ENNEMY AIR RAID ON HARWICH.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 159, 5 July 1917, Page 5

ENNEMY AIR RAID ON HARWICH.

'EIGHT KILLED AND TWENTY-ONE INJURED. THREE OF THE RAIDERS BROUGHT DOWN. (Received 8 a.m.) LONDON, -Tuly 4. Fourteen enemy aeroplanes attacked Harwich at seven o'clock this morning. A number of bombs were dropped. Fight persons were killed and twenty-one injured. There was slight material damage. The raiders' formation was broken up, and they made off seaward without attempting to penetrate inland.— (High Commissioner's Cable.) Three of the raiders were brought to earth.—(A. and N.zTC'able.) VIOLENT GERMAN ATTACKS NORTH-EAST OF SOISSONS. COMPLETELY CHECKED WITH HEAVY LOSSES. (Received 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, July 4. French official reports state that yesterday a powerful German offensive was prolonged all night from Jouy, ten miles north-east of Soissons, as far ac the eastward of tho Californie Plateau, north of (.'raonne. on a vast front. The Hermans violently and repeatedly attacked with large effectives, the assault being principally directed on pointe eastward of Froidmont Farm, westward and eastward of Cerny. live miles west of ('raonne, and northward of Allies, and also on the casemates of the Californie Plateau. The attack was completely checked, with heavy losses.— (High Commissioner's Cable.) The reason why Germany is concentrating her attacks on the Champagne and Ladies' Road sectors of the French line is that, on present appearances, the French operations in this region constitute as great a danger to the tottering Hindenburg line as do the British advances at Arras. What the British arc. doing in the north to the right flank of the German line, the French are doing to the left (lank along the Chemin dcs Dames and further of the Moronvillcrs massif—slowly but surely thrusting in a wedge whic_j as the advance continues, will threaten the turning of the line and compel a further retreat— or, if the Germans prefer to stand, a probable debacle. The Germans, however, are reported to bo preparing a line further back still, almost on the French border. That Hindenburg, in spite of the German talk about him, will stand and make an open lmtile for it with both flanks turned, is too much to expect. He may not he a great military genius, as the Germans declare he is. but he is not stupid enough for that. The Champagne is also the only country at present held by the contending German and French armies in which extended military operations are feasible. The Vosgos front is as difficult as the Carso. The frontal advance from Roy towards l.aon is across country Hooded by the Germans. Tlie holding of the Champagne vantage points by the French must tend to end the (lerman occupation of France. To that end most, of the French offensive strategy has hern directed since the first success in 1913.

GERMAN ATTACKS ON FRENCH FRONT FAIL. ASSAULTING WAVES SMASHED BY ARTILLERY. LONDON. July 4. A French communique states: After a bombardment the Germans last night made a scries of violent attacks on trenches which we had recaptured on both sides of the Paissy-Ailles Road, north of the Aisne. There was a violent struggle all night long, which ended in the complete defeat of the enemy. We maintained all our positions. A later French communique states: During the day there was reciprocal artillery activity in the sectors west and cast of Ceray. but no infantry actions. The artillery duel increased in intensity at midnight on the Hill 304-Avocourt Wood sector. Karly this morning the Germans attacked on a front of 500 yards in the southern extremity of the wood. Our fire smashed the assaulting waves, which were unable to reach our lines. — (A. and N.Z. and Keuter.) A report from Sir Douglas Haig states: We conducted a successful raid west of Havriucourt. wliich lii-s south-west of Cambrai, und north of Nieuport. We repulsed an attack south of tin- Cojeul River. — (A. and N.Z. and Reuter.) A I'aris correspondent states that the violence of the German bombardment on t licinin dcs Dames, north of the Aisne, caused the French to retire from the front-line trenches. The French batteries were immediately concentrated on the line, which the enemy, after severe losses. w,ere unable to hold. A splendid counter-attack in the evening swept the Crown Prince from his costly perch. The Germans are now modifying their method of attack. They are endeavouring to flatten out the French trenches before attacking, thus destroying their prospects of shelter against the French guns, and involving ruinous losses on themselves. — ("Times.") ENEMY ASSAULT WEST OF THE MEUSE FAILS. (Received S a.m.) LONDON, July 4. A French official report states:—On the Ailles-Paissy Road, north of the Aisne, German attacks and our counter-attacks ended in a lively battle, which resulted in the enemy being repulsed. On the left of the Meuse. between Hill 301 and Avocourt Wood, the Germans attacked on a 500 metres front. The assault waves were broken without reaching our lines.— (High Commissioner's Cable.)

AMERICAN ARMY SAFELY CROSSES ATLANTIC SPECIALLY PREPARED SUBMARINE ATTACKS FAIL. (Received 12.15 p.m.) s WASHINGTON. July 4. It is officially announced that all of General Pershing's Expeditionary Force arrived, not a single life being lost. The Germans made their first submarine attack at 10.30 on the night of June 22 in a part of the Atlantic which was presumed to be free of submarines. The convoy protecting the transports used its big guns so effectively that the U-boats' torpedo fire was scattered and ineffective. A second attack was made beyond the rendezvous where the transports picked up additional American warships, and the attack completely failed, it is known definitely that one U-boat was sunk, and reports indicate that others were destroyed.

Evidently the Germans specially prepared an attack on the transports, allotting, several submarines for thnt purpose.—(A. and N._. Cable.}