THE WESTERN FRONT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1358, 20 June 1918, Page 5

THE WESTERN FRONT.

COMPARATIVE QUIET. ATTACKS DIE DOWN. (A. & X.Z. & Router? LONDON", June 18. Sir Douglas Ilaig reports:—We repulsed a raid south-east of VillersBretonncux. We made successful raid?. •: outhwest of Albert, and in the neighbourhood of Moycnneville. Patrol encounters occurred eastward of Nieppe Forest. Hostile artillery is more active southward of Albert, and is active westward of the Serre. A French communique, issued at four this evening, states:—Successful local operations were carried out southward of Ambleny. There was patrol activity between the Ourcq and the Marne. The night was quiet elsewhere.

MUTINOUS SOLDIERS. (A. & X.Z. & Renter) AMSTERDAM, June IS. Refugees from Northern France 'state that the German troops even in the iirst line are very short of rations. The moral of the army is affected by the sight of endless trains of wounded from the front. The men are deserting in groups of from 200 to 300, and crossing the Dutch frontier and bribing the sentinels, who are unable to cope with the deserters, they are so numerous. In some cases whole regiments refuse to advance. They are isolated and deprived of food until they consent to fight. Summary execution has been abandoned as a punishment, as the men are 100 valuable. The American peril is the chief theme of conversation amongst the German soldiery. AMERICAN ACTIVITY. (United) • PARIS, June 13. The rapidity of developments in the American camps exceed all anticipations. The latest inspection discloses extraordinary growth of munitions, aeroplanes, tanks, gun factories, powder magazines, hospitals, and railways. The "Figaro!' says that the brief calm on the-Oise will not deceive the French. Ludendorff is using every moment to prepare another great attack.