HEAVY FIGHTING IN THE WEST

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 1, 23 September 1918, Page 5

HEAVY FIGHTING IN THE WEST

ANOTHER BAD DAY FOR GERMANYv CIVILIANS LEAVING METZ Br Tekuraph-Progs AsusoUtlon-Oopyriglit. ' : '.-."'■■•' Washington/September 21. General March t (United States Chief of Staff), in au interview, said that iho Germans' new line extends from Jlaizery to Vnndieres in tlio Moselle region( and had stopped a further Amorican advance. The Americans were row within ten. miles of Jletz and an equal distance from Conflans.' Major-General ißeed, commanding the Fifteenth Scottish Division, had ■ highly praised the 'American artillery brigade for their effective .co-operation with the Scots.—-' lAth.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' ■

CIVILIAN EVACUATION OF METZ , SEMOUS PANIC AMONGST THE POPULATION. • V (Rec. September , 22, 5.5 p.m.) ■ '_ ■■■■■■ London,. September 21. ■ The "Daily Telegraph's" Milan correspondent , states that according to a Swiss message there is a serious panic dt Mete.- The inhabitants have begun to .evacuate the city, in spite of the Governor's declaration exhorting calmness. The Governor adds that the authorities' recommendation in favour of the- evacuation of the town and its .environs does not imply immediate dangor. Nevertheless the hanks Have transferred funds and books to Karlsruho; some have entirely transferred their business thither. The public archives have also been removed. Meanwhile, the evaluation proceeds. Tlio vell-to-do people have go:io and the military authorities have made preparation to , remove the cniire popub.i.on if necessary. The Stnte-ounrd railway has been ordered to mobilise ito rolling stock for that purpose. The continuous air raids intensify the prevailing feeling of alarm, ami the arrival of refugees at remoter towns lias caused apprehension. The newspapers.seek to allay alarm by stating that vigorous defensive measures have been plan-ned.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. i , GALLANT EXPLOIT BY,HIGHLANDERS MENTIONED IN SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S DISPATCHES. , , (Rec. September 22, 5.5 p.m.) .. London, September 21. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "On the occasion ,of the hostile' attack on 'Moeuvres on September 17 a- corporal and six men of the 16th Battalion of Highland Light Infantry (52nd Division), forming the garrison of one of our posts just north of the village, was surrounded and believed to have been captured. During the two days in which the Germans were in occupation of Moeuvres this party maintained their position with great gallantry and inflicted many casualties on the enemy.' On the night of September 19-20, when Moeuvres was retaken by us, the whole party regained their ' unit without loss."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. THE OFFICIAL REPORTS ' STRONG POSITIONS CAPTURED BY THE BRITISH ,\ ■ ' London, September 20. Sir Douglas Haig reports :—"Towards midday on Thursday the English attacked the Lempiro-Epehy sector, and in spite' of considerable opposition, and in face of heavy artillery and machinc-gnn fire, made valuable progress to a depth of over a mile beyond the lino previously gained in this locality. We captured, after obstinate resistance, tha strong point called Malassis Farm, and also a nttmber of small woods, posts, and defended localities form-ing-part'of our old defences. We attacked last night and recaptured Moeuvres. Tho eiMnny's resistance was obstinate, and lighting continues. A few prisoners wprn taken in local engagements , elsewhere on the battlefront, and also north-west of Hullich. Wr repulsed raiders r.ortli of Lens." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-lleiiter. • (Rec/ .September 22, 5.5 p.m.) ■ - London, Sepetmber 20, 11.50 p in. Sir Douglas Haig's report states: "Tho Scots completed the recapture of Moeuvres this morning, overcoming the resistance of a party of the enemy ■who were still holding out in tho,village. The enemy dolivered a strong local attack north-west of Hulluch this i:.rrning after a heavv bombardment. We completely repulsed the attack, taking ,i number of prisoners. The English troops carried out a successful minor operation this morning north-west of La Bassee, and advanced the line on u frcntago of 2J miles as far as tho villages of Rue do Jlarais and La Tourelle, and beat off a counter-attack after sharp fighting. ,, —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. • (Rec. Sept-ember 22, 5.5 p.m.) London, September 21. Sir Douglas Haig reports: ''Yosterday afternoon fresh attacks on our losts northward of Moeuvres were repulsed. During the ovening the enemy heavily bombarded our positions in the neighbourhood of Gauche Wood, oml succeeded in pressing back slightly one of our advanced posts northward of tho wood. All night the enemy made repeated and determined attempts with nammenwerfer and bombs to drive in our positions in thin locality. AH these attacks were repulsed after hard fighting. At night our lino was advanced slightly north-east of Bellengliese. This morning fighting recommenced in the sector east of Epeby. We improved our positions slightly last night west of Messines, capturing a German strong point. Wo made progress south-east of Ypres."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Rotiter. (Rec. September 22, 11.40 p.m ( ) London, September 21, 10.35 p.m. flit Douglas Haig reports :—"ln a minor operation this morring, oastpfta. of Epelvy, the English troops successfully advanced their lino after neavy fighting. Strong opposition was encountered at all points, and later the enemy launched a number of counter-attacks in considerable strength.

Dospito resistance, we made substantial progress on the whole front of attack. In conjunction with this attack tlio Australians niado furthor propress iu a completely successful operation in the Hargicourt sector, taking prisoners."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Renter. HEAVY COUNTER-ATTACKS SMASHED BY THE FRENCH London, September 20. . A French communique stales:—"ln the region of St. Quentin last evening we captured •Essigny-lp-Grand, and took moro prisoners. South of the Ailettb the night was marked by violent enemy reactions. Five times his counter-attacks were smashed against our new positions, north of Allcmant and cast of Moiscy Farm. Tito enemy, whose losses were very heavy, did not achieve tho slightest result. Wo gained ground north-east of Vailly. An enemy attempt to cross the Vesl eat iTonchery failed. Our reconnaissances penetrated the enemy lines north-west of Sounin."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (RflC. September 22, 5.5 p.m.) ' , London, September 20. A French communique states: ''We advanced eastwards' of Essigny-le-6rand and also on the Moisy Farm plateau, capturing prisoners. There was lively artillery activity in the region of St. Quentin. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. September 22, 11.40 p.m.) , London, September 21. A French communique states:—"At night our troops, operating in the region of St. Quentin., captured Benay, and made progress northward of that place. Wa repulsed an enemy counter-at ( taok against Castres. Our artillery was active in the region olf the plateau northward of the Aisne. In' Lorraine two German, attempts again st our posts toward Arracourt and Anosrvillers were without 1 result."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ' i THE ENEMY'S REPORT (Rec. September 2-2, 5.5 p.m.) London, September 20. A wireless German official report states: "AVe repulsed repeated strong counter-attacks against Gonzeauoourt and on both sides of Epehy, and also attacks between the Omigno rivulet and the Somme."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ' . (Rec. September 22, 11,40' p.m.) ' r ' London, September 21. A wireless German official report states: _ "Southward of. the Somme we withdrew our advanced troops, thus evacuating Essigny-le-Grand. The enemy gained a footing on the high ridges westward of Jouy."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. THE WAR IN THE AIR (Rec. September 22, 5.5 p.m.) t London, September 20. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Clouds and a strong wind interfered ivith the air work, on September 19. We dropped 5J tons of bombs on various targets, and brought down two and drove down two German machines. Xo British machines are missing. Night flying ' was impossible."—Aub.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. September 22, 11.40 p:m.) London, September 21. Sir Douglas Haig's aviation report states: "Despite low clouds and frequent, showers, our aeroplanes carried out useful work on September 20. We destroyed sixteen hostile machines and drove down three out of control. Eleven of ours are missing. We shot down at night a German two-engined bomber. Our, anti-aircraft guns brought down two additional hostile machines during tho last throe days. A total of 26J tons of bombs was dropped on Friday."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. \ i A DEVASTATING RAID ( ' . (Roc, September 22, 11.40 p.m.) London, September 21. Tho Air Ministry reports: "Last night we dropped seventeen tons of bombs in a successful attack on the works at Mannheim, wharves, and factories westward of Karlsruhe, blast furnaces at Burbach, and the aerodromes ■at Boulay, Frescaty, and Morhange. A largo fire broke out at Karlsruhe. Good'bursts were observed at Mannheim. Wo directly hit the hangars at Frescaty and Morhange, and shot down one hostilo machine. One British machine has not returned."—Aus.nN.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. 1,750,000 AMERICANS IN FRANCE ( , j (Rec. Septemberl 22, 5.5 p.m.) j Washington, September 20. General March (United States Chief of Staff) has announced that one million seven hundred and fifty thousand American troops have been sent to France.r—All6.-N.Z. Cable Assn. i ■