Offensive Started in Early Morning.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 7010, 17 July 1918, Page 3

Offensive Started in Early Morning.

Rec July 17, 11.25 a.m

London, July 16

The Australian Pre^s Association learns that the Germans started an offensive on a big scale against the French in the early morning on a front of thirty miles between Chateau Thierry and a point four miles south-eastward of Rheims. The enemy penetrated live thousand yards and captured Chezy. Their line o£ advance has been along the Marne Valley. The Germans took Bouqnigny, which is three thousand yards beyond the original French lines, also Orconrt —not Avocourt as cabled—and Ghaumizy. The Germans eastwards of Rbeims attacked on a front of twenty-five miles between Prunay and Maison do Champagne, but were brought to a standstill iv French battle positions, where the situation seems satisfactory.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Assoc and Reuter.

London IG, 1 a.m

A .French communique states :— "The German attack commenced about* 4.30 and continued all day long on both sides of Rheims with unabated violence. West of Rheims there were furious struggles in the region of Reuilly, Court Liezy, and Vassy to the south of the Marne River, which the enemy succeeded in crossing at some points. A vigorous American counter-attack drove back to the north bank enemy elements which had reached the southern bank to west of Fossov."