WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 July 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

FRESH FRENCH OFFENSIVE. ENEMY STILL RETREATING. London, July 23. Oulehy-leChateau was captured last night. The Freneli this morning commenced a fresh offensive north-west of Montdidier, and have already captured several villages. Military writer?, insist that the French deserve the prime credit for the Marne victory, although the. Americana are fighting grandly. It is not yet clear to what extent General Foch utilised English, Scottish, and Australian troops, but there are only two British divisions at Marinaux. Mezy, where the Australians are reported to be engaged, is a small village on the south bank of the Marne, in a loop of the Tiver about five miles east-north-east of Chateau Thierry. 'Probably the pressure there assisted in forcing the evacuation of Chateau Thierry. Mr. Pen-is confirms the report that there are great fires between the Marne and the Ardre. The enemy is apparently preparing for a further retreat, blowing up munition dumps and stores which arc not movable. The necessity of getting the guns and material away explains the stubborn enemy resistance at Oulchy. The direction of the retreat suggests a definite stand along the Vesle river. futil£ enemy assaults. \ ALLIES' ADVANCE CONTINUED. London, July 23. A French communique states: The Germans to-day attempted by powerful counter-attaeka to arrest our progress between the Marne and the Oureq. The French and Americans resisted all assaults and accentuated their progress. We passed the heights east of La Croix l Crisolles, captured the village of Epieds, and gained ground north-east of Ment St. Pere. Between the Marne and Rheims there was hard fighting, without result for the enemy. We hold our lines in the Courton and Roi woods. The British further north advanced. There is great artillery activity, but there has been no infantry action, north of the Oureq or in the Champagne.— Aub. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Renter. GUNS SENT TO THE REAR. Paris, July 23. Indications are accumulating that the Germans recognise that a retreat on a considerable scale is imperative. The artillery on the battle-front is strangely silent, suggesting that guns are being, transported to the rear. Aviators' observation shows the utmost confusion along the lines of communication, which are insufficient to operate an orderly retreat. The enemy, after the rapid advance on the Marne, had not time to construct the usual network of railways.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Association. ENEMY REINFORCEMENTS FROM THE EAST. London, July 23. The Rotterdam correspondent of the .Daily Telegraph learns that the Germans are withdrawing the army of observation from the east to reinforce the western front.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. THE TRAIL OF THE HUN. London, July 23. The Germans have thrown 53 divisions into the. battle, so it is concluded the Crown Prince's reserves are running rather low. The Germans, apparently, are burning all the villages south of Fere-en-Tardenois, indicating the likelihood of a retreat, shortening their front owing to the difficulty of obtaining supplies.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

BOMBING RAIDS. London, July 23. A French communique says: Our bombing squadrons were active on the 21st, and, despite the weather, dropped by day and night 50 tons of bombs on communications, cantonments, and bivouacs in the Vesle and Ardre valleys, the stations at Laon, Fismes, and Berry-au-Bac—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. IMPORTANT '(POSITION'S TAKEN. New York, July 23. The French captured Oulehy-le-Cha-teau and the Americans captured Jauljronne. The French have captured the heights north of Courcelles, and have begun an offensive north-west of Montdidier. The British captured Petit Champs wood, in the Marfaux neighborhood, and took many prisoners. General Pershing's communique states that the Americans crossed the Marne and occupied Chartreves, Bezu-St.-Germain and Epieds. Later they made slight progress on the battle-front. The German resistance is stiffening.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. AMERICAN PROGRESS. London, July 23. An American communique states: Co-operating with the French we continued our advance across the SoissonsChateau Thierry road to Beau Epils and Chartreves. We crossed the Marne and occupied towns, the condition of which showed they had been abandoned in great haste. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. FURTHER BRITISH ADVANCE. London, July 23, 1.35 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We advanced our line slightly yesterday southward of Mcrris and Hebnteme. We improved our positions during the night in the Hamel sector, and made successful raids in various districts; There was considerable hostile gas shelling at Villers Bretonneux, and reciprocal artillery fire in the Dickebusch sector—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter.

ENEMY'S POSITION CRITICAL. EFFECT OF ANGLO-FRENCH ADVANCE. ENORMOUS GERMAN LOSSES. London, July 23. The energies of the Germans arc con- % (rated on a series of rearguard :.\ons, in tlie hope of extricating the '"' x \, their forces from the clutches of the The latter are advancing simultaneously from three points of the compass. , The enemy's position is critical, in view of the relentless pressure by General Foch, which may still turn the retreat into a rout. To avoid this, experts opine that the enemy must draw still more largely on his reserves, probably from those facing the British; unless they receive such help it is impossible for the Germans to cross the 24 miles of rugged country to the north bank of the Aisne, including crossing the rivers Ourcq, Vesle, and Aisne. The ruggedness of the country between the Marne and Rlieims accounts for the desperate fighting there, enabling the Germans to prolong the defence. Nevertheless, the advance of the British in collaboration with the French is most important, as it has demobilised large German forces, necessitating drafts from the reserves. The inactivity of the enemy infantry north of the Ourcq is semi-officially ascribed to the enormous losses. These may be calculated from the fact that in front of General Gourand's army alone 50,000 men were put out of action by the hundreds of guns which were unmasked only when the assaulting waves crossed the covering zone and approached the real line of resistance.—Reuter. 100,000 GERMANS ISOLATED. CAUGHT IN FOCH'S PINCERS. ALLIES' GUNS ALMOST COMMAND GERMAN MASSES. Received July 24, 11.35 p.m. London, July 23. Now that the French have crossed the Soissons—Chateau Thierry Road only nineteen miles separate the Allied bat-1 teriea on the two flanks. As the heavy concentration fire covers six miles on either side the Germans have only a passage of seven miles wherein to retro it or bring their reserve of men, ammunition and food. A hundred thousand Germans are isolated, despite the clever maimer in which the Germans are sacrificing their rearguards in order to enable large units to escape Foch's pincers. Mr. Perris, writing on Tuesday morning, says he visited the British divisions fighting at the head of the Ardre Valley in what may be called the Battle of Mareaux. Some of the Anzacs are fighting with the Highlanders and English units. The Anzacs are full of confidence, fighting successfully forward. —Press Association, i

GERMAN WITHDRAWAL HALTED. A STIFF RESISTANCE MET WITH. MARNE VILLAGES A HIDEOUS SHAMBLES. Received July 24, 11.35 p.m. London, July 23. The Daily Chronicle's correspondent with the American Army says the German withdrawal up the valley of the Ourcq has come to a halt, and American pursuers have met with a stiffening resistance, first nests of machine guns, then shrapnel, and finally field artillery. The Germans are working from previously prepared strongholds. Prisoners state that all retreat orders were revoked on Sunday evening, and stout opposition was enjoined, probably because the German lines of communication were hopelessly congested. The "Doughboys" were so eager to pursue that they did not wait for the construction of pontoons when they reached the Marne, but swam the river and engaged the enemy. The roads are full of abandoned supplies, including boxes of ammunition and infantry packs. The Marne villages are all hideous shambles and monstrosities of smashed masonry. —Press Assoc.

300,000 MONTHLYamericans POURING INTO FRANCE Received July 24, 7.25 p.m. London, July 23. Sir L. G. Chiozza Money stated in the House of Commons that three hundred thousand American troops were now crossing the Atlantic monthly. Sufficient supplies and war material for the Allies were also being carried—United Service. VERY HARD FIGHTING. RAGING ON NEW BRITISH FRONT. Received July 24, 9.35 p.m. London, July 23. French headquarters, reporting'on the morning of the 23rd, states: Some of the hardest fighting on the whole battlefield is now raging on the new British front astride the Ardre, in the Montague de Rheims.—Renter. A FRENCH ADVANCE. Received July 24, 5.5 p.m. Vancouver, July 23. The French advanced two miles at Montdidier, secured the domination of the Aisne valley, and captured twelve hundred prisoners.—Reuter..

ENEMY MAY STRIKE BRITISH. PLANS UPSET BY CHAMPAGNE P. li VERSE. FOCH HAS POWER OP INITIATIVE. Received July 2-1, 7.25 p.m. London, .July 23. The situation on the British front is one of pieparcd waiting. The enemy may strike at any time, but the British will not be caught less prepared than their brilliant allies at Klieims, It is an open secret that -Prince lvupprecht's plans were perfected weeks ago. Ureat masses of storm troops, terrific power of artillery, and crowded aerodromes were only waiting Hindenbnrgs cue. This doubtless depended on,events on the Fernch front, where since the drive-in many things have gone from bad to worse. Prince Rupprecht actually fixed the date of the offensive against the British several times, and intended a smashing blow as a sequel to the expected success in the Champagiu'. lhat fiasco necessitated postponements. Recent events have so lessened the army.'fl and the people's confidence in Lmlendorflf and Hindenburg that some dazzling stroke is needed as soon as possible. Although the German position at Rheims approaches a rout, Prince Rupprecht.'s reserves have been only slightly cut down, and the onslaught will come whenever Hindenbnrg considers immediate danger of a disaster in the Champagne is past. The Allies, with ordinary luck, will be able henceforward to give something of their own trend to developments. The Allies possess as many or more troops. It is merely a question of the best way of using them. General Foch lias proved his ability in this respect. The speeding up of the Americans put General Focli in the position to defend or fight, as he thinks best. Of two hundred Germans divisions on the West front only a fourth is worthy to be called "shock troops." : Although there is much heavy fighting ahead the Allies are warranted in breathing easier. The British are keen and ready. CROWN PRINCE'S RETIREMENT. | ACTIVITY OF BRITISH AEROPLANES Received July 24, 7.5 p.m. Paris, July 2.1, Marcel ffutin says that in spite of the I enemy's tenacity in retirement the Crown Prince's retreat is inevitable. Pontoon builders on the Marne were not hindered by shells, showing that the enemy's main artillery ha 9 been withdrawn from the base and concentrated on the flanks, where shelling is intense. —United Service.

Received July 24, 7.50 p.m. London, July 23. Mr. Gerald Campbell writes that the enemy has now brought sorty-seven divisions into action on the whole AisneMassiges front. Tho net result is that they have not only largely exhausted their strength, but lost more ground than they have gained—Router. London, July 23. General Haig reports: There is increased hostile artillery in the region of Villers Brctonneux and elsewhere. The weather improved on the 22nd, and sev eral long distance reconnaissances ■ were made, 23 tons of bombs being dropped on the railway stations at Cambrai, Bray, and Lille, and ammunition dumps near Armentieres and Bapaume, and billets along the whole front. Twentythree hostile machines were brought down and three driven down uncontrollable. Ten British aeroplanes are missing. Bain prevented night flying. The Air Ministry reports that aeroplanes on tho afternoon of the 22nd hit tho main station of Offenburg. Bursts were seen on the sidings. One hostile machine was destroyed. All of ours returned. We repeatedly attacked aerodromes on the night of the 22nd, with good results. Fires and explosions were observed. We bombed and machinegunned other targets. A French communique states: There wa3 only artillerying at night time on the entire battle front. North of Montdidier we boldly conducted a local operation, which enabled us to occupy the villages of Mailly, Raidval, Sauvillers, and Aubillers.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter.

A STIFFENING RESISTANCE. THE SITUATION FAVORABLE. BUT RAPID DEVELOPMENTS UNLIKELY. Received July 24, 7.25 p.m. London, July 23. The French offensive this morning north-west of Montdidier "commenced on a four miles front. They captured the villages of Aubvillers, Sauvillers, and Mongival in the first hour. The violence of the enemy's artillery is increasing and resistance stiffening. Tho Americans captured Buzancy, bringing them half a mile beyond the Soissons-Chateau Thierry road. They also captured Jaulgonne, Tho French are experiencing great difficulties in forcing a passage further along the Marne valley owing to the enemy.'s resistance. The French stormed the heights of Courcclles yesterday and crossed the Marne at Port Abinson, west of Reuil. The enemy launched a heavy counterattack from the direction of Pendiers, which was beaten off, British troops south-west of Rheims captured Petit Champ wood, near Marfaux. The situation is still favorable, but do not expect rapid developments. Indications are'that the enemy is evacuating tho bottom of the pocket, which has become too hot for him to hold, and he may lake up a natural line of defence, like the rivers Ardre or Veslc— United Service.

STRONGLY-HELD ENEMY POSITION. __ ; ."w2B ANGLO-FRENCH ATTACKING. FIERCE FIGHTING CONTINUES. Received July 20, 12.50 n.m. London, July 23. Mr. Campbell writes:—'jVe are crushing all counter-attacks. The French made especially good progress above Chateau Thiorry, constructing odditional bridges over the Marne with a view of increasing the weight of the advance northwards. Patrols discovered that only rearguards were holding Baslieux, though the enemy artillery was keeping up a hot fire over the valley. The Anglo-French face between Baslieux and. St. Euphrais© a very stronglyheld enenip position for seven miles, intended to protect the left llnak during the retirement. The British arrived on the 19th, and have since been continuously attacking, and gradually progressing, and are iiofl well >beyond Gourmas and Bouilly. They took TOO prisoners. _ The Italians shared in the attack, and displayed splendid vigor. Two picked German divisions have been withdrawn, shattered, whilst a third was practically wiped (jjit. Fierce encounters continue.—Times Service. GERMAN OFFICIAL. Received July 24, 7.20 p.m. London, July 23. Wireless German official: We repulsed the British at many points on the west-: ern front. ■ The enemy • made violent partial attacks astride of the Ourcq, between the Ourcq and the Marne. ' We repulsed the enemy and penetrated his positions on both sides of Jaulgonne, and threw the enemy back to the river. deceived July 25, 12.25 a.m. London, July 24. Wireless German official:—(Between Soissons and Kheims we frustrated a strong joint attach.