FKESH ADVANCES IN THE WEST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 303, 11 September 1918, Page 5

FKESH ADVANCES IN THE WEST

IMPORTANT GAINS BY THE FRENCH FIGHTING ASSUMING MORE DESPERATE CHARACTER \ ~ By Telegraph-Proaa Asaoclatlon-OopyriifM, ... ... London, September 9. The attack 111 the neighbourhood of Gouzeacourfc is progressing satisfactorily. Prisoners report that it is the intention oif the enemy to hold the Gonnelieu-Hargicourt-Villarefc line. Fires were' observed at "Douai. The French in the vicinity of the Crozat Canal have progressed, and are now within four miles of St. Quentin at the nearest point. They have forced the canal along practically the whole front, and aro advancing towards Clastres and the Fort of Liez. Their cavalry patrols aro; close to La Fere.— Aus.-N.Z.' Cable Assn. . ' " CAPTURE OF GOUZEACOURT WOOD. . London, September 9. The British have captured Gouzea court Wood.—Renter. THE POSITION ON MONDAY EVENING. ' London, September 9. Renter's correspondent at British Headquarters, writing 011 Monday evening, says:—"ln the south >ve have reached a line east of the villages of Trefcon, Poeuilly, Eleohin, and Bernes. We are in Roisel, and thence the line runs' along tho Roisel-Villers-Faucon railway. Wo occupy Villers-Faucon and also Haulcourt and Guyencourt. Further north we have carried the spur south-east of Heudicoui't, and have gained useful ground north <itf the village. We are in Dessart Wood, between Fins and Gouzeacourt. The Germans are reported to bo trailing out of Heudicourt, near which we captured the 'Spoil Heap,' which figured so prominently in the Battle of Canibrai in November."—Router. ' \ IN THE RAVINES OF LAFFAUX SOME SANGUINARY FIGHTING. (Rec. September 10, 7.55 p.m.) London, September 9. Reuter's correspondent at American Headquarters, writing on the morning of September 9, states:—"Botweon the Ailette and the Aisuc the enemy's resistance is stronger, indicating tho arrival of fresh troops. The Lallaux ravines yesterday were tho scenes of sanguinary fighting. ■ Thesegive access along tile ridge to the Chemin-des-Dames. At Colles, on the Aisne, at the south-eastern angle of the samo group of hills, the Germans attacked furiously, revealing the fact that an abundance of artillery of all calibres has now been concentrated on this danger spot, in the defences of the St. Gobain massif. In view of the difficulty of progress in this region, more success is likely to attend our outflanking movement towards La Fere, but in any casethis counter-attacking is all to our advantage.—Router. RESISTANCE STIFFENING (Rec. September 10, 9.35 p.m.) London, September 9. Mr. Phillip Gibbs writes :—"As wo approached 'the Hindenburg lino the enemy is drawing strong reinforcements of fresh troops to replaco the tired retreating divisions, which largely accounts for their stiffened resistance. Tho enemy is strongly holding the commanding spurs before tho Hindenburg Hue as long as possible. He holds Epehy, but our patrols aro creeping round north and south."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE OFFICIAL REPORTS SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S DISPATCHES London, September 9. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"We successfully repulsed raiders ivorth of Arleux-on-Gohelle. There is reciprocal artillery activity, chiefly in the neighbourhoods of the Arras-Cambrai road, the La Bassee Canal, and the Ypros sectors."—Aus.-N.Z; Cablo Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. September 10,.7.55 p.m.) London, September 10. Sir Douglas'Haig reports:—"Early this morning English and. New Zealand detachments attacked, and carried the German positions on tho high ground between Peizioro and Havrincourt Wood after sharp fighting, in which we repulsed a. heavy counter-attack, with-loss. Wo gained the old British trench lines on tho ridge overlooking Gouzeacourt, capturing Gouzeacourt Wood. On the left tho attack of other English troops successfully advanced our line in the eastern portions of Havrincourt Wood. We captured a number of prisoners in these operations. Wo repulsed attacks agamst the posts we recently established wostwiird of La Bassee. In wet, stormy weather our aeroplanes carried 011 with difficulty. We dropped live tons of bombs in tho daytime. There was no night flying. Tho enemy dis-' played slight activity in the air. Wo brought down fivo enemy machinos and drove down two out of control. No British machines aro missing."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ON THE CROZAT CANAL London, September 9, 4.10 p.lll. 'A Fronolt communique states :—"Our elements crossed tho Crozat Canal opposite Liez. ■ Between tho Oise and the Aisne there has been violent artillery activity, and enemy infantry attacks wero made during the night. Two strong Gorman counter-attacks in the region of Lalfaux were'repulsed. ' -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. IMPORTANT ADVANCES. (Reo. September 10, 10.35 p.m.) London, September 10. A French official communique states:—"Our troops to-day made fresh advances at different points. Eastward of St. Quentin we captured Etreillers and Roupy, and beyond the Crozat Canal we captured Grand Seraucowi,

Clnstorcs, Coniescourt,. TJzcrollos, and Reigmy. Wo occupied Hill 103, southward of Contoscourt, Fssigny-le-Grand station, mid Hill 117, Fort de Liez, and the woods north-west, Canlors Farm, and Bed Farm were captured. South of tho Oiso the brink works and station at Servais were carried. Wo advanced in tlio region north of Laifaux and in tlie region of Clenues, between the Aisne and the Veslo."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router. THE ENEMY'S REPORT London, September 9. A German official report states:—"Strong enemy attacks against thp Gou-zeacourt-Epehy lino failed, with heavy losses. Between tho Ailetto and tho Aisne an enemy attack in close forma tion was repulsed on tho whole front with sanguinary losses."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router. COMMENT ON THE SITUATION HATE OF ADVANCE SLOWING DOWN. London, September 9. While thero is no intention to allow tho enemy to rest, continuance of tho rapid movement of tho last few weeks is now improbable, and the advance is likely to he somewhat slower as the Allies approach the Siegfried line and meot tho opposition of the heavy guns. More movement is possible south of the Scarpe, near the Wotan line, but hero tho Germans have a good defensive line behind the canal, which they are improving. We are attacking Gouzeaucourt this morning, but the extent of onr progress is unknown. AVe hold the northern edge of Epehy, and our patrols are reported to be through the village. Patrols have also occupied Vendelles and entered Vcrmand, which is probably tho krgosfc town in the neighbourhood.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. POLITICAL CRISIS IN GERMANY AND AUSTRIA (Rec. September 11, 1.15 a.m,) London, September 10. A telegram from Copenhagen states thait owing* to the increasing nervousness among tho German people important political changes are impending, including the resignation of Count von Hertling. The "Vossiche Zeitung" mentions Dr. Solf. Herr Erzberger, and Herr Scheidemann (Socialist) as possible successors. The papers adds: "No doubt the Austrian Cabinet will shortly resign."—Reuter.