BATTLE ON FRENCH FRONT WITHOUT PAUSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16876, 14 June 1918, Page 5

BATTLE ON FRENCH FRONT WITHOUT PAUSE.

ENEMY USES RESERVES REGARDLESS OF LOSSES. c REGAINS LOST POSITIONS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON. Juno 12. Mr. George H. Perris, special correspondent on the French front, in a message despatched last evening, states: The battle continues without pause. The enemy may regard the completion of his manoeuvre at Thiescourt Wood and Ribecourt as permitting a halt, enabling him to bring up his guns and make good his losses. The problem of transport and supply is difficult in such a region. The. Germans are hurriedly embodying in the combatant units, particularly artillery, men who have hitherto been regarded as fit only for auxiliary services. This indicates anxiety regarding the available effectives. It is well known that the army's food situation is not good. Following the orthodox German plan, in order to avoid proclaiming a signal failure, von Hutier has been obliged to throw in reserves regardless of losses. Probably it will be found that a hundred thousand fresh troops have been employed in the past 24 hours, and about 25 divisions engaged, of which eight have already been broken up and withdrawn. By this prodigal means pretty considerable results were obtained. The Germans forced a way down the Matz Valley in constantly renewed waves, and reached Marqueglise, Vandelicourt, a.">d Elincourt, thus tinning the wooded plateau of Thiescourt by the south-west, leaving the French cornered in a narrow range of hills before Ribecourt. with another salient across the Oise consisting of the low-lying woods of and Carlepont. The Germans secured less success on their right, though they are eight miles from Estrees St. Denis and Compiegne. both junctions of some importance. Everywhere the French are lighting with fierce stubborn bravery. In a later message Mr. Ferris says that the evacuation of the Dresliucourt-Ribecourt angle was carried out early Wednesday morning. In this region the deep valleys and thickly wooded hills are most favourable ground for the infiltration tactics. The, defenders, wit* i):-.' O. At their back, would have risked useless loss of life and materia'! by continuing to hold out. The line of the Matz River, five mike; beyond the German departure point, now marks the front on this side. To the westward the French have done better. A new enemy drive last night with masses of fresh troops threw back the French along the Estrees St. Denis road as far as the Arom.:r> Y;J!<*-,. The French reserves, however, were ready to intervene, .uid a v.r,.-counter-attack broke the <~ ,i.ir< ranks and brought back the Fro !>■! *o their former positions s.uthv rd of Eeiioy and Mas "iueglise. G.;a f th<„ tvief incidents of th>* admirable r< oil wis the charge of tho tjlr.ok w.-.-i.s, who were supported by tanks. The strength of the French resistance on this flank greatly bunts the v.:!up of such success as the enemy obtained. The artillery forces are approximately equal, while our aviation work is definitely superior.