CONSIDERABLE ARTILLERY ACTIVITY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 2 August 1918, Page 5

CONSIDERABLE ARTILLERY ACTIVITY.

DETERMINED ENEMY STAND

NORTH OF OURCQ

GERMANY PUBLISHING OFFICIAL

NOTE

TO PREPARE PEOPLE FOR NEWS

OF RETREAT

«. .„ . LONDON, Aug. 1. ■ Sir Douglas Haig reports: There is ; hostile artillery activity south-west of , Albert and east of Robecq. The British aviation report statesA^e dropped over 11 tons of bombs on enemy sidings and dumps. More enemy machines were encountered. We brought down 15 and drove down six uncontrollable. Six British machines are missing. Our night fliers dropped three and a Half tons of bombs, in addition to those already reported. A French communique states: There are artillery actions on the whole battlefront between Montdidier and the <Jise. An enemy raid north of Antheuil was resultless.—Aus.-N.Z C A and Reuter. Wireless German official: The enemy captured Merris. Franco-American attacks between Fere-en-Tardenois and Meuniere wood broke down -sanguinarily. We prisonered four thousand' during the past few days, making a total since July 15 ,of more than 24,000.-Aus.-N.Z. C.A. and Reuter. American headquarters reports that the Germans are making a most determined stand at Scringes and Sergy. They have mounted rows of sunken machine-guns along the ridges on the north bank of the Ourcq, and destroyed all bridges and mined the roads. Bayonet encounters continue, in which the enemy is suffering heavily. —Times Service. WASHINGTON, July 31. German attacks against the Ameri- ( can front overnight failed. I The Americans withdrew from the village of Scringes. The Germans unsuspectingly advanced. When they occupied the town two companies of Americans attacked, killing or capturing the entire German force. The State Department's information from France is that the Germans are publishing an official Note in the press preparing the people for the Marne defeat, and forecasting a new offensive later. There is no reference to the Americans. , The whole retreat is ascribed to Anglo-French attacks, which necessitates new tactical groupings. The retreat, it is said, was only 12 miles or thereabouts, and necessary. The people are begged to maintain confidence in Hindenburg, despite the reverse. — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.