WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

ALLIES FURTHER PROGRESS. ENEMY CLINGING TO HANKS. London, July 22. Renter's correspondent at French headquarters, telegraphing at midnight, on the 21st, says: Tho fighting for the Montague de Rheims was extraordinarily bitter North country troops were sent into the battle yesterday and were heavily engaged, and again to-day. They made progress despite the enemy reinforcements, and restored Ste. Euphrase and Bonilly, between the Aisne and the Mame. South of the Ourcq our progress was more rapid, find the line now runs through the villages of La Croix, Grisolles and Epieds, meaning an advance of five miles from the west and three from the south. French infantry stormed the heights east of La Croix and Grisolles. We took, in the positions south of the Mame, 400 machine-gunß and 30 cannon. It is evident the enemy means to cling to the last to both flanks of the present line, strengthening it if necessary. With his left in the Montagne-de-Rheims and his right on the plateau above Soissons he could still present a formidable defensive front on the great' plateau running south-east from the" Aisne, between the Vesle and Criso, rivers.—Reuter. SITUATION TRANSFORMED. SPEEDY RETREAT SAVES DISASTER. London, July 22. Mr. Perrissays: The character of tho battle in three days has undergone a deep transformation. By a. single stroke the Allied generalissimo seized the initiative of the whole situation, and has driven the Bosches back to the defensive everywhere. Tho first symptom of the change was von Boehm's drawing seven divisions from the remaining reserves of the offensive and throwing them in between Soissons and Chateau Thierry. But more heroic steps were necessary, namely, the withdrawal across the Mame. This was effected under cover of dark, aided by smoke clouds. Strong rearguards protected the withdrawal against a French attack from the hillsides overlooking the bridges. The majority of these rearguards, who fought with remarkable courage, were slain, while the losses on and beyond the crossings were exceedingly high owing to artillery fire. Ludendorff, when endangered, does not temporise, hut holdly cuts losses. Von Boehm's speed in transferring his army to the west flank possibly averted a disaster, but the Allied success destroys Ludendorffs freedom of manoeuvre.

ENEMY ATTACKS SMASHED. New York, July 22. The Germans heavily counter-attacked between the Ourcq and the Marne, but the French smashed the attacks. The Crown Prince has called in his own reserves, and also those of Prince Rupprecht, which were facing the British in the north. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

RUFPRECHT'S ARMY FOLLOWED. London, July 22. The British are detaching an equivalent number of divisions from Picardy to follow Prince Rupprecht's army reserves south-west of Rheims. The Germans are burning villages and destroying provisions and munitions inside the Soissons-Rheims salient. It is believed the enemy is preparing a retreat to the Yesle.—■Reuter. ALL GAINS HELD. London, July 22. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We gained ground on the 21st Bouth-east of Hebuterne. We, in conjunction with the French, carried out a successful minor enterprise at night southward of VUlersBretonneux. A French communique reports: The work last night was restricted to counter artillery work north of the Ourcq and between the Marno and Rheims, notably in the Couron and King woods. Between the Ourcq and Marne we smashed a powerful enemy counterattack in the regions of Grisolles and Bezust-Germain. We nqa|intained our positions everywhere.—Ana. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter.

CHATEAU THIERRY EVACUATED. London, July 22. The Daily Mail's correspondent at American headquarters says: The Americans crossed the Marne with little resistance by boats and footbridges, clearing out the ravines, woods and machinegun nests as they advanced.

The French were the first to enter Chateau Thierry without fighting. TheGermans had looted the town and locked 'the civilians, mostly old people, in the [cathedral. Apparently the town was i never strongly held. The Germans evacuated it on Saturday. The Americans, as they advanced, turned the captured guns upon the enemy. According to prisoners, the Germans' weak artillery fire was due to the impossibility of-bringing up. shells.—United Service.

AMERICAN SUCCESSES. Washington, July 22. General Pershing reports that the Americans captured 6000 prisoners and 100 guns up to Sunday. The Allies have crossed the Marne, capturing Barbillon wood.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. London, July 22. An American communique states: Between the Aisne and the Marne day brought fresh, success, the enemy being forced to yield bitterly contested positions. >• e have captured during the past few days over 6000 prisoners, over 100 cannon, and many trench mortars and mdcMne-guns.—Aug. NZ. Cable Assoc. i TERRIFIC BATTLE RAGING. Washington, July 22. The Allies astride the SoissonsChatea* Thierry road are progressing slowly. Tfeere is a terrific battle saging wutb o£ SoisMaa.-^a.^t^^^l

A FURTHER ADVANCE. ITCAOTO-AMERICANS- CAPTURE EPIEDS. Received July 24, 1.30 sum. London, July 23, 6 a.m. The Franco-Americans further advanced north of Mont St. iPetre and captured Epieds.—Times Service, GERMANS FURTHER RETREATINC. BETWEEN THE MARNE AND THE ANCRE. BLOWING UP DUMPS AND STORES. Received July 24, 1 a.m. London, July 22, 11 pjn. The Germans are further retreating between the Marne and the Autre, blowing up dumps and stores. —Times Service. "YOU HAVE STOPPED THE ENEMY DEAD," . GENERAL'S ARMY ORDER. • , • Received July 23, 8.45 pari, Paris, July 22. General Gourand, in an arder to the Fourth Army on the day after breaking the German offensive in the Champagne, stated: "You have stopped the enemy dead just where we wished, and have won the battle. I rely on you to do the same each time the enemy dares to attack."

COLONIALS CAPTURE MEZY. Received July 23, 10.5 pan. London, July 22. The Australians and Scottish have captured Mezy, eastward of Chateau Thieonry.—(Press Assoc. OFFICIAL ACCOUNT. ADVANCE OF THE ALLIES. Wellington, Last Night. The High Commissioner reports, under date London, July 23, 12.15 p.m.: French official. —Despite fierce counterattacks between the Maine and the Ourcq, the Franco-American forces increased their progress, and passed the heights eastwards of La Crois and Griselles, and captured Epieds. We advanced north-east of Mont St. Pere. There was fierce fighting between the Marne and Rheims, but without result to the enemy. Our lines in the woods of Courten and Duroi were maintained, northwards of which the English advanced.

GERMAN OFFICIAL. A SERIES OF "SUCCESSES." Received July 23, 11.25 p.m. London, July 22. Wireless German official: Sunday's fighting resulted in complete success for the Germans. Enemy attacks southwest of Soissons and south-west of Hartennes broke down. We threw hack the enemy north of Ville Montoire. We defeated an assault astride of Oulchy-Le Chateau. Strong enemy attacks north and north-east of Chateau Thierry broke down with heavy losses. We sanguinarily repulsed the AngloFrench between the Marne and the Ardre.—Aus. KZ. Cable Assoc, and Reuter.

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT Received 23, 11.25 p.m. London, July 22. Sir Douglas Haig reports: There is hostile artillerying south of Arras and east of Nieppe forest. Low clouds on [Sunday almost prevented flying, but on a small part'of the front various targets were bombed, including a railway station, and a direct hit obtained on an ammunition train. Five hostile machines were brought down and four British are missing. Our night fliers were able to raid the bulk of the front. We dropped thirteen tons on the railways at Senlin, Menin, Lille, and Cambrai.—Aus. NX Cable Assoc, and Reuter. FIGHTING GOING WELL. London, July 22. General Maurice states that the capture of 400 guns is the most striking feature of the day's news. This is the largest number the Allies have taken in any single offensive. The fact that we lost none and that the enemy lost 400 is the surest sign that we were prepared for the attack and the enemy was not prepared for the counter-attack. The Germans claim that they crossed the Marne unnoticed. Thi3 is_ probably true, as the operation is not difficult. It is absurd to regard this withdrawal as a disaster. We have done the same several times. But General Maurice underlines very emphatically the complete failure of the German offensive. Fighting is still heavy on the whole Rheims-Soissons front, but is going well. The appearance of the British southward of Rheims is a surprise. The interweaving of the Allied forces is often inevitable, but it complicates - supply and administration and does not make for greater strength.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

FIERCE FIGHTING -CONTINUES. GREAT GERMAN FORCES. .. BRITISH' CAPTURE 50(kGUXS. Received July 23, 8.45 p.m. London, July 22. Attacks and counter-attacks continue ' fiercely. It is estimated that t'lie Germans have half a million troops on a 50-mile front. Six new divisions were identified between the Aisne and the Marne, making twenty-one. The Germans strongly pushed at Grissoles, advancing half a mile., British divisions operating southwest of Rheims, captured five hundred guns. The Germans captured forty-five guns and four hundred machine-guns south of the Marae. Franco-Americana continue attacking vigorously between the Ourcq and tike !'Marne. General von Mackensen's chief of staff, General von Hell, and other Mockensen officers are directing operations between the Ourcq and the Aisne, but it is not believed that Mackensen is present. Prince Rupprecht's group is estimated at seventy divisions, mostly fresh. The Australians helped to capture Meteren and continue their prominence in the Somme region.—Times Service.