21, 5.5 p.m. London, July 20. A wireless German official message states that the Freneh attempt to break through between the Aisne and. the Marne failed.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. ' and Renter. i Between the Aisne and the Marne the , French penetrated, by surprise, our front i line*,«t isolated points and pressed us i book. We defeated French attacks from i the, south-westward of Soissons to i Neuilly. Strong enemy partial attacks against our new lines on the whole front t broke down. Enemy attacks southl westward of Mareuil and Roi wood, i astride of Pourcy, failed. We have I prisonered 20,000 since the 15th. Received July 21, 5.5 p.m. London, July 19. A French communique states: Between the Aisne and the Marne, overcoming the resistance of the enemy, who had ' brought up fresh reserves, we yesterday evening advanced appreciably and took more prisoners. The battle continues. West of Rheims we delivered lively i attacks yesterday. \ South of fflie Marne we have re-taken Mont Voisin and thrown the enemy back ■ to the outskirts of Oeuilty. North of the river we progressed in the Bois du 1 Roi and Bois de Couston, between La Poterue and Pourcy, and carried our i lines a kilometre westward. At a point further north the Italians carried Andre Mill, and captured ground I in the region of Bouilly. We prisonered 400 and captured 4 r sruns and 30 machine-guns in theso acl tions.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and

SURPRISE THE OUTSTANDING FEATURE. RAPIDITY OF ALLIES' ADVANCE. GERMANS THROW IN RESERVES RUTHLESSLY. A VIVID ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE. Received July 21, 5.5 p.m. London, July in. An eye-witness of the counter- . offensive says the outstanding feature was the completeness of General Foch'a surprise. Some German officers were captured in bed. Prisoners include a German working party sent out to reap the harvest. The weather conditions were most favorable. A violent cyclone raged on Wednesday night, thus covering the ar- : rival of French tanks to the front line, i the noise concealing the advance. When the attack was in full swing the fol- 1 lowing morning the spectacle on the battlefield was great. A great body of 1 infantry could be seen approaching tiie red-roofed villages dotting the country, which rose gently from the rivers to the ' high ground, which passed into French possession by the evening. Parties of 1 cavalry could be seen ahead of the in- 1 fantry, the tanks crossing the wheatfields, golden to harvest, or woods of olive green in the windy sunshine, which \ made up the rest of the countryside. [ Above, fleets of aeroplanes manoeuvred among the trailing low clouds set against j a deep blue sky. GERMAN LINE BROKEN. ' Within an hour and a half of the commencement of the battle the German front line was broken at several points. The French cavalry were immediately called in. The French cavalry were soon some miles ahead of the original French line, while the infantry were still fighting for the villages behind. By two o'clock the dragoons were fighting in the streets of a village six miles ahead of the starting point. THE ATTACK PRESSED. The French everywhere swept on, leaving the reserves to clean up the centres of resistance. The attack was pressed so hard that the element of surprise in some parts of the field lasted for hours. German officers were unable to believe that Generals Mangin and de Gotte could embark on a flank attack. One German officer taken prisoner was asked whether the Germans had not feared a flank attack. He replied: "Attack with what? We thought Foeh's reserves were exhausted." GERMANS OF POOR QUALITY. j As a matter of fact, the German infantry in some sectors were of poor 1 quality and offered little resistance, suggesting that the German policy of selecting storm troops is proving de- ' moralising to the remainder of the units. 1 This is confirmed by several captured ' army orders, signed by General von Boehm and General von Marwitz, complaining that the discipline .of their armies lias been gravely shaken, and directing officers to show no clemency when punishment is due. Everywhere the objectives were considerably exceeded. At least a hundred German guns were captured. The German counter-attacks on Thursday were nowhere really on a large scale. GERMAN RESISTANCE INCREASES. The French continued to advance on Friday morning, when German resistance ( was much greater, the high command 1 using reserves freely, and the struggle became more severe. When General I Mangin saw his troops in possession of i the heights dominating Soissons on l Thursday evening he heaved a sigh i of deep satisfaction. Along the entire front the Germans attempted to rush in ! men and artillery supplies under the l most intense Allied shell-fire. THE AMERICANS' PART. ' The American units, renewing the battle on Friday, encountered the German reserves in woods, villages, and i grain fields south of Soissons, but the i Americans, in conjunction with the French, advanced to north-west of Chateau Thierry. Other American units were engaged in the vicinity of Dormans. All were excited and confident of dealing a big blow to the enemy. GERMAN PLANS UPSET. General Maurice opines that General Mangin's attack has upset the Crown Prince's plans. He will be in great difficulties. Evidently the Germans have men to throw into the battle, and they are fighting hard. The Allies have already achieved great things, but we must avoid premature predictions of the enemy's disaster. The vital point is Soissons. The retention of Montague de 'Paris seems certaih. The Germans have had to discontinue the attacks at this point, and also may draw in the remainder of the Crown Prince's reserves, while the enemy, in order to readjust his lines, may have to retire a considerable distance. Unless they are able to deprive the French of their gains there is a chance that it may prove a definite German defeat. The initiative has passed to the French. The whole German position between Soissons and Rheims is endangered. We have neutralised the Crown Prince's army, and he will have his work cut out to extricate himself from his present position. * MAY ATTACK THE BRITISH • FRONT. On the other hand, Prince Rupprecht's group, between Montdidier and the Channel, possesses formidable reserves, and probably these will be "used against the British front. It is unlikely the Germans will throw good money Wter bad. therefore they will probably only use sufficient troops to prevent the situation from becoming a defeat, and throw their forces in elsewhere. ! The enemy failure in the Champagne 1 is likely to accelerate the blow between Montdidier and the sea. As there is little room to manoeuvre on the British front it cannot be said the anxiety ' is altogether ended. i EFFECT ON THE FRENCH. ; The effect on the French was like a 1 glass of Champagne to a tired man. 1 The Times' Paris correspondent states 1 the Germans have twenty divisions in reserve between Soissons and Chateau Thierry. Their entry into the battle ' temporarily cheeked the advance, bst it ' was followed by night-long bloody hand-to-hand fighting. ' In the vicinity Soissons the French " held their own and are again advancing ' at certain points, but vigorous enemy reAjptioa U exsectftd

OVER 17,000 PRISONERS. TAKEN BY THE AMERICANS. Beceived July 21, 5.5 p.m. London, July 20. An American communique states: Between the Aisne and the Marne \vc continued to progress. A French communique states: The battle was continued most violently all day between the Aisne and the Marne. The enemy counter-attacked witli large reserves, attempting to arrest our advance, which, however, was continued over most of the front. On the left we maintained the plateau south-west cf Soissons and in the region of Chauden. In the centre we passed beyond—by three kilometres at certain points—the line through Vaux—Villers Scion— Noroy sur Ourcq. On the right we continued severe fighting on the plateau north-west of Monnes Hill. North of Courchamps we advanced beyond Torcy. Hitherto over 17,000 prisoners have been counted, including two colonels and their stall's; also :)(!0 guns were captured, including a battery of 8-inehers. Aviators on July Ifj, in conjunction with British squadrons, were most active over the whole battlefield. The French felled or disabled 20 machines, and fired 2 balloons, while the British destroyed 7 machines. Bombers continued their attacks at the Marne crossings. They demolished a foot bridge, machinegunned, bombed and dispersed combinations of troops at Oulchy, the Vaux ravine, Fere en Ta'.Vu'nois and Oeiully. Projectiles were showered on stations in the rear, causing fires and explosions, there being 22 and 21 tons of bombs dropped by day and night respectively. —Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. GERMAN RAILWAYS UNDER FIRE. ENORMOUS NUMBERS OF MOTORS USED. Received July 25, 5.5 p,m. Paris, July 10. Newspapers publish details of 'yesterday's fighting, emphasising the rapidity and completeness of the success of General Magnin's troops between the Aisne and the Ourcq. Tiny advanced two miles within an hour. The Germans were unable to bring up reinforcements by railway, which was early under direct fire, and used enormous numbers of motors and threw in troops recklessly. General Mangin rapidly improved the position, cleared wood after wood westward of the Saviere River, and pressed on energetically across the plateau. The Americans at the other end of the line, northward of Chateau Thierry, under General de Gotte, collected vast reserves overnight, and began to hop over at dawn behind a terrific barrage. It was a perfectly-managed engagement. 25 GERMAN DIVISIONS USED. FRENCH COUNTER-STROKE MAY ALTER SITUATION. Received July 21, 5.5 p.m. London, July 20. The enemy used 25 divisions from his general reserve in his abortive offensive, wherein he suffered very heavy losses. His breakdown was principally due to the accurate estimate of the French high command and the rapidity wherewith they disposed their forces to meet the attack. The French successful counter-stroke may profoundly alter the situation on the Champagne front. The French position on the ridge overlooking Soisosn enables the bombardment of the important railway network. The enemy in tliis sector is now entirely dependent on road transport, so that his troops round Chateau Thierry must draw their supplies by road for forty miles.—Press Assoc. GERMANS DRIVEN ACROSS THE MARNE. Received July 22, 1.10 a.m. London, July 21. The German retreat across the Marne is confirmed by a German semi-official report, which laboriously explains that the object of the first crossing of the Marne was to divert the Frencli forces. As this had been achieved, it was unnecessary to hold the ground south of the river; therefore the troops had been withdrawn to fulfil important tasks.— Reuter Service. OFFICIAL REPORTS. MINOR BRITISH OPERATIONS. iieceived July 22, 12.15 a.m. London, July 21 (Morning). Sir Douglas Haig reports: Minor operations in Hebuterne sector were continued, with success. Our pressure compelled the enemy to withdraw from Rossignol Wood, between Hebuterne and Bucqnoy. This important local feature is now in our possession. We followed up the enemy, , who suffered heavily. Wireless German official: The enemy has obtained a footing at Metaren. The enemy made re-attempts to breach the whole front from the Aisne to the Marne. Tanks early penetrated our foremost lines, but the first enemy thrust was defeated by noon on the heights southwestward of Soissons, westward of Hertennes and St. Neuilly, and north-west-ward of Chateau Thierry; and further attacks in the evening broke down. We threw back the enemy, northward of Hertennes, beyond his original lines. We withdrew unnoticed to the north bank of the Marne during the night.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received July 21, 5.5 p.m. London, Juyl 20. French official. —We reached the Marne, taking 20,000 prisoners and 400 cannon.

[SUPERB DASH OF AMERICANS. TRAINED TO LAST NOTCH. DEAD LIE HEAPED UP.. Received July 20, 5.5 p.m. London, July 19. Renter's correspondent at American headquarters reports that large numbers of American storm troops co-operated in the French attack. The Americana went over the top with a yell, without artillery preparations. The Germans, for the most part, resisted feebly, though, here and there stubborn lighters appeared, but they were quickly vanquished by the Americans' bayonets, the enemy being everywhejj! completely surprised. Tiie attacks were most successful in the region of Soissons, where the final objectives were passed, the whole operation being more successful than was expected. Many guns were captured, including eighteen in one town. The whole German left bank is menaced, and the Germans must bring up troops from the Marne front or leave them in danger. The Americans were trained to the last notch, and behaved like veterans. Nothing stopped them. The • was the closest co-operation betv the artillery and infantry. Many ; and heavy guns were movul up mojt swiftly and deluged shells on the enemy's retreating forces or reserves. The tanks did all that was expected of them, preceding and accompanying the infantry and clearing many places that escaped the artillery lire. Hastily-organised enemy hunterattacks here and there were all broken up. The resistance was stubborn cast of Chaudin, and the fighting is likely to become heavier as the German reserves arrive.—Reuter. Received July 20, 5.5 p.m. New York, Juy 19. The United Press correspondent at the West front states that the German losses in front of the American positions were enormous. The American artillery wiped out an entire German regiment before it was able to cross the Marne. It is believed to be the famous Sixth Grenadiers. Three German divisions were so demoralised that they have not appeared in the fighting again. In the region of Mezy and Paulgonne the G.rman dead lie four and five deep. An American regimental commander estimated that the German dead in front of his command numbered 5000.—United Press. LIKE A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. THE FRENCH-AMERICAN BLOW. NOTHING LIKE IT IN THE WAR. Received July 21, 5.5 p.m. July 20. Mr. Gerald Campbell states that the blow fell like a flash o£ lightning, and that in the whole course of the war there lias been no surprise so complete. As the advance proceeded, the Germans iVero found sleeping, or peacefully gardening or harvesting crops. At first, enemy officers who were taken prisoner could not. credit the offensive, declaring that General Foch had not the necessary troops. The spectacle of the advance was glorious and inspiring. The French vero unrestrainable. The majority of t'ue Americans had never been under fire, before, hut they dashed along the sunny, omiling landscape, through the yellow cornfields, and plunged into rivers breast deep, under heavy artillery, singing choruses. As for the cavalry, they came into their own at last. It was a sight for sore eyes as they swept eastwards along the valleys, debouching from the forests. Airmen saw the cavalry fighting in the streets of villages so far ahead that I dare not name themEverything went 'by clockwork. By hiiie "o'clock Torcy and Couehamps wer9 raptured. Heavy counter-attacks wen repulsed here. By two in the afternoon,' farther up towards Ourcq, and over the whole front, one saw the same success. It was a great day in France, and has materially changed the situation —Reuter.