OUR BIG OFFENSIVE

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11615, 14 August 1918, Page 5

OUR BIG OFFENSIVE

fi VIOLENT BATTLE IN PROGRESS

FRENCH BQEfiBARDINS EBEWS REAR.

PREPARES FOP. ANOTHER PUBH V

London, August 12. A violent battle is proceeding between Bray and Vilierspe Roye. An American division is hotly engaged in the Bray sector. The Germans are everywhere vigorously counter attacking. The French are now practically on the crest of the Lasigny massif, tiring into the Germans rear. It is anticipated that the massif, which is a heavily-wooded plateau eight miles square, will fall to-night. Its loss would involve a further retirement, menacing Noyon. • The Allies captured Gury this morning. We are now bringing up heavy guns. German avtiliery is also coming up Twenty-nine divisions have alreadj 7 been identified. , GERMANS ADMITTING DEFEAT. “HITS US HARD.” FIRST SERIOUS DEFEAT. London, August 12. German newspapers are beginning to admit the Allied success, though professing calm confidence in the future.

The Cologne Gazette says: There is no good hiding the fact that this check hy an enemy not numerically superior, hits us hard The Tage Zeitung, the organ of the Pan-German, says: The first serious defeat of the war is due to the state of the morale of Prince Rupprecht’s troops. Yorwaerts, commenting on' 1 tire crisis confronting Germany, says: The morale of the nation has been damaged by the Pan-Germans’ wild cry of “conquest,” * General Von Ardenne, in the Berliner Tageblatt, says the failure of the defence must he admitted. The loss of ground, guns and prisoners must ha painful, as the German High Command is now particularly anxious to economise forces.

The military critic of the Mittsgs Zsitung prepares £the public for a further retreat.