ADVANCE CLAIMED TO BE COSTLY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1339, 29 May 1918, Page 9 (Supplement)

ADVANCE CLAIMED TO BE COSTLY.

CONTINUATION OF OFFENSIVE EXPECTED. CONFIDENCE THAT FOCH WILL HOLD THE ENEMY. By Cubic—Frets Association. — Copyright.' (United (Ree. May '29, 1 p.m.) LONDON, May 28. The German gains in the Champagne proved very serious. A continuation of the offensive is expected. Though the French correspondents insist that the Germans made huge sacrifices in order to secure their gains, they do not minimise the importance of the enemy's success. Commentators claim that the Crown Prince attempted to break through, and that the first day's results are falling far short of his programme, but agree that the evacuation of the territory gained by General Neville in 1917 is a disappointment and a surprise. M. Marcel Hutin says:—Certainly the blow has been hard, and the recoil important, but it is better to retreat to secure the Aisne defence, rather than to defend the Chemin des Dames at a heavy cost. Marcel Hutin thinks that the Germans are making their supreme effort. General Foch's greatest care must be the safeguarding of his armies and the judicious use of reserves. The Allied line was thinly held, and retreat early in the day became inevitable. Commentators point out that the Germans must inevitably secure early results in the offensive, but General Foch has never failed to re-establish a situation. THE BATTLE CONTINUING DESPERATELY. (Eeuter.) (Roe. May 29, 1 p.m.) PARIS, May 28. A semi-official statement says the enemy gained an initial advance in the new battle north of the Aisne. The battle continues desperately. While the Allied troops are contesting the ground foot by foot, our reserves are arriving and will prevent the enemy exploiting his first success, and hold him on the final line of resistance. ATTACKS DEVELOPING JN GREAT STRENGTH. (A. & N.Z. & Renter.) (Ree. May 29, 1 p.m.) LONDON, May 28. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— Late on Monday the enemy crossed the Aisne westward of the British sector and compelled our left to fall back. The enemy is developing his attacks in great strength on the whole Aisne battle front. SEVERE FIGHTING ON THE WHOLE FRONT. (A. & N.Z. & Reutev.) (Ree. May 29, 1.55 p.m.) LONDON, May 28. \ At 1.45 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reported : The enemy maintained a continuous pressure all day on Monday against the British on the Aisne front. Severe fighting continues on the whole front of the British sector on the right. The 21st Division, in touch with the French, held their battle positions all day, and successfully withstood the enemy attempts to advance in the centre and left of the 1 sector. The Bth, 15th, and 25th Divisions put up a determined resistance, and maintained the second-line positions until a late hour. The weight of the attacks carried the enemy across the Aisne westward of the British sector towards the end of the day, compelling our left flank to fall back. Local fighting has recommenced on the Lys front, eastward of Lake Dickebusch. We make successful raids elsewhere, yielding prisoners. GERMAN CASUALTIES OF THE SEVEREST. (Renter.) (Ree. May 29, 1.55 p.m.) LONDON, May 28. Renter's correspondent at British Headcpiarters says that when the battle died down in the evening of Monday the situation ori the right and in the centre of our front remained practically as before". Northwards, between La Clytte and Dickebusch Lake, where the French left rested on the British flank, the Germans are still in possession of a small length of front line. The night was fairly quiet. Nowhere north of the Somme has the enemy renewed his heavy bombardments. The French and British were again actively engaged at daylight this morning east of Lake Dickebusch. The issue of yesterday's battle in Flanders may be regarded with complete satisfaction. The Germans practically attained nothing, while their casualties were of the severest. FURTHER PROGRESS MADE AGAINST THE FRENCH. (United Service.) (Ree. May 29, 2.35 p.m.) LONDON, May 28. At 11 p.m. the "Evening Standard" states that the Germans had made further progress against the French, who suffered considerable losses and prisoners. GERMANS CLAIM FIFTEEN THOUSAND PRISONERS. (jßeuter.) (Ree. May 29, 2.35 p.m.) NEW YORK ,May 28. A Berlin message claims the capture of 15,000 prisoners. PRESENT BATTLE ONLY A DIVERSION. (Reuter.) (Ree. May 29, 1 p.m.) PARIS, May 28. M. Clemenceau, conversing with deputies, indicated that this battle was only aHiversion and that the main attack was still to come. ALLIES COUNTER-ATTACK AT LAKE DICKEBUSCH. ' (A. & N.Z.) (Ree. May 29, 1.55 p.m.) LONDON, May 28. The United Press correspondent, writing at 4.15 p.m., reports: , While the French and British were battling heavily on the heights above the Aisne Valley, comparative quiet reigned along the northern part of the line, except south-eastward of Ypres, where the French and British counter-attacks to-day have already practically regained all the ground won by the enemy in his initial onset yesterday, thereby thwarting von Arnim's aims. VON MACKENSEN ARRIVES IN BELGIUM. (A. & N.Z.) (Ree. May 29, 1.35 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, May 28. The frontier correspondent of the "Telegraaf" says that General von Mackensen and his staff have arrived in the neighbourhood of Antwerp. GERMAN TROOPS AT DVINSK MUTINY. [A. & N.Z.) (Ree May 29, 1.35 p.m.) MOSCOW, May 28. Two divisions of German troops in the Dvinsk region refused orders to go to the West front. Prince Leopold of Bavaria held ■mi investigation, and several soldiers were hanged and dozens condemned to penal servitude for life.