WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 July 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

FRANCO-AMERICAN PROGRESS STUBBORN ENEMY RESISTANCE. Washington, July 24. French mid American troops have captured the greater part of Chaiil wood.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. London, July 24. A French communique reports: Our attacks on both banks of the Oiircq have produced satisfactory results. Notwithstanding stubborn resistance by the enemy, who brought up fresh reserves, north of the river we captured and passed Plessier and Hulen, reached the v,'e.itern outskirts of Oulehv-le-Ville, and captured the village of Mont Gru. The French and Americans south of the Ourcq crossed the Chateau Thierry road and advanced their line over a kilometre eastward of the village of Rocourt. The greater part of the Chatelet wood is in our hands. On the right ban-k of the Manie we made fresh progress north of Mont St. Pere and Chartenes, which is ours. We extended our bridgehead at Jaulgonne. Between the Marne and Rheims the fighting is furious. The French and British, l)etween the Ardre and Vrigny, attacking strong positious advanced over a kilometre and inflicted heavy losses. The British captured prisoners and guns. The local operation north of Mont- ! didier, by which this morning we captured Mailly-Raineval, Sauvillers, and Aubvillers, gave us 1500 prisoners.—Aus. K.Z. Cable Assoc. and Renter.

GERMAN PLAN UPSET. CROWN PRINCE'S POSITION. London, July 24. General Maurice writes: The fact that the Crown Prince reorganised his forces between Soissons and Chateau Thierry tvhen General Foch attacked, indicates that he intended to follow up his advance across the llarne by an attack upon Paris, probably coupling with it another attack between Amiens and Montdidier. Thereforo General Foch's counter-stroke not only wrecked the German offensive, but upset the enemy's plans for the future. General Foch's new attack at Montdidier has completed this upset, and, even if it was only a local affair, it, together with our recent progress at Villers-Bretonneux, should remove the danger which has hung over Paris for six weeks. The Crown Prince's efforts to extricate himself from the mess in which lie is involved will have an important effect on the general situation. Counter-attacks improvised in the midst of a battle in order to save a desperate situation are nlways costly, and it is certain that the German losses have been higher in the last few days and the exhaustion of reserves greater than in the first day's abortive offensive.

The situation has so improved from every point that we may without extravagance regard General Foch's counter-attack as the turning point of the 1318 campaign.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. ARTILLERY ACTIVITY ON BRITISH FRONT. London, July 24. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Hostile artillery is active on the northern portion of the front, particularly in the neighborhood of Locre.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. NEW ZEALANDERS IN ACTION. London, July 24. Mr. Grbbs writes: There has been no important infantry action between Amiens and Ypres since the capture of Meteren, bnt at several parts of tie line we have been keeping the Germans tame and keeping them off bits of ground nseful to us. The English and New Zealand troops have improved their positions a good deal between Hebuterne and Gommecourt by nibbling forward and leading the enemy such a hard life that he had to draw back miserably. The New Zealanders in this way captured Rossignol wood, from which they say the Germans "had to do a bunk" on Sunday. The enemy shilling hereabouts has been fierce during the last few days, and the ground for several miles is pitted with shell craters, among which the New Zealanders sit without a sign of uneasiness, cleaning their rifles, writing letters, and playing cards. They pay no more attention to the ugly noises of buzzing shells than if they were buzzing gnats. The New Zealajtders made the most noise a little later when they bombarded the enemy. "That.'s the way to keep them unhappy," said a gun officer. The New Zealanders have been on the offensive in a small way ever since they arrived in the neighborhood on March 20. The German divisions in the line are suffering heavily elsewhere as well as here. If Prince Rupprecht decides to attack he must call on his reserves, for his holding divisions are worn out and war wean*.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

VIGOROUS AIR FIGHTING. London, July 24. A French communique reports: Our aviators were active on July 22. French and British pilots felled and disabled 37 machines. There were numerous air fights. In bombing operations 33J tons were dropped during the day time on enemy aerodromes and stations. Thirteen hundred kilogrammes were dropped during a night raid on the station at Maison Bleue, causing a conflagration and explosions. An American communique states: South of the Ourcq we continued to press the retreating enemy. We took possession of Jaulgonne and the woods westward. —Aus. N.Z, Cable Assoc. and Reuter. ESTIMATE OF GERMAN LOSSES. London, July 24. Reuter'a-correspondent at French headquarters states: It is known that the enemy hag engaged 60 to 80 divisions since the 16th. A careful estimate reckons that the German casualties and prisoners are 180,000. —Reuter.

ALLIES' PRESSURE.

scccesspclly continued. DESPERATE FIGHTING. sas*-:;. - Received July '3O, 12 50 a.m. London, July 25 (2.20 a.m). A French communique states:—Between the Ourcrj and the Jlarne, our ntacks wore resumed this morning and continued successfully throughout the day. We held on the left of Armentieres, Chateau Wood, beyond which wo reached and occupied Breey. The Franco-Americans, in the centre, advanced over three kilometres at cerliin point*. Tlicr» was desperate fighting in the region of Epieds and Vregny. The Germans recaptured Epides cn Tuesday evening, but an American coun-ter-attack re-conquered it- We advanced our line north ol' b;th villages and beyond Courpoil. We are advancing on our right in the forest of Fore, north of Charteves and Julionne. Further east, we engaged the bridgehead at Trcloup and captured the southern part of the forest of Ris. We captured in this sector five"oin guns and much material. There is mtermitttent. artillerying ibetween the Manic and Rhclmo. In Tuesday's lighting, in which we captured Kheims Wood, south of Courmans, we tooli several hundred prisoners. The total prisoners taken in. the region of Manlly, Removal, and Aufovillers, north of Montdidier, on Tuesday, is 1850, including 52 officers, of whom four are colonels. Our booty includes four field guns.—Aus.-N Z. Cable Assoc- and Seu- I ter. ENEMY'S DOGGED RESISTANCE. CHIEF POINTS UNDER ALLIES' ARTILLERY FIRE. Received July 25, 10.40 pm. London, July 24. Mr. Perris writes: —If the sensational phase of General Focli's counter-stroke is over its results are not yot fully visible. The enemy is srtill holding out doggedly, but at great disadvantage, making an effort to reach positions which will offer a permanently defensible front. All the enemy's chief centres southward are now under Allied artillery fire. It is one of the most frightful warnings in military history of the peril of an insufficiently guarded flank.—Press Assoc.

BRITISH CAIN VALUABLE GROUND. FREXCH PRESSING VIGOROUSLY ON WESTERN SIDE. Received July 26, 12.10 a.m. London, July 24. Renter's correspondent witli French Headquarters, writing on the afternoon of the i!4th. says:—The British resumed their operations this morning and further advanced in the woods surrounding Vrogny. A considerable pocket of, thickly-wooded ground was taken from Die enemy, the possession :vf which is! of considerable importance. Meanwhile the French continue to press with unabated vigor on the westera side of the German salient.—Reuter. A GERMAN COUNTER-ATTACK. SMASHED BY THE FRENCH. Received July 25, 7.20 p.m. London, July 24, 4.35 p.m. A French communique states: The night was characterised by great artillerying between the Marne and the Aisne in Bois de Corten and Bois do Itoi. The Germans counter-attacked at 9 o'clock last evening in the region of Vregny. Our troops smashed all assaults, and maintained their positions intact. The remainder of the front was uneventful. —(Press Assoc. BRITISH OFFICIAL. Received July 25, 7.20 p.m. London, July 24, 10 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Tliere was considerable 'hostile artillerying in the morning in the Ypres sector. Little flying was possible owing to the wind and rain.—Aus. N..Z, Cable Assoc.