THE LATEST-AVERAGE ADVANCE OF FIVE MILES

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

THE LATEST-AVERAGE ADVANCE OF FIVE MILES

RAPID AND BRILLIANT DEVELOPMENT OF THE OFFENSIVE . / ~. GERMAN LINES STORMED ON TWENTY-MILE FRONT 1 (Rcc. August 10, 0.10 a.m.) London, August 3. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "The operations which were begun this morning on the Amiens front by the French I'irst Army under General de Beny and the British Fourth Army under General Hawlinson-ars proceeding satisfactorily. Tho Allied troops assembled under cover of night unnoticed by the enemy. At the hour of ossauit the French, Canadian, English, and Australian Missions, "assisted by ailarge number of tanks, stormed the enemy's lines on a front of over twenty miles, from the Avre at Braches to tho neighbourhood of Morlancourt. The enemy was surprised. We made rapid progress at all'points. At an early hour our first objective was reached on the whole front. During the'morning tho infantry's advance continued, actively assisted by the British cavalry, light tanks, and motor machine-gun batteries. The Germans' resistance was overcome at certain points after sharp fighting. ■ "The French gallantly attacked and crossed the Avre, in 6pite of opposition, and carried the hostile, defences, The greater part of our final objectives northward of the Soinine was gained before noon, but in the neighbourhood of Ghipilly, and'southward of Morlancourt, the enemy carried out a prolonged resistance until finally broken by our troops, who gained their objectives gallantly. The Allied infantry, southward of the Somme, gained;during the-after-noon their final objectives on the whole front, - assisted.>by light tank. Armoured cars and cavalry passed through the infantry and' beyond the objectives, riding down the German. transport limbers in retreat; They surrounded tho cap- ' tiu'cd villages, taking many prisoners. Wβ have reached n. general line passing through Plessier, Ko.iain, VilUrs Beaucort, Caix, Framerville, Chipilly, and westward of Jlorlancourt. It is impossible yet to estimate prisoners, guns, and material captured, but there are several thousand prisoners and many guns."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Beuter. . . . STATEMENT IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ' SEVEN THOUSAND PRISONERS AND 100. GUNS (Eec. August 10, 0.35 a.m.) ' . . . London, August 8. In the House of Commons Sir. Bonar Law said that by threo o'clock in the afternoon all the Allies' objectives had been taken. One hundred guns'and seven thousand prisoners were captured. Tho maximum advance' was seven miles, and the average five. miles.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE SITUATION ON THE VESLE ■ . FIERCE RESISTANCE TO THE CROSSING, ' ■ Washington, August 8. Additional American forces crossed the Vesle west of Fisrnes, the Americans meeting with counter-attacks. Tho Germans attempted by means of bar- ■ rages to prevent further crossings. Bayonet-figLiing occurred at several places. Tho Americans are endeavouring to drive tho enemy from the high ground near Bazoches.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GENERAL MANGIN'S THANKfI TO AMERICA. London, August 8 The "Daily- Chronicle's" correspondent on the French front says that General llangin, in an.order of the day thanking the Americans for their ' eplendid :achievement, states: "You have shown yourselves worthy sons of a great country. . Nincty-ono cannon, 7200 prisoners, immense boot} , , and over six miles of. reconquered territory are your share of the trophies of this victory. Also you have acquired superiority over the barbarittu." ■ ■ \ GENERAL WAR SITUATION REVIEWED ' CRUSHING VICTORY "HUMANLY POSSIBLE.". - (Kec. August 9, 8.20 p.m.). . • . ■ London, August S. The. Germans hold the Veslc line in considerable strength. Although it. is reported that they have withdrawn their heavy, guns and some of" their forces over the Aisne no preparations for a. general retirement are apparent.. The Germans on the Franco-British front between Alontdidier and the sea have retired at various points in varying depths. This is probably explained by the desire to improve their defensive positions. Their withdrawal on the Lys section was due to the'marshy ground and the fact that our positions dominated him,, but it is difficult to understand tho elight retirement at Giveuchy It is probable that the Lys retirement may be the preliminary to ii general withdrawal. On the other hand, the enemy's scheme may only be to strengthen his front betwee'.i Dailleul and the La Bassee Canal. The effect, however, reduces the probability or danger of a renewed offensive. The Franco-British forces between 'Moreuil , and Morlancourt have made a substantial advance to a depth of about • four thousand yards. It is reported that Moreuil, Demuin, Ablaiucourt,' and IJlorlancourt are in our bands, and also the, heights west of Cerisy. and south, of i Worlancourt. . . ■. . Foch's Patience and Foresight. A review of the Marne offensive reveals General Foch's remarkable patience and foresight. When tho British sustained a severe reverse, and when the position on the Western front was compromised, Genoral Foch met one German blow .after another, but refused to mako a premature counter-offensive until, tho 'psychological moment, when the Germans were exhausted.' At Reims, and after they had made their (success'on the Marne front, it required great firmness on ■Foc'h's part to disregard the danger of throwing the whole of his reserves'into tho great counter-thrust, which proved successful. Had it failed the failure would have been disastrous to. the French, and the Germans would have gained the Marne without difficulty. The splendid response of America in .throwing in troops who had only been partially trained and were not accustomed to war coiiilitions reflected the greatest credit on that nation. We are justified in'saying that the situation is more favourable than it has been at any time since 1914. Wβ have- overwhelming evidence of Germany's declining man-power, ■ and can say that'he end is in sight, because of our growing resources from America. Humanly speaking, if we hold fast we cen achieve a crushing victory over Germany in tho field, while tho political and moral situation of the.Central Powers may' tend to hasten the end. ■" • ■ On tho Uther Fronts. : The Italians in Albania have been forced to retire further near'Berat, causing the French left wing to fall back In conformity with the movement. The retirement lias ceased, and it is expected that the Italians will hold tho present position. The population of -Northern Uussia has warmly welcomed the Allied occupation, which was effected without casualty. The Bolsf&viki withdrew to tho southern bank of the Kiver Diyina, from which they were driven by shell fire. The Allies since have pushed rapidly along the railway southward towards Vologda. The hostile forces number about eight thousand, including 1500 armed Maximalists, - four hundred Letts, five hundred seamci, and a large force of workmen. Considerable Kusiiian forces are. reported to lie co-operating with the Czechs' in Western Siberia. These are α-gooil quality of troops, with. inany i Cossacks. Tho peasantry also is co-operating. . . , - ■• • • • It is believed, that- the Turks have beon repulsed at-Baku, - which remains in Armenian hand!-,, although we cannot depend on their ability to hold on. Nevertheless their equation has been improved by u widespread anti-Bolshevik rising in Trans-Caspi.i. It.is believed that the Caspian fleet will remain friendly towards the Entente. . . . • . The War in the Air. • j .Our recent, air raids have forced'the- enemy to detach a large number of v fighting machines from the front as a protection to the German towns. During a,'raid on Saarbruckeii our aviators encountered-forty enemy machines.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.' ' ... " - .— THE COMMANBERS IN THE NEW OFFENSIVE. (Eec. August 9, 9.35 p.m.) . .. . . . London, August 8. General liawlinson commands tho British Fourih Army and General Anthoine the French Army.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. • ' . .