GROWN PRINCE USED UP

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 13948, 29 July 1918, Page 5

GROWN PRINCE USED UP

SHORT OF MAN POWER. FRENCH OVERLOOKING SOISSONS BUT BAKED BY GUN FIRE. [Auat. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Sunday, 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, July 26. The French have made a little progress round Boissons, where the German resistance is strong. The French situation here is rather unfavourable, owing to the enemy being able to keep up an enfilading fire. Still the French can maintain their position on the heights overlooking Boissons. There is good reason to think that the enemy made up his mind on the I9th to undertake a general retirement to the Ardrc and the Vesle, but later cancelled the orders. He may now try to hold his present lino at all costs, or straighten the front between Boissons and Bheims. His object in hanging on may be a desire to save the enormous accumulation of stores and reduce the confusion in the congested transport area. Should ho fall back on the Ardre and the Vesle, it will be an admission of complete failure, and will seriously affect the Central Powers’ morale. The Crown Prince’s reserves arc now entirely used up and Prince Rupprecht s thirty fresh divisions are all that are left on the western front. The prospects of his attack are less apparent now than they were a week ago. He does not appear inclined to stake everything on an isolated attack oi another front. Another rcaso.. is the man-power situation, which is not as good as he would like, but he cannot expect an improvement until the 1920 classes are ready to take the field, which will be two months hence.