GERMAN OFFENSIVE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14347, 12 July 1917, Page 6

GERMAN OFFENSIVE.

TESTING THE FRENCH. LINE. '■'"■' LONDON', July 2. . The most extensive fighting lias flared up in /the-- -West --since the Battle of Champagne. The pertinacity , and strength of the German attacks on Verdun, following a .violent, 24-hour bombardment, indicate an important offensive. _ ' *■• ; y '■ ' y-. : '' Tho Times correspondent at Paris points out that it is coincident with the internal wave of discouragement • through-' out Franco, but does not think that the Germans have a wide j-eneral scheme of attack, although the guns from St Quentin to Verdun aro suddenly aotite.. particularly at Rheims, which' has been u-e---|ooiving a daily quantum of a thousand shells. Heavy IVench barrages at Corny prevented the Germans deyeloping Sunday's attacks. ■ j Reuter's co-respondent at' Fi-ench headr|uarters says that the sudden -return of. the enemy to the offensive on the Chemin des Dames front iand tlie left bank of tho Meuse can pVobably be j explained by the German Government's ' need for victpi'ies, or, rathei*. for local ' successes, M^hich can bfe magnified into victories to offset substantial .gains; of the Anglo-lVenchv .offehsiyes. >: At v the moment when the^inispired Press of the Fatherland wks endeavoring t6 away the- latest ' British , successes, m Elahdors, and knowing tnat more'; must come, requiring ■ fui*ther .eXpianatioiV, .canif! they announcement' that the' vanguard of the American army was already i on French soil, a report which is spread- . ing among tho German army- and the Ge.m_.ft' people. The high command feel that something must be done ito counterbalance the effeot of all this. .'.; AnyhoWj there is not yet any indication that a more serious intention lies behind the -'sudden resumption of activity. Both m the. Dead Man's Hill and the Ceriiy\ sectors ' the enemy, *■'• *m the event of success, stands to win important l^tolyadvantages, notably m the lat- I Iter place, where he- would regain at least i is. portion pf the : observatory; line pn the i Chemin des Dames_crest,".to: ret_,in: which he fought so hard. ' By. the- operations j yesterday and to-day the enemy regained ' a very insecure- footing ;oh -the cre^t 'about 4» mile west, of- ..Dragpn's- Cave, 'whence he .was expelled lafetl Monday ; * 'ri ■■< -■' j . ' , ' ■■^^.'- : l.* " -V^.-"