DRAMATIC STROKE BY THE BRITISH

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 276, 10 August 1918, Page 7

DRAMATIC STROKE BY THE BRITISH

BIG OFFENSIVE EAST OF AMIENS THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS AND MANY GUNS By Telcg.rapli-Prcßa Association-Copyright. .. „ Now York, August 8. A big offensive has been launched by Sir Douglas Haig south-east of Aniiens on a wide front. The .British Fourth Army and the French are co-operating. The attack is developing favourably. . The British captured all their objectives, and have already advanced three miles, capturing Moreuil, Morlancourt, Ablainville, and Demuin, with-the neighbouring heights. Thousands'of prisoners were taken, British.and French tanks crossed the,valleys of the Avre and Luco around Morisel., The German resistance is terrific—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MAIN BLOW DIRECTED AT VON HUTIER. ■ . 1 ■ ..- - ' • London, August 8. ileulers correspondent at British Headquarters writes: "The British heavily attacked at dawn this morning south of, .the Ancre, and the French shortly afterwards lookup the battle. The main weight of the effort was directed against vouHutier's 18th Army. The battle opened with a three minutes' bombardment', then the barrage crept forward, with the heavy' batteries concentrating on obstinate points of resistance. Some hundreds of tanks advanced as the infantry went forward The enemy were mostly, taken by surprise. Our tanks cross3d tho Avre, working towards the more difficult ground in the Luce Valley. The French also report good progress. Their prisoners admit a complete surprise. Wo are, taking more prisoners than we know how to deal with. Tho smartness and secrecy of our concentration was tho main cause o£ the initial success,"— Reuter. . ' ADVANCE ON HARBONNIERES , P . tt •! It. ' .' • • t■ ■, , ' Vancouver, August 8. -liia United Press Agency in London reports that tho British liavo advanced to Hnrbonmeres (17 miles east of Amiens and seven miles east of Villors Bretou-iioux).—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.' ' ' m.. „ n ••' „ ~ London, August 8. the livening 'News states that Harbonnieres has been captured—Aus.-N.Z. table Assn.' , • ; GREAT WORK:BY THE "WHIPPETS." •,, ■ ~','. - , London, August 8. beven thousand prisoners and one hundred guns have been captured. Tho British went into the battle at first with ■ the -loses of the tanks keeping well against the steel wall of the creeping barrage and supported by fast-"whippets" (small tanks), while swarms of .battleplanes, were engaged. Tlie battlefield was .covered with 11 thick haze, which made flying difficult; but the advantage was with the Allies The. French on the right, by agreement, came in a few minutes, later, their artillery having smothered the territory south of the Amieiis-Enye road beforehand. The tiny "whippets" raced and dodged across the fields, scattering terror, everywhere, and running down the Germans. The country is hilly and mostly open, and is ideal for the tanks.' These crossed the Avre without trouble, led the infantry into the battle, and blasted their way forward witli ma-chine-guns and cannon. Up to 8 in the morning few, if unv,'German aeroplanes had appeared; but in spito of the haze tho Allied machines Padded to'tho enemy's confusion. /The prisoners include Wurtemburgcrs, Bavarians, and others from half a dozen different divisions. The weather is good, but rain is threatening. Reports, from the Moreuil region aro most optimistic, and the Germans there are offering only.s'ight resistance. Tho British have captured Hamel Wood, Dodo Wood, and the towns of Marcelcave 'and Lamolte-cn-Sahtorre (both east of Villers.Bretoimoux, one north and the othor south of tho Amiens-Cliaulnes railway). The United Press Agency states that the attack, following a three minutes''bombardment, surprised tho Germans. The advance- continues on a fifteen miles front/ fioni Morlancourt to Moreuil. ..'•• OFFICIAL REPORTS ■ London, August 8. Sir Douglas Haig Teports: "Tho British Fourth Army and the French First Arniy, with Sir Douglas Haig commanding, attacked on a wide front eastward and south-eastward of Amiens at dawn." The first reports indicate that the attack is progressing satisfactorily—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. ..-■)•■' • •, THE FRENCH REPORT ' .. London, August 8. A-lrench communique states: "At five o'clock this morning we, in conjunction with. British troops,-attacked south-east of Amiens. The attack is developing in favounble conditions."—Aiis.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ■THE ENEMY'S REPORT 1 ■ ■ (llec. August 1 10, 1.55 a.m.) ■'.■'., ■'■_.■' , London, August 9. A wireless German official report states: "Between the Ancre and the Avre the enemy.-forced his way into our positions."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. COMMENT ON THE SITUATION ■ V GLOOM IN AUSTRIA. ' Zurich, August 8. The Austrian newspapers despondeutly refer to the prominent part taken by the American troops in Foch's offensive, and predict that tho Americans will bo similarly prominent on the Italian front. They ask how the German General Staff proposes to meet tho enormous addition of the Americans to the strength of the Allies—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. A MILLION GERMAN CASUALTIES THIS YEAR. London, August 8. Colonel Repington estimates that there have been a million German casualties this year to the end of July. This is greater than the combined French and British losses.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. ; > URGENT ORDERS FOR ENEMY'S WAR FACTORIES . Berne, August 8. All tho munition factories in Germany and Austria have received an urgent appcnl from tho military authorities to increnso tho production of war material at all costs, in order to replace the enormous losses of guns and ammunition sustained in the recent unfortunate offensives in Italy and France—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn, , OUTPUT HAMPERED BY ALLIES' DESTRUCTIVE AIRRAIDS. Zurich, August 8. The output of war material in tho Rhino provinces has been greatly reduced owing to the destruction of the factories by the Allies' air raids.—Aus.N.Z. Cablo Assn. FOCH'S HOPE OF DECISIVE VICTORY ' (Rec- August 9, 8.10 p.m.) Melbourne, August 9. Goneral Foch, replying to the. Commonwealth's congratulations on tho recent' successes, says;, "I havo no doubt we shall t-ecuro a decisive victory.-'— Press Assn '...'."..'. " "■'