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THE WAR.
ALLIES BRILLIANT COUNTER- STROKE IN FRANCE:
16.000 PRISONERS AND IMMENSE BOOTY CAPTURED:
GERMANY'S ABORTIVE OFFENSIVE COSTS HER 100,000. MEN
THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF THE WAR.”
MR. HUGHES ON
Franco Belgian bront.
(THROUGH ELUTER'S AGENCY.) BRILLIANT FRENCH
COUNTER-STROKE,
LONDON, July 19th. The counter-offensivo succorded- ex-
Heavy thunderstorms, and violent rain last night enabled the storm troops to take up positions unobserved, and this may account for the enemy's lack of vigilance.
Numerous prisoners were taken during the first hour.
The French advanced most doghingly.
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, MONDAY, JULY 22ND. 1918.
AMERICANS GO OVER TOP WITH A VELL
Router a Correspondent at American Headquarters, telegraphing at 0 in the evening on Thursday, saya:-Large numbers of American “storm troops" co- operated with the French in the powerful offensive this morning. Numerous Tanks participated. The Americana went over the top with a yell, without artillery preparation. The Germans mostly resisted" feebly Here and there stubborn fighters were quickly vanquished by American bayonety. The enemy everywhere was completely surprised.
The Attack was most successful in the
region of Boissons, where the final ob jectives were passed. The whole upern tion is at present more successful even than was expected. Many guns have been captured, and these included eighteen at
ene town.
The whole of the German left flank
GERMAN LOSSES ONE HUNDRED
THOUSAND
LONDON, July 17th. Reuter's Agency is authoritatively, in- formed that von Einem's Army is now deânitely engaged on the German left, and yesterday delivered five attempts between the valley of the Suipps and Massiges, all of which were repulsed with heavy losses.
It is estimated that the German losses in the offensive so far are nearly 100,000.
ENEMY LOSSES FRIGHTFUL.
Paris, July 17th.
A soon-official report, issued yesterday, stoted-While the enemy losses were
rightful ours were quite light, especially cast of Rheims If we were allowed to state the figure it would be more reassuring. Whereas in the previous offensive we had to send for reinforce inchis from other parts of the front, this ting those on the spot sufficed to sustain the shock. This was partly due to the
tremely well and the situation is regard battalion crossed the river at Saviors is menaced. The enemy, must bring up constant afflux of Americans every day,
ed as extremely promising. The absence of artillery preparation rendered "the" action a complete surprise. The enemy artillery reaction was very week, whereas the French counter-battery work was most effective.
A noteworthy fact is that the French accomplished a great deal more than was achieved by the Gorman drive on both sides of Rheims. The length of the front is practically the same, while the French advanced in six hours practically double the distance that the Germans covered
in three days. So far is is at present
known, the junction of the line from Soissons to Ouchy-le-Chateau, and also
that from Soissons, towards · Fiames is under direct observation of fire from the new French position on the Crise Ravine Those two lines are the only ones by which the Germans in the Soissons Rheims salient position can be maintain ed, and the German situation there will he extraordinarily dificult. Possibly, however, the Germans may have succceded in otherwise linking up the lines.
The French counter-attack may be re
waist deep, singing.
So far the operation may be judged to. be a big diversion on the Bank of the enemy salient between the Aisne and the Marne with a view to arresting his offer sive towards Epernay. and Mentagne-de Rheims.
It is the first time sincs March 21st
that the Allied Command has taken
owing to the wearing down of the enemy the initiative on such a scale, doubtless
and the arrival of the Americans,
GREAT HAUL OF PRISONERS.
LONDON, July Tath. Reuter's Correspondent at
French Headquarters, telegraphing at 11 o'clock on the evening of Thursday, says:
The importance of to-tiny's success has become hourly clearer. On the left wing our troops captured the high plateau overlooking Soissons from the south-west, and cut, or live under fire, the Soissons. Thierry highway, which is the main feeder of the enemy front on the Chateau Thierry sector, The Soissons-Villers Cotterets railway is also cut
At several points infiltration movements were effected by cavalry riding through
warded as one of the most brilliant pieces in the enemy is retreating line, estab
of work in the war. They obtained most important strategic positions and the advance has ended the German offensive. Rheims is now considered comparatively safe.
The French reached all their first ob jectives. They lost some ground in local scrapping" south of the Marne, but are still within effective range of the German bridges, though possibly they have lost direct observation,
The Allies regained ground further east in a good many sectors, especially west of Massiges. TWENTY VILLAGES RE-CAPTURED.
PARAS, July 10tli.
A. communiqué states:--After breaking
lishing themselves in villages further abead
"The haul of men and guns is the largest the Allies have made on any one day since the battle of Malmaison in October.
The cutting of the railway prevents effective co-operation by the Germans north and south of the Aisne, It is going to be a serious problem for the Germaua to remain on this salient.
Another important factor is the Crown Prince's remaining reserves. They must be gradually absorbed in the adjustment of their line, which will be necessary if the French retain the gains.
troops from the Marae front or leave them in danger The Americans, trained to the last notes, behaved like veterans. Nothing stopped them. There was the closest co-operation between the aréillory, and infantry.
thus reducing the disproportion of our forces. GENERAL ATTACK NOT RENEWED
LONDON, July: 17t55 Reuter's Correspondent at French Light and many heavy Headquarters, wiring at 11:30 p.nz, states, guns were moved up and very swiftly that the general attack was not renewed deluged with shells the coomy forces re- to-day, The operations were of a local treating or in reserve.
The Tanks did all that was expected of them, preceding and accompanying the infantry and clearing many places that escaped the artillery Hastily organised enemy counter-attacks here and there were all broken up. Resistance was most stub
born east of Chendun.
THE EFFECT OF THE COUNTER- STROKE.
LONDON, July 19th.
8.00p.m.
The latest news in the early evening is that the French are still in the outskirts of Soissons In the north sector they have captured, 1,000 prisoners and 30 guns. The enemy is tenaciously resisting in the centre and the suuth, where, how. ver, 16 guns and many thousands of prisoners, have been taken,
It is impossible as yet, to judge the full effect of the counter-stroke, but it inay profoundly alter the whole position on the Champagne-Rheims Front.
"The French are now hombarding im- portant enemy roads and communications along which German reinforcements,
munitions, etc., have to come to the
Rheims salient:
AMERICAN ARTILLERY TOO
ACTIVE.
LONDON, July 17th.
0.10 a.m. Beater's Correspondent at American Headquarters, telegenphing on Tuesday
GENERALISSIMO FOCH'S BRILLIANT STRATEGY.
30 prisoners
THE BRITISH FRONT.
RAID BY YORKSHIRE TROOPS, LONDON, July 19th
Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re The stroke with which Generalissimo ports: The Yorkshires successfully raid- Foel so swiftly, transformed the battle ed south-eastward of Robeeq, capturing position is welcomed by the newspapers
AERIAL OPERATIONS. as equally surprising and brilliant in its results. It is perhaps the most cheering
LONDON, July 10th..
12.30 am, a to the Allies since 1914.
We dropped 11 tons of bombs, on July 17th, on dumps and railways and on the | Brugeoise works.
Even those most optimistic on Tuesday when the extent of the German defent cast hardly pre of Rheims waa known pared for the dramatic speed with which Generalissime Foch's strategy developed,
Experts compare it with the battle of the Ourcq in September 1914, by which General Mangury prepared the way to the great victory on the Marna.
None of the previously brilliant episodes of the war have given such solid ground for confidence as this double op ration of defence and attack. theless, waming is uttered against over. sanguine anticipations.
Never-
It is pointed out that the enemy is car tain to violently react against the menace to his whole position on the Marne, and Generalissimo Foch, now that he has reached the enemy communications, may he content to hold the territory wan without attempting to push the advan
Lage further.
FRENCH TE-TAKE MONVOISIN PARIS, July 19th.
A few enemy machines were encounter- ed. We shot down three acroplanes and
drove down one. One British machine, is missing.
Wo niso shot down six balloons In Rames.
LONDON, July 20th- Field Marshal Sir Douging Haig, re- porting on aviation, says: We bombed many targets, ineinding ... dumps. “ at Armentières and Mericourt, the railway stations of Rosicres and Bray, and the docks at Bruges and Ostend
We brought down nine neroplanes. Seven British machines are missing.
Our night-fiers dropped eight tons of bombs on the Mens-Valenciennes Railway
also six tons on the Courtral, Stein and Lille railways
Two aeroplanes did not return".
BRITISH CAPTURE METEREN.
LONDON, July 20th. field-Marshal Sir Douglas Heig re ports:-The Scottish troops captured Ateteren village, gaining all their objec tives and taking over 300 prisoners, and a number of machine guns,
character the balance of success being with the French. It is expected that the stabilisation of the line, will be reached in a few days. To-day's opera Aisne and the Marne, overcoming the distance southward of Meteren, taking
tirats were dictated by the position in which various German commanders found after yesterday's failure. themselvus Herein the battle differs entirely from the second day of the March and May offen sives, when the Germans pursued their original plan most vigorously for several days before they were checked. The Ger man guns east of Rheims to-day fired from the old positions, the enemy not finding it worth while to advance them,
GERMAN REPORTS.
LONDON, July 20th..
A wirchss German official report states --Between the Aisne and the Marge the
French penetrated by a surprise attack our front lines at isolated points and pressed is back.
A conem iugue states: Between the
had brought
resistance of the up, fresh, reserves, we last evening ud. vanced appreciably and took more pris. oncis. The battle continues bitterly-
West of Rheime we delivered lively at tacks yesterday.
South of the Marne we have re-taken Mouvoisin and have thrown back the enemy to the castera outskirts of Qeuilly. North of the river we progressed in Bois-du-Ros and Bois-du Couston, between La Poterie and Founcy, and carried our lines a kilonstre to the west of that point, - Farther north the Italians carried the
• Under cover of this operation the Aus- tralians advanced their line to 1 short
over 80 prisoners and ten machine-guns.
We also captured a few prisonera in raids and patrol encounters in the Nieppe Forest sector,
RAIDERS DRIVEN, OFF.
LONDON, July 10th. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re- ports: --We drove off raiders in the Villers-Bretonneux and ferlancourt Sec
tors
We successfully raided in the neigh- bourhoods of Buequoy, Willerval and Loere, secuting prisonera, GERMAN ACTIVITY IN FLANDERS
AMSTEEDAM, July 19th. There is considerable German activity
Ardro milk and captured ground in the in Flanders. A thousand young recruits region of Bouilly,
We took over 400 prisoners and tap. We defeated French attacks to the tured four guns and 30 machine-guns in south west of Soissons to Neuilly,
there actions.
Strong enemy partial attacks against our. new lines on the whole front broke down.
Enemy attacka to the south-east of Mareuil and Roi Wood, astride the Fourey, failed.
We have taken 20,000 prisoners since July 15th.
LATER.
and
Between Mootdidier, Noyon Wpeyre, we took 100-prisoners in raids
GERMANS HAVE SHOT THEIR LAST BOLT.
PARIS, July 19th The news of the splendid counter
The offensive spread: nost rapidly,
A wireless German official report Parisians were overjoyed. The general states: A fresh French attempt to break opinion is that the Germans have shot. through between the Aisne and the Marne | their last bolt. Failed
GERMAN REPORTS.
LONDON, July 19th.
12.45 am.
A great united enemy counter-attack against our whole front southward of the
COMMANDER OF COUNTER
OFFENSIVE.
not more than 30 Divisions were used ing the villages St. Agnau and Chappals Marne broke down, with very heavy ont in 1916 It was ho who arrested the
and over 200 divatora have beta sent to
he front.
Auch repaired war material is being. transported to the south.
Naval Activities.
THROUGH BEUTER'S AGENCY.)
BRITISH TRANSPORT SUNK
NO CASUALTIES..
LONDON, July 19th. The Admiralty states:The transport Burunga, bound for Australia, with unfit Australians on board, was torpedoed, and sunk on July 16th
There were no casualties,
FULLER DETAILS OF THE TORPEDOING.
to was
However, the situation for the Allies evening, stated:--Combined French and wireless German oficial report
LONDON, July 19th The Commander of the counter-offen- is not free from anxiety.
American forcos launched a heavy coun-states-The enemy renewed attacks with siva is General Mangin, The Crown Prince Rupprecht still poster-attack this morning between St great violence castward of Villers-Breton the German offensive on the fronts inesses formidable reserves, which cannot Agaan and Chapelle-Monthodon. So far neux.
long remain inactive against the British they have driven back the enemy a vary Champagne and Montagne-de-Rheims on
It is now definitely ascertained that ing distance on the whole sector, captur the 15th 10th and 17th, the French, in conjunction with American troops on the 18th advanced in an attack on the Ger man positions between the Aisne and the Marne on n front of 43 kilometres.
Sarting from the front of Ambleny, Longmont, Troesnes and Boureṛches, we considerably advanced into the enemy's" fines and reached the plateau command-
LONDON, July 20th. The following are the details of the Barunya torpedoing. The explosion He fought with General Gouraud in shook the ship from stem to stern, textinguishing the lights and tossing tha Two bulk- several Colonial campaigns, and was patients out of the herths
seemed
be rapidly sinking responsible for the re-capture of Dousu-heads collapsed, but though the ship
there
not the slightest German tide near Montdidier after the panie Men took their stations singing Australian songs and jokingly watched the half Bubmerged submarine circling at Our counter-attack threw out the enemy falling back of the British, while re at small places south-eastward of Mareuil, cently he commanded the big counter the stern, 200 yards away. The gun-crew in which he temporarily penstrated,
attack at Belloy, which pulled up the was flattened out by the explosion but jumped to their feet and fired at the submarine which disappeared,
Seven Wo stormed the ridge southward of unemy's thrust towards Compeigne.
boats and twenty rafta got away. Thi Pourcy, capturing the defenders and
THE NEW COMMANDER OF THE several guns.
FRENCH SOUTHERN ARMY
Violent fighting is going on between Villere Helong and Normy-sur-Ourey.
The troops south of the Duros passed the general line of Marity St. Genevieve
Hautevcanes Belleau.
in the German offensive, 23 of which were Monthodon and Hill 223. drawn from the general reserve.
The Germans yesterday re-captured Prunay
FRENCH COMMANDER. THANKS AMERICANS.
LONDON, July 19th Reuter's Correspondent at American
Comparatively large forces of Ameri- cans were engaged. We increased the number of our prisoners materially. The whole operation is progressing very salis factorily The Germans fought out stubbornly, but were quite unable to withstand the Allies' purush.
Prisoners
ers complain that the American artillery was foo active and the troops
srce,
ing Scissons on the south-west and the Headquarters, telegraphing at 6.30 this region of Chandin.
evening, saya:-After passing this morn- ing's third objective the Americans and French south of Soissons launched a We inflicted extraordinarily heavy second attack at noon, which swept on so casualties during the attack, which con- fast that cavalry was thrown in late in the afternoon. All the Headquarters'
tinues with increasing violence. Stuffs were to-night well inside the terri tors captured this morning. Over 20 villages were recaptured, and The Americans south of Soissons up to several thousands of prisoners and im-noon had counted 2.500 prisoners. Filty portant booty taken.
guns were captured and immense mate- rial, including a number of aeroplanes, which the enemy were unable to remove.
There is nothing important to report any of the prisoners have not yet been
elsewhere.
GERMANS COMPLETELY
SURPRISED.
LONDON, July 19th. Renter's Correspondent at French Headquarters, telegraphing at 7 o'clock on the evening of Thursday, says: The Germans were so completely surprised
oficers were captured while in bed and men we taken while cutting rye in
the fields behind the first lines.
counted Americans north of
The Americans north of Chatenir Thierry captured more prisoners and un equal quantity of material. The attack progressed so far that the enemy in the vicinity of Chateau Thierry is in a risky position
The American troops are most elated. They received the very warmest thanks of the French Commander.
The attack in the afternoon was even more dashing than that of the morning Only here and there did badly frightened Germans attempt to stand, and the Ame TICALS rushed these with revolver rifle
and bayonet
It is ascertained that the enemy has largely used up his reserves since yester day morning
A small enemy local attack on the Americans west of Chateau Thierry was
on repulsed.
FRENCH CAPTURE 16,000 PRISON
ERS AND 49 GUNS..
LOSTON, July 19th. 27.55.p.m...
losses,
A German evening official report states: Between the disne and the Marne the French attacked with strong forces and tanks capturing some ground. Our reserves participated in the battle.
BRILLIANT AERIAL WORK, Aviators participated very brilliantly in the battle of the 16th and 17th. Borob. ing machines on the 10th ceuselessly at- tacked the Marne bridges. The Germans debouching on the northern and southern banks were machine gunned and bombed. They lost heavily and were frequently scattered. The bridge thrown in front of Dormans was flooded with projectiles and collapsed, and convoys crossing were engulfed.
Twenty one tons of explosives were dropped during the day and 14 tons at night on the enemy rear. There were The French have captured 48 guns and explosions and fires, and much damage 16,000 prisoners.
WALE observed at
AMERICANS PENETRATE ENEMY LINES SEVERAL MILES.
LONDON, July 19th. An American communique states American troops, co-operating with the French between the Aisne and the Marge, penetrated the enemy lines to a depth of several miles, capturing many prisoners
and guns.
There were numerous: air fights. Twenty-ning German machines were brought down or disabled. Five balloons were set on fire. In spite of a gale and torrential showers on the 17th, good results were obtained.
Twelve German machines and four bal- loons were brought down or destroyed. Six tons of explosives were employed in the attucks on the Marne crossinge.
ship was crowded with 000 invalids, in cluding a dozen helpless cripples: The steamer 5000 settled down. jump to reach the rate, Many had to warships dashed up and manouvred to create t wash, Correspondents in France mention the direcherding the fosters m th
NEW YORK, July 20th.
new French General Degonatte as coin manding the Southern Army in the pres
sent battle
BELL RINGING AT NEW YORK. New York, July 19th. The brokers on the Stock Exchange cheered the Allies success on the Western Front and prices rose.
The Mayor gave an order that the City Hail bells should ring for 15 minutes in the afternoon in celebration of the victori- ous Allied advance.
COMMONWEALTH ASSEMBLY
CHEERS
MELBOURNE, July 17th. The Assembly cheered the favourable news from France, and also the King.
AMERICAN CO-OPERATION.
WASHINGTON, July 17th
Mr. Baker, Secretary for War, says tha
Americans co-operated with the French both as complete Divisions and as battar lions in French Divisiona
The sea was a sheetáble of en were confusions.
extraordinary
clinging to all sorts of objects and some times resembled an aquatic carnival, the swimmers exchanging hadirage. Never theless, some incapacitated men, especi“ ally shell-shocked wen, suffered terribly. Many floaters who Were exhausted by tho cold took long to resusciute The rescue was a miracle. The discipline and organisation of the soldiers and their tenderness for their suffering mates were heart stirring.
BRITISH SLOOF TORPEDOED
LONDON, July 19th A British stoop was torpedoed and sunk on July 16th:
No officers and only twelve of the crew were saved.
Italian bront
[THEOUGH_EXTTER'S AGENOR.)
AN AUSTRIAN ADMISSION.
LONDON, July 15th
A wireless Austrian official message
gradually pressing forward against ong from Alhania states: The enemy is new line of resistance.
(Continsed on Page 4.)