ENEMY'S HUGE SACRIFICES TO SECURE GAINS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 127, 29 May 1918, Page 5

ENEMY'S HUGE SACRIFICES TO SECURE GAINS.

IMPORTANCE OF GERMAN SUCCESS ADMITTED.

GERMANS NOW MAKING THEIR SUPREME EFFORT.

(Received 1.55 p.m.) LONDOX, May US. The German gains in the Western Champagne proved very soiwis. A continuation of the offensive is expected. Though the French correspondents insist that the Germans made huge sacrifices in order to secure their gains, they do not minimise the importance of the enemy's snecess. Commentators claim that the Crown Prince attempted to break through, and that his first day's results fell far short of his programme, but agree that the evacuation of territory gained by Nivelle in 1017 is a disappointment and a surprise. M. Jlarcel Bntin, writing in the "Echo do Paris," says that certainly the blow has been hard, and the recoil important, but it is better to retreat to securo the Aisne defence rather than defend the Chemin dcs Dames at heavy cost M. Hutin thinks that the Germans are now making their supreme effort. F-och's greatest care must be the safeguarding of his armies and the judicious use of his reserves. The Allied lino was thinly held, and retreat early in the day became inevitable. Commentators point out that the Germans would inevitably secure early results in the offensive, but General Foch never failed to stabilise the situation. (A. and X.Z. Cable.)