In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 88, 12 July 1918, Page 5

In the West

OFFENSIVE AWAITED. ■ .. •• • - HOUR NOW CLOSE. Press Association —Copyright, Aastra. lian and N.Z. Cable Association v ■< f Paris, July lON Military experts opine that'the first German lines are now thinly held by. second-rate troops, as the first-rate troops have been withdrawn to the rear preparatory to an. attack. This suggests that the hour of the offensive is’, closeV . • Mr Philip Gibbs writes that the. ferocity of the German artillerying oh Monday was mainly intended as a re taliatibii against the Allied raids. He does cot think it forewarns big ah tacks. The Canadians on the Arras front have also been raiding with relentless industry, carrying out fortyeight raids in 90 days. ’Recently the raiders left 90 dead in a German trench, in addition to many wounded. All were, bayoneted. The Canadians say they prefer the bayonet to the, bomb, because it makes a cleaner, job.

Mr Percival Phillips, referring to General von der Marwitz’s order regarding the want of . discipline in German ranks, says that von der Marwitz’s division, since taking their at the end of March, facing Amiens and astride the Somme, have had a series of disheartening reverses and constant artillery punishment No' wonder. dry rot has set in. There are reports of excesses in the back , areas, including looting of supply trains and misconduct of some of the infantry entrusted with the forward defences. He adds that there is no evidence that decay and lack of discipline is general or widespread, but; significant cases of pillaging have 6c cuffed in the 18th Army, who occupy thh zone'on von, der Marwitz’s left. Meanwhile the long-promised offensive has" not materialised, and for a reason of which we can only guess. Voh der Marwitz has not made a single effective counter-attack.

OFFICIAL REPORTS. ' Press Assn.—Copyright.—Australian •lid N.Z. Cable Assn, and Reuter. • London, July 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports;—We repydeed local attacks eastward of VilTw« ■■ Bfetonneaux. The enemy guns developed considerable activity at A il lers Bretonneaux to the A acre. \Ve drove off raiders southward of Butquoy, and slightly advanced our line in, the neighborhood of Merris. A French communique states;— There was reciprocal artillcrying north ■!i jof- Montdidier a,nd south ot the Aisne/ In the region of Chavigny Farm, we camlucted several coup do mains. In the Champagne we took, prisoners. Seven German aeroplanes and five captive balloons were downed.

ANTI-TANK RIFLES CAPTURED.

Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association London, July K). Mr Gilmour, writing from Australian. headquarters, says: Among the Australians’ trophies attained are three anti-tank rifles used lor the first time;. The rifle is a large heavy "Weapon almost twice the size of the ordinary German rifle, constructed on the-same lines, and is capable of pierc. ing the tanks’- armour at five hundred yards.- .TKe,/Germans achieved no success • with the new weapon, the gunners -fleeing before the tanks, whose-total casualties were three wounded. / Press Association—Copyright. Published in “The Times.” :■ . London, July 10. ’Captured army orders issued by General von der Manwitz showed that the'discipline which was the keystone of the German Army has been serum slv shaken. The numbers of cases of soldiers refusing to obey orders is jju-fcn'smg to an alarming extent, •■"'■--O' ■' ■■■ ■ ■ ■ ' : " ; --v

FRENCH OVERCOME ENEMY RESISTANCE.

PATROL SUCCESSES. Pres# Assn.—Copyright.—Australian snd N.Z. Cable Assn, and Reuter. • : {Received 9.25 a.m.) London, July 11. j A French communique states:— South of the Aisue our infantry finally overcame the enemy resistance at different points. We captured Laguille Farm and the quarries north of Ghaviony Farm. To the eastward our patrols' reached Longpont and entered the northern part of Corey, taking prisoners. ENEMY’S FIGHTING QUALITIES. | STURDY LOT OF GERMANS. Press Association —Copyright, Austro- , lian and N.Z. Cable Association. 3 (Received ,12.30 p.m.) London, July 11. • Mr .Gibbs .writes :. It is dangerous to under-estimate the fighting qualities of the enemy. The prisoners captured by the Australians on the 4th Fere as sturdy a crowd of men as were ever. seen. The Australians northward and southward of the Somme established the initiative in their sector in a remarkable way by a series. of progressive operations wherein there, was no counter-attack. The German guns yesterday, last night, and to-day, heavily..bombarded' the Australians. Some infantry unsuccessfully attempted to enter the trenches eastward of Villers Breboniieux.

■THE FRENCH ADVANCE.

Press Association-—Gopj right, Australian and N.Z. Gable Association > (Received 11.40 a.m.) London, July 11. 5 -An American official report says; Strong French forces advanced several times and established themselves westward of Antheuil and northward of Longpont.

DOMINION MINISTERS ON TOUR.

(From Captain Malcolm Ross, Official Correspondent with the New < •'• ••'•Zealand• Expeditionary Force).

Bv Cable. Julv 5

; The .Ministers spent only one day fn Paris. .In tlie morning they at-; tended the American Independence Day celebration, and afterwards proceeded to Versailles, where they were entertained at luncheon by Mr Lloyd George. Numerous distinguisbeo guest's were present. In the afternoon, Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward, along with other overseas; 'Ministers, attended a general war conference, at which they met General Focli, General J off re, M; Clemenchan, Signor Orlando, and several distinguished officers from the Allied armies. The Dominions’ representatives were welcomed by M. Clemenceau, who, in a brief but brilliant speech, thanked the Dominions, in the name of France, in the name of Europe, and in the name of humanity, dor their splendid services in the war. The New Zealand party left in tiioi jeyening for base when*, on the foh Jlpyviug May, they inspected the Reicords Office and the New Zealand bakery. During the course of their jtpur. they visited also the New Zealand Tunnelling Company, which they found -still doing valuable work. To-night the party will return to London, after a strenuous hut highly interesting and successful tour.