THE TAKING OF PERONNE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 296, 3 September 1918, Page 5

THE TAKING OF PERONNE

(Rec. September 2, 9.10 p.m.) ' London, September 1. . Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Tiie Australians captured Poronncafter beating off enemy counter-attacks at Mont St. 'Quentin last night. The Australians this morning renewed their advance in conjunction with English troops on their left. The Australians soon stormed tho German positions west and north of Pcronne and pressed on, while lierce fighting continued among the ruined streets and buildings, and carried the eastern suburbs. The Australians hold Peronno, Flamioourt, St. Dennis, and liave made progress on tho spun east and north-east of Mont St. Quentin. On tho Australians' left tho La:;i;o:i regiments attacked south-cast of Combles, and took Bouchavosnes mv; .iivincourt, with th.i high ground overlooking them, and reached tho westorn outskirts of St. Piarra-Vaast The Anglo-Australian troops overcamo stiff opposition, and took two-thousand prisoners and a few guns."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assa.-Reuter. ■ THE STRUGGLE ON THE CANAL DU NORD London, September 1. A French communique states: "The battle continues with extremo violence in the region of tho Canal du Nord and north of Soissons. Wβ made progress foot by foot, successively carrying stubbornly-defended oentres of resistance. Wo carried Campagiie, on tho east bank of the canal. The enemy's resistance was particularly violent in the village of Chevilly, which the Germans twice recapt'iredl but finally it remained in our hands. We enlarged our gains north of iHaplincourt and Morlincourt, and carried by assault Juvigny and G.rouy, and reached the western outskirts of Leury."— Atis.-N.55. Gable Assn.-Reuter. A French communique dated September 1, 4 p.m., states: "The operations continued during the night-time. Infantry detachments crossed the Somme Canal east of Epanancourt. Further 'south we captured Fouy-le-Petit. We took 250 prisoners. In tho region north of Soissons we captured Leury .and reduced several centres of resistance which were strongly held. A thousand prisoners wero taken."—Aus.-N.Z. Cahle Assn.ißeuter. : •. AMERICANS STORM JDVIGNY . * ■ ■ i London, September 1. / An American communique states: "North of the Aisne we took Juvigny ' by assault. In'.Alsace* we made a successful raid, penetrating tho enemy trenches."—Aus.-N.Z.. Cable. Assn.-Reuter. . . THE ENEMY'S REPORTS '• ... ■ London, September 1. The German evening official report states: "The British are following up our retirement via Kommel. Bailleul, Neuf Berquin, and across the Lawe." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ■ : , . (Hec. September 2. 8.10 p.m.). ■, ■ ' • London, September 1. . A. wireless Geruian official report states: "After fluctuating fighting the enemy recaptured Bullecourt and.Ecousti Eastward of Juvigny the enemy advanced as far as Ternysorny."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ■THE WAR IN THE AIR' , ./ . London, August 81. The Air Ministry reports: "Boulay and another aerodrome were attacked with good.results.' The Boulay aerodrome was soon afire. We destroyed twelve ■ nnd, drove down five enemy aeroplanes. Five British machinee aro missing. We dropped 25J tons of bombs on Bruges docks, the Zeebrugge molo, and a number of selected targets in the battlo eono."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn,-Renter. .'.-.■'• : ' ■ (Rcc. September 2, 11.50 p.m.) London, Sentcmber 2. Sir Douglas Haig's aviation report states:—"Wo destroyed six hostile machines and drove .down three out of control. Seven British tnachinoe aro' missing; Our aeroplanes dropped 12} tons ■of bombs during the day-time. Night flying was impossible."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router. COMMENT ON THE SITUATION > ALLIES' GREAT WAR MACHINE IN PERFECT ; ORDER.

. London, September 1. Eeuter's correspondent at British Headquarters says that the unanimous spirit at the front is ono of calm confidence. Everything has gone excellently. The.great machinery of our initiative has' continued to work perfectly smoothly. The way the transport facilities creep forward in. the ivake of the advancing line is a marvel of organisation. To-day broad-gauge trains are carrying troops and' stores into places which a week ago wero in enemy occupation. Considering the extent and importance of the operations, the net casualties havo been very light. .Moreover, a great proportion of tho injuries aro clean bullet wounds, caused mainly by machine-guns.—Reuter. EARLY RETIREMENT FROM THE SOMME PREDICTED^ (Rec. September 2, 11.60 p.m.) '~ ■ ' . . Paris, September 1. M. Marcel Hutui says:—"lt is unlikely that von Below will remain long on the Somine, as the British arc threatening all liis positions beW the bend. The feeling now is'that tho enemy has so generally lost'the initiative that ho can no longer co-ordinate, even in the defonsive action. His armies give the impression that each is fighting independently."—"Tho Times." FEELING IN THE GERMAN ARMY AND PEOPLE REVOLTS, DESERTIONS, AND PESSIMISM ... Amsterdam, September 1. Thirty thousand men at Krupp's revolted, .and were sent to the front. Six hundred Life Guards at Munich refused to proceed to the front, and locked themselves in the barracks. Eventually they, surrendered. Two German regiments in Russia refused to proceed to the Western front, and 130 (vere shot. Tho German authorities aro nmploying thousands of seventeen-year-old boys from the AVcstphalian, Hanover, and Rhine provinces, also Belgians, who are constructing defensive works along the llhiuo.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ■' ■ ■ . ' ! ; • GERMAN DESERTION INCREASING. ' . . ' „ ■ London, September 1. An increasing number of German deserters, including Prussians, is com--iiig to the Allied lines. An Austrian officer prisoner says their men held the line only because the German's were behind with orders to shoot slackers and deserters.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' - PAN-GERMANS NO LONGER RAGE ' ASCENDANCY OF DR. SOLF'S PACIFIST FOLLOWING. '. • ,„,.„. „>, Amsterdam, September 1. The "Frankfurter Zeitung" draws attention to the change in the PanGermans,'who no longer rage, but silently consider the situation. Germany sees hope in Dr. Solf leading a peaco ; party. The paper adds that it hope's that Germany's ill-fortunes have removed the scales from tho eyes of the annexationists. Tho great mass of Germans have been long convinced that peace must be by compromise' and conciliation. _ •_ It is rumoured in Berlin that Count Hertling (Imperial Chancellor) is retiring m favour of Dr. Solf.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ALLIES' DETERMINATION. UNDERESTIMATED. m ~t, • „, , „, ~., . London, September 1., Tho "Evening Standard" publishes a series of German telegrams which are pessimistic and conciliatory in tone, showing that'Gcrmany is beginning to realise that she has underestimated the Allies' determination. Tho leading factor is a growing fear that the colonies will never be returned. Even Captain Persius is of this opinion.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.