NEARLY THREE-MILE ADVANCE ON WHOLE ANGLO-FRENCH FRONT

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

NEARLY THREE-MILE ADVANCE ON WHOLE ANGLO-FRENCH FRONT

(Rcc. August 28, 7.45 p.m.) London, August 27 (evening). General do Benoy's 3rd French Army to-day advanced on a front of oight miles to a dopth of three miles, capturing Royo, Crape-au-Mesnil, while between Horlevilleand tlio Somme tho British lmvo reached the outskirts of Dompierro and tho outskirts of Bnpaume. Tho advance is about ihreo miles at its maximum depth. Wo havo captured Cresey and Gavrelle. The entiro Anglo-French advance is between two and three miles on practically the wholo front. "—Router. "... "Tho enemy's artillery retaliation is comparatively weak. Croisilles still remains in German hands, and tho sunken roads to the north and west are strongly held by tho enemy's infantry. We are following up the policy of not forcing the pace by the sacrifico of lives. The weather is gloomy, and aircraft visibility is bad."—Renter. THE NEW LINE DESCRIBED. (Ree. August- 28, 8.25 p.m.) London, August 27. General do Beney's advance was between Crape-au-Mcsnil and Hallu, south of Chaulnes. Tlio lino now runs east of Liancourt and Hallu, east of H'crleville, to tho Sommc, and tbe outskirts of Dompiorre. Wo captured Maricourt. Thence the lino runs to Fiers and north of Bapaume. Wo reached the outskirts of Vaulxvr-nu-Court. Thenco tho lines goes to the outskirts of Ecoast St. Mein, whonco it bonds back to Croisilles, which is still in German bands. From Cherisy.tho line runs to the outskirts of Boeux. Heavy fighting occurred in Delvillo Wood, and also at Longueval. Military critics attach tho greatest importance to tho Somme offensive, becauso it affects the Hindcnburg line.—Renter.

ROYE ENCIRCLED (Rcc. August 29, 1.45 a.m.) London, August 28. Renter's correspondent at French Headquarters, describing the fighting in tho vicinity of Roye, which is now encircled, says: "Tho captures of Frfesnoy, Croisetto Wood, and St. Mard constituted a considerable achievement because tho fighting occurred on the old fortified lines, which the enemy had reorganised. The Germans were surprised at Frosnoy, where tho prisoners included a. battalion commander. Bridges over the Avre during tho last few days were seized by the French,'whoso infantry, fighting waist-deep in water for hours, gallantly withstood all attempts to Tetake them,"—Renter. !_ THE OFFICIAL REPORTS THE BATTLE ON THE SCARPE 'London, August 27. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "At three o'clock this morning the Canadians, Scottish, and Londoners attacked on both sides of the Scarpo from Croisilles io the neighbourhood of Gavrelle. On the south bank the Canadians attacked gallantly, passed through the enemy's foremost defences, and captured Orange Hill at their first rush. The Canadians, in spite of storms of rain, soon reached Wancourt and Monchy-le-Prieux, capturing both and making progress beyond them. North of the Scarpe the Scots captured the first German defences south of Gavrelle, reached the outskirts of Roeux, and captured the chemical works north of Roeux. The Scots and Londoners completed the capture of the high ground between Croisilles and Heninel, and took many prisoners. Further south our advance continued on both banks of the Somme. Tho Australians took Cappy, and progressed to the east; and north of the Sommo they captured Suzanne. Further north, the English advanced in the direction of Montauban, and the Welsh captured Bazentin-le-Grand. Our pressure has everywhere beeu maintained, and the line has been advanced in certain sectors."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. SEVERE FIGHTING. London, August 27. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "There was severe fighting on Monday afternoon and evening, between Maricourt and Bapaume, and also_ north of Bapaume. The enemy counter-attacked .repeatedly in strength, incurring great losses from our fire, but was unable to arrest our progress. The English and Welsh troops pushed through Montauban, and along the crest of the ridge, capturing High Wood, and reaching Longueval. Here a heavy counterattack at 6.30 in the evening forced us back towards Bazeutiii-le-Grand and High Wood. On this line we broke up the enemy attack, and, again advancing, established ourselves well eastward of High' Wood. Early in the night the enemy counter-attacked a second time, but was driven off by our rifle fire before reaching our positions. North of Hi«h Wood the enemy twice counter-attacked in the neighbourhood of Ligny-Thilloy, pressing back our advanced troops four or five hundred yards, where his infantry were stopped and driven back. "The New Zealanders, after fierce fighting, established themselves in the northern outskirts of Bapaume. The English further north progressed towards Beugnatre, and had hard fighting about Croisilles. On the right battlefront the Australians continued to advance astride the Somme, and made substantial progress towards Dompierre and eastward of Suzanne. On the left of tho hattlefront tho Canadians in the afternoon captured a ridge east of Wancourt, and established themselves eastward of Guemappe. North of the Scarpe the Scottish troops, renewing the attack at night, made substantial progress towards Plouvain. The prisoners taken since tho morning of August 21 exceed 21,000."—Au5.-N.Z.- Cable Assn.-Reuter.

NEW ATTACK ASTRIDE THE SCARPE (Rec. August 28, 11.20 p.m.) London, August 28. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "We again attacked astride Scarpe. The Canadians penetrated deeply the enemy's lines between the Sensee and the Searpe, and captured Cherisy, Vis-en-Artois, and the Bois-du-Sart, taking many prisoners. On their right the Canadians crossed tho Sensee and Seized Fontaine-les-Croisilles,. and 'established themselvos on the slopes southward of the village, taking hundreds of prisoners. Other Scottish troops took Roeux, Greenland Hill, and Gavrelle; the English took Arleux-en-Gohelle and the old German line southward of that point. Between Croisilles and Bapaume'and to the southward the English and New Zealanders were _ again heavily engaged, and repulsed many determined counter-attacks, inflicting heavy casualties. In spite of the enemy's efforts, we stormed Beugnatre. and mado progess at several points between Beugnatre and Croisilles."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.lleuter. CAPTURE OF FRESNOY-LES-ROYE AND ST. HARD ' , London, August 27. A French official communique states: "On both sides of the Avre we carried out two local operations, enabling us to capture Fresnoy-les-Roye and St. Mard. in spite or a lively resistance. In the Vosges we repulsed several attempted coups do main." . . _ ■ A later communique states: "South of the Avre this morning we increased our progress in- tho region of St. Mard. After repelling several counter-at-tacks yesterday we took 1100 prisoners, including thirty-six officers,, between the Oise and the Aisne. A" German counter-attack west of Chavijjny failed. We advanced, our lino 1300 yards east of Bagrieaux. There was lively artillery activity during tho night between the Ailette and the Aisne."—Au's.-N.Z; Cabe Assn.-Reuter. ' THE ENEMY'S REPORTS London, August 27. A German official message states: "The enemy penetrated our lino running west of Mory and Bapaumo to Martinpuich. Wo threw him back on the Thillo.y-Maitinpiiich line, recapturing both places. The enemy took Cappy and Fontaine. South of the Ailette wo captured a height south-east of Pont St. Mard, taking 400 prisoners." Au evening message states: "We regained Longuoval and Montarbin."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ON THE AMERICAN FRONT SHARP FIGHTING AT BAZOCHES. (Rec. August 29, 0.40 a.m.) Washington, 'August 27. The Americans attacked tho Germans on tho Bassochos front. A German counter-attack followed. The struggle continues on the Fismette {ront.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE WAR IN THE AIR SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT. London, August 27. Sir Douglas Haig roports: "Our low-flyers continued to harass the enemy with bombs and machine-guns. Wo dropped thirty-two tons of bombs on railway junctions (including Cambrai and Valenciennes), dumps,, and the Bruges docks, and also successfully bombed an aerodrome."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.Reuter. RAIDS BY BRITISH NAVAL SQUADRONS. London, August 27. The British Admiralty reports: "Betweou August 19 and 25 aeroplanes cooperating with the Navy dropped twenty-seven tons of bombs on docks and aerodromes in Belgium. Direct hits were mado on a submarine shelter at Bruges, and two largo explosions resulted. Big fires were caused in the docks. Enemy shipping and land batteries were also attacked. We destroyed fivo machines and drove down five. Four British are missing."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. , WHIRLWIND ATTACK ON MANNHEIM (Rec. August 28, 11.20 p.m.) London, August 28. The Air Ministry reports: "Our air attack on Mannheim on tho night of August 25-26 was delivered at a height of two hundred feet, the pilots just avoiding tho chimneys and an intenso barrage over tho housetops. Our bombs caused the heaviest explosions. Every bomb hurst on a target, and considerable damage is certain. All returned."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Afisn.R«uter.