UTTER FAILURE OF THE HUNS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 19 July 1918, Page 7

UTTER FAILURE OF THE HUNS

SIGNIFICANT PRESS ADMISSIONS

TOO MUCH ATTEMPTED

FRENCH AWARE OF HOUR FIXED

BY CABLE—PEESS ASSOCIATION—COPYEIGHT

(Received July 19, 12.5 p.m.)

LONDON, July 18

Every hour neAvs from the front emphasises the utter failure- of the Germans to recover from their first checks east and west of Rheims.

Even the Cologne Gazette, in inspired articles, admits there has been no suceoss, and attributes the German failure to the changed tactics of the French, who have delivered fierce coun-ter-attacks, with their reserves, thus upsetting the plans of high command, who expected the same easy advance as iii the Ohemin dcs Dames.

The Cologne Gazette says the German losses are within moderate limits, which is a significant admission, because the paper has always announced formerly that the losses were considerably fewer than those of the enemy.

Documents captured on German

prisoners show that the main plan was to seize the mountain of Rheims to Mont Mirail. Ludendorff realised that Rheims would be a formidable object to attack frontally, but that if the French line on either side were broken. Rheims ■would fall of itself. The first lateral thrust was directed at Chalons and thence to the Reuigny, and the second "upon Epernay ' and thence to Mont Mirail. Ludendorff hoped to secure room for the deployment of forces capable of attacking Pans.

[' Already the Crown Prince has abandoned the 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 aware of the actual date of the attack a fortnight before it happened. On the night- of the attack lie withdrew all his troops from the front lines, and an liour before the German attack opened, the French artillery opened a devastating fire upon the Germans assembled in the front line, while the German guns were playing irpon empty French, trenches. — Aus.-N.Z. Cahle Association.