A REVIEW OF THE OPERATIONS

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 17, 19 July 1918, Page 7

A REVIEW OF THE OPERATIONS

ADVANCE HAS LOST ITS BREAKNECK SPEED

GERMAN OFFENSIVE REGARDED AS A FAILURE

(AUSTEALIAN-NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received July 19, 11 a.m.) LONDON, 18th July. The enemy renewed his attacks west and east of the Reims salient, capturing the western portion of La Bourdonnerie village and the heights which the French retook on Tuesday. The French are again counter-attacking. The Germans remained unable to debouch from Prunay. The advance has lost its breakneck speed, and it is a favourable sign that villages are changing hands repeatedly. The enemy during the third day succeeded in advancing his line towards important positions, which he may subsequently capture, provided he 'possesses the requisite forces. On the other hand, the enemy has failed to gain the strategic advantages which are the necessary preliminary to the vast convnging westward movement which was the plan of the High Command. The German pincers have slipped in the Champagne between Prunay and Masages, where a rupture would have enabled the enemy to cross the Romi:i Road and reach Suippes, andthence move towards Chalons. Here our line holds. Tho German attacks missed fire. At only one point the enemy succeeded in advancing to-day, after two un-■successful'-attempts. At 11 o'clock this morning the Germans, attacking on a six-mile front, penetrated to a depth of a mile and a-half at the deepest point, in the Mountains of Reims. The advance was made at enormous cost. During the night the French repulsed two violent attacks at Vrigny and Beaumont-sur-Vesl.e. The French re-entered two villages, which were strenuously disputed, including Mont Voisin. The French artillery dominates the Marne Valley, which is being heavily shelled. The French hold the whole of the high ground overlooking the valley with the exception of one point. The offensive, which the enemy hoped would develop into a drive, is now regarded as a failure, and has become a series of local and disjointed actions. It can therefore, be truly described as a German defeat; but probably the battle will continue for some time, with fluctuating results. The Germans still possess a large number of. available reserves, but it is believed that, owing to this failure, the High Command may determine to reorganise, and use the reserves to assault another part of the 'line. The increased German bombardment of the 'British front is regarded as significant. Taking this in conjunction with the fact that the enemy has at no point advanced one-third of the distance set out in his programme, and the colossal German casualties, the French are full of hope that the enemy will not succeed in taking Reims. They anticipate that the utmost efforts will be made to capture the city by "ramming" tactics. In the event of the Germans gaining possession of the Mountain of Reims, the tenure of the city will become precarious. It is evident that Yon Ludeiidorff planned a rupture of the Champagne front, to isolate the French armies and exploit the success by local battles. Further stern fighting is inevitable, because the enemy is compelled to continue his attacks in order to save his face.