WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 July 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

ALLIES SQUEEZING TRIANGLE. AN UNTENABLE POSITION; | ENEMY FIGHTING RETREATING BATTLE. London, .Tnlv 25. Renter's correspondent at French headquarters, telegraphing at midnight on the 24th, says: The enemy.'s position in the salient south of the Aisne has become untenable. He is righting a retreating battle while lie gets away his material. He has left a very "small cmniuit of artillery on this front. At Fere en Tardenois, about the centre of the salient, an advance of a few kilometres, such as we made to-day, would enable us to sweep back with our longrange artillery the whole remaining area to the east front, on which the Germans are engaged with the French and British, between Vrigny and the Marne. The pressure is steadily relaxing tho enemy hold on the Chateau ThierrySoissons road and linking up the front formed between Oulchy-le-C'hateau, Fere-en-Tardenois, and the Montague de Rheims on the eastern side of the triangle. The British advance north of the Ardre river is most important, threatening the Germans' left with envelopment. While the French and Americans are advancing from the Marne and menace the German centre, the British success at Vrigny threaten Fismes, another important centre. It is estimated that 400.000 Gennans are fighting within the triangle whose sides the Allies are squeezing. Their numbers, apart from the obstinate resistance and rugged country, constitute an obstacle to closing the pincers at the narrow Riieims-Soissons opening, but the relentless Allied pressure is gradually emptying the triangle of the enemy.— Reuter.

GENERAL FOCH'S TRAP. CLOSING AROUND ENEMY. New York, July 25. The latest British gains on the Rheims front bring the entire base of the Marne salient within range of the Allies' guns. It is believed that General Fodh-.'s trap has now closed arflund the German armies. A profound impression has been created by a statement by the Chief-of-Staff, General March, that if the Germans' sole remaining railway between Rheims and Fere-en-Tardenois is captured by the Allies the Germans within the salient will be pocketed immediately. Optimism has been created, and the Stock Exchange closed strong under the influence of the situation, which is progressively growing against Germany. Military circles in Washington consider that the fact that fifteen fresh German divisions have been thrown into the Soissons section of the fighting indicates how serious the Kaiser's generals consider the situation.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

FRENCH ADVANCING. CROWN PRINCE'S ARMY MENACED. New York, July 25. The Germans are violently counterattacking in the Dormans neighborhood. The French are slowly surrounding Oulehy-le-Chateau, but have not yet captured it. American troops gained a mile northeast of Jaulgonne. It is believed the Germans are withdrawing their forces from the neighborhood. The French are within three miles of Fere-en-Tardenois. The press publishes rumors of a sensational British advance in the direction of Fismes (half-way between Soissons and Rheims). The French are gaining elsewhere and endangering the Crown Prince's armies.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. IMPORTANT LOCAL ADVANTAGES. ENEMY FOOD SHORTAGE. Paris, July 25. The British captured Vrigny on Tuesday and occupied the woods eastward and westward of the town, thereby gaining an important local advantage. The German counter-attack began at 11 at night and was completely repulsed. A i violent bombardment continued all night long between Vrigny and the Marne. There was heavy fighting all day. Qn Wednesday at least fifteen divisions of German reinforcements arrived in the salient. Captured army orders indicate that the, Germans relied on finding large stocks of provisions. The shortage of food is most keenly felt in view of the Allied artillery pounding the lines of communication. An order of General von Hutier, dated mid-June, enjoins the greatest economy, and adds that the people at home are short of all provisions and necessaries of life, so that enough cannot be done to diminish the amount they have to supply to the army.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. TJaw VnrV .Tulv 25.

New York, July 25. The British and French are advancing west of Rheims and have reached Gueux and Mary-'Premecy Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

Paris, July 25. Correspondents pay warm tributes to the tenacity of the' British at Vrigny, which is regarded as a vital point. A considerable advance there would seriously endanger the whole of the German communications. The position is particularly critical in view of the food shortage. Nearly a score of trains are needed Jaily to feed the 35 divisions in the salient, and the difficulties are daily increasing.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. London, July 25.

A French communique states:—North of Boule and the Maine, the enemy, at night-time, powerfully counter-attacked in the region of Dormans, and occupied a. small wood north of Treloup and the village of Chassis;;, tat our counter-at-tacks speedily recovered it. Violent artilleryinj lias taken place south of the i Qurcq tivd in the region west of Rheims,