MAIN THRUST IN THE CHAMPAGNE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 232, 29 September 1915, Page 5

MAIN THRUST IN THE CHAMPAGNE.

OPERATIONS GREATEST SINCE BATTLE OF MARNE.* 1,800,000 GERMANS OPERATING IN FRANCE. AIXIED AIRMEN OPERATE IN ENEMY'S REAR. PARIS, September 28. A stream of fact* regarding the struggle is now coming in. It is estimated that there are 1.800,ix)0 Germans in the West and 2.600,000 in Russia. The number of unbounded German prisoner* now exceeds 23.000. Eleven trains of prisoners passed through I'ajis going to the internment campe. The haul of prisoners is unparalleled since the battle of the Marne. i A noteworthy feature of the operations wen , the aeroplane attacks '0 miles in the rear of the German front, interfering with tlie movement ( reserves and the supplf of ammunition. Troop tr.iiii* were bombed. T". effect of these attacks can bo estimated from the ri-nulte at .->aarbrucken, n the extreme south of the Rhine province. «hen , aeroplanes destroyed tic greater part of the strategic railways. Aeroplane* al«o damaged the junction at Treves, 48 miles northeus; of Mcl/., through which hundreds of thousands of troope have parsed via Luxemburg to France. Hie people at Treves were seized with mad panic. The bishop took refuge in the cathedral, and the clergy and congregation in the crypt, until the hurricane of fire was ended. GERMANS ANTICIPATED THE ATTACK. It is recognised that Ceneral Joffre has eeiked nibbling. It is clear that Neuve Chapelle, Beau Sojour. and !,es Kpargrs are eclipsed by this offensive, which is considered opportune, as the Hermans an - deeply committed to their invasion of Russia, they arc lighting on a 700-mile front at thp opening of the bad season. The Germans were expecting an attack, and had been holding up boards in Flanders on the 20th inst with the words. "We were ready for you on the 20th." The Allies - attack did not conic on tlie 2lrth. The gunners distributed their .favours so impartially that it was iiU' possible to say where the thrust would come. It i.« not correct to suggest that the German morale is destroyed. Their jyuns are numerous and tire too well concealed to be destroyed, though they culTrrod much through Uie bombardment. The Germans were unable to guess the real storm centre, and must have been sending reserve* first to one centre nnd then to another. Now it seems certain that the main thrust will !«• in the Champagne district, where there is open, undulating country without watercourse*. If a ■wedge of the yon Mackcnsen ty|>e i* driven in. it may compel the German* to retire upon the Sambrc and the Mniw, EICEMV'S LOSSES TOTAL AN ARMY CORPS. Tbe hardest fighting in the Champagne region was near Aubervie, on the River Suippe, on the left of the French advance. Tin- Germans in the Champagne are peculiarly dependent on the cross-line railway between the Argonnc and Bejsancourt. uniting the Rethel and Vouriere tinea, along which alone thr-y are- able to bring up large supplies and reinforcements rapidly. The French at jAubervie were within three mile* of the line, which also maintains the German connection with the hills nnrthwar In of Kbeimv Judging by the number of prisoners, the German killed and wounded are estimated to cquii tbe bulk of an army corps. Although it was difficult (or the German* to bring up the requisite reinforcements, this scarcity spand the othvr parts of the line. inasmuch as the whole long line was sorely trii*d. This dependence of one region on another was illustrated on the same (rout lu.-*t March, when the French attack at Mcsnil and Beau Sejour compellr.l the i.ermuns to tran*fer troops from the Britinh front, and contributed to the British advance at Npuvp Chapelle.. The news of the resumption of the offensee has aroused the keenest interest- The French communiques were nhoun in the cinema houses in all the large towns yesterday evening with portrait.* of General Joffre and other commanders. The audiences sang the >farsoillaisi\ but the word '"victory" was not uwil, the people remembering that the conditions of modern warfare make decisive results extremely difficult.