WESTERN THEATRE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 July 1918, Page 6

WESTERN THEATRE.

RECENT FIGHTING A GERMAN VERSION. LONDON, July 21. A wireless German - 011101111 message states : We repulsed English attacks between Beaumont and Hamel, also east and south-east of Helmtern e. Enemy attacks against Soissons from the south-west collapsed. The enemy seven times attacked Soissons and 1 the C h atea.u-Thierry road. His ' assault north-west cf Harteennes broke down. We drove him back south-west of Harteennes. -We held politicos north-west of Chateau-Thierry against repeated American attacks. Wo undisturbed ly withdrew our defences north and north-east of Chateau-Thierry. Ibs English and Franco-Italian attacks between the Marne and north of Ardre failed. ■ | SEVENTEEN THOUSAND PRISONERS. OVER FIVE HUNDRED GUNS. WASHINGTON, July 22. General Pershing reports that the Allies’ prisoners actually counted up to the 12th of July numbered, 17,000. The Allies also took 500 guns. AMERICAN GAINS. ALL SECURELY MAINTAINED. (Delayed in transmission.) NEW YORK, July 18. The Now York Times’ correspondent on the American trout states that the Americans are holding* all gains between ChateauTnieiry and Dormans. The soldiers displayed the greatest courage. A captain and 280 men were surrounded. It is reported later that the captain and 08 men had arrived. The remnant had refused to surrender and fought their way back despite overwhelming odds. 'The Germans are using seventy divisions. The morale of the crack German divisions is lower than heretofore. The majority of the prisoners are nineteen to twenty years old. They are obsessed with the idea that the war will end in September, hut expect peace by negotiation, not by a 1 German victory. The airmen did splendid work. They brought down six * German machines in a day, and flew over the Roche lines, pouring the steam (lead on the infantry, roads, artillery and trains from a height of 200 metre/i. One American, returned with seventeen bullet holes in his aeroplane.* ALLIES ATTACKING. LONDON, July 21. A French communique states that after breaking the German offensive on the fronts in the Champagne and on the Montague de Rheims on the loth, 16th, and 17th, the French, in conjunction with American troops, on the 18th advanced to attack the German positions between the Aisne and the Marne, on a. front of -15 kilometres. CLEARING THE GROUND. VILLAGES CAPTURED. LONDON, July 22. A French official report received this afternoon states: We have advanced beyond Neuilly and captured the heights east of La. Croix and Crisolles. The Franco-American divisions are co-operating in this region. The French forces who crossed the Marne have thrown the Germans in . front of them beyond the Bezy-St. Germain-Mont Spere line. We captured Saint Ephraise and Boilly. Chateau-Thierry has been largely cleared to the northwards. FRENCH PROGRESSING. ENEMY RESISTANCE BROKEN. ' LONDON, July 22. The Times Paris correspondent, on Saturday evening wired : The French continue them-progress in the region beyond Chateau-Thierry. They have occupied Trcphilly, three miles to the north. The advance marks the definite ik r of the enemy in this sector. The evacuation cf Chateau-Thierry has largely resembled their flight on the southern front. Above Chateau-Thierry the enemy resistance ha® gradually been broken up. The northern German forces are still resisting in a series of salients formed round the villages along the Soissons road. VIOLENT FIGHTING. GOOD PROGRESS MADE. LONDON, July 22. Violent fighting is proceeding north and south of the Ourcq, and between the Marne and Rhcims. Despite desperate resistance we have continued progress. BRITISH IN ACTION. 1 ONE MILE GAINED. LONDON, July 21. French Headquarters to-day re- , ports that British troops participated ] in, the battle for the first time yes-

teixlay morning. Between the RheimsMarne region and the Ahcre they took up positions at night time, and j attacked immediately, with complete success, advancing over a mile. FRENCH ATTACKS FAIL. . A GERMAN REPORT. ', • LONDON. July 22. A German evening official report states that the French 'attacks between the Aisno and the Marne tailed. Fresh fighting developed in' the evening’ between the Aisne and the Ourcq. •»,