STEADY PROGRESS IN THE WEST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 304, 12 September 1918, Page 5

STEADY PROGRESS IN THE WEST

THE ADVANCE ON ST. OPERATIONS RETARDED BY THE . 4 ' WEATHER . i Bj Telegraph-Pron ABMciatlon-Copyrliht. ; London, September 10. The British are nearing St. Quentin, and have established an outpost near . Freanoy le Petit, three miles from tho Hindenburg line. The British below Epeny opened an attack at five this morning on a front of three thousand yards.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' . . New Yorhi September 10. The French are within two miles of St. Quentin. The French have captured Gibereourt, and are approaching Panacourt.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . EVACUATION OF DOUAI REPORTED . (Rec. September 11, 7.30 p.m.) ' ■ Amsterdam, September 10. The German war correspondents report that Douai is being evacuated. Tho civilians have left the town.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. , CAMPAIGNING IN FLOODED AREAS ■ , London, September 10. Router's correspondent'.at British Headquarters states: ''The British v front is now 'liquid' in the literal sense. However, we are pursuing tho enemy across fairly higli, tolling country in most places, and, although tne artificial-ly-flooded areii south of the Scarpe and on the southern fringe of the old Sommo battlefield is so bad as to be largely impassable, yet between these limits the going is still feasible, if uncomfortable and sloppy."—Reuter. FURTHER PROGRESS IN SPITE OF BAD WEATHER (Rec. September 11, 10.40 p.m.) , London, September 10. Renter's correspondent at French Headquarters, writing on the afternoon of September 10, says: "Despite the wind and the rainstorms yesterday, wa made further .considerable progress between St. Quentin and the Oise. We are closing in on Essigny-le-Grarid village. The enemy is toughly resisting on the Essigny-le-Grand-Hinancourt line. Further south our patrols are progressing without serious opposition in the direction of Travecy, well in touch with the Hindenburg positions on the bank of the Oise-Sainbro Canal. South of the Ailette thA enemy's artillery and machine-gun resistance is becoming steadily heavier.'-'—Reuter. THE GERMAN DEFENSIVE LINES (Rec. September. 11, 7.30 p.m.) , Paris, September 10. The Hindenburg line is only an element of multifarious defensive works. The second line of withdrawal,, called the "Huuding" Line, starts south of Lille, passes west to Douai, in front of Cambrai, east of the Le Catelet, and along tho Oise and Aisne, where it runs from five to ten kilometres, behind the present line. The third, called "Metz-Lille" Line, runs ten miles onst of Douai, covering Mczieres, Cbarleville, and Sedan, following the right bank oF. tho Meuse, and finally rejoining tho "Humling"' line. The Germans are'working feverishly at a fourth line. A withdrawal to each line will shorten ■ the front so that it can bo defended with fewer effectives, thus maintaining the defensives outside German territory .—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . IMORE AUSTRIANS FROM ITALIAN FRONT (Rec. September 11, 7.30 p.m.} London, September 10. Zurich reports state that large numbers of Austrians are leaving tho Italian for the West front. This is regarded as meaning that the Italian front has definitely become a secondary issue. The Allies' successes in the .West are profoundly impressing :he enemy's leaders.—United Service. THE OFFICIAL REPORTS CONTINUED PROGRESS OF THE BRITISH London, September 10. Sir Do.uglas llaig_reports: "Tho enemy launched a second counter-attack •against our new positions west of Gouzeaucourt, but was completely repulsed. Our line was advanced during the night south of Havrincourt. We also niado progress south-east of Noiive Cliapelle and west and north of Armeiitieres."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. STORMY WEATHER (Rec. September 11, 8.40 p.m.) London, September 10, 10 plm. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Except for local fighting on the Epehy and Gouzeaucourt sectors thero is nothing to report on tho battlefroiiit south of the Scarpe, On tho Lys front we made slight progress north-east of Nouvo Chapella and westward of Armcntieres. Storms continue."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo iAssn.-Reuter. FRENCH ADVANCE EAST OF CROZAT CANAL London, September 10, 5 p.m. A French communique states: ' East of the Crozat C'anal wo captured Gibereourt and advanced in the direction of Hemancoiirt and Essigny le Grand.. South of the Ailette'we beat back two counter-attacks in tho region of Nanteuil la Fosse. Enemy raids in tho Argonne and tho Vosges were re-pulsed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. September 11, 10.15 p.m.) London, September 10. A French communique states: "Between the Sommo and tho Oiße our troops made progress in spito of sharp resistance. We advanced beyond Hinanoourt and repulsed a counter-attack that was debouching from Essigny-le-Orand, Fighting occurred along the St. Quentin-La Fere road. We occupy Travecy village. South of the Oise we threw back several counter-attackß in the region of Laffaux."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ,