THE ALLIED COUNTER ATTACK

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13816, 22 July 1918, Page 5

THE ALLIED COUNTER ATTACK

THE BLOW FELL ON THE GERWANSUKE A FLASH OF LIGHTNING. NO SURPRISE SO COMPLETE IN THE COURSE OF THE WAR. THE CAVALRY COME INTO THEIR OWN AT LAST. FIGHTING IN VILLAGES FAR AHEAD OF THE INFANTRY. SUCCESS OF THE OPERATIONS MATERIALLY CHANGES THE SITUATION. (The Times.) Received July 21, 5.5 p.m. LONDONjuiy2OO

Mr Gerald Campbell states that the blow fell like a flash of ightnln„. In the w ! iole course of the war there lias been no surprise so complete. At, the advance proceeded the Germans were found sleeping, or peacefully XdemTor harvesting the crops. A,' tirst the enemy othcers who were tiken prisoner could not credit the offensive, declaring that t.enua locli had not the necessary troops. The spectacle of the advance was glorious and inspirng, the French being unrestrainable. The majority ot the Americans S never been under lire before, but they dashed along the sunny smiling landscape through the yellow cornfields, and plunged J" 10 th* cam? under heavv artillery Are, sineing choruses. As toi the ca\alr>, tne\ came into their own at last. It was a sight for sore eyes as they rode eastward along the valleys debouching from the forests. Our airmen sav\ the cavilry fighting in the streets and villages so far ahead that I dare not name them. Everything went like clockwork, and by 9 o'clock Torcy and touch amps were* captured, and heavy counter-attacks repulsed here By two m the afternoon, farther up towards the Ourcq and over the whole front saw the same success—it was a great day in France, and materially changes ttio situation. The effect on the French was like that of a glass of champagne on a tired man. IMPORTANCE OF THE SUCCESS BECOMING CLEARER EACH HOUR. GERMAN RESERVES BEING BROUGHT UP IN CONSIDERABLE STRENGTH. RAPIDITY OF SECOND ATTACK ALLOWS OF CAVALRY CO-OPERATION. (Reuter's Telegrams.) Received Julv 21, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, July 20. Reuter's correspondent at French headquarters, writing on ihursday evening, states that the importance of the success becomes hourly clearer. The advance cut the SoissonS-Chateau Thierry highway and the Soissons. Vil'iers railways at several points. Hie Germans' infiltration movements were affected by cavalry riding through gaps in the enemy's retreating line, establishing themselves in villages further ahead. Writing on I'ridav afternoon, the C€rres|)oudent says:-—Hie night was relatively calm on the Aisne-Marne front, the French resting in their new position." The German reserves were brought up in considerable strength, anu fighting has been mcst bitter. Over 1(1.000 prisoners were taken and over 50 guns captured. The enemy's move up the river towards Epernay seems definitely arrested. , , Writing on Friday evening, he says:—The Americans and French south of Soissons launched a second attack at noon and swept on so fast that the cavalry was thrown in in the afternoon. Ail the headquarters stati is to-night well inside the captured territory. The Americans south of Soissons up to noon had counted 250(J prisoners and 50 .guns. They also captured an immense quantity of material, including several aeroplanes, which the enemy was unable to remove. Many prisoners have not been counted. The Americans north of Chateau Thierry captured more prisoners and an equal quantity of material. FRANCO-AMERICAN DR3VE STOPS THE OFFENSIVE AGAINST RHEIMS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Received Julv 21, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, July 19. The Franco-American advance continues. The Germans are bringing up hundreds of thousands of reserves. WASHINGTON, .July 20. General March, Chief of Staff, states that by the 10 mile penetration of the German front the German drive against Rheims has been definitely stopped. The German offensive against the British to the northward was recently postponed for an unknown reason. In further gains towards Soissons the French captured Marfaux. The Germans are reerossing the Maine in several places. GERMAN RESERVES TEMPORARILY CHECK THE ADVANCE. THE FRENCH HOLD THEIR OWN IN BLOODY HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Received Julv 21, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, July 20. The Times' Paris correspondent states that the Germans have 20 divisions of reserves between Soissons and Chateau Thierry. Their entry into the battle temporarily checked the advance, which was followed by night-long bloody hand-to-hand fighting in the vicinity of Soissons. The French held » their own and are again advancing at certain points, but vigorous enemy reaction is expected.

GERMANS USE TWENTY-FIVE DIVISIONS OF HIS GENERAL RESERVES. THI. ENEMY NOW ENTIRELY DEPENDENT ON ROAD TRANSPORT. Receivi d Julv 21, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, July 20. The enemy used 25 divisions from his general reserve in an abortive often, sifr. in which h* suffered very heavy losses. His breakdown was principally due to the. accurate estimate of the French higher command and the rapidity with which thev disposed their forces to meet the attack. The French success- • ill counter-stroke mav [)!ofoundlv alter the situation on the Champagne front ' Th" F reiu h position on the ridge ovei looking: Soissons enables the bombinu- j ment of an important railway network. The enemy in this sector is now ei.t.ielv dependent on road transport, so that troops round Chateau Thiern must draw tl.eir supplies by road tor .'it) miles. RAPID SUCCESS OF THE ATTACK PREVENTS GERMANS USING THE RAILWAY. CU-oPKRATInX itl" l'llKM;i( AMI A.MKKICAXS PKRKKCTLY .MANA'iKIt. (Australian and N. 7. Cab If Association.) Received .1 ulv 21, p.m. PARIS. .1 ulv 20. The newspapers publish details of yesterday's fighting, emphasising lit l ' rapidity and completeness of the success of Ceneral Margin's troops between the Aisne and the Ourcq. They advanced two miles within an hour. The flermans, being unable to bring up reinforcements by railway, which was early under direct fire, used enormous numbers of motors and threw in troops recklessly. Ceneral Mangin rapidly improved his positions. He cleared wood after wood westward of the Savier river, and pressed on energetically across the plateau. The Americans at the other end of the line northward (if Chateau Thierry, under Ceneral Itegotts, collected vast reserves overnight and began to hop over at dawn behind a terrific barrage. It was a perfectly-managed engagement. CROWN PRINCE S ARMY PLACED IN A DIFFICULT POSITION. A CEP .MAN EFFORT AGAINST THE BRITISH TO BE EXPECTED. Australian and N.Z. 'Cable Association.) Received July 21, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, Julv 20. General Sir I'. B. Maurice is of the opinion that General Mangin's attack has uptet the Crown Prince's plans and he is in great difficulties. Evidently the Germans have men to throw into the battle and they are fighting hard. The Allies have already achieved great things, but we must avoid premature predictions of an enemy disaster. The vital point is Soissons and the retention of Mtmtagne de Paris. It seems certain that the Germans will have tu discontinue thei attacks at this point and also may dr«ar in tip remainder of the Crown Prince's reserve, while the enemy, in ttrtW 4® readjust his lines, mar have to retire a- considerable distance. Culess Utey are aWe to deprive the French of their gains there is a chance that ij m*y prove a definite German defeat. The initiative has passed to t'u* French, and the whole German position between So v-. sons awd Rlieiins i- endangered. W»- have neutralised the Crown Prince's nrrny and he will have his work < u' out to extricate himself from his present position. On the other hand, Prince Rupprccht's group. between Montdidier and the Channel, possesses formidable reserves, and pro hably these will be used against the British front. It is unlikly that the <*eimanfl will throw good money after bad, therefore will probablv only use sufficient troops to prevent the situation becoming a defeat and" throw their forces in elsewhere. The enemy failure in Champagne is likelv to wrelernte a blow between Montdidier and the sea. As there is little room to menoeiiT.' on 'lie firitish front, it camiot ba said that the anxiety has altogether «ded.

LJsLu:V FHOMT BROXEN AT SCVIRAL PO;?;TS WSTHIN AN HOUR AF3D A-KALF. Australian an I N.Z. Cable Association.) Kve-wilnesses iif llii' counter-offensive say flie ouisianom* I!io completeness of <>«mi<-iMI i-'iich's surprise. Sonic German oilin-rs wre ...,1,1,,, V ;! in I'i'il The prisoners iiiclu.li- a r„Titian working party sent out. to nap I In- harvest. The weather cnmUmns were nio.,| .favourable. A violcul cvelon.' raged on Wednesday r.'Vn'in? tlie arrivall ot the i ' l ''' nni tanks in the front line, its noise concealing tlieir advance. Mto n the■ al, fa. k was in full swim: llie following morning tiie spectacle on the hattlelieiu was one of irival li.-.-nity. The infantry could he seen approaching the re..roofed villages (lotting the ciMintry which rose gently from the rivers to hifi-h ground, which had passed into the French possession by evening. Parties of cavatrv could lie seen ahead of the infantry and tanks crossing the w heat fields -old,'n to harvest, to woods of olive green in the windy sunshine, which made up the rest of the countryside. Above tleets of aeroplanes manoeuvred ninonir the trailing low clouds set against a deep blue skv. Within an hour and a-haif of the commencement of the bailie the (.eruun front was broken at several points and the French cavalry were soon some miles ahead of the original French line, while the infantry was still figiitmg for the villages behind. By 2 p.m. the Dragoons were lighting in the streets and villages six miles ahead of the starting point. Ihe !• tench everywhere swept on. leaving the reserves to clean up the centres of resistance". The attack was pressed so hard that the element of surprise in some parts of the field lasted for hours. The Herman officers were unable 1o believe that Generals Mangin and He Couth 1 could embark on a llank attack. One German officer who was taken prisoner was asked whether the Germans had not feared a llank attack, and replied: "Attack with what? lie thought that General Foeh's reserves were exhausted. It is a fact that the German infantry in some sectors were of poor quality and offered little resistance, suggesting that the German policy of selecting storm troops is proving demoralising lo the remainder of the unit. This is confirmed by several captured army orders signed by General von Bochm and General von Marwitz. complaining that the discipline of their armies has been gravely shaken, and directing tiie officers to show no clemency when punishment is due. Everywhere the objectives were considerably exceeded, and at least 100 German guns were captured. The German counter-attacks on Thursday were nowhere on a really large scale. Tlie French continued to advance on Friday morning, when the German resistance was much greater, the High Command using their reserves freely. The struggle became, more severe when General Mangin saw his troops in possession of the heights dominating Soissons. On Thursday evening lie heaved a sigh of deep satisfaction. Along the entire front the Germans attempted to rush in men and artillery supplies under most intense Allied shellflre. The American units renewing the battle on Friday encountered the German reserves in woods, villages and grainlields south' of Soissons, but the Americans, in conjunction with the French, advanced to. the north-west of Chateau Thierry. Other American units were engaged in the vicinity of Romans. All are excited, but confident of dealing a big blow to the enemy. :>„> p.m. !.<!X|HI.\, .Inly 20. say I lie outstanding feature was Some German officers were i'lerinan working party sent out ijiii.ns were nio.-t favourable. A •,.wring the arrival of the French I heir advance. When the attack the spectacle on the battlefield Parties of cavalry n wheatlields golden h which made up tin manoeuvred among

FRENCH AND AIY!ER!CAN ADVANCE CONTINUES DESPITE VIOLENT COUNTER-ATTACKS. BR'TISII \ND FRENCH AVIATORS CO-OPERATE SUCCESSFULLY IN THE OPERATIONS. Received July 21, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, July 20. An American communique states that between the Aisne ami the Marne we continued to progress. A French communique states that the battle continued most violentlyall day between the Aisne and the Marne. The enemy counter-attacked with large reserves, attempting to arrest the advance, which, however, continued over most of the front. On the left we maintained our hofcl on the plateau south-west of Soissons and in the region of Chaudin. In the centre we passed beyond by two miles at certain points the line through Vaux, Villers Scion and Noro'y sur Ourcq. On the right we continued severe lighting'on the plateau north-west of Monnes Hill, north of Courchamps. We advanced bevond Torchy. Hitherto over 17,000 prisoners have been counted, including two colonels and their staffs. We captured 300 guns, including a battery of eigbt-inchers. Our aviators on Thursday and Friday, in conjunction with British squadrons, were most'active over the whole battlefield. The French felled or disabled 20 machines and fired two balloons, while the British destroyed seven machines. The bombers continued their attacks at the Marne crossings, where they demolished a 'footbridge. With machine-guns and bombs they dispersed combinations of troops at Oulchy, Vaux ravine, Fere en Tardenois and Oeiuly. Projectiles were showered on stations in the rear, causing fires and explosions. Twenty-two and 21 tons of bombs were dropped in the day and at night respectively. * LONDON, July 20, 4.50 p.m. A French communique states that yesterday and during the night the Franco-American troops continued their advance along the major portion of the front between the Aisne and the Marne. We reached Vierzy, passed Monloy wood to the east of Villers Helon, and captured Neuilly, Aquintfont and Licy sen Ewignon. South of the Marne we drove back the enemy between Fossoy and Oeuil.ly, and gained ground in the direction of the Marne. AMERICANS ADVANCE WELL BEYOND THEIR FIXED OBJECTIVES.

RELEASED FRENCH PRISONERS JOIN IN THE FIGHTING. Received July 21, 5.5 p.m. PARIS, July 20. The first wave of Americans seized their objectives and the second came over them and captured their positions according to programme. They had hardly completed their consolidation When the first wave swept on again, clearing the ground well beyond the fixed objectives. Tanks co-operated importantly throughout, preceding as well as following the infantry, and clearing the enemy out of pockets. The advance in some places was so rapid that the Franco-Americans hurriedly dined at tables at which the Germans had breakfasted. The attackers met the Germans working batches of French prisoners on the roads. They liberated the latter, who joined in the light. There is ample evidence that the French offensive surprised the Germans. The attackers encountered a division which was being relieved, and also found officers asleep in their dug-outs. The aircraft did splendidly, spotting the enemy concentrations, which were promptly bombed. They also bombed three troop trains. < GERMANS ADMIT THE PENETRATION OF THEIR LINES. (Admiralty per Wireless Press.) Received July 21, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, July 20. German official: Between the Aisne and the Marne the French penetrated by surprise our front lines at isolated points and pressed us back. We defeated French attacks from south-westward of Soissons to Neuilly. Strong enemy partial attacks against our new lines on the whole front broke down. Enemy attacks south-westward of Mareiul and Rio wood and astride Pouroy failed. We have taken 15,000 prisoners since Monday. t ____________ STOCK EXCHANGE HEARTENED BY THE WAR NEWS. (Australian anr 1 N.Z. Cable Assn.) deceived Julv 21, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, July 19. Tlie war news has heartened the Stock Exchange, which is strong all round. C-onsols are at 563. (Admiralty, per Wireless Press.) Received Julv 21. 5.5 p.m. LONDON, July 20. A German official message states that a fresh French attempt to break through between the Aisne and the Marne failed on Saturday morning. GERMANS REPORT THEIR WITHDRAWAL ACROSS THE MARNE. ________ * (Admiralty per Wireless Press.)) Received July 21, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, July 21. German official: The enemy reattempled lo make a breach 011 the whole front from the Aisne to the Marne. Tanks early penetrated our foremost lines, but the first enemy thrust was defeated by noon <m the heights >oiilhweshvard of Soissons. westward of Hartemes and St. Nouilly, and northwestward of Chateau Thierry. Further attacks in the evenimr broke down. We threw back the enemy northward of 11 <1 »i 11<• rne beyond their original I'm• s. We withdrew unnoticed to the north batik of tlie Marne duriii- the ninlit.

AMERICANS ATTACK WITHOUT ANY ARTILLERY PREPARATION. lIASTILY-HRGAXISKI* CHIXTLR-ATTACKS ALL BRiIkT.X I \\ •iK UMAX I iKAI» LYJ.Mi TllliKK AM I Kutli liKKl' IN FRMXT n|-' T!fL AMKRIGAXS. (Heuter's Telegrams.) Received July 20, r>..'>o p.m. LOXIMiX. .Inly 19. P.fiit'T's correspondent, at Xmerican Im';»< ropoi'ts:—Large numbers (if American storm troops co-operated with the French in the attack. Tin' Americans wont over the top with ;i yell without artillery preparation. Tin' Hermans for tin' most part resisted feebly. Hero and there stubborn fighters appeared, but they were quickly vanquished by the American bayonets. The enemy everywhere was completely surprised. The attack was most successful in thp region of Soissons, where the Allies' final objectives were passed. The whole operation up to the present is more successful than was expected. Many guns were captured, including is in one town. The whole German left Hank is menaced, and the enemy must bring up troops from the Marne front or leave them in danger. The Americans were trained to the last notch, and behaved like veterans. Nothing stopped them. There was the closest co-operation between the artillery aw*, infantry. Many light and heavy guns moved up most swiftly, and delugod sjbefls on the enemy's retreating forces or seserves. The tanks did.all that:was expected of them, preceding and accompanying the infantry, ami- clearings-many places that escaped artillery fire. Hastily-organised enemy counter-attacks here and there were all broken up. The resistance was stubborn east of Ghaudin. Fighting is likely to become heavier as the Herman reserves arrive. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Received July 20, ij.so p.m. MOW YORK, July 19. The I'nited Press correspondent on the West front writes: —The German losses in front of the American positions are enormous. American artillery wiped out an entire German regiment, believed to have been the famous Sixth Grenadiers, before it was able to cross the Marne. Three German divisions were so demoralised that, they have not reappeared fighting again. In Ihe region of Mezy and Jaulgonne the German dead were four and five deep. An American regimental commander estimated the German dead in front fiis command at 5000.