FOCH HITS BACK

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 July 1918, Page 5

FOCH HITS BACK

i FRENCH OFrFASiVE ON ME AISNE l. r = i * amawlnp ~ I ; THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS TAKEN I : GERMANS RETREAT FROM THfiiMARNE * ; MERICANS ATTACKING INfERVENTfON IN SIBERIA HE FRENCH OFFENSIVE. THE RAPID PROGRESS MADE (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Horeivrd (l.i, day at 8.55 a.m. LOxnn x, Tnly IS. The Freneli attack on tho Aisne front twenty-five miles wide is making rapid progress. GERMANS RECROSS THE MARNE. AMERICAN SUCCESS. J . / WASHINGTON, July IS, General Pershing* reports that the Germans facing the Americans were completely driven back across the Marne. CROWN PRINCE CHECKED. RAPID FRENCH PROGRESSPARIS, July 18. The French recaptured MontYoisin, stemming the Crown Prince’s advance towards' Epernay. The Aisne offensive resulted in hundreds of prisoners and again of two miles. .1 hc French are still continuing their progress. FOCII ATTACKS. SPLENDID PROGRESS. 1 i LONDON, July 18. General Foch’s attack between Soissons and Chateau Thierry is expected to save Paris and Rheims. The Australians advanced a mile at Yillers-Brettoneux. There is splendid progress in General Focli’s offensive. Prisoners and gnus are coming in. The French gained four miles, thousands of prisoners and many gnus. GERMAN REVERSE. ALLIES’ SUCCESSES. ruTm VON EINEM DEFEATED. ENEMY RETIRE FROM THE -\ r * Ti AT U t AAmnxr t l 1 *7

M ARISE. (Tress Extraordinary.) Received this day at 10.30 a.m. LONDON, July IT. It is believed that a general German retirement from tbe Marne River is impending. FIERCE FIGHTING. FURTHER THRUSTS AT RHEUMS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association .) Received this dav at 1.45 a.in. LONDON, July 18, 1.45 mm. Fierce fighting continues. Further thrusts at Rheims south of the Marne were generally held. FRENCH ARTILLERY. SOME EFFECTIVE WORK. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Received This Day, 9.20 a.m. LONDON, July IS. Tho French artillery has reached the German railway communication, affecting the area, near Rheims. The offensive was a. complete surprise to the enemy. The Allied guns dominate Soissons. THE MARNE SECURE. AN AMERICAN REPORT. (Australian and N Z. Cable Association.) Received This Day, 9.20 a.m. LONDON, July 18. An American communique states: The Americans on the Marne are secure. They have entirely regained possession of the south bank of tho river. The enemy northwest of Chateau -Thierry re-attempted an attack near Ya.ux, hut tho attack was oompleely broken by infantry and artillery fire. GERMAN ATTACKS. EVERYWHERE B ROKEN. LONDON, July 16. The Germans were unable to resume the general attack which was broken last night. All enemy local attacks were beaten back everywhere.

LONDON, July 17. A United Service message states that military authorities in London regard the l repulse of General von Einem’s armies by counter attacks, south of Dormans (on the Marne), aa being unquestionable. This is proved by the Allied gains being secured. EVERYTHING SATISFACTORY A FRENCH REPORT. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Received This Day, 10.10 a.in. LONDON, July 18. A French communique states: The battle continued with unbroken determination on the whole front west of Rheims, and notwithstanding their efforts, the enemy did not succeed in increasing his advance. Our troops heroic resistance and incessant coun-ter-attacks stopped the enemy’s thrust. After all the lluctuations of the advance and 'the retirement of the day actions- were progressing south of the Marne on the wooded slopes northward of St. Agnan and Mont Hodgn chapel, the. sharpest lighting north of Camhlizy Festigny resulted iu holding the enemy to the southern outskirts of Banquigny and Chataigniels Woods. The enemy succeeded oast of Oeuilly in regaining a looting in MontA oisin, between the Marne and Rbeims. In King’s Wood, which the Germans penetrated, we are defending it foot bv foot. Tho Forest of Courton is the theatre of furious combats. The enemy continues to be held westward 'of Autouel. The Germans did not succeed in reaching Ponrcy Ditch, which has been the objective of several renewed powerful attacks. A brilliant Italian counter-attack westward of Autcnel drove the enemy back. Enemy corpses are lying in' front of the lines in the valley r f the Arise de Ombreux, and testify to the heavy losses. The situation is unchanged in the Yigny sector and south-west of Rheims. East of Rheims we broke an attack between Beaumont and Survcslo and Sillery. Our position’s are intact along the whole Champagne front.

A COMPLETE FAILURE. LUDENDORFF BEATEN. TOO MUCH ATTEMPTED. {Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.; Received this day at 12.5 p.m. LONDON, July 18. Every hour’s news from the front emphasises the utter failure of the Germans to 'recover from the first checks east and west of Rheims. Even the Cologne Gazette, in an inspired article, admits no sttccess, and attributes the German failure to the changed tactics. The French delivered fierce counter attacks with reserves, thus upsetting the plans of the High Command, who expected the same easy advance as at Chemin des Dames. The Cologne Gazette says: The German losses are within moderate limits, a significant admission, because it has always been- announced formerly that the losses were considerably fewer than the enemy’s. Documents on captured German prisoners show that the main plan was to seize the Mountain of Rheims to Mont Miraih Ludenrlorff realised that Rheims would I >e a formidable object to attack frontally, but .saw that if the French line on either side was broken, Hheims would fall of itself. The first'lateral thrust was directed at Chalons, thence to Renigny, and the second upon Epernay and thence to Mont Mirail. Ludendorff hoped to secure room for the deployment of his forces capable of attacking Paris. Already the Crown Prince has abandoned his attempt to drive forward on the whole front and has substituted a series of local, attacks. The result of the whole battle thus far shows that Ludendorff attempted a great deal more than his strength permitted. General Gouraud was a ware of the actual date of the attack a fortnight before it happened. On the night of the attack the French artillery opened a devastating' fire upon fho Germans assembled in the front lino, while the German guns were playing upon empty French trenches. RECENT FIGHTING. A GERMAN VERSION. {Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Received this dav at 12.85 turn. LONDON, July 17. Wireless German official.— South-west of Courlemont, we advanced as far as the Surmelin sector. Violent enemy counter attacks south of the Marne broke down. We extended our success north of the Marne. We advanced to the heights northward of Venteflil and fought onr way fhrough Rodetat and Roi Woods. We threw hack the enemy on the Montague de Reims and captured fortified heights north-west of Massiges. PATROL ENCOUNTERSHOSTILE ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Received this dav at 12.85 a.m. LONDON, July 17. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We secured prisoners in natrol encounters north of Rethune and west of Merville. There were great hostile gas shellings on the

RUSSIA. THE CADET PARTY. COQUETTING WITH GERMANY. 1 . STOCKHOLM, July 17. News from Russia, confirms the rumours that the- leaders of the 0 Cadet Party will become Germanoa phile, negotiating with the German Army leaders to. restore order in j.- Russia. BOLSHEVIKS DEFEATED. J CZECHO-SLOYAK SUCCESS. 1 PEKING, July IT. I The Bolsheviks were defeated by t the Czecho-Slovaks north-west of Vladivostock and are retreating to- ’ wards Khabarovsk. Chinese, Japane.si and Cossacks are. aiding the Czecho 5 Slovaks. Harbin reports that the Czecho > Slovaks defeated the- Bolsheviks near ' Chita, on the Trans-Siberian railway ' IN SIBERIA. l PROPOSED T APO-AMERICA! i | INTERVENTION. . (Australian ami N.Z. Cable Association t \ Received this dav at 1.45 a.m. ; WASHINGTON, July 18. , Washington lias proposed join; American and Japanese intervention in Siberia. ; SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN : LOSS OF DUTCH HOSPITAL SUL? THE VESSEL TORPEDOED. AMSTERDAM. July 17. The Chairman of the Naval Court, 1 investigating flic sinking of tho Knningen Regenl.es, said that the ■ evidence proved that the vessel was torpedoed. > SPANISH STEAMER. SUNK*. MINISTER’S NARROW ESCAPE. ( ATHENS, July 17. A Snnnish steamer with the Spanish ■ Minister to Greece (Renor Devenga) aboard, when en route from Spain, was torpedoed hv a German submarine. , The steamer flew the Snanish flag. Tho Minister with In's familv was rescued. Germany was notified of Senor Devenga’s departure six days previously. MISCELLANEOUS. FRENCH TRAITOR. MALVY ON TRIAL. I PARIS, July 17. Tiie Senate sitting as a High Court of Justice, has opened the Malvy trial. The indictment charges are that Malvy informed the enemy of all ■ the French military and diplomatic • plans, especially the Cliemin des . Dames offensive. ; ENEMY ALIENS. SOME IN HIGH PLACES. LONDON, July 16- , An informal group of Liberal Commoners decided that Lord ; Milner, Sir Alfred Monel, Felix Cassel, Major Goldman and other Government servants of alien origin must be summoned before the Home Secretary’s Committee. BASTILLE DAY. ) AMERICAN CELEBRATIONS. NEW YORK, July 1(3. Tjie nation held a, wide observation of Bastille Day. The Tricolour was flown on all the public buildings. President Wilson sent the following message to President Poincaire: “The Utli July, like the 4th July,

■ • ‘ 1 *•' j. • •va jv/ >-* «' • ’ • ■ ■ j ■ .... - ViTlers-Brettonenx front: also bos--file avtißeryinp* and trench mortar activity in Hie Albert sector. AERIAL WARFARE UNFAVOURABLE WEATHER. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Received ibis day. at 1.45 a-m. LONDON, duly IT. Sir Douglas itaig’s- aviation report states: Thunder and rainstorms on the 10th hindered air work. We dropped thirteen tons of bombs on Zeebruggo mole, billets at Estailes and Mervillo, and also aerodromes and dumps. We brought down ten aeroplanes, drove down four, and shot down six balloons on fire. Nine of onr machines arc missing, Onr night fliers dropped 500 bombs on railway junctions at Scclin and billets. All returned. A large enemy bomber descended behind onr linos. IN ENEMY COUNTRIES A PEASANT MOVEMENT. ■ LAND OWNERS DRIVEN OUT. BERNE, July 17. The Cracow newspaper ‘‘C/.ns” reports a new peasant movement against the Governments of Kieff and Podolia. Well armed forces, including artillery, have occupied several towns. The peasants stopped agricultural work and compelled the land owners to make a hurried flight. The bulk of the harvest of Podolia lias been ; destroyed despite the close guard ot 1 the German soldiers. ‘ i REICIJSTRATH REASSEMBLES 1 • ! SFIDLER'S OPTIMISM. j (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) 1 Received This Day, 9.20 a.nr { AMSTERDAM, July 17. 1 The Austrian Reichstrath reas- 1 ' eembles ou Tuesday. Sensational tie- * velopmcuts are expected in view of the economic situation. The Czechs caused an uproar when Herr Seidlor declared with complete 1 loyalty to tho Dynasty and perfect co-operation with Germany he was confident that they would he able toforce the Entente to accept peace. b

. has taken on a new significance throughout the whole world. Wo celebrate the 14 th as France ceiebratod the 4th. The. war isi being fought to save ourselves from intolcrablo things, also to save mankind. Mr, Baker sent the followingstatement to France : “Wo were comrades at the beginning of democratic careers. France and the United States are brothers in arms in defence, of Democracy.” THE ECONOMIC WAR. BRITISH PREPARATIONS. LONDON, July IT. Sir Joseph Ward’s speech at the Empire Producers’ banquet, reiterated the message of precautions against German post war economic menace. Ho hoped that Britain would not he so generous to the Germans after the war. Why, for example, should Gorman vessels be allowed' the use of the Suez Canal on the same terms as the Allies? IMPERIAL POLITICS. WAR LOAN BILL. LONDON, July 17. The War Loan Bill passed the Committee stages in the House of Commons. Mr. Bona.r Law said that no new operations would be necessary to meet demands for nine months, as the war bonds organisation had succeeded to a. greater extent than was ever antioinated.