BATTLE MOVES DETAILED.

Grey River Argus, 31 May 1918, Page 3

BATTLE MOVES DETAILED.

WEIGHT OF NUMBERS CARRIES : OUR LEFT. TANKS USED. BY ENEMY. ANGLO-FRENCH RIGHT FIRM. (Reuter's Telegrams) (Rec. May 30, 10.30 p.m".) LONDON, May 29 Reuter's French headquarters correspondent, .wiring this evening, says: The .expansion '.of the enemy's wings enabled him to bring his right within a short distance of Soissons, while his left has \ reached an alignment at Which ?o forms .practically a semicircle around Rheims. Last night the position of the French and British holding the ex- j treme 'right of the line had become j difficult. They were, under, fire trom three sides, namely, from the old German line between Courcy and Rheims, and from the new lines whiclT the Germans have established in passing them to the south. Therefore the Anglo French are now obliged | to-face east, north and west. _ The correspondent continues: We are nearing the critical phase of the battle, but the issue is awaited calmly. Our reserves are hastening up. and the morale ot our men is superb. The Germans had the choice of the point of attack, and were thus able to concentrate masses against a sector that was thinly held. •• The choice of the real line of resistance, however, will be ours:

Regarding the British divisions engaged, at first in tlie fighting on the banks ot the Aisne, we had four divisions which held the front from Oraonne to Bermericourfc. On our right. the 21"st. Division was in Laison with a French, division. Our left consisted of- the 50th Territorial Division, which was in touch with the French , holding tlie Chemin. . des Dames. „ ■ The weight of , the . German , attack on our sector fell, to the 50th. Division on the, left, which had the worst of the gas; bombardment j. and sustained the heaviest -part of . the. German infantry attack. The troops, bore, tiiem■selves magnificently ancl held on until the men were , drowned -under the German numbers. The. same fate overtook the French division on the crest on.tue right, and a retirement. ,to the second line was inevitable. _ A gallant ..attempt .was made by the 50tii Division to recapture . Craonne, but it. was. defeated-,, chiefly tnrougn the niachine-rgunning of the » German tanks wuic.li were .attacking xmr right flank. The enemy used tanks in greater numbers than ever before. lunally the 50th Division were ob lige&to fall Hck in' a general retreat to the rivrer, keepjng in _toucu/ tdtn the -French ''oil, the left; „. - On the right of our sector our 21st and the French divisions stood the assault like rocks. The Germans, •*- --tacking in the proportion of two to one, did not progress. It was along the Chemin des Dames, where the density &i the attacfe was, greater „ than the - Anglo-French strength that the liije was submerged. The, 21st and the French, after beat ing off a fantastic "number of attacks, held last night, almost integrally, the ground whereoii_ihe battle had. begun., i Our 25th Division was sent to support them. This Division is now. fightwith th^, French in close amalgamation.