FURTHER ADVANCE IN THE WEST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 312, 21 September 1918, Page 7

FURTHER ADVANCE IN THE WEST

; 3 AUSTRALIANS IN HEAVY FIGHTING ..V/ LOSSES' ■/■.' By Telegrapk-Praii iasflclaUon-Copyjiglit. ('.'.'' 'I ' '' (Rec. September 20, 7.30 p.m.) '/■'-'■_ ".'..., ■" / " London, September, 19. ' ■ .R'eiitor's correspondent at British Headquarters, states: "On the front aeld by the British 4th: Array alone'eleven divisions have been identified. In addition to prisoners and guns, great quantities of stores have been captured, but the tactical value, of the gains far soeeds that of the material. One cf the • main..objectives was to gain clear frontal positions commanding the Hindenburg . line along the whole : face of the attack. This has practically been accomplished. ■ 'By 3 o'clock we had taken .Belleglise and Bellicourt, and established _ our- ; -selves.alonglhe.St. Quentin Canal, in places'within fifty yards of the Hindenburg outpost, line. . ;.,'._..... ' ' . ''Further-north-the resistance .was more,stubborn. There was. long and ; •bitter.fighting at. Gauche Wood and Epehy, but the most determined effort" . wassouth ':■ of.Bertliancourt,. where our artillery played such havoc that it was. ... .a-mere straggling, remnaift"which received its final. repulse froni the infantry.' The moral'effect of .the. tanks has been immense.\ ' They frequently, gained' :'■■ -their objective without, firing a shot. _ Numerous'gulches and- sunken _ roads - , gave them much.opportunity for tactical enterprise, their skill and daring being top much'for the Germans. Summing up, we advanced over four thousand yards on a front, of. eighteen miles, engaging thirteen divisions, between Gouzeaucourt and the Somnie. .The. obliging enemy threw in two more divisions from-the.reserve. .'.'... '..- ■ ■ "At no of the war has the individual-superiority of our soldiers . been more .pronounced.' In an order dealing with raiding parties, General <on ... .' ...Below, commanding the .17th. Army, says: '.'This show's that-presently the British" will have a fighting superiority over .pur.' troops in' 'No Man's Land."— ' H-euter. ......... ' .'' '.;;'. '!,'..'-'".V '.-'"..'; 1 ■ : '"" ' CRUSHING REPULSE OF GERMAN COUNTER-ATTACK '* i ■■ ■.:.'.. ''....;>;• (K?P,-5eptember,,20,.7.30.p,m.). : '.. •'-•"'■. •■■■-.■-v: (''"-'■ London, September 19. -'■■ The - United Press' correspondent says: "At 5 o'clock this evening, southeast of Havrincourt, -Hhe' enemy, with forty batteries-and six-divisions, somo: of these-from -behind' the Hindenburg line, attempted to crush the -. British-' who had'advanced here during the day. The assault was repulsed with heavy ' loss. of Havrincourt and-beyond the canal and the main defences ■ where the British.had recently installed themselves, the Germans attacked and temporarily gained a sunken road. The British soon ousted them,- but they-still hold Boine. ':'•'.'.' "The. reports'of the morning's fighting show that the British are holding their great gains on their eighteen-miie front,.-while the"Germans' desper-; '.'. ate efforts to bout back the elements of Sir Julian Bj'ng's army which were "-too Bear to the Hindenburg line in the neighbourhood of Havrincourt were en-.-V''tirelf unsuccessful'.- The fighting hereon Wednesday . afternoon was' the.- • -fiercest of battle. The Germans launched six divisions at one •pointy gaining a-temporary success at the cost of.a fearful death-roll. The indications are.that Sir Harry fiawlinsori's army, operating'in force' between Peiyiere and'Holnon Wood, and part'of Sir Julian Byng's army are already beyond'the Hindenburg line:: The Germans believed that the''British' were Becking.to turn the line.-. -In any event theeneiny threw in great masses about •■■-' 'Havrincourt and as - far.-south as '.taitcho'-Wood arid' south-west of'.Gouzeau-' court. -.The: result was that General Byng gathered in 32. officers and-1438-'.",.'men', which, added'to Rawlinson's' bag, . make more than ' CSOO pris- "•' oners. He also-took,a complete battery, with crew amHiorses, and eleven •77'3: ,: ThC. enemy's first counter-attack came at Gauche Wood early in the :.. ; afternoon.:-' Grey masses emerging from Villers-Guislain ; after the" artillery ■." -torriado. gained the wood, arid held, it briefly, but: were driven back/-They. .■:."' again, essayed "a'n-attack in the levelling, but were again repulsed, Tin's lfioni-- ■.-:. ing it wasVreported that we wereliolding- all our gains. The enemy despnriately counter-attacked on the-.evening"of September 18' south-east, offlavrin?. court. Wood,, employing -six but wa's'coinpletely repulsed, as was a similar effort in the vicinity of Villers-Guislain."—Aus;-N.Z. Cable Assn' i; FRENCH TWO MILES FROM ST. QUENTIN, SUBURBS ■'..,-, London, September 19.' Reuter's correspondent, writing from French Headquarters on Wcducs- -._' day .evening, states; "General Debeney's army continues to advance in the direction'of St. Quentin, in conjunction with the British in the north. They were resisted .vigorously by the Germans a few. hundred yards in front of the Hindenburg line, which runs west of the town, whose, suburbs form part of its defences.. .Groups of infantry, lavishly supplied,.with- machine-guns, are dotted everywhere, endeavouring to hold up the advance, but vainly, for the French, - alternating their rushes with infiltration'tactics, are steadily [.regressing, and are now only two miles from the St. Quentin suburbs, and al-' ready are holding some of their old'trenches on a wide stretch of front."— Reuter. ' ; ' , ■■'' . ' ' ! - ;■'■••.. .': FEARFUL DEATH-ROLL'IN ENEMY'S RANKS. ' ' . London, September 19. - The United Press correspondent reports that, fearing an outflanking movement, the-Gcrniaiiß vainly threw in forty batteries'and'Six divisions at one point-south-east of Havrincourt. Fighting was'most fierce in the whole" .battle, and the German death-roll was fearful. The British, withstood heavy •• counter-attacks. v Wednesday's prisoners'number 8000, and upwards of fifty guns were taken.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ■ ■■'•■ AUSTRALIANS TAKE 3000 PRISONERS. '• : ; v ■•■-■'■■ London, September 19. General Slonash announces that the Australians on Wednesday took 3000 prisoners and thirty guns, and hundreds of machine-guns and trench mortars. Tho Australians are-now right against the Hindenburg line.—Aus.-N.Z Cable 'Assn; '■'■_..■; REPORTED EVACUATION OF MULHAUSEN .''",:. ' ' ', V Paris,. September 19. A Basle newspaper reports that the Germans have evacuated Mulhausen (in Southern Alsace). [Mulhausen (in French, Mulhmise) is about fifteen,miles from the nearest point of the border pf France and Alsace. It is a place of first-rate indus- / trial importance. It has.great cotton factories, printing, and dye works for cotton,'linen, calico, wool, and such fabrics, iron, machinery, and other metal works.- It became German after the war of 1870-71.1

ROYAL FELICITATIONS ON ST. MIHIEL VICTORY

(Ucc. September 20, 11.55 p.m.) t ™ London, September 20. President Wilson, replying to King George's congratulations on the St. Slihiel victory, say3:—"The generous rivalry, uow going on between the 'Ijjoes of the Allied countries against Germany is touched.withau enthusiasm rfnd heroism which must certainly- bring victory with quicker and quicker pace,' and it is ono of the happiest circumstances of tho war that armies can admire each other's achiorements."^-Aus.-N.Z.'Cable Assn.-Reuter

AMERICAN BIG GUNS FIRING ON METZ

(Rec. September 20, 11.55 p.m.) /'■./'. '....". Ottawa, September 19. The United Press correspondent on the Western front states that American aviators have reported that American heavy shells aro falling in the centre of Metz." A big factory was hit, and several direct hits on the fortifications were scored.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. '

THE OFFICIAL REPORTS

STRONG GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED

London) September 19, 3.15 p.m. ' Sir Douglas Haig reports: "The enemy opened a violent bombardment from many guns yesterday afternoon on tlie northern portion of the battlefront. His fire rapidly cut all the telephone communication 'with the divisions in the "line. The German infantry at 5 in the afternoon strongly attacked on a wide front from the neighbourhood o£ Trescault northwards. The Guards, 3rd and 37th Divisions completely repulsed the enemy at all points with great loss. Another strong attack to the northward of Moeuvres was driven off with heavy losses. In certain localities bodies of the enemy succeeded in reaching and entering our trenches, where our counter-attacks overwhelmed them. Our line in these localities v was re-established intact. Many prisoners were taken, and great numbers 'of German dead lie before our positions on the whole front attacked. ' On the Hindenburg Line, "South of Gouzeaucourt the operations of the'3rd,and 4th British Armies continued successfully during'the evening and night. The English troops progressed north of Pontfiiet, reaching.the• outpost positions of the Hindenburg i line. On their'left,' the 4th Australian Division renewed the attack at 11 p.m., and carried outpost positions of the Hindenburg/ line after heavy fighting, capturing many prisoners and a number of machine-guns. This division and the Ist Australian Division hold the outpost positions of the Hin-J denburg line on the whole of their respective fronts. Further north severe fighting occurred east of Ronssoy and Epehy. We are. in possession of Lempire, and beat'off determined counter-attacks on the Villers-Guislain sector, j The 17th Division, which took several'hundred prisoners yesterday, recap. tured Gauche Wood, which the enemy had regained, and later repulsed with' heavy loss a strong lenemy. counter-attack from Villers-Guislain. Repeated enemy attacks at Gauche Wood in the and evening were repulsed. A successful local, operation yesterday morning improved our positions south and east of Ploegsteert,- and a number of prisoners were captured."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. •■ • ■— •;,''■;.:.•■•' ••■'■'• \ (Rec. September'2o, 10.30 p.m.) .. ''■•.' London, September 19, 11.40 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig states: "Further reports confirm the heavy nature of tlie enemy's counter-attacks yesterday afternoon,north of Trescault, and the' severity of hi 3 losses. The fighting to-day was in the sector eastward of Epehy and also in the neighbourhood of Gouzoaucouft, where we gained ground' northward of Gauche Wood. ■ Local engagements on the -remainder of the battlefront improved our positions slightly, notably'west of Wytschaete. We re.'pulsed raiders east of Neuve Chapelle and north of the Ypres-Coniines Canal. Tlie number of prisoners-taken during the operations' commenced yesterday 'north-west'of St. .Quentin now exceeds ten thousand. Over sixty gun's were eaptured."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. . •. • ■•' ' ".;.'■.-" THE FRENCH.ADVANCE. , .... . .'. ' London, September 19. A.French communique states: "In the region of St. Quentin we continue' to advance, and have penetrated Contescourt, where the enemy is defending himself.desperately. North of the Aisue there, is.great'artillery . activity. A strong enemy counterattack'ht Moisy Farm was without result, and we maintained all our posts. ■On the Veslo front a German attack north-east of Coiirlandou was broken by our fire before it reached our lines. Enemy raids . iii.the Champagne and on the heights of the Meuse were repulsed."—Aus.-' N.Z; Cable Assn,-Renter.' ' \ . ■■* (Rec. September 20, 11.65 p.m.) ~.-'.-•.- • ' ■ London, September 20. A French communique states:—"Our troops on/September 19 continued their attacks in the.region-westward of St.. Quentin, extending their gains' despite stubborn resistance.- We advanced-beyond C'ontescourt, which is ours: To the southward we have reached the outskirts of Benay. On ine plateau westwards of. Jouy the enemy again counter-attacked unsuccess-. fully. • We inflicted'heavy losses, and appreciably increased our advance."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable-.Assn.-Reuter'.. ..:..-. "' ..:.'". , • '.ANOTHER GERMAN MUTINY ..' V, ." '. ... ... London, September 19. Renter's correspondent at-The .Hague states that the newspaper "Les Nouvelles"' reports a, mutiny among.the German tropos at Aix- la. Chapelle. The troops were mostly .hoys of eighteen "who were proceeding to the front. The escort fired upon tliem,'.killing, eight and wounding many others.. The ■troops were then driven into their train, but flung their .rifles out of the . windows.—Reuter. THE WAR IN THE AIR / .;.:..-'.,'■■;.-• ... (Rec. September.2o, 10.30 p.m.).. ..' -'" "■ ..-•■:• London; September 19. Sir Douglas Haig', in his aviation report, states:' "There was. slight enemy activity on September 18. We brought down four hostile machines <-nd drove-dowif three out of control. Fouit British machines are'missing. Our aeroplanes assisted- the advancing troops, and bombed and machine-gunned the enemy.' We dropped' sixteen tons of bombs during the last twenty-four hour's. Our anti-aircraft guns brought down one hostile machine on September 16, ' 'while gunfire from the ground brought down-another on September 17."— •'Aus.-N;Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter..' THE SITUATION REVIEWED ■:■ '■■-. ; ' '.INFLUENCE OF THE ST. MIHIEL COUP. ;;.'. "., .',''. . ' . (Rec. September 20, 9.30 p.m.) '•-,, •■"'•. .".'"., London, September 19. '■■ The Germans have constructed a line across the base, of St. Jlihiel salient', to. which' they retired, but it is bolieved that it is of no great strength. The Germans-realise that any further advanqe .in this sector: will involve Metz and the important lateral cdmmiiniGations.from Strasbufg/'to Metz via Montmedy. They are therefore likely to offer determined resistance. The French-are.emphatic in their jjraise of the American Staff work in the'carrying- out of an attack on such a large scale when, comparatively new to the game.; ".'As the. positi6h.threatens the whole lino of the Meuse northwards, its influence on the future course of the war may be very great. The enemy prob-,' .ably intends to hold the. Hindenburg line until winter renders further operations '-.impossible. The' German _ strength on the West front is now reduced to" 191 divisions. Fifteen .divisions have - recently been broken up, while in more than twenty divisions the battalion's have been reduced to the strength ,of-three'companies. Evidence'exists showing that the enemy is finding great difficulty in arranging for reliefs tor the'divisions in.liiie.---Aus.-N.Z. Cable 'Assn. ' ■■'■'■ ■"'.-;■•>..'.'