GERMAN TROOPS DEMORALISED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 247, 6 July 1918, Page 7

GERMAN TROOPS DEMORALISED

BY REPEATED BRITISH RAIDS HAMEL CAPTURED BY THE AUSTRALIANS liy Telegraph-Press Aesociation-Copyriglit. „,, ~,. . London, July i. J Jib Morning Post" correspondent o» Hie British front reports.—"The Germans in the Lys area are so demoralised by the repealed British raids that certain divisions are in disgrace, and the Higher Command threatens severe punishment if more ground is lost. Prince Franz of Bavaria inspected the men, and talked very seriously of the extraordinary state of affairs in the front line. Ho said that the constant Britisli raids every night, and the losses of the Germans, were becoming a scandal. The Germans must strengthen their positions, and make more use of their rifles. The Germans replied: "It's all very well to'talkbut it is impossible'to .strengthen tho defences, as they arc continually shot to pieces by tho British, who have the observation." Sober observers estimate the German casualties at 800,000 since March "1 "— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. HAMEL CAPTURED AUSTRALIANS IN THE VAN. „,, ~..,,,, . , London, ,Tn!v i, Jhe United Press correspondent writes:-"The Australians and others, supported by numerous tanks, captured Hamel and part of the wed"e-shaped rid"o overlooking Amiens. By another operation, on a front of twelve'hundred yards ■in tho Morlancourt region, we won ground to a depth of four hundred varck-"-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ■ ■ .. LINE IMPROVED FOR NEARLY FIVE MILES. (Rec. July S, 10.5 p.m > t,' . , > , . , London, July i. ,„n,." tcrs con ' es l w "<l< , nt at British Hc'idquarie.rs, wriling un July I stalesrins morning's operation at Villers BrotonneiK was carried cut bV (ho Australians, nssislert by tanks, with the object of remedying an awkward indentation in the lino north-east of Villers Brelonneux.resulting ,from the •German drive in Alarch fost. 'Tho filling up of this indentation, will carry--our-front in n direct : ino through Hamel to the Sonune. ;In addition to Hie Hamel lillago. we captured >wo small woods'to the southward,' and pressed lip to tho high h round south--ast of the village of Aligniny. Our new front, with the trenches fronting tillers BrctouneiiK, on a practically lev<d stretch of ground, faJliii" steeply to the iv.ver at (ho north-eastern end, is tho greatest improvement on the old line, it the same time an advance was made «m the north side of the river between the Somme and the Ancro, thus completing the improvement of cut line for nearly five miles."—Keuler. , '. • " AUSTRALIANS CAPTUIIE 1500 PRISONERS. (Kec. July «, 11.10 p.m.) in . , ,■ , , <.„„ • Ottawa, July 4. .the Australians took.loOO prisoners'duruig the attack on Hainel, and consolidated- then- positions — Heuter. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT c- -n , tt ■ ', ■ , m , ■ , London, July i. !>"' JJoiiglas Jlaig reports:—"We carried out n successful operation this (lhursday) morning between Villers Brelonneux and the .Solium 1 . We captured tile village of Hamel and advanced our line to an averag.- depth of 2WIII yards The hostile artillery is active on the Pobccq and St. Jaiw-Cuppel sectors iii 1 landers."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-lieuier.' THE AMERICANS' CAPTURE OF VAUX A GERMAN REGIMENT PRACTICALLY ANNIHILATED. (lice. July 5. 9.15 p.m.) ~.„,., Washington, July 3. General Pershing s communique slat-is thai practically an entire German regiment, was annihilated when Vnux was caniurcd. A German counter-attack which followed was repulsed—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. •i , . London, July i. ■■ An American communique states:—"There is intense reciprocal artillery activity norlh-west of Chateau Thierry. 'We repulsed three raids on the Voices." -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter.