THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE

Timaru Herald, Volume CVII, Issue 1658991, 18 July 1918, Page 7

THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE

ON A BIG SCALE. SHORT GERMAN ADVANCE. V Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. LONDON, July 16. The Australian Tress Association learns that the' Germans started the offensive on a big scale against the French in the early morning on a thirty mile front between Chateau Thierry and a point four miles southwestward of Rheims. The enemy penetrated 5000 yards and captured Chezy (south of Chateau Thierry). Their line of advance has been along the Mnrne Valley. The Germans took Bouquigny, which was 3000 yards beyond the original French lines, also Orcourt (not Avocourl) and Chaumizy. The Germans eastward of Rheims attacked on a twenty-five mile front between Prunay and Moison de Champagne, but were brought to a standstill in the French battle positions, where the situation seems satisfactory.

ATTACKS REPULSED. "WITH HEAVY LOSSES. The offensive remains held, the attacks nearly everywhere being repulsed with the heaviest losses. Eastward of Rheims the front line entanglements are covered with-German corpses. There were two evening attacks by tanks at Souain and Prunay, latter point the wood was captured. Klsewhcre the attacks were repulsed. The line of resistance is one or two miles behind the front trenches and is everywhere intact. The French are satisfied that Von Helow's and Von Bochm's armies continuing the assault is indicative -that a grand offensive and not a diversion is 1 intended. Thirtv divisions have been identified, mostly Prince Rupprecht's. here were two main attaoks westward of Rheims, one down the Marne, the .other southward of Dormansji The Germans threw six bridges across' the Marne'' between Dormans and Rouilly. A capturod aeroplane niap shows' that tho main attack was down' the Marne to Epernav.

VIOLENT PREPARATION. ENEMY'S SHOCK SUSTAINED. A French communique states :—After violent artillery preparation this morning the Germans attacked -from Chateau Thierry to Main de Massigies. Our troops are energetically sustaining the enemy's shock on,a front of about 80 kilometres ■ -- The battle is proceeding. AN ALL-DAY* BATTLE. ( A French communique states: The German attack commenced 'ahput 4.30 a.m. and continued all day long on both sides of Rheims with unabated violence.

West of Rheims there were furious struggles in the region of Rouillv, Oreonrt an'd Vassy, south of the Marne, which the enemy succeeded in crossing at some points. SUCCESSFUL AMERICAN RESIST- •;•■ ANCE. A vigorous American counter-attack drove back to the north bank enemy elements which had reached the southern bank to tho west of Fossoy. WASHINGTON, July 16. the .Americans drove the Germans across" the jMarne in .the Fossor 'region. ■ ' * ' " ' 'ATTACK CONTINUES. ''_••* - : '""' LONDON,* July 16. German attacks' on tho Marne continue ineffectively. . I The Americans re-captured Fossoy and Crezancy, south of the Marne. - GERMAN CLAIM.

A German official message slates; T6 the south-westward and eastward of Rheims we penetrated parts of the French positions. ) GERMANY'S OBJECTS. ■ General Maurice says that in view " f .the fact that the enemv... took little trouble to conceal his -preparations eastward of Rheims the present offensive may Hot be the main effort. Rheims is not more than a name. It is certain that Genera! Foch is ready to' evacuate any awkward salient. Probably there are strong lines behind the mountains. The Germans' main object is possibly to.use up the Allies' reserves, drawing them from the north, -preparatory to attacking Amiens or northward, or they may desire to widen the base of an attack oo Paris, or nosuibly the real effort is to defeat the largest possible portion of the Frencli armv without' geographical objectives. Hindenburg may have prepared groifnd elsewhere where he can watch the present developments and throw in fresh troops and follow up the blow or chauge his plans quickly, .

HOSPIAL BOMBED. . German airmen bombed an American hospital at Jouy, killing two poisons. GREATEST BITTLE YET. ("The Times.") Tho eorrospondeiu of "The Times" gays:—We arc witnessing tlw beginning of an enterprise which will nl:.imnfcely aurpa&s in magnitude the previous greatest bather. It may be assumed ihnt the enemy hopes to reach within effective bombarding range of Paris. W« nrp convinced that the French Army will effectively counter tho menace. ' '■ TITO POSITION .SURVEYED. CrtlOZY STILL FRENCH. . .Australian and N 7. Caolo Assn. No British troops ure yet involved in the (../Tensive.

The French stopped the enemy eastward of Rheims by gallant counterattacks at nine o'clock in the morning. The greatest depth cf the enemy's penetration is, represented by the line through Souain, Pro-sizes and Prunay The enemy advanced to a depth or three or four mile's 'between Pourey and Baval.

Though the opening bombardment was heavy, Rheims Itself was not shelled. The enemy crossed the Marno at Dormans, Paesy-sur-Marne and Fossoy. The latest news contradicts the reported capture of Chezy, which the French held at noo.i. The Germans gas-shelled the bncl; areas .heavily, and the whole front tr> a depth of eighteen miles. NO SURPRISE. A French Headquarters correspondent sap's: —The offensive commenced by tho Frencli guns opening at midnight along the whole front from the Chateau Thierry to the Main de Massiges ridges. The French so correctly anticipated, the enemy's- purpose that they began the artillery counter-prepar-ation one hour before the German batteries started to bombard.

The infantry attacked at throe o'clock in tho morning on the whole Hue, except round Rheims. 'Hie attack was compressed into two main sectors, one from Chateau Thierry to Vcrneuil, thence northward to west of Rheims, the other from Fort Pom pel le, cast of Rheims, to tho Main do Massiges. The enemy adopted ..no.new jncthods. He advanced under cover of a mist. He must have relied on the usual filtration tactics. Between Colomirie.s and Fossoy the enemy progressing on a twenty miles front from an average.of two to three miles to a. maximum depth of 3\ miles at Eelval and Chamblezy.

ITALIANS HELPING FRENCH. A French communique states: —Between Dormans and Rheims the French and Italians are tenaciously resisting on the line of Chatill-on-sui-Marne, Cauchery, and Rouilly. East of Rheims the attack extended from Sillery to Main de Massiges but enconntered an impregnable defence. The enemy renewed his efforts against Prunay and I.es Marquises and in the regions north of Prosnos and Souain, but "despite repeated attack? lie has been unable, ty effect a breach in our fighting positions.

THE ENEMY'S AIM. OTHER BLOWS EXPECTED. The Australian Press Association jjates that the enevnj also' advanced down iihe mom highway along the Spmme-Py-Souain road. Details of his progress are lacking ' Tho main thrust was apparently south-west of Rheims, where the advance was rapid. The enemy crossed the Marne at a lumber of places "before fen o'clock in the morning. The- Germans-apparently, aim at isolating Rheims by attacking both sides. They also hope to take the hills south-west of the city known as the Mountains of Rheims,' which arcregarded as the most important positions; but their ultimate aim .appears to be to .break through, and seize the Chalons railway. Tho hills will serve' to protect; the right fl?nk, in a further' advance south-west. '. ! - It' is.'not. certain vet whether this is the' main blow, but cuxumstanccs in-, dicate that it is known that tho German's have prepared attacks-for other' points, notably on the .Amiens front.! : '

AMERICAN COUNTER, ATTACK.; FIVE HUNDRED PRISONERS. An American official message, dated Monday, states: —Eastward of Chateau Thierry, where the enemy succeeded this morning in gaining some grouud, tve counter-attacked and drove them back to the Marne. We took 500 prisoners. ' ' ' . In .the fire trench raids were attempted by the enemy, but broke down. LONG RANGE, GUNS. PARIS, July 16. ' The long range bombardment of ilic city was resumed o.i Monday. .' -