THE OFFENSIVE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17861, 6 August 1918, Page 5

THE OFFENSIVE.

ALLIED PROGRESS. OUTSKIRTS OF FISMES, GAINED. A. and N.Z. Cable Association and Router. LONDON, August 4. A French communique states:—During tho day our troops are driving back the enemy rearguards and continue tisur glorious march on a front of about fifty kilometres in tho direction of the Vesle. On our left we reached tho southern banks of tho Aisne and tho Vesle from Soissons to Fismes, tno outskirts of which the Americans hold. East of Fismes we reached the centre of tho lino north of Courville, Brancourt, Courcelles and Champigiiy. Our cavalry reconnaissances arc operating along tho Soissons-Rheims railway. Certain points of our progress exceeded, sinco yesterday, ten kilometres- Over fifty villages were liberated in a single day. , ■ . , PARIS, August 4 (evening;. A French communique states:— Iho battlefront is unchanged. There is nothing to report.

CAPTURES BY AMERICANS. A. Mid N.Z. Cable Association and Bouter. LONDON, August 4.

An American official message says: —Tho enemy have been driven in confusion beyond the lino of the Vesle. Since July 18, in the course of operations, 84nb prisoners and 133 guns wer-; captured by us.

FISMES TAKEN BY ASSAULT. (Received August 5, 7.50 p.m.) WASHINGTON, August 4. General Pershing's communique states: —Tho Americans captured Fismes by assault and hold the south bank of the Vesle on that sector.

LIGHT ELEMENTS CROSS VESLE. The High Commissioner reports:--LONDON. August 4 (12.30 a.m-) ' A French official message says:— Wo reached the Vesle at several points east of Fismes. ' Despite lively resistance, our light, elements cot a footing on the north bank. Wo captured Fismes and reached la Neuvillette-

Reuter's Telegrams. (Received August 6, 1.20 a.m.) LONDON, August 4

Reuter's correspondent at French headquarters states:—The pause in the battle along tho Vesle is largely duo to the fatigue of tho troope, who have been fighting continuously for several days, and also to the soaking rains and consequent heavy roads. Only light advanced columns at present are in contact with the enemy along tho Vesle. Theso are awaiting the main body of infantry and guns before attempting to drive the Germans behind tho Vesle. The fact that' tho enemy has installed heavy artillery on the plateau behind the Vosle indicates tho likelihood of his decision to stabilise his line on the Vesle. The Germans are still close to Rheims on the, west, north and east.

MONTDIDIER FRONT

GERMAN RETIREMENT.

The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, August 4 (12.30 a.m.)

A French official message says:—

Left of the Avre between Castel and Meenil St Georges the Germans were forced to abandon part of their positions. Wo occupy Braohes and Hargiconrt, and havo reached Courtemanche,

THE BRITISH LINES

ENEMY WITHDRAWAL ON ANCRE FRONT. A. and N.Z. Cable Association ami Router. ■ LONDON, August 4. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—Our patrols' progress- in the Albert sector was continued. Wo hold tho greater part of tho grouud previously in enemy possession westward of the Ancre. Wo are closely following up the enemy in his withdrawal, indications of which were previously observed. We repulsed strong raiding parties south-eastward of Hebuterne and astride Robecq. There is increased enemy artillery fire at Kemmel.

LONDON, August 4 (eveing). Sir Douglas Haig reports:—Our patrols reached the Ancre between Dernancourt and Hamel, contacting with the enemy on this line Hostilo artillery was active at night time northward of Bethune and southward of Ypres.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association,

LONDON, August 4. The British advance in the Albert sector follows the harassing policy which the Australians persistently carried out at Morlancourt and Villers Bretonneaux. A series of recent Australian pushes on tho Somnro, apart; from strengthening the defence if Amiens, enabled the British to compel the enemy to carry out a considerable readjustment of his lines.-

LONDON, August 3 (evening). The enemy in the neighbourhood of Albert and Aveluy Wood retired to the east bank of the Ancre. It is only a small retirement, on a front of tour miles, but is significant, as the, former positions were (rood for an offensive, but no good for defence.

THE GERMAN SIDE. ENEMY ADMITS WITHDRAWAL. A. and N.Z. Cable Association and Router. LONDON. August 3. A wireless German official message, referring to the Crown Prince's army,

says:—Von Boehm's successes on August 1 contributed to the complete success of yesterday's movements. The enemy are hesitatingly following our troops, who are slowly withdrawing.

GERMAN COMMENT. AMSTERDAM, July 4

Gorman newspapers, commenting on the anniversary of August 4, declare that last week's success has strengthened the British morale at homo and in tho army.

TWO VIEWS. HTNDENBURG'S BOASTING. COPENHAGEN, August 4. Von Hindenbur,? and von Ludendorff. receiving correspondents of Berlin newspapers, admitted that the general scheme of attack had failed, tyub asserted that the Germans remain masters of tho situation. The Allied progress on tho Marne was unimportant. Von Hindenburg said: —The German soldiers will become just as easily accustomed to the Americans as to dealing with black troops.

DESIRE FOR PEACE. AMSTERDAM, August 4. The " Frankfurter Zeitung " says: We must just give up hope that the ummer campaign will end the war. The enemy win certdinry strike additional blows, and wo must reconcile ourselves to a winter's fighting and probably another summer, when the Americans will make tho struggle difficult for us. The paper significantly adds: " The desire for peace increases in Germany week by week."

DETAILS OF THE FIGHT.

ENEMY HARD PRESSED. LONDON. August 4. The enemy continues in full retreat. The British are advancing between the Ardro and the Aisno, following as nearly as possible tha lino of the Vesle luver. General Mnngin's troops, in the meantime, havo crossed tho south bank of the Aisne, reaching Venizcl village, five miles.eastward of Soissons. The Germans aro hastily retreating be--hind the Vesle, and are hard pressed. Judging by the speed of the Allied cav airy and infantry, it is doubtful whether the enemy will be able to make a, stand on the Vesle.

MANY PRISONERS TAKEN. "Tha Times Service. LONDON. August 4. The Germans are stubbornly resisting along the north bank of iho Vesle. Six thousand have already been taken prisoner.

RESULTS OF HUSTLING TACTICS LONDON, August 4.

The Frdnch, with Anglo-Americans, on'Friday advanced on a front of fifty kilometres, attaining a depth of ten kilometres in some places. The enemy continued to retreat on SaturdayGeneral Mangin followed up tho success, and maintained hustlhy* tactics. Between Soissons and Rheims the Allies ou Saturday night were holding the whole line of the Aisne, and tho Veslo between Soissons and Fismes- Progress east of Fismes has not yet reached the Voslo. French cavalry patrols are operating along tho Soissons-Rheims railway.

(Received August 5, 7.50 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 4. Both enemy flanks are turned between Soissons and Rheims.

ALLIED COMMENT. A TRIUMPH FOR FOCH. PARIS. Autmst 4. Tho battle, up to the present, is a triumph for General Foeh's manoeuvre. It is absolutely certain that the enemy intended to defend the Veslo front. On the southern bank one party found a series of works, just finished or in course of construction, which had been worked upon till the last moment. The fierce rearguard fighting has added heavily to tho already enormous German losses. Soissons 13 a. veritable cemetery. Houses were pillaged, though not much damaged. Chasseurs entering the city, mot no living creature except an old woman, who went mad during tho battle.

Two German divisions were terribly mauled in the defence of the town.

FIGHTING NORTH OF AISNE EXPECTED.

LONDON, August 3 (evening)

The advance continues. Fismes was set on fire, also two 'villages to the north-west, and fourteen others in the area botween Muizon and St Thierry, indicating that tho enemy does not inr tend standing on the Vosle, but behind tho Aisno, possibly even at Chemin des 'Dames. He will probably fight delaying actions on the plateau between the Veslo and tho Aisno.

Tho French apparently aro occupying the whole of Soissons, and have advanced troops to the northern edge of the pleatcau. French cavalry aro on the Vesle, between Champigny and Jonchery, but all tho bridges over the river are broken, and no French troops are across the river. The enemy retired rapidly. There has not been a great deal of fighting, and large captures of prisoners are unlikely.

FRANCE'S MAN POWER,

M. CLEMENCEATTS STATEMENT. RdltlS. August 3. The Chamber, by 325 votes to 47, decided to call up eighteen-year-old

youths. M. Clemenceau. in a speech upon tho whole man-power problem, summed it up in one sentence: —" The Government had made tho maximum concessions compatible with the necessities of the war, and every attempt to amend the Bill would bo treated as a question of want of confidence."