WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

AN IMPORTANT CAPTURE. ACRES OP ENEMY SHELLS SECURED Received Aug. 1, 1.20 p.m. London, July 31. Reuter'a corespondent at American headquarters, writing- on Tuesday evening, says of the buttle of Chalinont thai the locality had been the centre of the enemy resistance on the west of the salient. Its capture by the Allies brings much-needed assistance to the flank of the American line at Seringes. It certainly will be a costly business to take the forest of Nesles. but there are alternative possibilities in the open ground west of the railway now that the Butte du Chalmont is in our hands. It is still impossible to estimate the enemy'i enormous losses in munitions. The forest roads are bordered with shells for miles. Dumps covering acres and piled to the 'height of a man have been discovered.—Press Assoc.

LIVELY ENGAGEMENTS. ENEMY THWARTED EVERYWHERE. Received Aug. 1, 1.20 p.m. London, July 31. A French communique reports: After strong bombardments the Germans attacked our new positions east of Oulchy-le-Chateau. We repulsed the assault, maintaining our lines intact. On the right bank of the Ourcq there were lively engagements. North-east of Fere-en-Tardenois the village of Seringes passed from hand to hand, being finally carried by an American counter-attack.

There were numerous enemy raids near Mesnil, St.. George's, east of Afontdidier, tile Bois le Pretre, on the right bank of the Meuse in the Vosges, all proving unsuccessful.:

We raided north-east of Perthes-de sur-Lus—Aub. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

THE GERMAN DIFFICULTY. GENERAL.MAURICE'S VIEWS. London, July 31. General Maurice says: It was never a question of pinching out the Germans in the Marne salient or of the Allies making a large capture of prisoners. The greatest German difficulty has been the breakdown of communications and the Allied pressure not allowing relief for the exhausted troops. Also the dash and energy of the Americans has been one of the greatest factors. While the other armies are all more or less war weary and contain a high proportion of lads or middleaged men, the Americans are composed of the pick of the manhood of a great nation.

It is doubtful whether the enemy has yet got a completed defensive line on the Ardre or Vesle, and he is still trying to gain time, hence the sacrifice of men in counter-attacks.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Association.

NEXT GREAT BATTLE. PRESENT HARD FIGHTING A PRELUDE iParis, July 31. Experts agree that the present hard fighting is merely a prelude to the next great battle. The enemy is striving desperately to consolidate his front and both wings. It is semi-officially stated that the Allies north of the Marne are no longer facing isolated rearguards, but a continuous line of resistance defended by considerable forces. The enemy is busily reorganising in the rear. He has not the least hope of revenge either on this front or anv other.—Reuter.

GERMANS' DETERMINED STAND. AT SERINGES AND SERGY. Received Aug. 2, 1.30 a.m. London, Aug. 1. American headquarters reports that the Germans arc making a most determined stand at Seringes and Sergy. They have mounted rows of sunken machineguns along the ridges on the north batik of the Ourcq, and destroyed all bridges and mined the roads.

Bayonet encounters continue, in which the enemy is suffering heavily.—Times Service.

AN AMERICAN RUSE. WHOLE KXEMY FORCE KILLED OK TAKEN. Received August 2, 12.20 a.m. Washington, July 31. German attacks against the American front overnight failed. The Americans withdrew from the village of Scringes. The Germans unsuspectingly advanced When they occupied the town, two companies of Americans attacked, killing or capturing the entire German force. —Pre;s Assoc. THE MALVY CASE. Paris. July "1. MM. Viviani, Ribot, Briaiul, Painleve, Albert Thomas, and' his other Ministerial colleagues gave evidence on behalf of M. Malvy— Aus N.Z. Cable Assoc.

TO KILL GERMANS. SOLE OBJECT IN" MARNE SALIENT. Received Aug. 1,. 3.5 p.m. Washington, July 31. General Marsh, in a weekly statement to the press, says the Allies' sole object in the Manic salient is to kill as many Germans as possible. Whatever the object either side had at deciding had been submerged by the developments of ihe lighting. The Allies no longer hoped to entrap the enemy. The maximum German retreat totalled 14 miles, thus shortening the line by - r )4 miles and releasing additional troops.—Pre«s Assoc.

BLOW AGAINST THE BRITISH. STATEMENT BY LUDEXDORFE.. Received August 1, 7..10 p.m. Paris, July 31. M. Marcel Rutin writes that General von Ludendorfi", in a semi-official note intended for home consumption, declares that in view of the new situation, the German command has been compelled to postpone for some time a decisive blow against the British.

Whether the postponement is long or short, the Allied command is keeping a close watch on the enemy's intentions.

It is probable that lime is required for regrouping his forces, especially as the divisions from Russia, who were not inclined to fight in France, are being sent back.—United Service.

PREPARING THE GERMAN PEOPLE. FOR THE MARNE DEFEAT. Received 'August 1, 11.55 p.m. Washington, July 31. The State Department's information from France is that the Germans are publishing an official Note in the press preparing the people for the Harne defeat, and forecasting a new offensive later. There is no reference to the Americans.

Tlie whole retreat is ascribed to Anglo-French attacks, which necessitates new tactical groupings. The retreat, it is said, was only 12 miles or thereabouts, and necessary. The people are begged to maintain, confidence inHindenburg, despite the reverse—Press Assoc.

OFFICIAL REPORTS. ENEMY COUNTER-ATTACKS BROKEN. New York, July 31. The French defeated four German counter-attacks at Oulchy-le-Chateau.— Am. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. London, July 31.

Sir Douglas Haig reports: We made successful raids anil had patrol encounters in the neighborhood of the Tries at Bethune and on the northern sector of our front. We drove oft raiders southwestward of La Bassee. The enemy's artillery is active astride the Somme and about the Merris and Kemmel sectors.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. , -Si i

An American' official report states: We repulsed a counter-attack after severe lighting on the Ourcq, and improved our positions.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Renter.

Received Aug. 2, 1.25 a.m. London, Aug. 1. Wireless German official: The enemy captured Merris. Franco-American attacks between Fc-re-en-Tardenois and Meuniere wood broke down sanguinarily. We prisonercd four thousand during t'lie past few days, making a total sir.ee the 15th of July of more than 24,000.—Au5. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Renter, Received August 1, 11.55 p.m. London, August 1.

Sir Douglas Baig reports: There is hostile artillerying south-west of Albert and east cf Robecq. The British aviation report states:— We dropped over 11 tons of bombs on enemy sidings and dumps. More enemy machines were encountered. We brought down 15 and drove down six uncoirtrolable. Six British machines are missing.

Our night-fliers dropped !U tons of bombs, in addition to thos,' already reported. A Frenoh communique states:—There are artillery actions on the whole battlefront between Mondidier and the Oise. An enemy raid north of Anthouir was re-sultless.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc and Reuter.