ALLIES' COMPLETE SUCCESS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1918, Page 5

ALLIES' COMPLETE SUCCESS.

GERMANS FLUNG BACK. FRENCH SECURE BIG HAUL OF PRISONERS. ALLIES PREPARING TO CROSS THE VESLE. Press • Association —Extraordinary— Copyright. Received August 4, 5 p.m. London, August 3. American official: —On the morning of Uie 2nd August, the enemy commenced to fall back, we being in close pursuit. Our advance has already progressed to a depth of five miles, and continues. A French communique states: —The attacks during the last two days by the French and Allied troops north of the Marne attained complete success. Hard pressed on the whole lino, the Germans were forced to abandon the position of resistance between Fere-en- ! Tarednois and Ville-en-Tardenois. French troops have entered Soissons. New York, August 3. The French have reached the Aisne, east of Soissons, near Veuil, and token a, big haul of prisoners. After Soissons was captured, the enemy retreat became general. The Allies are preparing to cross the river Vesle.

Received August 4, 5.5 p.m. London, August 3. A French communique issued on the 3rd at 4.50 p.m. states:—At night-tipie our troops continued the advance towards the Vesle and reached the Aisne between Soissons and Venizel. Fifimes is in flames. The Germans have retired east of the Ancre. The French have reached the Aisne, east of Soissons, near Veuil, securing a big haul of prisoners. After Soissons was captured, the enemy retreat became general. The Allies are preparing to cross the river Vesle.—Press Assoc.

IN FULL RETREAT. CROWN PRINCE'S ARMY. ALLIES' PINCERS CLOSE. BRILLIANT ALLIES' WORK. Received August 4, 5.5 p.m.

London, August 3. The anniversary of France's entry into the war was appropriately marked by stirring news. The Crown Prince's army is aeain in full retreat.

■ The immediate cause of the retreat Is the brilliant success of the armies under General Mangin and General Degoutte north of the Ourcq, who effected a junction at right angles, enabling a beginning to be made on the Ist of August with the task of clearing the important ridge dividing the Ci'ise from the Ourcq. The British in General Mangin'sarmy started the operation from Grand Rozoy.

The French, co-operating, carried not merely the summit but the reverse slope of the. ridge, securing observation behind Hartennes plateau. Meanwhile in the centre of tlio enemy bastion, Metrniere Wood, two square miles in extent, was carried. Thus the enemy's hope of establishing his line disappeared.

He, indeed, has already suffered a strategic disaster owing to the reversal of the strategical position brought, about by General Foch's counter-stroke and his hasty retirement upon Vesle cannot be easy, as the only good road available passes Coulognes, which the French captured yesterday. The Allies' guns are now within ran?e of Bazoche.e, where tl\e only railway connection from the north crosses the Veslo into the salient, also to Fismes, which is the main storehouse for the German offensive, while Braunc, between Bazoches and Soissons, through which the main road out of the salient runs, is also exposed to our guajfirc. Hence experts arc now prophesying that withdrawal is likely to continue over the Aisnc.—Keuter Service.

BRITISH OFFICIAL, ACTIVITY OF AEROPLANES. Received Aug. 4, 5.5 p.m. London, Aug. 3, 130 a.m. Sit Douglas Haag reports: Wc raided eastward of Dtckebuseh lake and repulsed a raid in the neighborhood of Koughey. Patrols occupied a portion of the enemy front line in the Albert sector. Hostile artillery was active between TJethuno and Bailloul. Aviators dropped over 24 tons of bombs on August 1. A large number Were directed against .in aerodrome from a vt-ry low height and greatly damaged the hangars Six hangars, containing sixteen machines were set on fire and one machine was Mown to pieces on the ground. We brought down 12 aeroplanes ant! drove down three.

Our night fliers also bombed two nigiht borobers over their own aerodrome. Two British macHnes are mming. Ws, ait night time, dropped 10 toms of bombs on railway lines and - stations and ftetfoixtgm,

GERMANS MAY RETIRE TO AISNE. HP,IT!,SU AND FRENCH ADVANCING STEADILY.

Received August 4, 5.5 p.m. London, August 3. A correspondent at French headquarters, writing at 11 p.m. on the 2nd, stales that the retreat is general. The Germans may hold on the line of the Vesle, but it is pqssible they may be obliged to retire to the Aisne. Anyway, they have lost all they gained in the offensives of May, .Tune and July. The question now is whether the remainder of the reserves will be used in a midden blow iu another part of the front. If they decide to tempt fortune again they will find the Allied armies ready. The British are now pressing through Coucroy Wood, a mile east of Ville Montoire. The French army is advancing steadily. Cavalry patrols are far in advance, and the horse artillery and engineers are accompanying the infantry. It has been raining heavily all day, and the condition of the roads retardsthe advance. —Reuter Service.

COMPLETENESS OF SUCCESS. GREATER THAN MOST OPTIMISTIC CALCULATIONS. $ COLLAPSE OF GERMAN OFFENSIVE

Received August 4, 5.5 p.m. London, August 3. Military critics state that the Germans have now put in 72 divisions in the latest attempt, including eleven from Prince Rupprecht's army. Eight of the latter have been in the line twice. The Germans have lined the equivalent of eighty divisions since July 15, The Allies have used nothing like that number. The main enemy difficulty is to keep battalions up to strength. The Allies' reserves in this quarter are larger than the enemy's. Critics declare that in the face of the latest developments it does not matter whether we kill Germans southward or northwaTd of the Aisne. The situation generally is satisfactory, and beyond the most optimistic calculations of a few weeks ago. The completeness of the success is evidenced by the fact that the FrancoBritish batteries at eight o'clock were established on ground from which they began to drive the enemy at four. The enemy were only able to "use artillery to the smallest extent, and compelled to rely upon machine guns, which were steadily silenced.

The German casualties were of the heaviest. Their bravery Is unquestionable, to the point of hopelessness. The advance showed splendid combination among the Anglo-French and Americana, The Crown Prince's offensive ma)' be regarded as collapsed, at least until September, when the newest German recruits will appear in the field.—Aus. Cable Association.

DESPERATE RESISTANCE. ALLIES OVERCOME DIFFICULTIES. HUNS BURNING VILLAGES AND CROPS.

Received August 4, 5.5 p.m. Paris, August 3. Semi-official: The capture of the heights north of Grand Rozoy was desperately resisted. The woods, villages and thickets were so many fortresses, swarming with machine guns, but the assault, assisted by tanks, was pressed with such vigor that the chief positions were captured after two hours. Violent counter-attacks were superbly met. By the evening the Germans were fleeing northwards. The French completely hold Soissons. The cathedral was shelled and riddled. Yesterday's progress in the fifty kilometres between Soissons and Rheims attained an average depth of from three to four, and in some places six kilometres. Some of the pursuing elements liave reached the Vesle.

The retreating enemy troops are burning the crops and villages. The towns of Braisries and Fisraes are in flames.— Reuter Service.

THE AMERICANS' PART. HARD FIGHTING. Received August 4, 5.5 p.m. London, August 3. An American official message of August 2 states: Yesterday on the, line of the Ourcq, in hard fighting, we captured Hill 230, southward of Coulonges, and the woods eastward of the hill. On the morning of August 2 the enemy commenced to fall back, we being in close pursuit. Our advance lias already progressed to a depth of live miles, and continues.

Our aviators successfully bombed the railroad station and yards at Conflans, causing several fires and a large explosion.

ALLIES' FAILURE. ACCORDING TO GERMAN ACCOUNT, Received Aug. 4, 5.5 p.m. London, Aug. 2, 11.30 p.m. Wireless German official: We repulsed attacks on the front on both sides of Ville Mon-tnioiro and as far southward as Hsirlenncs. Strong Franco-Britislh forces attacked the front line northward of Grand Rozov and Fere-en-Tardcnois. Their tanks on both. sides of Brougneux crossed our front lines and ft ached the heights northward of BrougTieux-, but were s hot to pieces. 'We sanguinarily repulsed the infantry attacks. Enemy attacks northward of Cicyges also failed— Aus. y 17.. Oaible Association and Reuter,

ALLIES PROGRESSING. , 50 VILLAGES TAKEN ON FRIDAY. The Higli Commissioner reports:— London, August 3, 0 p.m. French official:—We have icached Courvillc and Champigny. More than 50 villages were recovered yesterday.

COMPLETE SUCCESS. FRENCH OFFICIAL ACCOUNT. Received August 4, 5.5 p.m. Pari*?, August 3. A French communique states: The attack of the last two days by the French and Allied troops north of the Marne obtained complete success. Hard pressed on the whole line, the Germans have been forced to abandon their positions of resistance which were organised between Fero en Tardenois and Ville Tardenois, and expedited their retreat on the left. French troops have entered Soissons, Farther south we crossed the Crise on its whole length. In the centre we progressed on a wide front. North of the Ourcq we advanced beyond Arcy St. Reituie and penetrated the Boig de Dole.

Further east we took possession of Coulonges. On the right we took possession of Goussancourt, Villers Agron and Ville Tardenois. On this part of the front we carried the lines five kilometres north of the Dormans—Rheims Road on the general line of Vezilly—Echery, between the Rivers Ardre and Vesle. We occupied Gueux and Thillois. On July 31 seven German aeroplanes were downed, and 22 tons of explosives were dropped on the aviation grounds between the Aisne and Vesle, and the cantonments and bivouacs in the valley of the Ardre and the Vesle.

ENEMY'S COMMUNICATIONS , " o TAKEN OR COMMANDED BY ALLIES' RAPIDITY. Received August 4, 5.5 p.m. London, August 3. Mr. Perris, writing on Friday morning, says: Intense fighting ensued when General Mangin resumed the offensive between Plessier Hulen and Fere en Tardenois, to the north of the Ourcq. Th,e British joined the French in the onslaught, which resulted in the capture of a number of strongly-organised villages and woods, and important heights commanding the sole railway whereby the Germans were bringing up food, ammunition and reliefs for their sorely-har-assed troops. Every thicket and hamlet was a miniature fortress, bristling with machine guns, hut they failed to stay the Allies' rapid advance. The important villages of Hartennes and Etampes, which were the scene, of the most desperate combats a week ago when the Allies were crossing the Soissons Road, was captured.—Australian Cable Association.

A FRENCH TRIBUTE. TO HELP OF BRITISH TR'OOPS. STEW ZEALANDERS IX THE ATTACK. Received Aug. 4, 0.5 p.m. Paris, Aug. 3. General Bertlielot, commanding between the Manic and Rheims, in an army order to the British, Australian, and New Zealand troops, says: you arrived you threw your army corps ardently into the struggle, harassing the enemy in tfhe Ardrc valley, ■which was so liberally sprinkled with German blood. Thanks to the proverbial heroism and tenacity of Britons, you mauled four enemy divisions and prisonered 1300, and took 140 machine-guns and 40 cannon. All added to the glorious page of your history. Marfaux, Chaumazy, and Migny must be inscribed in letters of gold in the annals of your regimentsFrance will remember with deep emotion your brilliant bravery and perfect com-radeslii-p in the battle." Mr. PerrLs, describing General Ber-the-lot's reception of the British, Australi«ns and New Zealanders, who marched past t£e general along the road within the enemy gunfire, says what every Frenchman murmured was: "Just look at their stride! How sturdy they axe! They must be frasli divisions." Mr. Perris says the Frenchmen were wrong. This British corps had been fighting for ten days ceaselessly and had taken a brilliant part in defeating the Crown Prince, but they swung along to the sound of the bagpipes and brass bands in perfect' order, though some of the companies were sadly thinned. All, however, were brushed clean of the trench mud, the rifles were polished, the horses were well groomed, and the wagons were spotless They fully deserved General Bert-hclot's praise.—Aus. N2. Cable Association and Reuter.

GREAT REJOICING IN AMERICA. GERMAN MORALE AFFECTED, Received August 4, 5.5 p.m. Washington, August 3. Probably the Vesle and Ardre lines have already been turned. The Anglo-French pounding directly caused the fall of Soissons. The Germans retreated without burying their dead, leaving enormous quantities of guns and supplies. A further advance is expected. There is great rejoicing at the French entry into Soissons, which is hailed as a great victory. Semi-official advices show that tho German morale is greatly weakened by the Allies' success. The German officers are now so enraged that they have ordered the Germans to shoot any Allied, soldiers attempting to bury the "dead orrecover the wounded.

General Marsh, Chief of Staff, states that General Pershing is now commanding a million men. Tho American brigades recently with the British have now been transferred. General Pershing has eight American divisions engaged in the Marne fighting, During July three 1 ijivmdred thousand troops were shippedWRMM