HEW GERMAN ATTACK ON MARNE CRUSHED.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 173, 22 July 1918, Page 5

HEW GERMAN ATTACK ON MARNE CRUSHED.

[SRITISH'NOW FIGHTING WITH FRENCH SOUTH-WEST OF RHEIMS. (Received 11.30 a.m.) I . . '""■ • ■••■-■- LONDON, July 21. fc • Ci French conimuniiruo reports: The result of our victorious counterJ -fcffeneive was soon apparent. The Germans violently attacked on their right Bank and south of the Marne, tat were compelled to retreat and Tcc.ross the liver, and we hold the whole south bank. The French and Americans between \ $he Aisne and the llarne continue to progress, and have driven back the enemy, who is resisting stubbornly. We reached I'loiey, five miles south of yoissons, iParey, and Tigny, four miles east of the Forest of Villers C-otterets, passed St. Pemy Ularozy, and Kozet St. Albin, north of the Ourcq. Further south we Jhold the general line ot the Priez plateau, north-east of Courehamps. Violent , jlghting ie in progress between the Marne and Rheims. { The French and ISritnh troops, attacking vigorously, encountered large forces, and notwithstanding desperate enemy resistance we gained ground in the Courton Wood and the Ardre Valley, ten miles south-west of Klieinm and towards fit. Euphraisc. The number of prisoners eince July is exceeds 20,000, pnd 400 guns have been captured. i Our aviators redoubled their efforts, and made many -raids day and night 'en the 19th. They fiercely fought enemy forces, French and British bombing squadrons, making the Jlarne crossings their chief objective. They ceaselessly liampered and at some points completely stopped enemy supplies. They were an important factor in the enemy retreat by machine-gunning and bombing • concentrations of the enemy preparing for counter-attacks, and also his columns - *>f convoy 6. Our air-craft inificted heavy losses, twenty-four and twenty-seven ; tons of projectiles being dropped by day and night respectively along the Marne ■ and in the rear of the battlefield.— A. and and Renter.) ; Several liros and explosions wore observed at stations. Simultaneously the -aeroplanes obtained a marked advantage for our troops and tanks between •(the Aisne and the Manic. They reported the arrival of enemy reserve?, and jpaxUcipatcd directly in the battle by machine-gunning the latter. Twenty-six German aeroplanes wore brought down or disabled. In numerous fights with 4he French and British pilots everywhere the German aviation was inferior.— '.[IA. and X.Z. aDd Kcuter.)