WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

FUTILE GERMAN ATTACK, FRENCH PROGRESS CONTINUED. FIERCE ITCHING. London, July 21. A French communique reports: As the result of our victories, a counter-offensive was soon apparent. The Germans violently attacked on their right flank and south of the Marne, but were compelled to retreat across the river. We hold the whole south bank. The French and Americans between tho Aisne and the Marne continue 10 progress and have driven back the enemy, who is resisting stubbornly We have reached Plaisy, Parcy, and Tigny, and passed Steiny-Blanzy and Rozesstallin. Farther south we hold the general line of the 'Priez. plateau to north-east of Courchamps. Violent fighting is in progress between the Marne and Rheims. . French and British troops are attacking vigorously, and encountered large forces. Notwithstanding desperate enemy resistance we gained ground in the Courban Wood and the Ardre Valley and towards St. Euphraise. The number of prisoners since the 18th exceeds 20,000, and 400 guns have been captured. Our aviators are redoubling their efforts and have multiplied their raids by day and night. On the 19th there was a fierce fight with enemy forces. French and British bcmbing squadrons made the Marne crossings their chief objectives, and ceaselessly hampered the enemy at some points and , completely stopped enemy supplies. This was an important factor in the enemy retreat. By machine-gunning and bombing concentrations of the enemy preparing for the counter-attack, also his columns and convoys, our aircraft inflicted heavy losses. Twenty-four and 27 tons ol projectiles were dropped by day and night respectively along the Marne and in the rear of the battle-front. Several fires and explosions were observed at stations. Simultaneously aeroplanes marked the advance of our troops and tanks between the Aisne and Marne, reported the arrival of enemy reserves, and participated directly in the battle by machinegunning tho reserves. Twenty-six German aeroplanes were felled or disabled in the numerous; fights with French and British pilots. Everywhere German aviation was inferior. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. ENCOURAGING NEWS. THE FRENCH ADVANCING. London, July 12. The latest news of the French counteroffensive is highly encouraging. Despite vigorous resistance an advance has been made to an average depth of five miles, and at the deepest point seven miles. The Marno is in high flood. Tho Germans counter-attacked at many points, but all the attacks were repulsed. So far 18,940 prisoners and 304 guns have been counted. The guns are mostly field pieces, but there is one battery of heavies. It has been ascertained that the Germans used 20 divisions on a 23milo front.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. BRITISH SHARING IN VICTORY. ENORMOUS ENEMY LOSSES. London, July 21. Newspapers are making a feature of the Germans' precipitate retreat across the Marne and the new onslaught in which, south-westward of Rheims and in the valley of the Ardre, the British are now sharing the honors of General Fdch's glorious victory. The consensus *bf opinion is that, with his right wing smashed in and the latest, pressure brought to bear on his other wing, the Crwn Prince's recent advance is in a position of exceeding jeopardy. Franco-American artillery barrages on Saturday hampered the withdrawal of many German detachments. FrancoAmerican troops are constantly rounding up fugitives. The net result of the Germans' southward push is enormous losses. Many prisoners describe the German divisions along the entire front as broken by the Allied artillery, rifle fire, and close range fighting. Airmen report congestion of movement on the German routes northwestward of Chateau Thierry.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. GERMAN CASUALTIES. ESTIMATED AT 600,000. London, July 21. Colonel Repington estimates that during the four months' campaign the German losses cannot be less than 000,000. Their successive efforts show steadily diminishing results, while the Allies hopes for the future are greater. Colonel Repington attributes Ludendorff's reluctance to attack at Amiens or to the north and his avoidance of Rheims to internal German troubles, while his strategy is affected by the dread of losing men. He adds: "The cheerful Tommies are convinced they can do what they like with the German armies. When the scales are beginning to turn to our silo wo must be cool and prudent. The Americans are the last army reserve of civilisation, and the Allies must not open a great offensive till they have the superiority of force necessary to secure victory."—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. AMERICANS PRESS FORWARD. • London, July 21. An American communique states: Between the Aisne and the Marno we again broke the enemy resistance and continued our advance, taking many addi tional prisoners.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter.

CHATEAU THIERRY EE-ENTERED BY THE FRENCH, Received July 22, 5.5 pm, London, July 21. It is authoritatively reported that the French have re-entered Chateau Thierry. Times Service. (The town is situated on the river Harne and is of strategic importance. Its population is about 10,000.) GERMAN VIEWS. NEWSPAPERS SURPRISED. Amsterdam, July 21. German newspapers display the utmost bewilderment at the shattering of Ludendorff's offensive. Some charge deserters with betraying his plans.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. Received July 22, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, July 21. The Courelisrche Zeitung, after declaring that a deserter utilised his knowledge of the planned operations to betray the Fatherland, says it is impossible to deny that the offensive has failed, and that the German people anxiously await new decisions demanded by the situation. The Frankfurter Zeitung states that General Foeh has warded off the German blow at the expense of great losses, but the counter-offensive has failed, freedom of action remaining m German hands. The Cologne Gazette remaiks: "We must concede the loss of prisoners and guns, but the enemy's leading idea, the break through, has not been attained. The counter-offensive was held up before it attained strategic advance worth mentioning." The Dutch newspapers regard it as a serious blow to Germany, amounting to an Allied victory. The Telegraaf says anything may now happen.—i Press Assoc. INITIATIVE WITH THE ALLIES. ENEMY MUST FALL BACK. PRONOUNCED FRENCH ADVANCE LIKELY Fieceived July 22, 11.5 p.m. London, July 22. Mr. Campbell, writing on the 21st, states that the initiative everywhere rests with the Allies. The attack is proceeding on an eighty miles front. Owing to the re-establisliment of Chateau Thierry as a solid pivot for the Allies, it is probable the enemy will bQ forced to fall back before General de Ooutte's army in the sector of Chateau Thierry—Villers Cotteret forest, otherwise he will be obliged to defend the awkward salient. A pronounced French advance is more likely here immediately than further north. The British, after some advance between the Marne and Rheims. are meeting with strong opposition near Marfaux.—Times Service. AERIAL WORK. GREAT DAMAGE DOSE. Received July 22, 10.15 p.m. London, July 21. Sir Douglas Haig states that there is nothing to report. Aeroplanes, on the 20th, dropped IS tons of bombs on the Courtrai and Lille railways, Bruges docks, three large dumps and billets. There has been more air fighting. We brought down fourteen aeroplanes, drove down three uncontrollable, and destroyed three balloons. Seven British machines are missing. The Air Ministry's report states that photographs show extensive damage to a hostile aerodrome at Morhange, as the result of an attack on the night of July 19, when one large shed and three hangars were destroyed by the British. — Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. GERMAN OFFICIAL deceived July 22, 10.15 p.m. London, July 21. A wireless German official message states: We repulsed English attacks between Beaumont and Hamcl, also east and south-east of Hebutcrne, Enemy attacks against Soissons, from the south-west, collapsed. The enemy attacked seven times on the Soissons and Chateau Thierry road. His assault north-west of Hartenes broke down. We drove him back south-west of ITartenes. We held positions north and west of Chateau Thierry agaist repeated American attacks. We undisturbedly withdrew our defences north and north-east of Chateau Thierry. An English and Fran co-Italian attack between the, Marne and north of Ardre failed.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Router.: GERMANS DISILLUSIONED. London, July 21. Mr. Gibbs says: The capture of Meteren gives us good observation of enemy ground. The garrison were living wretchedly in cellars and our guns pounding above made the place hellish. The Germans are now disillusioned men and no longer believe in an easy victory. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. AVIATION REPORT. London, July 21. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Aeroplanes on the 10th dropped 17 tons of bombs on hostile dumps, railway stations, and aerodromes. One pilot landed in an aerodrome and machine-gunned the hangars before vising. We brought down ten aeroplanes and six balloons. Seven British airmen are missing. Our night fliers dropped M tons on railways between Mons and Valenciennes and on the stations at Cambrai and Lille,

GERMANS' VAIN TACTICS. TERRIBLE ARTILLERY FIRE OP FRENCH. WIPES OUT HALF THE ENEMY. Received July 22, 7.50 p.m. (Paris, July 21. Reuter'a correspondent says tlie Germans endeavored to cover tlieir retreat across the Marne by releasing great columns of gas and opening a barrage of | fire from the north bank. The French replied with a terrible fire, squalls of shells and a rain of machinegun bullets and bombs. They destroyed the bridges and covered both banks of ■ the river with projectiles. : The enemy lost 50 per cent, of his ■ effectives before flie completed the evacu- . ation of the south bank.—Reuter. FRENCH SUCCESS CONTINUES DESPITE DESPERATE RESISTANCE. I VIOLENT FIGHTING PROCEEDING. i ; Received July 22, 7.50 p.m. i London, July 21, 4.20 p.m. , A French communique states: French [ troops entered Chateau Thierry this , morning. Violent fighting is proceeding north i and south of the Ourcq, and between the . Marne and Rheiras. Despite desperate resistance we coni tinued our progress.—Aus. N.Z. Cable ) Assoc. and Reuter, FIVE TERRIBLE DAYS. FOR THE ENEMY WHO CROSSED THE MARNE. 'POUNDED BY ALLIES' ARTILLERY. Received July 22, 7.50 p.m. London, July Jl. Renter's correspondent at French headquarters, telegraphing on the mornl ing of the 21st, states that British * troops participated in the battle for the first time yesterday morning, between £ Rheims and the Marne, in the region of the Ancre. They took up' positions at night time, and attacked immediately with complete success, advancing over a t mile. Fight enemy divisions which crossed to the south bank of the Marne were never able to cross the hills overlooking the river from the south. None of those who lived to re-cross will forget the five terrible days spent south of the Marne. The ground they held was overlooked everywhere by the Franco-American artillery. The enemy was enclosed m a narrow space between the river and the hills, and they offered a sure target to our artillery. For food and for munitions the Germans depended on transport across bridges which were constantly shelled, also regularly bombed by Franco-British airmen. They were never able to bring across any artillery heavier than mountain guns and light minenwerfer. Owing to the superiority of our artillery tiliev found themselves in the same position as the Austrians on the south 8 bank of the Piave. Their communications were uncertain and unsafe, and 5 their losses from artillery fire were , startling, fifty per cent, of the total > strength in some units being casualties. —Reuter. j THE ENEMY'S SITUATION. 3 t , HOURLY BECOMING MORE „ DIFFICULT. f e FRENCH RESISTLESS ADVANCE. Received July 22, 8.30 p.m. London, July 21. (, The Australian Press Association's , correspondent learns that the French t captured this morning the village of f Brasles, a mile eastward of Chateau e Thierry. Their line includes the heights . northward of Brasles, which give a ] good bridgehead in front of the town, t ' The line westward of Rheims leaves e the enemy a strip of about thirteen ; miles m the Marne valley, the strip's f greatest depth being four miles. This . is all the enemy retains of the results . of his offensive. t There was much fluctuating fighting j there on Saturday. e British divisions gained Marfaux and Ceitron villages and Courton wood, but the German counter-attack re-took some of the gains. The Germans hold a line along the Marne valley from Reuil to east' of Chateau Thierry Their rearguards apparently sacrificed themselves, enabling tin- main bodies to cross (lie river and * cheeking French efforts to push a detachment across. French pressure between the Aisne and the Marne is continuing heavily, also in the Ourcq valley, wftere they are approaching Oulchy le Chateau, the largest town in the neighborhood. They also reached near the village of Hartenner and the high road and railway from Soissons to Chateau Thierry, s The enemy's situation on the Marne s is becoming more difficult hourly. The d Germans must either clear the French i- off the railway or flatten the salient by s withdrawing troops from north of the Marne. d The enemy is still fighting hard and e bringing up fresh troops for delivering 4 local attacks, but is unable to hold up it the French advance, which is now from t 0 to 84 miles on a 22-miles front. —Australian Cable Assoc.

GERMAN RETICENCE. Received July 22, 11 p.m. London, July 22. A 'German evening official report states: French attacks between the Aisno and Maine failed. Fresh fighting developed in the evening between, the : J Aisne and, fl» QUKafc

A SERIOUS BLOW. CAPTURE OF PIVOTS POINT. GERMANS' DISORDERLY RETREAT. Received July 22, 10.80 pjn. Paris, July 21. The re-conquest of Chateau Thierry, which was one of the pivotal points of the Manie salient, was a serious blow to the Germans, whose positions at Soispons, the other principal pivot, are also known to be critical. The French joyously entered the town, from which the German retreat resembled a disorderly flight, the road to Fereen Tardenois being choken with retreating columns, who were frightfully harried by aviators' bombs and machinegun fire.. The enemy is also retreating from places on the Chateau ThierrySoissons Road. They evacuated Oulchy-le-Cheate&u. / General Degoutto reports that we have broken the enemy's resistance at the Oourehamps Plateau, northward of Chateau Thierry, while the French crossed the road in the neighborhood of Hartennes.—Press Assoc. ENEMY'S FRANTIC ATTEMPTS. TO HOLD BAOK THE AMIES. FRENCH ADVANCE BETWEEN SIX AND NINE MILES. Received July 22, 10 p.m. London, July 21. Eeuter's correspondent at French Headquarters, telegraphing on the evening of the 21st, states that the latest news is that the French hold the heights around Chateau Thierry, and are thus enabled to dominate a large area. The French have reached Oulchy-le-Chateau, further endangering the enemy on the Marne. The latest reports state that the French here have advanced between six and nine miles. The enemy, sorely pressed, made frantic attempts to coun-ter-attack with fresh troops, but did not succeed in loosening the French grip on the railway and roads. The enemy appears to have incorporated a new army between the Marne and the Aisne, the staff whereof is composed of officers from the Ukraine, whose staff work indicates slackness and disorganised effort.—Renter. AMERICANS HOLDING WELL! AMERICAN AERIAL CAVALRY. (Delayed in transmission.) New York, July 18. The New York Times' correspondent on the American front states that the Amerioans are holding all their gains between Chateau Thierry and Dormans, The soldiers displayed' the greatest courage. A captain and 230 men were surrounded and were reported captured. Later the captain and 38 men arrived. The remnant had refused to surrender, and fought their way .back, despite overwhelming odds. The Germans are using seventy divisions. Tho morale of the crack German divisions is lower than heretofore. The majority of the prisoners are from 19 to '2O years of age, and obsessed with tlio idea that the war will end in September, but expect a peace by negotiation, not a German victory. The airmen did splendid work, and brought down six German machines in one day. They flew over the Boche lines, pouring a stream of lead on the infantiT on the roads and the artillery train from a height of 200 metres. One American returned witli seventeen bullet-holes in his aeroplane—Press Assoc. BATTLE CONTINUES. FAVORABLY FOR THE ALLIES, EXEMY BEING DRIVEN BACK. Received July 28, 12.10 a.m. London,. July 22 (4.20 a.m.). A French communique states:—The battle continues under favorable conditions on the whole front between the Marne and the AisneOur troops north of the Ourcq are driving back the enemy, who is striving to arrest our advance. We progressed in the fighting in the region north of Ville Montoire, and further south. We are advancing east of the Parcv-Tigny-Billy-sur-Ourcq line. South of the Ourcq we made a big advance beyond Neuilly, and captured the heights east of Lacroix and Grissoles. Under the double pressure of the Franco-Americans operating between the Ourcq and the Marne and the French, who crossed the river between Fotssoy and Charteves, the Germans have been driven beyond the line Bezust-Germain-Mont St. Pere. Chateau Thierry is practically cleared northwards. Between the Marne and Rheims there has been the most violent battle all day, the Franco-British, in conjunction with the Italians, tirelessly attacking large enemy forces. We captured Steenphraise and Douilly, and gained ground in the Ardre Valley. The British, at Oourcon Woods, captured four guns and 400 prisoners, including eleven officers, of whom two were colonels. Despite the storma and low clouds on the 20th, our pilots felled eleven German aeroplanes. Franco-British bombera dropped six ton g on bivouacs, convoys, and concentrations. Fouck felled seven between the 18th and 19th, bringing liis bag to 56.

A DEFINITE DEFEAT. FRENCH CONTINUE THEIR PROGRESS. Received July 23, 1.30 a.m. Paris, Sunday Evening. The French continue their progress beyond Chateau Thierry and have occupied: Etrepiliy, three miles to the north, which marks the definite defeat of the enemy in thia sector. The evacuation of Chateau Thierry largely resembled a flight. On the southern front, abov.e Chateau Thierry, the resistance was gradually broken up. The northern forces are still resisting. A series of salients have been formed round the villages along the Soissons Road. The Americans took, lost and recaptured Vierzy, under most difficult conditions, in a few hours. Washington, July 22. General l'ershing reports that prisoners actually counted up to July 19 numbered 17,000. The Allies also took 060 guns.