ON FRENCH FRONT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10027, 19 July 1918, Page 5

ON FRENCH FRONT

POSITIONS RECAPTURED FROM

ENEiY

GERMANS CLAIM SUCCESSES

By Telegraph-■ Prms -\ ssocintKa—Copyrighi. United Service Telegram. (Receivod July 18, 7.15 p.m.) , LONDON, July 17. General von Einim delivered five fierce onslaughts yesterday between the Suippe/Valley and M-issiges. They were magmricontly repulsed with tho heaviest losses. The Ucrman ta-nlts failed. Uur anti-tank guns and land mines destroyed manv. Tiie French losses were absurdly light, but further lighting-in tJiis sector is expected. , The Germans' furthermost advance m the .Mai-no Valley is six miles. " , The Prciicli counter-attack south of Dormans was most valuable. -ine iFrench ndva.iced 3000 yards and recovered heights bringing the German oridges under effective (i-inch gunfire. „—„«.-« T , -,-, LONDON, July 17. There is accumulating evidence of the seriousness of the enemy's lailuro. The German claim of 13,u00 prisoners is believed to be a wild exaggeration. Tho .Allies' capture!, havo not yet boot counted. UNQUESTIONABLE FRENCH GAINS (Received July 18, 7.15 p.m.) . LONDON, July 17. Military authorities in London regard tho repulse of von Einim and tho counter-attacks south of Dormans as securing unquestionable gains. ENORMOUS GERMAN CASUALTIES EVERY INDICATION OF ENEMY DEFEAT. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, July 17. Tlie'German casualties in tho .present offensive are estimated at one hundred thousand. . , ' . . Ttie Germans' furthest point south of tho Manic, is a gain of six miles, in tho neighbourhood of Festigny. PARIS, July 17. Tho French stopped tho Germans without calling in extra reserves. Thero is every indication or a German defeat. ENEfUIY PENETRATES LA BOURDONNERIE VIOLENT FIGHTING- AT COURTON WOODS. . Australian and Now Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. LG'NDON, July 17, 1.25 a.m. A French communique states:—Tlio Germans were unnblo to resume tho general attack which was broken- yesterday, but mado a violent endeavour to enlarge their local successes. Tho - fighting was particularly stubborn south of the Marne during the morning and afternoon. We impeded an attempt to advance cp the river by a dctonce foot by foot, and held it on tho lino Oeuilly-Buvoigny. Wo counter-attacked on the front of St. Aguan-La Ohap-elle-.vj.ont Hodoa. Wo took these places, and carried the line to tho heights dominating iho valley of tho Marne, in the region of La Bourdonnerie. The French, and i butwoen i the Marno,and. Reims, repulsed,several enemy at'tempt;.';"afldvmaiiitaahed"their':positions .east, of. Reims. The Germans in tho morning resumed their violent artillery preparations, after which attacks followed at several points." A powerful attempt was made in tuo'direction of Beaumont-sur-Vosle, but tho enemy was unablo to debouch from Prunay. Our fire broke down two attempts west of the river in the sector of the Suippe. Tho fighting was equally lively east of Tahuro, where the enemy attacked. Tho enemy efforts everywhere were in vain, and storming troops were repulsed with heavy loiees. Orders found on prisoners show that tho attack on the Champagne front was carried out by fiftequ divisions in lino and ten in reserve. It was intended to advance twelve and a-half milos the first. day, and. reach ;the Marno on the right; l "' • PARIS, July 17. The Germans liave advanced to La Bourdonnerie. (Received July 18, 9.45 p.m.) LONDON, July 17, 5.30 p.m. A Frenoh communique states: —South of the Blame tho Germans attacked last night with fresh forces north of iStaguan, Chapelle, and Monthoeon, and succeeded in penetrating La Bourdonnerie. Tho battle continues bitterly on tho wooded slopes immediately south of these points. Further east, despite very lively attacks, we held tho enemy on the southern edgo of Bouquigny and Nesles Woods. The Germans also attempted a. powerful effort in the direction of Mouvoisin, which they seized; but a countor-attack drovo them out between tho Marne and Reims. . Violent fighting is proceeding at Courton Woods. An enemy attack in the region of Vrigny completely failed. East of Reims local enemy attßßipts proved result'ess, notably in tho region of Prunay. Tho Germans, who were onden.vouring to renew their assaults at Beaumont, sustained sanguinary defeat^ We have everywhere entirely maintained positions.

AMERICAN OFFICIAL REPORT LONDON, Jtijy 17. An American official report states:—We co-oporatod with tho French in yesterday's battle east of Reims. Wo repulsed onenry attacks, maintained our positions at all points, and captured prisoners and machine-guns. Yesterday moi-ning the- enemy attempted, after artillery preparation, to attack our linos on a front of a hundred yards. Tho attack broko down under our artillery fire. I AMERICANS AT CHATEAU THIERRY Australian and Now Zealand Cable Association. WASHINGTON, July 17. American airmen destroyed five enemy aeroplanes and one balloon in the fighting over the Marao. General Pershing (Chief of the American Army) reports that only five hundred Germans were captured at Chateau Thierry. A new German attack on tho Americans compelled them to retire. The troops are now Becking to.restore tho positions. Tho battle is fluctuating. AMERICANS EVERYWHERE HOLDING THEIR OWN (Received July 18, 10.25 p.m.) LONDON, July 17. Correspondents on tho American front state a Franco-American counterattack eastward of Chateau Thierry last night retook the towns of I/a.' Chapcllo and Monthodon and cleared portions of the Bois do Conic. Fighting .continues. • Tho Americans everywhere are hoirfing theiv ground both eastward of Reims and in the Chateau Thierry region.. German airmen are apparently carrving out a/'set programmo of bombing hospitals. A captured map showed the position of every American hospital near the line. Nevertheless three were bombed, killing and irounding nurses, doctors and orderlies. THE GROUND LOST MOT PARTICULARLY VALUABLE

Renter's Telegram.

LONDON, July 17. Renter's correspondent at French Headauarters. writing on the evening of the 16th. says that, generally speakinsr. the ortemy has differed a serious reverse. It is now clear tb»t the enemy concentrated all his efforts on the offensive. Ho emoTnved fifty-six _ divisieve, inchidins: many crack ones. TliTn were fourteen divisions ench i" the 'fir«+ lirir* west and east of and the samo number in tho second lino. Prisoners state that the German urmv has christen-"! ( -h« hntt.Te "The Friedcnsturro," or "Peace Attack." Th° s«vs that- ™«t "f the loqt ?<-. not nnr.t.icrlirlv vnlunb'". Tlio M"ronvi'ler nwsif had to he'' abandoned after hard fightin<r. Tho - ■'<o'de th~ five »v*ato of Oornillot. Mont Blnne Mont Fruit, and tho Twin Casrrue. Tho French did not attempt to hold them t-hv« nvo-'dinp; a Inrfo haul of nrisonero when tho front was withdrawn two to three miles to tho Sounin-Perthefc-les-Hurlcs line. Tele-Traph.in-g nt 11.30 on Tuesdpv night, thn correspondent Bars: —Tho general attack was not renewed tn-dny. The operation l ! were of a local character. Tt is expected that stabilisation of th>o lino will ho reached in a few days. To-day's operations were dictated by tho position in which tho various German commanders found themselves after yesterday's failure. Tho Gorman Runs east of Reims to-day fired from their old positions, tho enemy not finding it worth, while., tq advance them.

BELIEVED BATTLE WILL EfllD IN FAILURE

BUT UNWISE TO ASSUME DANGER IS' OVER, i Australian and Now Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, July 17. General Maurice writes in tho "Morning Post ? ': —"Nothing is mc-ro difficult than to rostoro momentum after an attack is checked. Therefore, as tho enemy's gains on cither side of Dormans, where lie was most siiccessiul, havo not been materially extended since Monday, there. is good ground for hoping that tho battle is destined to end in a definite failure. Tho forces which tho Germans havo thrown in are estimated at thirty divisions.! eighteen of which would normally hold the front, making twelve divisions -ta*cn from the reserve. .If this' is correct, the enemy can still employ, largo forces. It is therefore imwiso to assume- that all danger is over; but the, check will havo a depressing effect on the German troops and nation. It has mado tha Allies\position more favoura-blo than it has' been at any tioio «fnco tlio firat offensive in March. . "It is quite evident from tho tono of the German evening communique that Hindenburg has failed to realise what ho set out to get in this latest offensive. There is none of the bombast which has hitherto' heralded a Gorman victory. It is too early to say that the effort south-west of R*rknis has been brought to a standstill, but it caunot be dangerous without support on tho plains of Champagne. A noteworthy feature is the appearance of von Mudras's army easy of Reims. Von Mudras may have" succeeded Fritz" von Below, who- was in command of tlio army between those of von Einim and von Boehm; or his may ba a new army specially formed for this battle, and showins tho special importance attaoliod to this offensive." GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORTS Admiralty—Per Wireless ■'-Press". ■ ,--' ! • •■• : ''• "'-'LONDON,'JuIy 17. A German official report states:—During the advance across the Marne to tho south-west of Jaulgonne-, we broke in tin;, onenvy lines, We penetrated part of tho French positions .south-west and east of Reims. Our artillery mine-throwers, gas-throwers, tanks, and flame-thrower&jjpened. the ..way into tho enemy positions. General von Boohm crossed tho Mat-no between Jaulgonne and eastward of that, village. The Germans stormed the slopes on tho south bank, of the Marno ana constructed bridges, and we thrust through the stubbornly-defend-ed woods, and drove the enemy back towards -C'onde la Gliapollo, Corabligny, and Marouil. We won tho first French and Italian positions between the Ardre and the Marne. We also attacked the enemy from Prunay as far as Tahure, capturing the first position. Wo'crossed the Covnillot, Hochberg, and Kielberg heights, and reached a point north-west'"of Prosnos." -We made progress betweon Auberivo and south-west of Tahuro: The *oiiemy maintains his second position north of Prosnes, Souain, and-"Perthes. The total number cf. prisoners taken is thirteen thousand. We brought down thirtyone aeroplanes. ' ' ■ *■ :■ ■ LONDON, July 17.

A German evening official report states.-—Tlio enemy delivered violent counter-attacks on tho Marno front, achieving some local successes southwest of Reims. Tho situation- is unchanged oast of Reims.^

ENEMY CLAIMS IMPORTANT SUCCESSES.

(Received July 19, 12.35 a.m.) LONDON, July 17.

A wireless German official message states: —Soutli-v,-est of C'oiirtemcnt we advanced as far as Sur Melin- sector. Violent enemy counter-attacks' south of the Marne broke down. Wo extended our successes north of the Maine. Wc advanced to the heights northward of Verneuil and fought our way through tho Rodotat Roi Woods. Wo threw back the enemy on Montagno do Reims and captured fortified heights north-west of Mabsiges. Reuter's Telegrams. (Received July 17. 11.50 p.m.)VANCOUVER, July 17. Berlin claims that the Germans took 18,000 prisoners and brought down thirty-seven aeroplanes on Tuesday. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORTS STORMS HANDICAP AIR WORK^ Aunto-alian and New Zealand Cable Association and Router. LONDON, July 16, 10.00 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—The enemy attacked and entered two of our new posts in tho neighbourhood of - Hebutcrne. Our uountcr-attack. immediately drove him out, and we secured prisoners. There is, hostile artillery action at Locre. , . Storms have handicapped the air work.. Wo dropped a few bombs, but a, violent thunderstorm prevented.night bombing after midmght. Previously to'.that .hour wc chopped, over ifour- tons of bombs on the Soclin railway station and hostile billots. (Received July 13, 7.15 p.m.) LONDON, July 17. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—We conducted a successful minor enterprise eastward of Villers. Wc raided the neighbourhood of Hulluch. Hostile artillery is active in various sectors-. _.. lr . . . GREAT ENEMY ON YILLER3-BRETONNEUX FRONT. (Received July 19, 12.33 a.m.) LONDON, July 17. Sir Douglas Haig reports: —We secured prisiucra in patrol encounters north of Bothuno and west of ilorvillc. Great hostile g.%s-shclling is proceeding on tho Villcrs-Bretonneirx front. There is hostile artillery and trench-mortar activity on the Albert sector. FRESH DISPOSITION OF FRENCH & BRITISH ARMIES Australian and Now Zealand Cable Association. (Received July IS, 7.5 p.m.) ' LONDON,. July 17. . Colonel Rophigton states that the French and British armies* havo been froshlv disposed. Tho troops we lent each other have now been returned to their "own armies. Tho American division-, however, are fighting at various points. Tho American divisions aro much stronger than tho Allied or enemy divisions and aro capable* of holding their o«n against three German divisions.

VON ARNIM'S ARMY THROWN INTO THE BATTLE

Australian and New Zealand (Received July IS, 7.5 p.m.) : LONDON; July 17. Vou Arnim's army has been definitely thrown' into the battle "eastward of Reims.

FURTHER DETAILS OF THE FIGHTING

LONDON, July 17. Mir "George Pcrris, war correspondent on tho French front, writes:—lt appears that the enemy practised no now methods in tho offensive. Ho oponed his artillery at midnight, and began the infantry assault' at 4.30. His guns soused, the French lines everywhere with .a combination of gas and «moko shells, which produced noxious clouds, isolating groups of defenders, and mado tho giving and receiving of orders and combined movement difficult. The columns of attack woro not directed ovenly on the whole front, but by parallel thrusts; and when those did not succeed flank attacks by the supports attempted to clear tho ground. Many tanks supplemented tho guns in the Cnampngno against tho old elaborate French trenches, fields of wire, and blockhouses. Consequently tliqro, was a strong contrast in character between the battles east and west of Reims. The French will look with pride on the. defence,of the Champagne front. They took a heavy toll of the greycoats beforo they reached the trendies. Tho" seventy-fives and tho bellowing monsters of less speed but greater explosive effect, were instantly at work. But it was impossible to hold the front long against the overwhelming numbers, and a frightful-running hand-to-hand struggle ensued along the communication trenches and in. the second lines, with short, sharp counter-attacks and. successful rallies. Gradually tho local reserves came into play, and the att,3ck"wealcened and came to a standstill. The defenders, with their entrenchments, largely intact, had the advantage- in everything except numbers; consequently the enemy's losses were enormous. \

Between Chateau Thierry and Dormaus the -wood'' and dales provided Rood cover for the gathering of bridging materials, and a fow contingents, in tho darkness'of the right, using small boats, crowed tho' river, which hereabouts is 100 to ISO yards wide, and commenced tho construction of bridgeheads, which tho French destroyed as of km as t.hev were recommenced. Tho enemy constructed pontoons-where the* valley was wider and it was more difficult for tho French to hold _ the positions under the German fire. Masses of men poured across six bridges on a fovrteen-milc sector, each bridge, eight or ton yards wide. Meanwhile the French Airmen came into action, and sowed death amonir the close ranks of tho advancing enemy, and harassed their rear. One squadron broke two bridges whilo the troops were passing over, and many were drowned. ■- -■• ,

CHALONS SOBJECTEia TO LONG-RANGE BOMBAR.DiMFNT. ~ LONrtGN. ...Tuly 17. The Australian Press Association correspondent lenrns. that. General Foch i« satisfied with the situation. In the extended area of tho attack the enemy's onlv prosrross to-day is in the Pruhay sector, east of Reims, where .in snito- of terrible losses he conrnclleid .tho" "French to retire behind the river Veslo, two miles from the nvieinal. line. Tin's small success was pained . after repeated heavy assaults. aided by tanks. The around won hears no comparison to the losses. , [ The French lino is practically unchanged west of Reims. Owing 'to the Successful American counter-attacks, the Germans havo not progressed beyond Reuilly, in the Manic Valley, this Ijcincc-.his-maxinrnm-advanc'o of five miles. Ho is now subjecting Chalons to lona-rttnco-liomhaTdmont, owin<r to his failure to reach tho -town in accordance with his'-lhnotable for 'the tifren«va«.