ON THE CAMBRAI BATTLEFRONT.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 64, 8 December 1917, Page 9

ON THE CAMBRAI BATTLEFRONT.

BRITISH EFFECT A SLIGHT WITHDRAWAL. LINE ADVANCED ON LA VACQUERIE SECTOR ■ . ■- ■ • ■ - ■ .' '■ '■".'. By Telegraph—Press Association— Oopyri&ht London, December 6. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Two minor enemy attacks in the neighbourhood of Gonnelieu were successfully repulsed. Local fighting to our advantage occurred in the neighbourhood of La Vacquerie. A more serious enemy attack in this area, in considerable force, was made in the afternoon, and repulsed after severe fighting. Our artillery broke tho infantry advancing to the attack in the neighbourhood of Bourlon Wood and of Moeuvros. The hostile artillery is active north of the main road, where we have slightly improved our positions. We also repulsed reconnoitring parties. Our aircraft yesterday dropped 118 bombs on the aerodrome north of Douai, in villages, and on machine-gun emplacements in the battle area. None of our aeroplanes is missing." . A later report, states: "Our troops on Tuesday Might, without interference by the enemy, withdrew a short distance south-west from the Noyelle-sur-L'Escaut-Bourlon Wood salient. The enemy was not aware of the movement until late jesterday. Prior to the withdrawal we systematically destroyed the enemy's fieldworks in the abandoned area. We repulsed attacks in the neighbourhood of La Vacquerie^and advanced our line slightly south-west of the village during the night time."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Eec. December 8, 1.30 a.m.) . London, December 7. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Theie has been local fighting in the neighbourhood of La Vacquerie. The situation is unchanged. Our artillery and infantry fire repulsed minor attacks southward of Bourlon Wood, with severe enemy losses. The hostile artillery is active at a number of points southward of the Scarpe, and also in the neighbourhood of Annontieros."—Aus.N,Z. Cable Assn. WHAT THE GERMANS CLAIM (llec. December 7, 7.45 p.m.) London, December 6. A German official report states: "We stormed the enemy's _ trenchss southward and south-west of Moeuvres and pressed forward to positions between Moeuvres and Marooing, at the same time withdrawing to heights northward and eastward of Flesquieres. We captured Graincourt, Anneux, tiontaing, Noyelles, and the heights northward of Marooing, penetrating a. distance of 21 miles on a front of 61 miles. The retreating enemy fired the villages. The number of prisoners now totals 9000, the guns 158, and the machineguns 716."—Aus.-N.Z. CaMe Assn. (Eec. Dccembei 8, 1.30 a.m.) • London, December il. A German official report states: 'We havo cleared,out the English from Marcoing."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Rcuter. RETIREMENT PROBABLY LESS THAN ONE-THIRD OF PREVIOUS ADVANCE (Eec. December 7, 10.15 p.m.) London, December 6. ■ Reuter's correspondent at Headquarters states: "We havo fallen back from- Cambrai deliberately, upn a well-chosen line which will rule out the salient made on Bourlon Wood and Sieourn, thus enabling us to maintain our hold on tho captured portion of the Hindenburg line, whatever pressure the Germans may apply. The area abandoned is probably less than one-third of the total gained in the great tank drive a fortnight ago. , '—Reuter. ENEMY'S REINFORCEMENTS STILL POURING IN (Rec. December 7, 9 p.m.) London] December 6. Reuter's correspondent at Headquarters says: "German prisoners state that all leave on the West front has been stopped. There is an extraordinary congestion of westward-bound traffic, every species of rolling stock employed to bring up reinforcements and war material.—Reuter. ENEMY MADE TO LOOK FOOLISH INCIDENTS OF THE BEITISH WITHDRAWAL. (Rec. December 7, 10.15 p.m.) ■ London, December 6. • The United Press correspondent states that the evacuation of the Bourlon Wood-Noyelles salient did not surprise those who visited it. The enemy wae planed in many ridiculous postures by the withdrawal. For instance, they shelled the Bourlon trenches in tho vicinity hell-for-leafcher long after (hey had been vacated. After this hurricane barrage they attacked in dense masses only to discover that the forest was empty. Later, mounted patrols were seen cautiously approaching the ruins of the buildings near the Cam-brai-Bapaume road and southward of the wood, like wary 'mice approaching a 'bait-of cheese. Tho British shrapnel sent them scurrying back, only to return going through the same performance, and presently entering the ruins and signalling all clear. A further bombardment was laid down on another empty trench, whereupon thick waves of Germans poured over the crest of the bill on both- sides of Bourlon to storm the position, which was unoccu. pied save by ground rats. The British left nothing behind. Every telephone wire was neatly rolled up, and the dug-outs destroyed. The retirement will strengthen Sir Douglas.Haig's position, which required either that he should pass on or-readjust his line. The decision was taken with due regard to the German'reinforcements from the Russian front, and Hindenburg's avowed purpose of forcing an issue before the Americana were able to hit with force." —Aus.-N.Z. Gable Assn.

ON THE NEW ZEALAND FRONT HARASSING THE ENEMY BY DAY AND NIGHT. (Special Dispatch from the New Zealand Official War Correspondent.) December 3. "By day and night we have been making the enemy's position uncomfortable with harassing artillery and machine-gun fire. Low-flying 'planes alto bring their bullot-firo to bear on the enemy's troops, and snipers hare been busy. During the hours of darkness our patrols go out across the open to tho location of his wire, examining his positions. The enemy is similarly active aganst our forward and back areas. His 'planes have been active mostly in largo flights at high altitudes, though sometimes they also fly low along' cur front. By night our indirect artillery fire is brought to hear' on the enemy's tracks and back areas, with every now and then a barrage, and counter-bar-rage, as the result of tho Gorman O.S.S.' signals. Cloudy and wet weather, [ with muddy roads and camps, gave place to a. biting gale and frost, which hardened the ground, but m spite of all discomforts our morale remains high. The gale has Mown itself out, and light snow has fallen." ARTILLERY DUEL ON THE FRENCH FRONT (Rcp. December 7, 7.45 p.m.) London, December 6. A French official communique states: "Our batteries on the right bank of the Meuse effectively replied to the enemy's artillery, which is most active on the Louvemont-Bezonvaux front."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. TWO BIG AIR RAIDS OVER ENEMY'S LINES London, December 6. The Admiralty reports: "Naval aircraft yesterday dropped many bombs on the Sparappolhoek aerodrome, and on a train leaving the dump ,at Engel. Numerous engagements during the patrols resulted in three hostile machines being destroyed and one driven down. We shot down three machines on Tuesday. All ours returned." Sir Douglas Haig reports: "We raided large railway junctions and sidings, and the Zweibnicken works at Saarbrucken. Many direct hits were made, and two large fires occurred. The anti-aircraft fire was heavy and accurate, but all the machines returned. "—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.