END OF THE BATTLE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 144, 17 June 1918, Page 5

END OF THE BATTLE

NO INFANTRY ACTION.

{Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Renter )

LONDON, June 15.

A French communique States : There is mutual artillery activity between -Montdidier and the Oise, and also south, of th e Aisne and near Champlat and -Brigny. There was no, infantry action to-day. The artillery' duel is fairly lively at Hangard wood, south of the Aisne, and in the regio n between Villers Cotterete and Chateau Thierry. To the material captured from the enemy on the 11th inst, the following be added: —Nin e guns, and 40 machine guns. On Thursday our -aeroplanes shot down five German machines and two balloons. Seven enemy aeroplanes wer e put out of action. Nineteen tons of bombs were dropped in enemy zones, causing great damage. . . LONDON, June 16. A French communique statesi —■ South of the Aisne local operation? drove the enemy from Coeuvres and Valfrey, which we captured. We gained ground east of -Montgobert, taking 130 prisoners and 10 machine guns.. GERJIAN OFFICIAL REPORT. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association « - and Renter. ) (Admiralty per Wireless Press.) LONDON, J«ne lp. , ■ A German communique says: —W!e repulsed counter-attacks in the neign'bourhood of Courcelles and Mery, and also in the Matz region. We penetrated thre Forest of Villers Cotterets. The Crown Prince, since May 27th, has captured 1050 guns.

OFFENSIVE WILL BE RENEWED

(Renter's Telegrams.' ~ PAORJS, June 10. Semi-official reports assume that the •latest battle is now ended. Each successive offensiv e has been of less duration and on a narrower front, and yields less ground, the resistance proving more effective, and, the German losses proportionately aggravated. Sti'l 'there is no doubt that the enemy will renew the offensive all the more hastily because . they ar e weakening from day to day, whereas our reVerves are incessantly increased by Ameri-. cans.

GERMAN TIMETABLE.

(Published in The Times.)

LONDON, Jun 6 15.

According to documents captured on the American front, the Germans are timed to reach Paris on June 28th.

An intercepted order of Falkenhayn's reads: "The battles now 'being fought on the West front will be critical and. decisive."

The Kaiser has ordered the high command to take- all measures- to transport to the French front within a week the majority of the German forces now in White Russia, leaving only tlh e smallest detachments necessary to maintain order.

He has sent von Eichorn to the Ukraine, adding that he is to take the strongest measures possible to stop sabotage o n the part of Russian railway officials.

NEXT OFFENSIVE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

LONDON, June 16.

The Weekly DTspaTlcli states .that there were no fewer than 120,000 German casualties in the latest push, but their reserves are vast and' are still coming from the East. Prince Rupprecht's army has been reinforced and equipped to the utmost efficiency, and is awaiting, Ludendorff's word to attack the British at Amiens.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

FAILURE TO CAPTURE REHIMS.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association

AMSTERDAM, June 14

German news indicates that the public are disappointed at' the failure to capture Rheims. •General von Andenne, writing in the Tageblatt, admits that Rheims is impregnable against the frontal attack He says that t-h e city is held by the last two divisions of colonial coloured troops, who find complete protection frm artillery fire and gas in the champagne cellars.