THE WAR

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 July 1918, Page 6

THE WAR

WESTERN THEATRE. A SERIOUS REVERSE. GERMANS MAKE NO PROGRESS. LONDON, July 17. A French Headquarters correspondent, writing last evening, says; Generally speaking the enemy suffered a serious reverse, but it is too early to say that the attack has been definitely repulsed. The situation may, however, be 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 of each in the first line west and east of Rheims and the same in the second line. Prisoners state that the German Am'- as christened the battle the Friedenshirm or Peace Attack . The correspondent says: Most of the ground lost was not particularly valuable. Moron.villers Massif had to be abandoned 1 after hard fighting. The enemy holds five crests- —Cordellet, Plane, Hautt, and Mon Casque. The French did not attempt to hold them strongly, thus avoiding a large haul of prisoners when the front was withdrawn two or three miles to the Souvain-Perthe-Harles 1 line. Telegraphing at 11.30 on Tuesday evening, the correspondent says: The general attack wag not renewed to-day. Operations of a local character are expected and the stabilisation of the line will be reached in a few days- To-day’s operations were dictated by a. position in which the various German commanders found themselves after yesterday’s failure. The German guns cast of Rheims today fired from their old positions, the enemy not finding it worth while to. advance them. •ENEMY’S POWERFUL ATTACKS. GERMANS!’ SERIOUS REVERSE LONDON, July 17 General Von Igmen delivered five fierce onslaughts yesterday between Suippe Valley and Massipes. They were magnificently repulsed with the heaviest, losses. The German tanks failed. Antitank guns and land mines destroyed many of them. The French losses are absurdly light, but further fighting in this sector is expected. The Germans’ greatest advance in the Marne Valley is six miles. A French counter attack, south of Dormans, proved most valuable. It advanced the line 3000 yards, and recovered the heights which hrau.ght the German bridges on tlie Marne under effective six inch gunfire. There is accumulating evidence of the seriousness of the enemy’s failure. The Germans’ claim of 13' 003 prisoners is believed to be an exaggeration. The Allies’ captures have not yet been counted. BITTER, FIGHTING. FRENCH POSITIONS MAINTAINED A French communique this evening states that south of the Marne the Germans attacked last night, with fresh forces, north of St. Aguan, Chapelle and Mouthown. and succeeded in penetrating La Hour Donuier. The battle continues bitterly on tile wooded slopes immediately south of these points and further east. Despite very lively attacks we held the enemy on the southern edge of Bouqoigny and Nesles Wood. The Germans also attempted a power ful effort in the direction of Mouvoison, which they seized, but a counter attack drove them out. Between the Marne and Rheims violent fighting is proceeding at Courlou Wood. The enemy attack in the region ( f Brigny completely failed, and east, of Rheims further local enemy attempts were resultless, notably in the region of Prunay

’The Germans, who are endeavouring to renew assaults at Beaumont, sustained a sanguinary defeat. We everywhere entirely maintained our positions. BATTLE OF BHEIMS. ENEMY REINFORCED. LONDON, July 17General von Annin's army has definitely been thrown into the battle eastward of Rhcims . MINOR ENTE RPRISES. A BRITISH REPORT. LONDON, July 17. Sir Douglas Haig reports a sucful minor enterprise southward of Tillers. We raided in the neigh Imu ehood of I Inline. Hostile artillery is active in various sectors. ALLIES’ FORCES. A FRESH ‘ ARRANGEMENT. LONDON, July 17. Colonel ■ Repington states that the French and British Armies have been freshly disposed. The troops which we lent each other have now been returned to their own armies. 'The American divisions, however, are fighting at various points. The. American divisions arc much stronger than the Allied or enemy divisions and are capable of holding their own against three German divisions. VILLAGES RECAPTURED. GERMANS BOMB HOSPITALS. LONDON. July 17. A correspondent, at the American front states that the French and Americans by a. counter attack eastward of Chateau Thierry last night retook the towns of La. Chapellcand Monthodon, and cleared a. portion of Bo is do Conic. ’The lighting in this region continues. The Americans everywhere arc hold ing their ground, both eastward of Rhcims and in the Chateau Thierry region. German airmen are apparently carrying out a set programme and are bombing the hospitals. A captured enemy map showed theposition of every American hospital near the lines. Nevertheless tlmeo were bombed, killing and wounding nurses, doctors and orderlies.

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