NOTES ON THE WAR CABLES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17341, 14 June 1918, Page 5

NOTES ON THE WAR CABLES.

Bt Sekapnxl. THE MATZ-OISE ANGLE UNTENABLE. Sinco the battle began on the Montdidieron front tho Germans have advanoed a little over five miles on the west side of the angular a*aa between the Matz and tho Qise, and under five miles on the east side Starting- with a front of 25 or 26 miles, their frontal line of advance has been reduced to 10 miles between Rcssons and Ribecourt. They advanced further down the Matz valley astride tho river, railway, and road; but along the road they were thrown back by a counter-attack from, tha Arondo Valley to their original positions south of Reasons. The position of the French on the wooded plateau in tho angle between the Matz and tho Oise is obsoura West of Rcssons the counter-attack on the German right has not relieved tho position of the xrench, who lately were fighting nearThiesoourt and Chiry, and the German advance down the Matz, especially on the left bank, lias reached Elinoourt, four miles south of Thiescourt. On tneir left tho Germans have reached Ribecourt and a passage of escape, scarcely four miles wide, is left for the French who were fighting on the Montigny plateau. As Mr G. H. Perris 6ays, the French on the narrow range of hills before Ribeoourt are cornered, having hung to tho plateau too long. . There does not appear to bo much chance of their being able to escape capture or destruction. It is not probable that tho counter-attack on the Matz side will be pushed forward to relive thojn; but, if General Foch has sufficient troops in the Oise-Aisno angle to make a strong counter-attack from Ribecourt, the remnants of the French on tho plateau oould be saved. He, however, will have to be very quick in making the attempt, as the Germans have worked round the plateau expressly for the purpose of outflanking the French on it and taking them prisoners. It is quite apparent from, what the correspondents say that the inability to retain the territory defined above as tho Mat*Oise angle is accepted, and that tho French will lose Ribecourt, the small salient of low-lying wooded ground enclosed by tha three points—Ribecourt, Scmpigny, and Garlepont—south of Noyon and on the left bank of the Oise. From the great numbem which General von Hutier is throwing into the battle, it is plain that the German High Command is determined to clear tho Forest of Aigue, in the Oise-Aisne angle, and capture, if possible, the important junctions at Compiegne, which is 43 miles northeast of Paris. A CHANGED FRONT. On the Mery-Authcuil front, west of Ressons, the French have defeated tho Gorman right flank attack with heavy losses. Here tho Germans were attempting to gain the high ground between Maiguelay and Ressons, and separting tho valleys of the Slatz and Aronde. Foiled on their right, they pushed down the Matz to Elincourt, and, according to the later despatches, hava reached Thourotte, where the Matz join* tho Oise, thus virtually encompassing tha French on tho Montigny plateau. It if stated that the advance of the enemy is finished, and the German reports seem to give colour to tho opinions of correspondents with tho Allies; but tho message* touching til is belief seem to refer to tho German advance west of the Oise. The German Command, while its troops were battling westward of the Oise and finding their progress being made under tho direst stress, turned its attention to the east side of the Oise, and apparently quietly gathered fresh troops on the Noyon-Villiers-Cotterets front. A very narrow and pm-nl| salient south of Noyon has been abandoned by the French. It was hinted by correspondents that it would be necessary to ■withdraw, as the terrain was only four miles wide and under the observation and guns of tho Germans on both sides. As the Gorman communique claims tho capture of Carlcpont and other villages in the neighbourhood, the German report may bo accepted. A lateral movement by the Germans down the Aisne Valley has been begun; so the German High Commands have determined upon a thrust from the eastward against tho Forct do I'Aig.uc angle and south of the Aisne towards tho Foret do Compiegne for the purpose of outflanking tho position of tho French at Compiegne, and taking the town from the north and oast. Advices to hand show tlfct though the fighting south-west of Soissons, between Villcrs-Cotterets and the Aisne, is very bitter, the enemy is making no progress; but the full weight of the blow has not yet been felt. However, as Foch's communications behind this region are excellent lie will have no difficulty in feeding his lines according to tho strain put upon them by the Germans. Tho Germans aro beginning to announce that their objectives have been reached; but as the only objoctivo worth the sacrifices is Compiegne. it may bo said that the general bottle has bwn lest-, jince the enemy aro still far enough away from Compiegne to lose as many as they have lest and more. According to loss's and the rate of progress mado by the Germans, it is a long road to Paris