FURTHER GAINS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16272, 24 July 1918, Page 7

FURTHER GAINS.

WHAT THE GERMANS SAY.

THE ALLIED ADVANCE. TERRIFIC BATTLE RAGING. ALLIES ACROSS THE MARNE. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) WASHINGTON. July 22. The Allies 'are astride the SoissonsChateau Thierry road and are progressing slowly. A terrific battle is raging south of Soissons. The Allies have crossed the Marne, capturing Barbillon Wood. LONDON. July 21. Sonth-west of Rheims the Germans are burning villages and destroying provisions and munitions inside the Sois-sons-Rheims salient. It is believed that the enemy are preparing to retreat to the Vesle. ("Tho Timoß.") (Received July 24th, 1 a.m.) LONDON, July 22 (11 p.m.). The Germans are further retreating between the Marne and the Ardre, blowing up dumps and Btores. (Received July 24th, 1 a.m.) LONDON, July 23 (6 a.m.). The French and Americans further advanced north of Mont St. Fere .ud captured Epieds. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORTS. (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) I , (Eeuter's Telegrams.) LONDON, July 22. A French communique reports:—The enemy last night was restricted to coun-ter-artillery work north of the Ourcq and between the Marne and Rheims, notably in Coutor and King Woods. Between the Ourcq and the Marne we smashed a powerful enemy counterattack. In the regions of Grisolles and Bezust Germain we maintained our positions everywhere.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Beuter's Telegrams.) Admiralty per Wire Ices Press. (Received July 23rd, 11.25 p.m.) LONDON, July 23. A German official report states: — "Sunday's fighting resulted in complete success for the Germans. Enemy attacljs south-west of Soissona and south-west of Hartennes broke down. "We threw back the enemy north of Villemontoire. "Wo defeated an assault astride .Oulchy le Chateau. "Strong enemy attacks north and north-east of Chateau Thierry fcoke down with heavy losses. "We sanguinarily repulsed the British and French 1 between the Maine and tha Ancre." THE AMERICANS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Reuter's Telegrams.) LONDON, July 22. An American communique states: — ' "Between the Aisne and the Marne the day brought fresh success, the enemy being forced to yield bitterlycontested positions. "We captured during the past few days over 6000 prisoners, over 100 cannon, and many trench mortars and machine-guns." (United Semce.7 LONDON, July 22. The "Daily Mail's" American headquarters correspondent says that the Americans crossed the Marne, with little resistance, by boats - and footbridges, clearing out the ravines, woods, and machine-gun nests as they advanced. The French were the first to enter Chateau Thierry, without fighting. The Germans had looted the town, and locked the civilians, mostly old people, in the cathedral. Apparently the town had never been strongly held. The Germans evacuated it on Saturday. The Americans, as they advanced, turned the captured guns upon the enemy. According to prisoners the Germans' weak artillery fire is due to the impossibility of bringing up shells.

REJOICING IN AMERICA. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) NEW YORK, July 18. Church bells and the City Hall bell rang in celebration of America's great victory in the war. All factory whistles blew, and similarly those of vessels in the harbour. Crowds in the streets clamoured to buy- extra editions of the newspapers. There is general rejoicing in official circles over the start of General Foch's great flanking connter-offensive.

J COMMENTS ON THE BATTLE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, July 22. Major-General Maurice states that the capture of 400 guns is the most striking feature of tho day's news. This is the largest number tne Allies have taken in any single offensive. The fact that we lost none while tho enemy lost 400 is the surest sign that we * were prepared for the attack whilst tho enemy was unprepared for tho counterattack. The Germans claim that they crossed the Marno unnoticed, and this is probably true, as the operation was not difficult. It is absurd to regard this withdrawal as a disaster. We have done the s&me thing several times, but General Maurice underlines very emphatically the complete failuro of the German offensive.

Fighting is still heavy on the whole Rheiins-Soissons front, but is going well. The appearance of the British southward of Rheims is a surprise. The intenreaving of Allied forces is often inevitable, bat it complicates supply

FRENCH AND AMERICANS PRESSING ON. GERMANS FALLING BACK FROM THE MARNE. FOURTH YEAR—357th DAY.

and administration, and does not make for great strength. „ „ „ LONDON, July 22. Mr G. H. Perris says:—"The charactor of tho battle in three days has unuergone a deep transformation. By a single stroke the Allied Generalissimo seized the initiative and drove the Boches ba<ck to the defensive everywhere. The first symptoms of a change was the action of von Boehm in drawing divisions from the remaining reserves of the offensive, and throwing them in between Soissons and Chateau Thierry. But a more heroic step ..was necessary, namely, the withdrawal across the Marno. This was effected under cover of darkness, aided by smoke clonds. Strong rearguards protected the withdrawal against tho French attacks from the hillsides overlooking most of tho bridges. The majority of these rearguards, who fought with remarkable courage, were slain, while the losses on and beyond tho crossings were exceedingly highj owing to artillery fire. Von lyudendorff, when endangered, does not temporise, but boldly cuts losses. Von Doehm s speed in transferring his army to tho west flank, nossibly averted a disnster, but tho Allied success destroys Ludendorff s freedom of manoeuvre." (Router's Telegrams.) LONDON, July 21 (midnight). Keuters correspondent at French Headquarters says:-'; The fighting at Montagne de Rheims is extraordinarily bitter Th° North Country troops sent into the battle yesterday were heavily engaged again to-day. and made prodespite masses of enemy reinV™h? 3 ' Jt ?it eF „ ca P tl 'red Saint Euphrase.and Boully. Between the Aisno and the Marne, and south of rapid 1 ° Ur progress has Been more "Our lino now runs through tho villages of La Croix-Gnsolles-Epieds, meanmg an advance of five miles from the west and three from the south. infa-ntry stormed heights east of La Croix and Grisolles. Wo ,n positions south of the Marne 400 machine guns. and SO cannon. tn »Hr, 1S + Vl *t nt i th f t tlie enern . v means to cling to the last to both flanks of. tne present lmo, strengthening it if nectary with his left on Montaene do Rheims. and his right on the platnau n present a. formidable defensive front on the great platnnu running south-east from CMsc Rta™ M tlK> Tesle Md «»

SIDELIGHTS ON THE OFFENSIVE.

("The Times."} (Received July 23r$l, 8 25 p.m.) LONDON, July 22. Attacks and counter-attacks continue fiercely. It is estimated that the Gernians have half a million troops on a 50-milo front. Six new divisions have been identified between the Aisne and the Marne, making 21 identified so far. The Germans strongly pushed their attack at Grissolles, advancing half a mile. The British divisions operating southwest of RJjeims captured 500 guns. The French captured 45 guns and 400 ma-chine-guns south of the Marne. The French and Americans continue attacking vigorously between the Ourcq and the Marne. ■, ■

Marshal von Mackensen's chiof-of-staff and other of Mackensen's officers are directing the operations between the Ourcq and tho Aisne, but it is believed that Mnckensen himself is not present. Rupprecht's group is estimated at 70 divisions, mostly fresh troops. 1 The Australians helped to capture Jofccren, and continue i/rominent in the Somme area. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received July 23rd, 7.25 p.m ) NEW YORK, July 20. The United Pross Association's Paris correspondent states that Major Theodore Roosevelt, jun., was wounded in action and taken to a hospital. His wounds are not serious. (Received July 23rd, 10.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 22. The Australian and Scottish troops captured Mezy. (Router's Telegrams.) (Received July 23rd, 10.5 p.m.) PARIS, July 22. General Gourand, in an Army Order of the day, to tho 4th Army, after tho breaking of the German offensive in Champagne, says:—"You stopped the enemy dead just where we wished, and won tho battle. I rely on you to do tho same each time the enemy dares to attack."

(Australian and 2*. Z. Cable Association,) LONDON', July 22. liio uermans wcro assembling a now army, largely recruited from von iioehms force, with a staff hurriedly withdrawn from the Ukraine, when General Foch's blow fell. T , r NEW YOIIK, July 22. ino (iermans heavily counter-attack-ed between the Ourcq and the Marne but tho French smashed them The Crown Prince has called in his own reserves and also Prince Rupprecht's north Tror ° g tho Brit, 'sh in the ™ n ... LONDON, July 22. Iho British are detaching an equiva- !« n Ln Um v r - ° £ vlsions from -Picardy serves Rupprecht's army rl

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT. LONDON. July 22. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"We gained ground on July 21st south-east-ward of Hebutornc. We, in conjunction with the French,, carried out a successful minor enterprise at nicht southward of Villers-Bretonneux." (Received July 23rd, 11.25 n.m.) LONDON, July 23. Sir Douglas Haig reports: — "Hostile artillery is active south of Arras and east of Nieppe Forest."