NOTES ON THE WAR CABLES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17375, 24 July 1918, Page 5

NOTES ON THE WAR CABLES.

By Shhapkel.

THE SITUATION ON THE MARNE. The great battle eouth o£ the Aisne is still raging fiercely. General von Ludendorff is evidently of the opinion that the French strength can bo worn down, and is stubbornly contesting every foot of ground. He has saved the armies and the position south of the Aisuo by throwing fresli divisions into the salient. Even from Prince Rupprecht's reserves behind the lines facing the British in the north in Picardy and Artois, divisions have been rushed to the Aisne. The result has been that between . Soissons and the Ourcq the progress of the French has become slower, probably temporarily, and the contest on theßheims front, where the Franco-Italian forces had already found it -very difficult to shift the Germans, has become more stubborn. Since the British have been sent to the Rheims salient they have, despite the continual reinforcement, of the G-ermans, made some progress in the Montagne do Rheims, a lino of heights in the base of the isosceles triangle held by the French. The western part northward of Epernay was taken, however, by the Germans in their rush towards the Marne. They attempted a lateral movement eastward while exerting pressure on the arm of the salient down the Ardre, a tributary of the Aisne, but were held by the Franco-Italian forces. The British are facing slightly north-west, and have, after a severe struggle, captured a couple of villages from the Germane, notwithstanding the weight of numbers that was thrown against them.

On the west, north of Chateau Thierry, between the Marne and the Ourcq, the x ranco-American forces have made more, rapid progress, tho French infantry having captured Lα Croix and stormed the heights eastward of tho village. Epieds, further south and near the Marne, was probably taken by a combined force of Frencli and Americans. As German reinforcements are appearing on this sector, Ludendorff evidently, intends to cling as long as possiblo to the northern bank of tho Marne between Chateau Thierry and Chatillon-sur-Marne or Ouilly, his tactical purpose being to use tho Marno as an easily-defensible front. He will liang to that line eo long as possible in order to have one part of his front free from such heavy blows as tho Allies are delivering on the western and eastern arms of the Aisno salient. Tho divide between tho Marno and the Aisno has a very abrupt slope towards the Marne and a. long slope northwards towards the Aisne. If the Allies could clear the Germans from the northern bank of the Marno they would be able, from tho top of the escarpments, to look down the valleys of the Crisc and the Vesle. They could then train their guns on tho German concentrations facing both east and west and in reserve to reinforce the defenders who are trying to prevent the Allies from pressing in the arms of tho salient for the purpose of constricting further the area and destroying tho power of the Germans to manoeuvre within that area. Still, it is apparent that the Allies are reducing this defensive line. Scottish and Australian troops eastward of Chateau Thierry have captured Mezy, and it is reported that somewhere further eastward the Americans have crossed the Marne. According to ono message the British have captured 500 guns and tho French with thorn 40 guns and 400 machine guns. If the statement as to the number of guns taken by tho British is correct, they must have driven the Germans back on tho western edges of tho Montagnc do Rheims. Probably, the number is erroneous. If it wero correct, it would indicate tho Germans must havo concentrated a great number of guns to force their way to Eperiiay and up the Marne to Chalons, for the purpose of linking up with tho advance through, tho Western Champagne and to envelop the French forces defending Rheims. It is also possiblo that, owing to the bombardment of the roads, bridges, and railways behind tho enemy's lines by moans of long-range guns and aeroplanes, the Germans won:, through the congestion created by tho necessity of bringing up fresh divisions, not able to remove the guns which they rushed into the Aisne salient when they had hopes of reaching Chalons-sur-Mmno and .Sezanno on tho Grand Moriii. Only on such suppositions can it bo possible I,lmt the British have taken 500 Sims in thuir progress westward in the Khoims salient.

At Croisilles. on the western side, the Germans, after throwing forward ' new troops, have -driven back tho FrancoAmerican forces half a, mile. No disappointment need be felt on reading this announcement. Part of tho Allies' tactics is to force the Germans to counter-attack so that the heaviest possible toll of the eupniv's reserves may bo taken. What General Foch is seeking just now more than anything else is the reduction of the German man" power, lie has caught tho Germans in a position which ho has made so awkward for them that, great sacrifices must be made by them to stave off a moro disastrous defeat than tho holding up of tho offensive upon which the Germans built such great hopes.