GERMAN OFFENSIVE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 171, 17 July 1918, Page 5

GERMAN OFFENSIVE

ENEMY ATTACKBJON THE MARNE ■»' CONTINUE INEFFECTIVELY. - AMEBIC AN S RECAPTURE FOSSOY AND- CREZANCY. - -GERMANS BOMB AMERICAN HOSPITAL. (Aasttaiian and N.Z. Cable Association. (P.M. oulv 17. 9.10 a.mj) " LONDON, July 16. ~; : . *lhe German attacks on the Marne continue ineffectively. The Americans recactured Fossoy and 'Crezancy, souths of ilie Marne. V . German airmen" fcombed the American hospital at: Jouy, killing two. ENEMY'S ATTACK WELL WITH-, STOOD. (Australian and N.Z. Gable and Renter.) . ine, July 1?,- 9.10' a.m.) ■ July*- 15. A French communique says:—After' violent artillery preparation. The Germans attacked in the morning, from •Chateau Thierry to Main de Mas&iges, our troops energetically sustaining the fcnemy's shock on a front of about 80 iU'-iiiK'lres. ■ The battle is proceeding. . REPEATED ATTACKS FAIL. (Australian and -N.Z. Cable Association and Renter.) ' (Rec. July 1!7, 1.60 p.m.) LONDON, July 16. . A French communique says: Between j Bormains an. dßheims, the Franco-Ital-ians are tenaciously resisting on.; a line Chatillon-sur-Bouilly. lEast of Rheims the attack -which extended from Sellery to Main de Massiges . encountered impregnable defence. The enemy renewed his efforts against Pruriay and Res in the regions north of Prosnes and Souain, but, despite repeated he has been unable to oreach the fighting positions. SIGNIFICANT GERMAN' MESSAGE A LIMP STATEMENT. (Au-siralian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter., ■ : —~ ' (Admiralty per Wireless Press.) (Rec. Jujy 17. 9.10 a.m.) , LONDON, July 16. A Uerman evening official message savs Oia the south-westward and east- : ward of Rheims we penetrated parts j o' the French positions. j ADVANCE WEST OF RHEIMS • - y, SITUATION SATISFACTORY TO I THE EAST. j (Renter's Telegram*..) j LONDON, July 15, 11.45 p.m. j The Germans penetrated to a depth j of ,5000 yards west of Rheims. _ . .. Tney captured Chezy (south of Oha- 4 lean Thierry) and also captured Avo -..j court and Charmizy. They -attacked east of Rheims, but were stopped in the French back pos: tions after capturing Brenly. The situ atioii there is satisfactory. Tii'.' total length of the front is 56:. •• miles. Probalblyi 60 German divisions^'' (abo"i 1,200,000 men) are engaged, a FRENCH RESISTANCE AT CHA - TEAU THIERRY. LONDON, July 15. A French official report says : ~ The Germans attacked this morning from Chateau Thierry a& far as Main : de M assigned. vVe energetically: resist? 7 ' ed on a kilometre {fths of a anile)'front?; •u'w-.GESTION BEHIND GERMAN LINES. ' 'Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON-, July 15. The ? Exchange Telegraph Agency's--i. aris correspondent says that to-day's offensive is largely due to the enemy's difficulty! in concentrating troops and material. The area of circulation is so reduced that during the day even 35 kilometres (22 miles) behind the lines they cannot move at one "time more than one "battery or company. i FOCH WELL SATISFIED- WITH RESULTS. itAEMY PROGRESS WEST OF RHEIMS. AMERICANS MAKE GREAT ATTACK. - THOUSAND PRISONERS TAKEN. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.^ LONDON, July 16, 10.30 a.m. Mr. Bonar Law (Leader of the Go- ! vernment .in the House of 'Commons), ; sneaking in the-House.of Commons, an- ; noiU'ced tihat Mr. Lloyd) George, in tele- ! plionic communication with General -Fnch (Generalissimd of the 1 Allied Arlearnt that General Foch was'well satisfied with Monday's fighitmig. 'Hie attack on. ah eighty ikilomotres miles) firont penetrated west of • to the Ave to a deptih of four or five kilometres (about two miles). _The Americans, south of the Marne, by a Brilliant counter-attack, drove the \ enemyi Iback, taking 1000 prisoners, j Thi enemy were completely checked i ea»t of Bbeima. I

BATHE CONTINUED WITH UNABATfcD FURY I - SU-CXSEJSSFDiL AMERICAN COUN-TER-STROKE. {Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter.) (Rec. July 17, 11.25 a.m.) LiONDON, July 16, 1 a.m. ; '."A French communique start-es :—The German attack commenced about 4.30, and day long on both sides of Rheims/"with unabated! yio-"len-ce. '-'West of ißheirns there were furious struggles in the regio-n Rjouillycourt- , Hiezy-Vassy to south of the Mame, ;\viiich the enemy succeeded in crossing ! at some points. *"A vigorous American counter-attack' drove back to the north banfe enemy -elements which had reached 'the eoutli- ■' ern bank to the west of Fossoy. DETAILS OP; THiH ADVANCE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) ■ (Bee. July . 17, 1K25 a.m.) LONDON",. July 16. <*■ • The Australian Press Association leaxns that the Germans stated an offensive on a big scale against the French in the early mornang on a thirty-mile front, between 'Chateau Thierry and a point four miles southwestward of 'Rheims. The enemy penetrated 5000 yards and captured Clxezy. Their line of advance .has been along the Marne Valley. The Germans took Bouquigny, which is 3000 yards beyond th,e original French lines, and) also Orcour.t (not Av.ocourtt as l cabled) and 'Ghaunuizy. Germans eastward of Rheimsi attacked on a 25-mile front between Prunay and Maison de Chajnpagnie, Uat were brought to a standstill in the French battle positions, where the situation seems -satisfactory. ENEMY ATTACKS NEARLi EVERYWHERE REPULSED - HEAVIEST DOSSES' SUFFERED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Rec. July 17, 11.10 a.m.) JJONDON, July 16, 2.36 p.m. The offensive is maintained-. Attacks nearly everywhere have been repulsed with the heaviest losses. (Eastward of Rheims the front line enftariglemenit© are covered, with German, corpses. \ r There were two evening attacks by tanlks—at Souain. and Prunay. The latter wood was captured 1 . Elsewhere the enemy vAs repulsed oh a Tine of resistance one or. twc> miles 'beh/ind the front trenches. This linie is everywhere intact. The Ftench are satisfied with I the results. ,Von Below's and Voru Boehm's armies are continuing the assaults! There are indications that /a grand offensive and not a' diversion- was • in--iencLecti. Thirty divisions have been; identified, mostly Prince ißupprecht's. There were two main, attack® eastward of Rheims-—one down the Man® and the other southward of Dormant.

The - Germans threw six bridgesacross the Marne betweem Dei-mans and .Reuilly. j ,/. A* captured aeroplane map shows that 'fbe.",.main attack Was to be down the TVJarne to Eparnay.

DRIVEN BACICAGROSB THE MARNE *7Y :-BY AMERICAN® IN FOiSSOY • (Australian and N.Z. Cable AsßociatioD ' v ; ir ' : • (,R©c. July 17, 10.10 a.in.> WASHINGTON, July 16.. Americans drove the Germans acrcfss the Marne in the Fossoy region. AMERICAN REPORT.' - •' (Kec. July 17, 11.10 a.m.) ; v ; ; ' LONDON, July 16. Air" American official report dated l£th, July says Eastward' of Chateau Thierry; the enemy succeeded this morning in gaining- some ground, we counter-attacked and drove them back to the Marne and took, prisoner 500. In the Vosges, five trench raid's, attempted by the enemy, broke down. NO NEW TACTICS BUT ENEMY LINES NOT S3 OLOSE.LY PACKED.

FRENCH COMMAND WELL SATISFIED.

(•Rec. July L 7„ 1.10 p.m.) • LONDON, July 16Reuter's coiTespondent says:—The enemy adopted no new methods. He advanced under cover and nvust have relied on the usual filtration; tactics, sending columns along the small vallevs. The Germans are not using anything like one di'visibra to the mile, as in the previous attacks.

The French Higher- Command is most pleased with the situation.. The latest reports at noon of the loth (Monday) show that on tire PirunayMassiges sector, the offensive was held everywhere, except at Prosnesi. where the enemy occupied Prunay, which, is half a mile 'behind the line of attack. West of Rheims, between Colomiiies and Frasoyi the enemy progressed oni a .twenty-mile front on an, average from two to three miles at the maximum depth of 31 miles at Belval-Gamblezy.

GERMAN PLANS ? CffifNEi&AL MAtJRICE ON THE SITU ATION'. (Anatraiian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Rec. July i! 7, 12.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 15; Gneeral (military cbrrfespondent of the Daily Chronicle) says: In view of the act that the enenly took little trouble to conceal his preparations eastdarw of Rheims, the offensive may not the main effort. R.heims is not more than A name. It is certain that General Foch is ready to evacuate the awkward salieritj probably to stro<., lines behind the mountains of Rheims. The •Germans' object is possibly to use up reserves, drawing them from the north preparatory to attacking Amiens or northward,.or he may desire to widen the base of the attack on iParis, or possibly his, real effort is to defeat the largest possible portion of the French army, without geographical objectives. Hindenburg has prepared ground elsewhere, and can watch the present developments, throw in fresh troops and follow up this blow or change liis plans quickly. CERMAN ATTACK ANTICIPATED OFFENSIVE BY FRENCH GUNS. MAIN GERMAN EFFORTS IN' TWO SECTORS. ! Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) i (Rec. July 17, 1.16 p.m.) I LONDON, July 16. | A French Headquarters correspondent ! says : —An offensive li-as been eommen- ! ced by the French guns, opening at ! midnight on the whole front from thajtteau Thierry to Main de Massagiies riiges. The French so correctly anticipated the enemy's purpose that they began the artillery counter-preparatiom eleven hours before the German bat- - teries started! to bom'bard. The infantry attacked at three in in the morning on th<J whole line except axK)und Rheims. The attack was compressed into two main sectors, otniei, : Ghaiteau Thierry to V erneuil, thenj :o northward to west of ißiheims, and the other Fort Lapomelle, east of Rihedms, to Main de Massiges. | mquntaWof rheims ENEMY ATTEMPT TO GAIN THEM i ATAOKS ON OTHER FRONTS. NOTABLY AT AMIENS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (R-ec. July 17, 1.40 p.m.) . LONDON, *July 16. The Australian Press Association re-ports:—-The enemy also advanced down the main highway of the SommePysouaan road. Detailis of the progress are lacking. The maini thrust was apparently southward of Rheims, where the advance was rapid. The enemy crossed : the Marrie at a number of places before ten in the morning. The Germans apparently fdjn ait isolating 'Rheims by attacking both sides. They also hope to take the hills southward of the city, known as the Mouiv itaiinfe of Rheims, which are regarded ajs most important positions, but the ultimate aim appears to be to break .through and seize the Chalons railways. The hills serve "to protect the right flank in a further advance south-west. It As not certain yet whether this is the main' blow, but the circums.tauces indicate that it is. Xt is known that the Germans have prepared attacks at cither points, notably on the Amiens front. ENEMY EVERYWHERE HELD HEAVY ENEMY LOSSES. ATTACK NOT 'RENEWED AT NIGHT The High Commissioner reports:— j July 16, 1.30 p.m. A French official report states : The Germans are everywhere held. There has been intense fighting, with heavy enemy losses. The attack was not renewed last night. - ; AN ENEMY OBJECTIVE. . EFFECTIVE BOMBARDING -RANGE | 01! PAIRIS. (®ec. July 17, 1.10 p.m.) | LONDON, July 16. The Times correspondent says:—We are witnessing the beginning of an enterprise, which will ultimately surpass in magnitude the previous greatest battles. It is assujnable that the enemy hopes to . reach an effective bombarding range of Paris. We sir econvinced that. General Fach and the French army will effective y counter the menace. THE BBmSHfRONT SUCCESSFUL • OPER ATION "AT DICKEBUSGH. BRITISH HA IDS. (Australia** and N.Z. Cable A&sociation and .Router.) LONDON, July 15. > Sir Douglas Haig reports -Sunday s operation on the Diokebusch ' front south-east of Ypes), in the neighbourhood of Hidge Wood, resulted' in the capture of -a frequently disputed position of isome'-local importance. . We took the enemy by surprise, and were completely successful, all our objectives being gained,; with, 296 prisoners. Our casualties were light. JWe slightly improved our positions southward of Villers Bretonneux, and made a successful raid 1 in the neighbourhood of Ayette (south of Arras). • The hostile artillery is more active southward of Arras, northward' of Bf* tlrune, and in the Locre and DickeIbusch sectors. THE AMERICAN TROOPB THREE ARMIES ORGANISED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

WASHINGTON, July 15. General March. (Chief of the General Staff) announces that three American, army corps, numbering from 225,000 to 250,000 each, have been organised in France. He says that the shipment of troops to France continues as in previous months.