NEW ATTACK ON THE SCARPE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 292, 29 August 1918, Page 5

NEW ATTACK ON THE SCARPE

' "■ > ADVANCE PROCEEDING SUCCESSFULLY | . IMPORTANT ADVANCE BY THE FRENCH By Telegraph-Press ABMoiation-Copyright.

_ , London, August 27. Keuters correspondent at British Headquarters, writing on Sunday night, saya: "Hie enemy has withdrawn into the wooded slopes east of Monchy-ie-Prieux, where he is offering a stiffening resistance in favourable defensive country, especially in the Sart Wood and the Jigsaw Wood. Meanwhile our troops are now well to the'eastward of the Suzanne and Gappy line across the Somme, while north of the river they have entered Vaux Wood. Tlio enemy is still in Thilloy, and is reported to be in considerable strength on the eastern edge of Bapaume and along the Cambrai road. It is understood that at 4.45 this morning some of the British troops . attacked near the Somme, but details aro not at present available. It is estimated the enemy had been forced to use between the Scarpa and the Aisne at least seventy divisions since August 8. Two thousand prisonors and some guns were captured as the result of yesterday's extension of the battlefront northward by the attack behind Arras. Our progress was excellent considering the difficulties of the ground, and the casualties were of the lightest. A few tanks cooperated, hut the battle was perhaps moro of an infantry battle than any of the recent fighting. North of ,tne Scarpo wo merely adjusted our ilank. In the course of this the Highlanders occupied the famous chemical works of H6eux."—lteuter.

THE TUESDAY MORNING ATTACK

ENEM'Y FORCEp TO EXPEDITE RETREAT. (Itec. August 28, 8.25 p.m.) T, , , , ' . . London, August 27. Keuter s correspondent at British Headquarters, writing on Tuesday even'"6, states; "A concerted attack this morning by tho Australians and other British troops began at 4.45 a.m; to-day on a front- of eight thousand yards northward of the Somme, and was completely successful. By ten o'clock wo had apparently over-run Moulin de Fragny, Maricourt, Bernafray, and Trones Wood. Wo captured hundreds of prisoners. Not the least important of the day s successes is the clearing of Vaux Wood. It is becoming increasingly clear that our pressure is forcing tho enemy to expedite his retreat far beyond his original intention. The talk of the prisoners suggests that rearguard fighting began on the night of August 24, and all enemy attacks since have been in the nature of-delaying actions to cover withdrawals. "About six o'clock last evening a determined counter-attack was launched by the remains of the 17th German Division, which was known to have lost 2600 in prisoners since August 8, irrespective of other casualties. Tho Welshmen. fell back a short distance before tho weight of numbers, and took up. their position between High Wood and Bazentiu-le-Grand. Southward of the Somnio the Australians are carrying out what they call a "peaceful penetration, winch consists of patrol stalking, and is most demoralising to the harassed enemy, lesterday the Australians advanced to Fontain-les-Cappy, which only a few days ago was the German divisional, headquarters. This morning some Australians were reported six miles from Peronne. ' Eastward of Arras the battle which began yesterday morning reached great intensity, by night, when the enemy attempted, to oust us" from-the W ancourt spur. He failed, and sinco has steadily lost ground. We gained valuable ground at the Bois-dti-Vert. There is an unconfirmed report that we have the Bois-du-Sart, In any case, wo have over-reached a point that was attained after long and bitter fighting last year. This morning our troops workjd towards Plouvain."—lleuter. / . . ' AUSTRALIANS FIGHTING THEIR WAY TO PERONNE Ar 1> • . T,, , m , . London, August 27. Mi. leicival Phillips writes: ' The Germans are clearly fighting a rearguard action, and are no longer wildly attempting to stabilise their lino, though they are counter-attacking at some points in order to gain time. The enemy's withdrawal south of Bapaume is difficult, because we have cut the roads. Tho Albert-Bapaume road was cut on Saturday; and tho jMametz-Peroniio road was out yesterday. Com hies is constantly under 'fire by our heavy artillery, and Jxnigueval, Ginchy, Guillemont, and other places are being a'ccuratcly'shelled. the IJapaumc-I eronne road is practically untenable. It is no wild'forward rush on our part. The infantry keeps close, touch, and tho supports are well iorward. the Australians' progress apparently continues, for the latest news is that they aro approaching the steep Vaux ridge, on the north bank of the bomme. withinseveri miles of Peronne, and the bridgehead at Biaehes on the south bank J lie intervening country is rolling, and mostly covered with old trenches. Apparently tho guns and stores have been nearly evacuated as only detachments of infantry remain. Progress is difficult, owiirn- to tho erratic course of the Somme and the outlying marshes; but tho Australians are showing remarkable speed over the higher ground, which is rough and hilly, and oilers plenty of cover for machine-gun nests."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

A "VERY MIXED LOT" OP CAPTURED GUNS

(Rcc. August 28, 7.40 p.m.) ,m „ ... - ~, , , ' London, August 27. lhe British ,4th Army has captured over two hundred "uns These are a. very | mixed lot. There are several 5.9 naval guns, and others twontv years 0 il. Jhe fighting at Bapaume, along the Scarpa is of the fiercest character. J here were many hand-to-hand encounters with bayonets and grenades in the glare of the hres, whicli wero due to the explosions in the oil reservoirs caused by tho British aviators, who continually harass the enemy. The prison, ers includo a number of Anstrians.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. NEW YORK REPORTS ROYE TAKEN AND BAPAUME EVACUATED. mi M , New York, August 27. iho New Zealandors during the night outflanked Bapaume, and reached the railway north of the Bapaumc-Cambrai road. There is street fighting on thooutakirts of l ßapaume. The British are near to Beaugratre,' north-east of Bapaume. .There is hard lighting around Croisilles, The Germans liavo ovacuted Bapaume. I.lic British liavo captured Peronne (?) station and Jlaricourt. _ I ho I'rencli liavo advanced south-west of Royp, capturing 11(10 prisoners, gaining two miles on a front of eight miles, and capturing Bore > and Orape-au-Jlesnil.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. i FRENCH ATTACK ON FRESNOY-LES-ROYE D . . i , Lontion, August 27. Reuters correspondent at tho French Headquarters reports- "General de Beney attacked at 5.15 this morning at Fresnov-lcs-Hovo, the capture of which is announced iu a J'reiit'ii comniiinirpie. Tlio attack 'on the village which covers Royo from the,north, was preceded by a heavy artillery preparatioii. file village was sirongly defended, and tho Gormaiiß resisted despprato--Iy. Furious street lighting ensued with Wonets and grenades. The. French repulsed several violent ™untor-attnc[c s . The capture of St, Mard was apparent.lv the result of a brilliant little operation, and thn net result is a considerable improvement of our positions imund floye."—Renter.