SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS ON TEN-MILE FRONT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 285, 21 August 1918, Page 7

SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS ON TEN-MILE FRONT

BBITM ADVANCE IN FLAKES J ; OPERATIONS ON. FRONT OF .OVER fIYE MILES . ' CZECHOSLOVAK' POSITION v ' IN SIBERIA Fresh developments are reported in to-day's dispatches from the Western front. The French 10th Army, under General Mangini has delivered a. successful stroke on the Aisne front, and captured certain tactical points . which can now be used to the discomfiture of the enemy. The British, too," have been active, considerable "progress having been made on a front of 10,000 yards on the sector at Merville, which place has been occupied. As the result of various local actions the Allies, during tlio past ' twenty-four hours, have "bagged" nearly 3000 prisoners. The enemy, from north of Hcbuterne to south of Albert, is, says Renter's correspondent, slowly and methodically being driven back, and there are now signs of 1 a retirement in the Scarpe Valley. The Russian situation continues to develop in various directions., One report states that the Germans, under agTeement with the Dolshcviki, have moved their front eastward; another states that they havo abandoned the Bolsheviki and are withdrawing to a prepared line in anticipation of the reconstruction of tho Eastern front.' • Tho Soviet Government has moved to Kronstadt, where the leaders, Lenin and Trotsky, are on board' a worship ready for flight if need be. There is no material change in the situation in Siberia. * FRENCH STROKE ON THE AISNE .' MANGIN ATTACKS ON TEN-MILE FRONT IMPORTANT TACTICAL GAINS By Telegrnph-Preßß Aosoclation-Oopyrlght. London, August ID. General Mangin's Army (the 10th) has developed an offensive which promises important 'developments. At G o'clock on Sunday evening the Kith Army attacked on a ten-mile front, between tho Oise and tho Aisne, and had penetrated to a maximum depth of 3300 yards by half-past ten, and captured ,100 prisoners. An important factor is (he seizure of tho high ridgo couth of Audignicourt, which threatens the German positions in tho lines in the vicinity of frissons, which tho French may even turn. The new capture has given them on the east of tho Oiso what the Lassigny massif has given them on its west side. Tlio French lino now runs along tho Fontenoy-Nouvron-Vingro Ridge, south of Audignicourt, and Nampcel, and tho southern edge of the mountain and the wood of Tracyieval. Tlio French Army attacked in tho neighbourhood of St. Mard and Beuvraignes, and also on tho Miitz River. Little progress is reported, but 350 prisoners wero taken!— Router. i BRITISH "NIBBLES" ON. THE LYS SALIENT London, August 19. Renter's correspondent at British Headquarters, writing on on Monday, evening, says that Sunday's attack on tho northern portion of tho I.ys salient was a large-scale repetition of the nibbling tactics by which the Australians had previously penetrated from tho northern edge of tlio Nieppo Forest through and beyond Merris. "We have now obtained a footing on tho ridgo eastward of Morris, and look right into Ballieul, whioli iB only three miles from our advanced posts."—Renter. - ENEMY SLOWLY AND METHODICALLY RETIRING (Rcc. August 20, 7.20 p.m.) London, August 19. Router's correspondent at British Headquarters, writing on the evening of August 19, 6tates:—"Fromnorth of Hebuterno to south of Albert the Germans continue slowly and methodically to move back. There are now signs of a. retirement in tho Scarpo Valley, where aur patrols have established contact with the enemy on both banks, and made progress on the south bank. Prisoners state that the .object of the withdrawal is to secure improved positions before the winter and conserve their man power. In a captured document, von Ludendorff bemoans the shortage of horses, and urges the necessity for the strictest care, as they cannot be replaced. The shortage is 60 serious that officers' animals havo been ruthlessly requisitioned."—-Renter. BACKWARD MOVEMENT DISQUIETING TO THE GERMANS (Rec. August 21, 1.45 a.m.) . ! _ _~ .... London, August 20. Mr. Percival Ihillips states: "Four out of five German armies which are facing the British are now occupied with a backward movement. It is not a general retirement, but the front involved is sufficiently wide to cause furthor disquiet among the German troops concerned. Yesterday the German Sixth Army lost the remaining high ground overlooking the Lys Plain, when the Scots and AV e!sh troops took Oultersteen spur by a neat surprise. Tho Germans wore expecting an early morning attack, bu l we launched a smoke screen at eleven o'clock in the morning and attacked frsm the north instead of from the west. Tho Germans, therefore, were surrounded before they could rally."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assri. . NEARLY 3000 PRISONERS IN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS RESULT OP VARIOUS LOCAL ACTIONS. (Rec. August 20, 7.30 p.m.) London, August 19. Tho United Press correspondent tfa-es-.—'"During tho past twenty-four hours tho Allies havo netted nearly three thousand prisoners in their various operations The French gathered in sevente 'ii hundred by a mils of advance as far as Nampool, including a divisional stall' Ulcer and three battalion commanders. Heavy fighting at Beuvraignes resulted i'l a 'bag' of 123, while the French took another thirty-tlireo this morning north- rostward of Roye, and also captured tho Bois do Braqucmentior the second tim> in twelve hours, after a momentarily successful German counter-attack. The British look G99 prisoners near Oulter-steen."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. . OFFICIAL REPORTS MANGIN'S STROKE ON THE AISNE. ' i London, August 19, 4.25 p.m. A French officiaj communique states:—"There lyas violent artillery activity at night north and south of the Avre, We took 400 prisoners yesterday west of Roye. At G o'clock last evening, between the Oiso and the Aisne, our troops rectified our front on a stretch of about ten miles between south of Carlepont and Fontenoy, reaching on the whole lino an average advance of 2000 yards. We occupied the plateau west of Nampcel, and reached the southern rim of tlio Audignicourt ravine, capturing Nouvion-Vingro and taking 1700 prisoners."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. August 21, l.dO a.m.) London, August 20. A French communique states: "Between tho Matz and tho Oise we contin : ued to make progress. We captured Frcsnieres, notwithstanding desperate resistance, and reached the outskirts of Lassigny. Farther south wo succeeded in debouching from tlio Thioscourt Woods. On our right we. captured Pimprez and pushed as far as tho southern outskirts of Dreslincourt, north of the Aisne, completing our successes between Carlepont and Fontenoy. We captured the village of Morsain. The number of prisoners taken in this region since yesterday roaches 2200."—Au5.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ON THE BRITISH FRONT London, August 19. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"We took a few prisoners on tho Ayetto sector, and also south of tho Scarpe, where our patrols penetrated some distanco into the enemy positions. Wo repulsed raiders north of tlio Scarpo. Further pro> gross was mado on tho Mcrvillo 6ectoi Our artillery and machine-gun tiro completely bi'oko up a counter-attack on our new positions between Oultersteon and Metoren."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asan.-Routcr.

(Rec. August 20, 10 p.m.) London, August 19. Sir Douglas Hnig reports"The enomy this morning strongly attacked our positions on a mile of front between Lihons and Harlsville, and succeeded in penetrating our line at two points. Our counter-attack drove them ~out, and the situation Was completely restored. iVe inflicted many casualties and took a few prisoners. Our advance on the Mervilio sector was continued. Wo made considerable progress on a front of ten thousand yards. Wo entered Mervilio and reached tliQ road through Mcrrille from Paradio to Les Pures Becqucs. In sharp fichting we took prisoners and machine-guns. Our total of prisoners in the neighbourhood of Oultersteene is no.v 676, including eighteen officers. Wo jkoughl; down six German aeroplanes. One British 'plane is missing. We dropped sixteen tons of bombs during the 3,iy and night."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Eeuter.THE ENEMY'S REPORT (Rec. August 20, 11.30 p.m.) London, August 19. A wireless German official report states:—'"Wo repulsed British attacks between Meteren and Merris, and.advanced our lines in local actions northward of tho Ancre. An Australian attack at Harleville broke down. The enemy penetrated the western part of Benfraignes. We withdrew to tho eastern edge, of tho village. An enemy assault between Carlepont and 60utli-west of Nouvron broke down after a_ bitter struggle lasting many hours."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reutcr. (Rec. August 21, 1.40 a.m.) London, August 20. A, wireless German official report states: "There has been a vigorous daylong battle between the Avre and the Oisc. French attacks on a wide front broke down with heavy losses."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable,Assn.-Rcuter. AUSTRIAN-GERMAN UNITY OF COMMAND Berns, August 19. At tho recent meeting of tlie Austrian and German Emperors it was decided that the Austrian and German amies should lie placed under one command, which is to be German. The conference also invited Turkey and Bulgaria to adhere to an arrangement for unity of command.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. 1