MARNE FRONT ABABNDONED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16914, 29 July 1918, Page 5

MARNE FRONT ABABNDONED

Pressure on rearguards psf^ FRENCH GAINS IN CHAMPAGNE ORIGINAL LINES RESTORED • r ;M^ ! I NEW LANDERS DEFEAT ATTACK S • | i! A French communique states that as a result of continuous pressure by the Allies, the Germans on Saturday retreated on ;* ■« the whole ron t north of the Marne, Allied troops, pursuing the j p enemy's rearguards, have reached a line extending from 10 , miles north of Chateau Thierry to four miles north of Dormans. An American official report states that the enemy's resistance between the Marne and the Ourcq has been broken. I The German press has warned the public of the possibility of a retreat from the Marne salient to the line of the Alsne ; v or even farther north. The papers state that such a retire* A, ment would be merely a strategic move, without especial v significance. An advance of a mile on a front of 13 miles has been made i, by the French east of Rheims. They recovered the whole of the Main de Massiges position and practically all the ground V 1 j captured by the Germans in the attack a fortnight ago. In addition 1100 prisoners were taken. The New Zealanders at Hebuterne, north of Albert, were attacked on their left flank on Thursday night. The assault, which was made under the protection of a heavy bombardment, proved a complete failure, the Germans leaving prisoners in , the hands of the New Zealanders. Similar attacks against the Australians and Scottish troops in Flanders fared equally badly. t GERMANS RETREAT ON WHOLE FRONT FROM THE MARNE ALLIED LINE 10 MILES NORTH OF CHATEAU THIERRY. RELENTLESS PRESSURE MAINTAINED ON REARGUAROS. WIDE FRONT CLEARED AND PROGRESS CONTINUED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. and Beuter. (Reed. 11. p.m.) LONDON, Jul? «!B—l.Bo 4.HV A French communique issued last evening states: After being under continuous pressure .by French and Allied troops for several days past; the Germans to-day retreated on the whole front north of the Marne. Our troops, pressing the rearguards, reached the line from Bruyeres, 10 miles north of Chateau Thierry, Villeneuve-sur-Fere, Courmont, Passy-Grigny, four miles north of Dormans, Cuisles, la Neuville, and Chaumuzy. On the right bank of the Marne we cleared a wide front. We continued to progress and reached more than 10 miles north-east of Chateau Thierry. An American official report states: The enemy's resistance is broken between the Ourcq and the Marne. An earlier message stated: On the right bank of the Marne wO advanced north of Pont a Binson. In the Champagne we carried out ■■ local operations.' In the region south of Mont Sans Nom we advanced | 1000 yds on a front of about two miles, and took 200 prisoners, including seven officers. jV ■ GERMAN PUBLIC BEING PREPARED TO HEAR OF RETREAT HINT OF RETIREMENT TO THE LINE OF THE AISNE. POSSIBILITY OF A STRATEGIC MOVEMENT DISCUSSED. ' Australian' and N.Z. (Received 6.6 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, July 26. The German military critics are preparing the public for a withdrawal on the front at Soissons and Rheims. The Lokal Anzeiger states that a change in the present line is probable. It is indifferent, the paper says, whether the troops move forward or backward provided their adversary's aims are impeded. The Tageblatt warns the public not to become excited if Hindenburg sees fit to retire to the Aisne ou even further north. It will mean nothing more than a strategic- movement which cedes no German ground. We may have to retire in order to prepare for new blows, the paper concludes. (Received 5.5 p.m.). BERNE, July 27. Hindenburg disapproved of the recent offensive. His name figured improperly in the official communiques, but after the German defeat he insisted on Ludendorff's being substituted, holding him really responsible. ALLIED FORGES CLOSING ON FERE-EN-TAROEHOfS. ADVANCE NOW WITHIN THREE MILES OF THE TOWN. f IMPORTANT CAPTURE SECURED EAST OF RHEIMS. I' Australian and N.Z. (Received 5 5 p.m.) PARIS, July 28. U The Allies are slowly closing upon Fere-en-Tardenois. They are t ;? barely three miles away. Meanwhile the artillery and airmen are •4 inflicting heavy losses on the German troops. General Gouraud s army in many places has taken the original line occupied before the attack j! on the Main de Massiges, east of Rheims. This is the most important J / gain of the series which have been secured by the nibbling process. !§/, WASHINGTON, July 26. The French and Americans are fighting in the woods north of Chateau Thierry, The allied guns have moved up and are now comH manding the area beyond Fere-en-Tardenois. It is believed that the Si moment when the Marne bottle neck will be closed around the enemy ft ~ is approaching. The French and American fight at Epieds, two miles fly north of the Marne, was- especially bitter. The town was captured £f\ three times and finally only the ruins remained, and they were full of | German dead when the allied troops captured and consolidated the H position. _________ 4 ENEMY THROWING IN NEW RESERVES AT SOIBBONS. fe... jfe Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. NEW YOB ' K, July 26, |f/'- The Allies have captured Oulchy-li-Chateau, on the railway a jj mile and a-half north of the Ourcq, and Villemontoire, between the if Savieres and the Crise, eight miles south-east of Soissons. At Villemontoire, after Stubborn fighting, the Allies took 200 prisoners and 20 |t machine-guns. At Oulchy, four guns were taken. South of the illOurcq hundreds of prisoners were taken. The German position in §§!' the Marne salient is such that it is believed that. General Foch, by fjfl a stroke in a vital part, will ensure a considerable Allied victory. A feur German army has reinforced the right flank of the enemy in the sector, ' • , ||j|j Soissons sector. ,