SITUATION IS DISTINCTLY GOOD

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 16, 18 July 1918, Page 8

SITUATION IS DISTINCTLY GOOD

GENERAL ATTA*OK NOT HE

NEWED,

(REUTERS TELE<3RAM.) : (Received July 18, 2.30 p.ni.)

LONDON, 17th July. , Keuter's correspondent at French headquarters, writing on the evening of the 16th, says that, generally speaking, the. enemy has suffered a serious reverse, but it is too early to say that the attack has been definitely repulsed. The situation may, however, he regarded as distinctly good* It is now clear that the enemy concentrated all his efforts on. the offensive. He employed fifty-six divisions, including many crack ones. There were fourteen divisions each in the first line west and east of Reims, and the same number in the second line. Prisoners state that the German army has christened the battle "The Friedehsturcn," or "Peace Attack." The correspondent says that most of the ground lost is not particularly valuable. The Moronvilliers massif had to be abandoned after hard fighting. The enemy again holds the five crests of Mont Cornillet, Mont Blanc, Mont Hiiut, and the Twin Casque. The French did not attempt to hold them strongly, thus avoiding a large haul of prisoners when the front was. withdrawn two to three miles to the Souain-Perthes-les-Hurles line. • ,

Telegraphing at 11.30 on Tuesday night, the correspondent sa.ys : The general attack was not renewed to-day. The operations were of a local character. It is expected that stabilisation of the line will be reached in a few days. To-day's operations were dictated by the position in which the various German commanders found themselves after yesterday's failure. The German guns east of Reims to-day fired from their old positions, the enemy not finding it worth while to advance them.