THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 126, 28 May 1918, Page 5

THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE

AISHE AND YPRES SECTORS ATTACKS AFTER INTENSE GUNFIRE PROGRESS MADE AT SOME POINTS The Germans have resumed their offensive in the West, striking at two places, with a minor blow at a third. The heaviest weight apparently fell on the line from Soissons, north of the Aisne. to Rheims, while the secondary blow was delivered in the Flanders area, between Locre and the south of Ypres. So far few details of the new attack, which was launched yesterday morning, are to hand, but it is announced that the enemy has advanced at several places, though the depth of the advance is not stated. To the north-west of Ypres the Belgian front was attacked by German shock troops, but they were all driven back, the line being retained in its position before the attack was launched. President Wilson, in informing Congress that the attack had begun, stated that the war was now at its very peak and crisis, and that America must augment the effort for victory. Up to the moment of the launching of the offensive the British airmen continued to assert their superiority, and carried cut a great deal of useful bombing work on the enemy's lines and billets. The peasant rising in Ukrainia is assuming greater proportions, German domination being greatly resented. At one point the peasants defeated their oppressors, but. reinforcements are being sent. OFFENSIVE RESUMED AT TWO POINTS. BETWEEN SOISSONS AND RHEIMS AND SOUTH-WEST OF YPRES. ENEMY GAINS GROUND AT SEVERAL POINTS. (Received 8.15 a.m.) LONDON, May 27. A new German offensive has begun between Soissons and Rheims, while tie super-gun in the Forest of St. Gobain is again bombarding Paris. The Germans are apparently driving towards Paris, while they have also begun a new offensive between Locre and Voormezeele. The Germans are gaining ground at several points.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.) SOLEMNITY OF THE DUTY DEVOLVING ON AMERICA. (Received 10.55 a.m.) WASHINGTON, May 27. President Wilson, addressing Congress to-day, said that both Houses must lay politics aside end remain in session until they had enacted the new war tax laws to iinauee the growing cost of the war and prepare the country for the coming great burden. Tlie need for suppressing profiteering was now urgent, and Congress mu<t act without fear of political consequences. Plans which involved a working agreement between both parties had fallen through, and therefore Congress must step into the breach. It was impossible to wait another year to determine the new taxation which was now required. In closing his address President Wilson broke precedent, and addressing the House extempore, he announced that the expected German drive had began on the western front. He said that this added point to the solemnity of the duty now devolving on Congress.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) President Wil-on added:—"We are not only in the midst of the war, but at the very peak and crisis of it. Hundreds of thousands of American troops are in the field, and ships are carrying more to France. Home efforts must accordingly be augmented."—(A. and N.Z. Cable) It is prol jble that tlic Aries were fairly well prepared for the resumption of the liornia- offensive at the point now attacked, though, of course, they could only suspect It as a probable point of impact and could not denude other parts pi the front ur its protection. The German system of alternating their blows. hitting hard at one spot, and then, when the force of the blow has become spent, driving at another section of the line, would naturally provide some inkling of the intention to attack elsewhere than on the main lin>; of the earlier attack— from Albert southward to Mcntdidier. Tile section of the line now under attack has seen some of the bitterest ighting in the war. In the retreat from the frontier preparations were made ior a big stand along the Falaises de Champagne, the heights of Champagne, but the enormous weight or Llie blow the enemy prepared here threatened to drive a wedge between the British and French forces, and to outflank the left of the lin?. Accordingly t-ir John French and General JofiTre abandoned the idea of making a stand to the north of the Aisne. and decided to retire to toe Compeigne-Soissons line. Then followed the general retirements to the ilarne and .Jotfre's counter-blow, which swept the enemy back to the Aisne. The Gencrju chose their uerensive position to the north of the river, hut they held advanced points to the south, ami hi driving these in the fighting was of the fiercest character, h-'oissons was strongly held, but after sharp artillery preparation was captured by the British, who also crossed the flooded river at many points anj made contact with the enemy in the terrilic fighting which developed into the two-year-long battles of the Aisne. In April. 1017. very intense lighting was begun on the samp front as that Sow attacked. General Xivelle then began his grep.t offensive between Soissons a nd Rheims, on a front of 25 miles. The righting was of a most desperate character all along the front, the enemy having collected large and strongly-armed forces. Over the greater part of the distance the Germans' lirst positions fell at once. East of Craonne the advance was further, and as far as Junncourt the German second line was reached, 10,000 prisoners being taken. Beating back the counter-attacks on their new positions next day, the French extended their battle-line with a push east of Rheims, between Prunay and St. Hilaire, a distance of ten miles. It was all uphill righting, but over seven miles, from Mt. Cornillet to Vaudevincourt. the line of solidly organised heights wsa captured, further east the Germans were driven from Auberive and 3500 prisoners were taken, while to the west the villages of Anizy, Juvy and Laffaux were reached. At the same time crossings of the Aisne were achieved, and an advance was made to Chivy. From Troyon to C'nionne the French had now attained the famous Ridge Read, the Chemin dcs Damps, and were facing strong positions on the plateau. Craonne fell on May 24, violent counter-attacks breaking down. From April 16 to May S the French captured a large extent of difficult country a nd took 29.000 prisoners. The man-power of France was considerably strained ky the attack, however, and after a political crisis it was broken off, Pctain being gi Ten the High Command instead of Nivelle, wiiose supporters have always declared that he was in sight of victory when ordered to desist, and that in Mother week he would have rolled up the. German flank and compelled a retirement to the Meuse. The French then stood on the defensive until July 5, when tie enemy attempted an offensive" over a 12-mile front south of the Chemin dcs Dames from Jnvy to Craonne, but though they made slight advances the attack 85 a wnoie was a failure. Last October there was again lieavy fighting in the "estem Champagne. German attacks on the Laon-Soissons Road broke down, *nd the French subsequently attacking along the Ailette and capturing very strong positions, with 7500 "prisoners and 25 big guns on the first day. They crossed the canal, and on November 1 compelled the enemy to withdraw altogether from the long-disputod ridge of the Chemin dcs Dames, the French establishing themselves fur a length of 12 miles along the Ailette. Later they voluntarily retired from a portinn of this area, thus anticipating a German attack *aich might have cost them heavy losses.