GERMANS ON DEFENSIVE

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13817, 23 July 1918, Page 5

GERMANS ON DEFENSIVE

INITIATIVE WITH THE ALLIES GERMAN WITHDRAWAL OH THE MARNE THE FLIGHT FROM CHATEAU THIERRY By Cable.—Press Association.— Copyright. THE BATTLE OF THE RIVERS BRITISH TROOPS PARTICIPATE_IN_THS FIGHTING ON SATURDAY. VTTACK IMMEDIATELY WITH COMPLETE SUCCESS, ADVANCING OYER A MlLb. THE HERMANS' FIVE AWFUL LAYS SOUTH OF THE MARNE. COMPLETELY OVERLOOKED THEY PROVIDED FINE ARTILLERY TARGETS IN A SIMILAR POSITION TO THE AUSTRIAN'S SOUTH OF THE PIAVE. (Router's Telegrams.) Received July 22, 7.:>0 p.m. LONDON, .luly 21. Router's correspondent at French headquarters writing on Sunday Illoni £tp that „5 BOFsh jjrt "i.ht tin, and attacked Itie eigni. . iti overlooking the river from the SX£ S S!r"iS l . o S 'r™, l , a , HilK-.'v nrewjre start*, » • cent. of the total strength in some units being casualtied.

SOME BRITISH GAINS LOST IN ENEMY COUNTER-ATTACKS. GERMAN REARGUARDS SACRIFICED IN COVERING THE MARNE CROSSINGS. GERMANS POURING IN FRESH TROOPS IN ENDEAVOUR T(» STOP THE ' Jti " FRENCH ADVANCE. FRENCH HAVE NOW ADVANCEdTFtTT*i MILES ON A 22-MILE FRONT (\ustralian and N.Z. Cabin Association.) Received July 22, 7.30 p.m. LONDON, July 21. The Australian Press Association's correspondent learns that the French cnntured thismorning the villaj.ro of Brasles, a mile eastward of Chateau Tide v Their line deludes the heights northward of Brakes which « jpve aTood bridgehead in front of the town. Their l.ne westward of Rl ems featts the Sv a strip of about 13 miles in the Marne Valley the strips latest depth being four miles. This is all the enen- retains o he results •of his offensive In fluctuating fighting there on Saturda, the Bnt.su divs.ons fained Sux and Ceitron villages and Courton wood, but a German counterat Sre ook son.e of the gains. The Germans hold the line along the Marne V lev from Reu Uv to the east of Chateau Thierry. Their rearguards apparentlysSced themselves in enabling the main bodies to cross the me checking the French efforts to push their detachments across The French nrXsure between the Aisne and the Marne (continues heavily, also n the where thev arc approaching Uulchy le Chateau, the larges town fn the neglnSood. 'They live also reached near the Hillage-Hartennes high road "and the railway iron. Soissons to Chateau Thierry. The enemy s situation on the Marne is becoming more, difficult hourlv and the Germans must either clear the French otT the railway or flatten their salient by withdrawing their troops from the north of the Marne. The enemy is still fljrhting hard and is bringing up fresh troops to relieve the local attacks but is unable to hold up the French advance which now reaches from six to eitht and a-half miles on a 22-miles front. TERRIBLE GERMAN LOSSES IN EVACUATING THE SOUTH BANK OF TH2 MARNE. FIFTY PFR CENT OF HIS EFFECTIVES DESTROYED BEFORE OPERATION COMPLETED. (Reuter's Telegrams.) Received July 22, 7.30 p.m. PARIS, July 21. Reuter's correspondent says that the Germans endeavoured to cover their retreat across the Marne by releasing great columns of gas and opening a barrage lire from the north bank. The French replied with a terrible tire. Squalls of shells and a rain of machine-gun bullets and bombs destroyed the bridges and covered both banks of the river with projectiles. The enemy lost 50 per cent, of his effectives before he completed the evacuation of the south bank. FRENCH TROOPS RE-ENTER CHATEAU THIERRY ON SUNDAY MORNING. PROGRESS CONTINUED DESPITE A DESPERATE RESISTANCE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Received July 22, 7.30 p.m. LONDON, July 21, 4.20 p.m. \ French communi-pie states that the French troops entered Chateau Thierrv this morning. Violent lighting is proceeding noith and south of the Ourcq* and between the Marne and Rheims. Despite desperate res.stance, we continued our progress.

THE AMERICANS HOLDING ALL THEIR GAINS WITH THE 6REATEST COURAGE. CAPTUN VXD 38 MEN FIGHT THEIR WAY THROUGH AGAINST OVERWHELMING ODDS. MORALE OF CRACK GERMAN DIVISIONS PERCEPTIBLY LOWER. j PRISONERS EXPECT PEACE BY NEGOTIATION BY SEPTEMBER, (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) [Delayed in Transmission.] Received July 22, 9.53 p.m. NEW YTRK, July 18. The New York Times' correspondent on the American front slates that the \mericans are holding all gains between Chateau Thierry and 1 ioniums. The soldiers displayed the greatest courage. A captain and 230 men were surrounded, and it was reported that they had been captured, but later the captain with 38 men arrived. The remnant had refused to surrender, and had fought its way hack despite overwhelming odds. The Germans are using 70 divisions. The morale of the crack German divisions is lower than j heretofore. The majority of the prisoners, who are from 19 to 20 years of age, are obsessed with the idea that the war will end in September, but they expect peace by negotiations, not by a German victory. The airmen did splendid work. They brought down six German machines. .In the day they i Hew over the Roche lines, pouring in a stream of lead on the infantry on the roads and the artillery and trains from a height of 200 metres. One » American returned witli 11 bullet-holes in his aeroplane.

GERMANS CLAIM AN UNDISTURBED WITHDRAWAL FROM CHATEAU THIERRY. Admiralty per Wireless Press.) Received Julv 22, 10.15 p.m. LONDON", duly 21. Oilman official: Enoniy attacks against Soissons 11 it l the south-west collapsed. The enemy seven times attacked the Koissoiis-Chateau Thierry road. H'.s assault north-west of Has tonnes broke down and we drove him hack southwest of Hartennes. We held our positions north-west of Chateau Thierry against repeated American attacks. Wo rndisturbodly withdrew our defends mirth .ind north-east of Chateau Thierry. An English. French and j Italian attack hetwi en the Maine and north of the Ardre failed.

THE tOSS OF CHATEAU THIERRY A SER'OUS BLOW TO THE GERMANS. TIU-'iH liKTlli'Vl' r!!OM THE TOWN EESKAIHi.ES A ms'OiIDEKLY KI.KIIIT. \v- '.-.!: :•:■ niii! S.Y.. Cub 1 '- \s>i.'. n'i'-;:. i;.... iv.-d .iulv 22. lii.Jil D.ia. I'.'dtlK. .1,i1.» 22. t ! u . M;;:-,... -. ~-!.!. i» i ■. "i -« !.l:.r. : ■ li:-' ''■"" >u<. ».!n- ' i >-'-";, .<> 5.,,,.,-,s. ji, , 1.,-:- ,:'■: =.■ i i-.a. ■ :■! ,ke v.u m '-.■ nW. .-I. Tbe !'V< ~!i , <; ,•;. ~| , :.-. .;. ■:, :: v:,: f -!, i ..- Celt, ■:; ;.;:.•:,: .e i.hh.l ;, .'■■ (1 ,, li: :, ,!,.,;,... -Ik.. _,, ; i p 1 :i;-!lill.--'.'lP> tire. 'li'e >M. ! < !•- ;;!,.. !■■ '<-)•'.!;: ,l I l:--es nn the Chateau '!•!..,, , . _-..,; .-,,:!- n.-iil .ud i:• . '.'. "::'<•' <'">• hv le M:at< :MI. Coi'eral 'I ' (■' '..•'.' ~.-,.,. ;!•■•■ !-. !.;• I. .-, .' ~-, - ' r, : ; .. > 11. ■ CoUIe"-; e:;is [Luri. u-. ■■/.::■. ■'■'.<:- ■>■■: '!' :.•■-• .•■'.' !■ .' I'n :•' !i have on.-". d tiie toad in the hu.d of Urate -lints.

EfSLMY COUNTER-ATTACK WITH F3ESSI THOOFS TAILS TO LOOSEN THE FRENCH GRIP. \ NEW GEIIMW \RMY INCORPORATED BETWEEN THE MARNE AND THE AISNE. (Router's Telegrams.) Koeeivod July 22, 10.40 p.m. , OSD()Nj July 21 . INwtH-s .oricspo.tdeut. at French headquarters, writing on Sunday oven, ing, savs that, the latest news is that the French hold the heights aruunu Chateau 'linen v, and an- thus enabled to dominate a large area. lli« I itmn have inched Oulchv le ('bateau, further rn.lanK.ennf: the enemy on the .Ma.no. The latest reports state that the French here have advanced Udween six ami nine miles. The cno.m is sorely pressed, and made Irar.t.e attempt, to counter-attack with fresh troops, but did not succeed in loosening the French grip on the railway and roads. The enemy appears to have incorporated a new armv between the Marno and the Aisne. Ihe staff, which is con.posed ol officers from the Ukraine, whose staff work indicates slackness and disorganised effort. THE INITIATIVE EVERYWHERE REMAINS WITH THE ALLIES. ENEMY MIST FALL BACK OR DEFEND AN AWKWARD SALIENT. (The Times.) Received Julv 22, 10.55 p.m. LONDON, .July 22. Mr Campbell, writing on Sunday, states that the initiative everywhere remains with the Allies, whose attack is proceeding over an SO miles front. Owiiv to the re-establishment of Chateau Thierry as a solid pivot, it is prohahie'that. the enemv will be forced to fall back before General de Gontte s armv in the sector of Chateau Thierry-Villers Cotterct for. st. Otherwise he will'be obliged to defend an awkward salient. A pronounced French advance is more likelv here immediately than further north. The British, after some advance between the Maine and Itheims, are meeting strong opposition near Marfaux. GERMANS REPORT DEVELOPMENT OF FRESH FIGHTING. [Admiralty per Wireless Press.)) Received July 22, 10.55 p.m. LONDON, July 21. Last night's German official report states that the French attacks between the Aisne and the Mame failed. Fresh lighting developed in the evening between the Aisne. and the Ourcej.