WESTERN FRONT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 164, 9 July 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT

GERMANS MAY ATTACK THIS WE£K SURPRISE IMPOSSD3LE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Rec. July 9, 10.15 a.m.) PARIS, July 8. Colonel Rousset, writing in the newspaper Libert e, says Lucie ndorff wil'i probably attack before the end of the week. Our situation is somewhat •changed. Strong reserves will bo ech&Joned, so surprfeo is /practically impossible

C£BMAN RESERVES

GREAT DECREASE IN LAST THREE MONTHS .' (Renter's Telegrams.) (Rec. Julv 9, 12.55 p.m.) PARIS, July 8. Experts are of opinion that th« German reserves amount to only 55 divisions, compared' with 80 in the .spring, hence they expect that the coming blow will be on a much restricted front.

SICKNESS IN GERMAN ARMY

WIDESPREAD OUTBREAK. AFFECTING ENEMY'S STRIKING POWER. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Rec. July 9, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, July 8. Mr Philip Gibbs writes :—The enemy has recently only sent odd shells into Amiens. Every few hundred yards gained by the .Australians, English, and Americans insures greater safety for the old city. It is to the enemy's credit that his gunners have hitherto not made a /target of Amiens Cathedral. A few shells have pierced it, but no irrepai'able damage has been done. We now know that many G*erman companies have been- reduced to a lowstrength owing to influenza, which is rife in the German ranks. Typhoid is also reported. It would be rash to assume that the delay in the offensive is primarily diue to sickness. There must be other more potent reasons; but it is be'ieved the widespread outbreak is realy affecting the enemy's striking .power, and may hinder his plans for immediate operations.

ANOTHER AUSTRALIAN ADVANCE

PRISONERS OAiPTURiED.

; Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter )

(Rec. July 9. B.SO a.m.) LONDON, July 8. Sir Douglas Haig reports :—The Australians advanced the line slightly on a front of three thousand yards, astride the Somme, capturing prisoners. Scottish troops s\ lC cessfullv raided' southwards of La Bassee Canal. The Australians altered trenches eastward of Hazebrouck. Hostile artillery is-active astride ihe Somme, following our operations, and also westward of Beaumont Ham el. and in the neighbourhood of Bethune! THREE GERMAN DIVISIONS CUT UP. fAustralian and N.Z Cable Association.t LOGvDON, July 8. Mr Philip Gibbs writes: The Australian push on Saturday amounted to 400 yards on a mile front. Three German divisions were so cut up on Thursday that they were utterly incapable of counter-attack, and must be relieved and refitted.

GENERAL SITUATION" UNALTERED ENEMY STILL HOLDING A POWERFUL ARMY. {Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.; LONDON 1 , July 8. Mr Philip >Gibbs states that the success of the Australians must not blind us to the truth about the general situation. The enemy are still holding a powerful aimy against the British, and all preparations are complete for a violent offensive on a big scale. Good fortune has enabled us to strengthen our defences and .build up bayonet strength, so that the peril is less than it was two months ago, but the menace is still there, whatever the meaning of' the delay.

COMMANDING POSITION CAPTURED. 'Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDOIN, July 7.. Mr Perry Robinson states that' the advance on Villers Bretonneux gij§es the Australians command of an important valley position three miles in length. ENEMY RAID REPULSED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter.) LONiDOiN, July 7. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—We repvilsed. an attempted hostile raid on Sunday morning near Locre. There is hostile artillery and trench moitar activity in the Bethune sector. Three German aeroplanes were destroyed, and one was driven down uncontrollable. One British aeroplane is missing. Seventeen tons of bombs were dropped on various, targets during the last 24 hours.

FftfNCH FRONT

ARTILLERY DUEL SOUTH OF THE AISNE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter.) LONDON, July 7. A French communique states : There is artillery activity south of the Aisne in the regions of Longpont and Corey. The American troops executed a coup-de-main in the Vosges, and brought back prisoners.

FiGHTINGINTriEAIR

INDEPENDENT FORCE'S OPERATIONS. (Australian and N?Z Cable Association and Renter.^ LONDON, July 7. The Air Ministry reports: On Saturday afternoon our squadron successfully attacked the railway at Metz Sablons, and dropped two and a half tons of bombs on this objective. Enemy machines attacked our formations over the objective, one hostile machine being driven down. All the British returned safely. On Saturday night our machines successfully attacked the railway station and sidings at Saarbrucken, and the railways at Metz Sablons.