LATE NEWS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9999, 17 June 1918, Page 6

LATE NEWS

QFFIDiAL REPORTS FURTHER ALLIED SUCCESSES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyricht Aue. and N.Z. Cable .idsii. and Heuter. (Received June 17, 1.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 16. A French communique states that south of the Aisne local operations drove the enemy from Coevres and Valfrey, which we captured. We gained ground east of Montgobert, tailing aoJ prisoners and ten machine-guns. A wireless Gorman official message, states: "Prisoners taken south of tno Aisne now number forty-eight oineers and over two thousand men. LONDON, June 16, 1.50 a.m. Sir Douglae iiaig reports: We made prisoner "LiXJ in a successful operation on the night of the 14th north of Bettiune. As a result of this attack we gained possession of enemy forward positions on a front of two miles, securing all objectives. In the fighting reported on the morning of the 15th east of the 'Nieppe Fores-t tho enemy by a local attack under a heavy bombardment succeeded in driving in three of our advanced posts west of Vieuxberquin. There is active hostile artillerying east of Arras, also north of JBethune. Wo drove down two enemy aeroplanes on the 14th. The British lost two.

120,000 GERMAN CASUALTIES RESULTED FROM LAST PUSH. United Service Telegram. (Received June 17, 1.65 a.m.) LONDON, June 16. The "Weekly Despatch" states that no fewer than 120,000 German, casualties occurred in the latest push_ but the reserves are vast and are still coming from the East. Prince Rupproclit's army has heeii reinforced and equipped to the utmost efficiency, awaiting LudendorfE's word to attack the British at Amiens. THE AUSTRIAN OFFENSIVE FAILS TO ACHIEVE PRELIMINARY SUCCESS. (Received June 17, 1.55 a.m.) RUaIE, June 16. Slgnor Orlando has announced that the Austrian offensive opened with a violent bombardment at 3 o'clock in the morning. Tho infantry attack was launched at 7 o'clock along tho whole line. Nearly tho whole front has been engaged since. The offensive extends with equal extreme violence from Astico to Brenta, thence to Piave along Piasse. everywhere involving the Astico Plateau and tho Mount Grappa 6eotor and plain. Our troops offered a magnificent resistance. The Austrian 8 failed to achieve even the preliminary success which is customary in crushing offensives.

SINKING OF SHIPS SEARCH FOE MINES. REPORT FROM THE ADMIRALTY. Aua. and N.Z. Cable Assn. and Keuter. (Received June 17, 1.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 16. . Tlie Admiralty reports that an area within five miles of the position where tho Koningen Regentce was sunk has been carefully searched and no mines were found. We swept up nine new German moored mines between Juno 2nd and 7th in the track used only by Dutch vessels employed in the repatriation of British and German prisoners and which was guaranteed safe by tho British and German Govornmonts. These mines wore not -within fifty miles of the position at which tho Koningen Regentoa was sunk. It is clear that th» mine 3 were laid to catch repatriation vessels on the paasago west and that the submarine -which laid them remained on tho route to sink, ships on the eastern journey if, as proved to be the case, they had not been already sunk with British repatriated prisoners aboard whilo on the way to Boston. _ It is remarkable that on this occasion the in mber of German prisoners repatriated was exceptionally small, being Bhcty-seven, and of these none wore aboard tho Koningen Rogentes.