BATTLES OF CONTRASTED CHARACTER

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 16, 18 July 1918, Page 7

BATTLES OF CONTRASTED CHARACTER

MAGNIFICENT DEFENCE IN .THE.CHAMPAGNE

THE CROSSING OF THE MARNE

N (Eeceived July 18, 11.20 a.m.) ' LONDON, 17th July. Mr. George Perm writes : It appears that "the enemy practised no new methods in the offensive. He opened his artillery preparation at midnight, and began the infantry assault at 4.30. His guns soused the French lines everywhere with a combination of gas and smoke shells, which produced uoxious -jlouds, isolating groups of * defenders, and made the giving and receiving of irders and combined movement difficult. The columns of attack were not directed evenly on the whole front, but •y parallel thrusts; and when these did not sneceed flank attacks by the sup--)orts attempted to clear the ground. Many tanks supplemented the guns in he Champagne against the old elaborate French trenches, fields of wire, and •lockhouses. Consequently there was a strong contrast in character between tho >attles east and west ofvßeims. ; The French will look with pride on the defence of the Champagne front. They took a heavy toll of the greycoats before they reached the trenches. The seventy-fives and .the bellowing monsters of less speed but greater explosive effect,"were instantly at work. But it was impossible to hold the. front long against the overwhelming numbers, and a frightful running hand-to-hand struggle ensued along the communication trenches and in the second lines, with short, sharp counter-attacks and successful rallies. Gradually the local reserves came into play, and the attack wcakenecUand come to a standstill. The defenders, v;ith their entrenchments ilargely intact, had the advantage in everything except numbers; consequently the enemy's losses were enormous. Between Chateau Thierry and i)orrnans_ the woods and dales provided good cover for the gathering of bridging materials, and a few .contingents, in the darkness of the night, using small boats, Crossed the river, which hereabouts is 100 to ISO yards wide, and commenced the construction of bridgeheads, which tho French destroyed as often as they were recommenced. The enemy constructed pontoons where the valley was wider and it was more difficult for the French to hold tho positions under the German fire. Masses of men ponred across six bridges on a foui'teen-mile sector, each bridge eight or ten yards wide. Meanwhile the French airmen came into action, and sdived death among the close ranks of the advancing enemy, and harassed their rear. Ono squadron broke two bridges while the troops were passing over, and many were drowned.