WEST FRONT.

Evening Star, Issue 16778, 5 July 1918, Page 2

WEST FRONT.

BRITISH LOSS NEAR ALBERT j Press Association—-Ey Telegraph—CopyrigK. | Ausiranau ana '£.%■ Uauio Association and | ’ ■*.: Router. LONDON, July 2. ! Sir D. Haig rep,•us :An enemy attack ! on the night of the Ist inst. nurtn-wesi of , Al bon, with a view to levapauu Hw ground taken ou the night of the 3c t.; i-d. wits repaired, except -.t one imim, wHoie the enemy obtained a footing in a tremn. \Vfl repulsed lams in the- n-wgliboi nood ot Aveluv \\ otd, Avion, ‘-mi J Luges. We'carried out a sucee&sfui me.il operation at nielli norLh-we-uv.v.id oi An.-est. • We also it.- iied a post southw.ad oi -dor- , laireouxt. During June wo took piisone 1 . 1 1,957 of tho enemy, including 50 officers. j July 5. ! Sir Douglas Haig reports s After a- heavy ; bombardment the enemy on toe night of tiro 2nd inst. attacked utk! recaptured the - greater part of the ground taken by m> . in minor operations on the cumin.; oi Dio ■ SOlix nit. We carried out- successful raids , in, the neighborhood of Boy odes. Mi yen- ( aeviile, and Morris. Australian and JS.2. Cable Association. LONDON. July 5. A ridgo north-west of 1 A;I- was so menacing to the Albert-A\eluy Wood that the Germans determined to intake it at all costs. They succeeded at the tourtii attempt since Sunday. FRENCH SUCCESSES BETWEEN OISE AND MARNE. lustra,iian aud N.Z. Cable Association dii-1 ! Keuter. j LONDON. July 2 (ever! no). i TVotvih communique: \\ esl of Chilean Thierry a local ope. at ion executed :u con- j junction with the A men rains- cir-.’ukd us to j improve our pod tons on a front from Vaux to Hill 204. Ihe Ame-i scans cap- j fared the village of \ uux and a Height j westward thereof. Over 510 weie taken | prisoner. We cor due tod rinds between j Montd.dier and Nnyon-s and ea*t or | Bheims. An enemy auempt near Be.ioy, j in Upper Alsace, failed. __ | July 3. ! Between the Oise- and the A:am we repulsed two raids ea-t of \ iengre and captured the village of St. i’ien.'ugle, :onlh ot the Aisue. A German counter-attack up-ni positions in the region or \ .aix. v. e.-i ot Chateau captured by the jans, completely fared, and fresh pr.a., ;;e:s remained in oar hands. Ju! v 4. A French com muni quo states that artillery activity is reciprocal in the Argonnc region, at Vauquois, and on the rigid bank of the Meuse. The total prisoners captured north of Moulin-sous-Touvcnt reached 475, and 50 machine guns were , ’so taken. I GERMAN CLAIMS Admiralty per Wireless Press. LONDON, July 2. German official: We have taken prisoner since the 21st of March, exclusive of wounded, 191,454; of whom 94,,33 are British, including four generals an.! 5.1C0 officers; of French, 83.039, including two generals and 5.1C0 officers. The remainder axe Portuguese, Belgians, and Americans. We also captured 2,476 guns and 15,024 machine guns AMERICANS’ GROWING PART. SUCCESS ALONG MARNE. LONDON, July 4. Renter's correspondent at the Amcrijan Headquarters states that on the rnvrnseg of the. o:ci ii;at tb3 enemy counterattacked in massed groups with _ fresh storm troops aga-nst the Americans’ new positions at Vans and Beds do Laroche, but the entire attack was broken by intense artillery tire .and machine-gun tire ■without the loss of a fcot of ground. Part of the ground was [died with enemy dead. Further attacks are anticipated. - T f~\ "V"' TV r', -V” T T T

LONDON, July 3. The ‘Daily Chronicle's' c-orro-i/cr-dent at the American Headquarters says : The Americana scored attain in a liMie operation in the Mime Valiev. Thev cautured ■ the village of Vaux and 400 prisoners in 40 minutes. The attack was a logical -development. Ewi.er suce'ssis in the Chateau Thierry sector entailed the ousting of the Germans from Laroche Wmxl arid the occupation of KnoMice Crc.-t (called Hill lS2i. in the Va.rx Valley, vdhich was garrisoned by many me.eh.no guns, but the Americans found a French mason, a builder, who knew the nt- .r of every house. -Scout.eg ..;..-. s wt-:e sent, out night after night, thus craftily ; drawing the machine-gun tire. When ' everything was known the attack urns launched. There wc; 4.CZ-0 Huns in Vans when the American l-oril.v.r'irnent commenced., but all but- 71C had lied • . i re the “doughboys ” '.vert '•over the t p." The Americans closely hn.-ged ;,n aim eat perfect barrage advancing on a- two-mile front. Within 23 n:mutes they v.-- re inside Vans. a-n<l had r-ken Hil! U-2 in 26 minutes, while the wood seas taken in 40 minutes. The American machinery v:v to-:, perfect. for the Gomans. There is no doubt now that the United States is in the war. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. and Reuter. LONDON July 3. American communique; We stormed the village of Vuv.x, Laroche Wood, and the neighboring weeds, in co-operation v.dih the French, who advanced the line on. Hill 204. "We advam-id our 1,000 yards on a mile and a-half front, cud the enemy losses in killed and v,minded were heavy. Their regiment holding the sector resisted obstinately, and was practically annihilated. Our leuse v relaSdvely light. A German rfi. fewttack jvas entirely repulsed. A MILLION “SAMMIES 55 HAVE SAILED FOR FRANCE. JUNE’S RECORD TRANSPORT. Australian end N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. WASHINGTON, July 3. The Secretary of War, in a letter to President Wilson, detailing America’s war efforts, shows that over 1,600,000 troops have sailed lor France. Starting with 1,918 men in May, 1917, the numbers sent monthly steadily increased to 276,682 sent in Jane, 1918. Besides the soldiers, 14,644 marines were sent. The total number despatched is 1,019,115, while the total number returned from abroad, lost at- sea, and casualties up to that date is 8.165. Owing to the superbly efiicient protection afforded fay the navy in transporting, only 261 men were lost at sea.

The letter states that the supplies and equipment for all the troops sent are adequate, and in the output of war industries America is displaying a marked improvement in practically nil lines necessary for equipment and supplies. President Wilson, in acknowledging the letter, says it is a record which must give universal satisfaction, because the heart of the country is unquestionably in the war. President Wilson announces that more than a million American troops are in France, of whom 276,000 were sent in June. President Wilson adds: The United States rejoices to see her forces going faster and faster into the struggle, as they axe destined to redeem the world.

AWAITING GERMAN BLOW, Reuter’s Telegrams. LONDON, July 2. Router’s correspondent at the British Headquarters says: Tho fact that the Allies' persistent and successful policy ot pinnricks has failed to provoke tho resumnuou of the German attacks shows that* tho delay of the latter is probably dll-' 1 to dliiiunltv 111 ilUltdUu ou "'mound far in advance of tho railways; bnt“ it is undoubted that the Austrian defeat has disorganised the German schemes. Hence "the coming blow is awaited with confidence, though it ta recognised that the next three months will be a critical period. LUDENDORFF AGAIN ANGRY. LONDON, July 2. Ludcudorlf, in an indignant army order, Jen'unices the Gentian prisoners and deserters who disclosed 'enemy plans for the German attacks on Chornin des Dames on Mav 23. He says the enemy know tho hour and form of the attacks and tho units engaged, and similarly on June 9. Von Lutieiulorlf says lie was amazed at the accuracy and 'wealth of detailed information the French had derived from German cns'vuus. This infamous conduct on tho m.rt of a few individuals might have tho gravest results on the victorious issue of the war. THE BARBARIANS. \ustrn 1 ian and N.Z. Cable Association and Keuter. LONDON, July 4. A French army order asserts that the Germans are again resorting to killing wounded men and prisoners. Evidence comes from escaped French prisoners in various parts of the west front. When Athcnay was captured, the enemy massacred the prisoners, including several wounded men. French soldiers saw tho Germans kill French prisoners with their b.iyore:? at Oligy. and at another place the Germans fixed bayonets and finished inf all the Fren-’h wounded. These instances acre of recent occurrence. GREAT AERIAL WORK. Australian aud N.Z. Cable Association and I i-lvutar. i LONDON, July 2. I French commnmqU'-: Twenty-ono German aeroplanes were felled or disabled on the 33th ult.. and six captive balloons were set on lira. Twcntv-two tons of bombs were dropned at night on. enemy aticdromes and stations. Sir Douglas Haig’s aviation repot t states; There was tine weather on Monday, and our aeroplnt-cs were very active. We destroyed 25 aeroplanes and three l*alloons, and drove down 15 uncontrollable ; also two large enemy night-fliers landed behind our lines, and the occupants were made prisoners. Eight of our machines are missing. Wo dropped 22 tons of bombs during daytime and 15 tons at I night. All of our night-fliers returned. The Air Ministry reports : On the night of June 23 we bombed the chemical works at Mannheim. On the night of the 30th we attacked an aerodrome at Boulay, railwav work, and stations at Thionvillo, Romilly, Landau, Zwerbrucken. and Saar- ! bracken, also works at Mannheim. We bombed with good effect on Monday railwavs and workshops at Karthaus. the station at Treves, and the railway triangle at Metz-Sablons. i July 5.

Sir Douglas Haig states ; In regard to aviation, the weather on the 2nd was fine, hut hazy. Our machines worked as usual, but those of the enemy were less active. We destroyed 1,3 aeroplanes and drove down nine uncontrollable. Four of ours are missing. Vo dropped 19 tons of bombs on ' enemy railways, dumps, and billots. The. Independent Air Force’s official report states ; On the night of the Ist inst. ive successfully attacked an aerodrome at Boalay. Bursts were observed in the aero drome and hutments. Wo bombed with ~ockl effect at Oppau the works of the Sodafabrik. also the railway line at Mannheim and railway works at Imonville. We bombed the railway stations at Treves on the- 2nd inst.. and also bombed railway sidings and sheds at Coblenz with good results. All our machines returned. DO RAIDS ON GERMANY PAY? LONDON. July 2. itcr.ml Maurice says: It appeals that the Air Ministry have created an independent a:r force primarily for attacking Germanv. Gorman communiques show that the enemv have oeen forced to send back more and nunc guns ami acropiancs in response to the population's persistent : mands for protection. We are tlu-r, fore forcing upon the enemy the same measures that they compelled ns to adopt. V o have thereby obtained military advantage apart from "the actual damage to the Rhino . towns. i General Maurice admits that the bombim- of German towns will product' a. great moral effect- vrh-n the people see that military success is impossible: but the raids, however numerous and c-itcGivn. will not convert, a def-ct on the battbheid into a victory. The prime duty of the air forces In France is to co-oueratc with the troops; therefore, until we me unquestionably supreme in other -o-partments of aerial warfare, we cannot divert- our strength in ■ order to cr.rv the air war into Germany ! Our'greatest* air su priority was in 1916, during the Somme battle-, and we have never* since rc-eslablished such mastery : Although new we have held superiority for 'a Ion" me pa.st.it has never been a great ■■mnarWitv, we have always had to %nt hard for 'it. It is a? certain as anything one be in the war that tne allied superiority will develop steadily. Our own output' of aircraft has not yet rencuod its maximum, and America has hard V begun to make itself felt. When tne lull output wkes eifect we shall have such a supenoritv that it wi'l be on ;< of the first great steps towards final and complete victoiy.