FIFTH DAY OF THE GREAT BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 8, 4 October 1918, Page 5

FIFTH DAY OF THE GREAT BATTLE

TERRIFIC FIGHTING ENEMY PREPARES TO RETREAT FROM FLANDERS .. . — . ' • ' .1 By Telegraph—Press iESociation-Oopyrislit Amsterdam, October 2. British warships again bombarded the Belgian coast on Tuesday night. 'A great fire was observed in the direction of Bruges. :i "Les Nouvellcs" reports that the Germans arc constructing pontoon bridg&s over-the Meuse,opposite all,the Belgian roads- leading to the river. They have completed preparations for blowing up fixod bridges. . Civilians have evacuated- Courtrai, Soubaix, and Lille, and are arriving at Antwerp and Liego'in great numbers.—Aub.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

EARLY EVACUATION OF BELGIUM London, October' 2. The "Daily -Express" correspondent at Amsterdam says that von Falkenhausen's military secretary, speaking ,to a . leading Dutchman at The ■ Hague on Monday, said: "Our plans aro ready for an early evacuation of Belgium. The Germans will return to the frontier in. order, to show the world that they really want to defend the Fatherland." It is rumoured that the Dutch authorities have taken a hint and are strengthening tho Belgian frontier to prevent violation of Dutch territory- by tile retreating Germans.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. October 3, 9.10 p.m.) Washington, October 2. Dispatches from Holland state that the Germans are removing stores and guns from the Belgian coast, German civilians have been recalled, and naval reserves stationed at 'Antwerp are said to be preparing to leave Belgium.— . Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asm.,., AUSTRALIANS EAST OF THE HINDENBURG LINE (Rec. October 4, 1.35 a.m.) >' ' London, October 3. _ General Monash has wired Mr. Hughes that the Australians captured all their objectives' to-day east of the Hindenburg line.—United Service. , FRENCH REACH THE AISNE CANAL , , , . ' London, October 2. Tho French have reached the Aisne Canal (between Reims and Berry-au- ' Bac. A New York message states that tho Germans, are retreating across the canal, and that the French are in pursuit—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE AMERICAN ADVANCE IN THE ARGONNE .. . ' ' Washington, October 2. ■ 1 ho Americans are making good progress in the Argonno Forest, and the enemy is withdrawing on the American left towards the Kreimhilde line.— Aus.-N.Z.'Cable Assn.. CORRESPONDENTS' DISPATCHES ADVANCING WAIST-HIGH IN FLANDERS MUD . . London, October 2. ■ Correspondents point out that tho heavy rains i have convorted the Belgian battlefield into a quagmire. Our troops, during tho remarkably successful advance, waded throughout in mud which was waist-high in places. The Belgians displayed extraordinary spirit when they learned that the 100 th ■ Regiment of Saxons, who were, the perpetrators of the Dinant outrages, were opposed to-them. The principal haul of prisoners and guns was scoured in the Houthulst Wood. Anticipating a big capture of guns, additional guncrows accompanied the advance, and promptly turned the weapons: on tho retreating troops. It is reported that 500 Germans who had surrendered seized weapons'and began shooting the Belgians in the hack. Tlioy paid dearly for their troacliery, for -nono reached the prisoners' cages. The German casualties wero heavy, and the German dead outnumbered ours in places by four to one.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. THE BATTLE OF CAMBRAI-ST. QUENTIN GALLANT ATTACKS BY THE CANADIANS. . ~ '. , i , London, October 2. Mr. Percival Phillips writes: "Th e German Seventeenth Armv Headquarters issued an order that Cambrai must not fall. Meanwhile, the enemy massed fresh divisions around tho beleaguered town. General von Below is determined to fight to a finish. Tho C! amu |i alls nfc.g o'clock this morning drove again with their full weight behind a nioving screen .of- red hut metul town ids tho Scheldt Canal northward of the town. Eight Gorman divisions, including rested and newly-trained reserves, aro wedged in depth nloii"- j'J „ miles of front between Cambrai and Anbenchcul, by the Seuseo River. * Canadians suffered severe losses, but this only stifFoued them. The Canadians underwent a hard ordeal yesterday, when t-liey failed to progress on their battlefront. They swung forward against devastating machine-gun fire, and pushed into Blecouft and Tilloy, but by. sheer force of shell the Germans pressed them back. General Currio withdrew his men, and swiftly planned a heavier barrage, and attacked again to-day along the whole front. Despite German reinforcements," the. Canadians by 9 o'clock had reached the Morencheis-Pontaire bridgehead and Ramillies on the north. As tho Canadians fought in the villages and over tho spurs a. great pillar of smoke arose from Cambrai, indicating it was on fire. As expected, the enemy had dc-

liborately started the fires, for no British shell fell within tho town. Despite their dogged resistance, the Germans must have realised that their tnslc was hopeless. Fighting southward and south-westward of the town, where English, Scottish, and other troops wero engaged, resulted in a further advance around that side of Cambrai. With the Australians and Mew Zcaiandars, , One of the finest exploits has been the storming of the German salient esntward of Marcoing. The New Zealamlcrs participated in this, and cleared tho south hnuk of the canal, and, co-operating with the Yorkshires, entered Crcvccoenr; while yesterday tho Australians bombed their way northward through tho Hindenburg trenches towaids Bony, and made considerable progress. They attacked this morning with a stiff barrage between Bony and Joncourt, pushing north-eastward, and occupying tho Mill Ridge and Estrees. Other, troops took Lavergies. The Australian movement threatens the German garrison at Gouy. They found strong resistance in a patch of old trenches between Nauroy and Estrees, where tho Germans maintained a lamp signalling station for tho Hindenburg line. As tho result of to-day's operations, we are establishel nearly four miles eastward of the Hindenburg main defences. At somo points southward of Veiulhuile we are against the southern end of the so-called Masnieres-Beaurevoir line, which wo already hold north of Veiidluiile, while behind it there is no well-established continuous trench "system.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. HINDENBURG SYSTEM A SIEVE (Rec. October 3, 7.30 p.m.) London, October 2. The United Press _ Agoncy's correspondent writes that- tho Hindenburg system has become a sieve. It soon will be a memory, and open warfare on a scale similar to tho first invasion will bo made possible. 'Hi: British Ninth Corps, co-operating with tho Australians oil the right, smashed the German resistance along tho main line and traversed the supporting trench system, called the Bea'urevoir line, taking Beaurovoir, Weaiicourt, and Sequch&rt. _ This enabled the French to advance straight eastward above St. Quentin, cutting off the latter, and' compelling its evacuation. The French found it necessary to pierce the Hindenburg system only on a narrow front, the\Germans getting out of the trenches, which formed a semicircle in front of the citj The Fall of St. Quentin. The United Press correspondent states: "St. Quentin has been one of the real bastions of the Gorman super-defensive system.. Its fall might have happened two days '.earlier in connection with the American-Australian drive but for the unexpected strength of tho Germans in the. vicinity of Vendhuille, which enabled them to forco a wedge between the Americans, who had gone ahead, and the Australians, requiring tho latter to spend two days in mopping up. This delayed the plan, but finally the Australians mado a complete job of it, as is shown by'tlie occupation of the Beaurovoir line and the capture of Vendhuille. Some of the finest fighting of the whole of the operation was that of tho British 46th Division and part of tlie 9th Corps, which, following tho Americans' first, rush, broko the Hindenburg line on the adjoining sector, maintained their alignment, and took 4000 prisoners. With fires burning at Cambrai and the city believed to be heavily mined—thrco great underground chambers there offer tho Germans an unexampled opportunity for mining—the Allies are still avoiding a direct assault. One thousand seven hundred Germans were taken prisoner in the capture of Crevetoeur and Rumilly, with all tho heights northwestward of these."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. PROBABLY THE DECISIVE BATTLE OF THE WAR London, October 2. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: "Probably the decisive battle of the war is being fought on the Canibrai front. Tho enemy is putting in tho utmost possible strength, fearing that if the English and Canadian spearhead • drives deeper abovo or below tho city he will be forced to a full retreat on the open plains, and his wliolo defensive position will be turned. Consequently he has.brought up his strougest reinforcements. They are all fighting with desperate courage; but tlie defences are now crumbling under, our pressure. Tuesday's and Wednesday's fighting was the most critical of this battle. If wo can beat the enemy where he now stands we will have driven him out of his last continuous defences organised left towards the Kreimhildo line." —Aus,-N.Z. Cable Assn. v LONG BITTER BATTLE STILL RAGING (Rec. October 3, 10.10 p.m.) ■ London, October 2. Keuter's correspondent at British Headquarters says: "The long and bitter battle is still raging, but has turned so definitely in' our favour that it would not be premature to call it a great victory. Tho enemy's desperate doggedness and endurance aro alone wardjng off an immeasurable disaster. By the afternoon of October 1 tho Australians had breached the WancourtBeaurevoir line, which is the last rearward outpost defence of the Hindenburg system, thus giving tho French flank a covering for the capture of St. Quentin. The whole of the German resistance haß stiffened during the last few days, which is rather remarkable, seeming to indicate the enemy's sudden consciousness that he is fighting with his back to tlio wall. This is confirmed by the sullenness and subdued savageness exhibited by recent prisoners. Northward of our chief tactical gain, tli e battle swayed with, incrediblo fury. Wo gained and maintained the high ground between Crevocourt and Rumilly, sending back batches of prisoners. The Canadians fought against heavy numerical odds m the spirit of men who would not bo brooked, and inflictcd tho heaviest losses* on'the enemy. In Flandors, tho Belgians, pushing cn through mud often hip high, drew nearer Roulers, taking Hoogelo and Handazene. Our Second.Army, equally handicapped by the condition of the ground, continued to open its great crab-claw towards 'Armontieres, and took Le Bixet, north of the town, this morning. The enemy's opposition is increasing as reinforcements appear in the line. The whole Hindenburg system below/Bellicourt tunnel is now reported to be in our hands. Strong patrols aro working through tho tunnel and mi!ny lateral galleries. This mornin» the Australians were exploiting yesterday's gains and going on, likewise the English and Canadian divisions, between Lo Catel'et and the Senseo. As the climax of the war approaches the fighting grows more intense and studendous. Never was there such a searching tost of human, endurance and killing. The pace cannot be long maintained."—Reuter,

THE OFFICIAL REPORTS FURTHER ADVANCE IN FLANDERS . London, October 2. A Belgian communique states: "The Franco-Belgians made further progress in the directions of Hooglede and Routers. The British' seized Lcdesrhem and also seized the Lys between Wervicq and Comines—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-ileuteiV ON THE FONSOMME-BEAUREVOIR LINE ■ . . . London, October 2, 12.10 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "After maintaining strong pressure.earlier in the day the Thirty-sccond Division successfully attacked in the afternoon the centre of the German defensive line from Fonsomme to the neighbourhood of Bcaurevoir. They captured Sequoharb and Pressclles and made a breach in the Fonsomnie-Beaurevoir line. Northwards we cleared Joncourt of the enemy. The Australians completed the capture of the defences south of Le Catelot and Gouy, Southward of .Cambrai a fierce struggle all day long terminated in a successful attack at dusk by which tho New Zealandors and tho English and Scottish drove out the enemy from Crevecoour and Rumilly and'established themselves on the high ground eastward and northward of thoso villages. Several hundred prisoners were taken in these opera-tions."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ON THE FRENCH FRONT London, October 2. A French communique states : "In St. Quentin a very lively action occurred in the night, the enemjr being thrown over to the east bank of tho canal, whero ho resists energetically. Between the Aisno and tho Vesle wo gained freah advantages. West of Reims wo hold Pouillon, Thil, and the southern outskirts of Villers-Franqueux. Tho St. Thierry massif is in our hands. We also gained ground north of La Neuvillotto, and carried our-lines to the southern outskirts of Betheny."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assmt-lteuter. THE ENEMY'S REPORT (Roc. October 3, 7.30 p.m.) London, October 2, 7.30 p.m. A wireless German ofucial report states: "We withdrew from parts of the salient linqk near St. Quentin, north-west of Reims, and westward'of the Argonno. The enemy gained a footing at Ledeghem. Our counter-attack re- ' gained the oastern part. On tho fifth day of the Cambrai battle we repulsed' seven assaults northward of Sancourt and further south. The cneniv advanced beyond Abancourt and Bantigny. The enemy's assault broke down south of Cambrai. The enemy captured Rumilly and occupied St. Quentin. Wo withdrew from tho Vesle."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reutcr. ' THE WAR IN THE AIR WIDESPREAD TERROR ON THE RHINE. (Rec. October 3, 7.30 p.m.) London, October 1 The Press Bureau reports: "A neutral who has returned from Germany states that widespread terror prevailson tho Rhine owing to the British'air raids. The central portion of tho Frankfurt main station is so damaged that Hie trains are unable to enter; they arrive and depart from improvised wooden platforms some distance from thu station."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reutcr. COMMENTS ON THE SITUATION Bid GERMAN RETREAT MAY HAPPEN. . (R-ec. October 3, 7.30 p.m.) London, October 2. The situation on tlm Western front is most interesting. The loss of St. Quentin and the positions to tho northward must result in the enemy's retirement on a fairly largo scale, probably greater than t.he nrosent lighting indicates, Thero should be a big change in tho situation before the winter. Tbe weather is now unfavourable. If it permits the Allies to continue tho

pressure tho enemy may lie compelled to make serious and far-reaching changes to save his .Western front. Tho Flanders advanco irjusfc slow •down until the guns como ui'. The'enemy is vigorously contesting tiho Cambrai sector, where lie massed many divisions. The Allied capture of iHumilly and Crevcoeur and the high ground northwards and eastwards constitutes a serious threat, and may compel the German retreat in the region nl ! Le Catelct or coop the enemy in.an awkward corner between Cambrai ami' tho Scarpc. Wo have broken through tho lino between I'onsOmme and Beam c voir. it is still uncertain what lines lie has in tho rear. 110 certainly has some, though the present fracture makes tlio position most serious and threatens his lino of retreat from tlio Oiso valley and from the St. Gobain massif, which is in process of being turned. The enemy is being pushed back vigorously between tlio Aisne and tho Vesle, tho French having advanced from throe to four miles on ton miles of front. Tho Germans are now retreating fa the 1917 lino behind tho Ailctte. and tho Aisne. In Champagne tho French 'have made small gains in spite of tho enemy's resistance at a place where he cau hardly afford to give any ground—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.