10,000 PRISONERS AND 200 GUNS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 14, 11 October 1918, Page 5

10,000 PRISONERS AND 200 GUNS

./.«. THE CAPTURE OF CAMBRAI RAPID PROGRESS BETWEEN THE SOMME AND THE SENSEE The High Commissioner reports:— London, October 9, 11.10 p.m. Sir, Douglas Haig reports: "We defeated the enemy on the St. Quen- . tin-Cambral front, capturing 10,000 prisoners and about 200 guns. We are thus enabled to advance en the whole front between the Somme and the Senses, and are making rapid progress eastwards. The whole of ' Gambrai has been captured." , ON THE ROAD TO LE CATEAU By Telegraph-Press A6sociatioh~Copyriirttf (Rec. October 10, 8.15 p.m.) London, October 9. The attack on Tuesday between Cambrai and St. Quentin yielded a total of 11,000 prisoners and over .200 guns. ' We now hold the Cambrai-S't. Quentin railway, having made a maximum advance of five miles, reaching Bertry, on.the road towards Le Cateau. Successive explosions in Cambrai have practically recced the town to ruins. The German retreat is developing every hour. AVe have covered nine miles in two dnvs. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable !Assn. ENEMY.; IN GENERAL RETREAT . RETIREMENT TO THE OISE LINE • . . (Rec. October 11, 0.50 a.m.) ' *\. London,.. OctobeNlO. " The enemy"is'in:general retreat between the> 'Scarpe and St. Quentin. They are already.hack from two to three:miles. Their resistance this morning was very weak.' The Anglo-French troops are not yet in contact with the main bodies of the enemy, who have set lire to Bohain and Bussigny. They are apparently going back to the line of the Oise. The enemy in the Argonne is going behind the Aire. The Anglo-French advance now threatens Voiiziers. The enemy is bound to fight here steadily owing to h.is important communications behind. The general situation is such that at any moment there may be a German retirement anywhere including one on tlie Belgian coast'.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MR. LLOYD GEORGE'S CONGRATULATIONS (Rec. October 10, 11.30 p.m.) The Press Bureau states:— London, October 10. The Premier (Mr..Lloyd George) has sent.the following message to Sir Douglas Haig:—"l have just heard from Marshal Foch of the brilliant victory won by the First, Third, and Fourth Armies, -and wish to express to yourself, Generals Byng, Rawlinson, and Hornd, and all the Officers and men under your command my sine'erest congratulations on the great and significant success_ which the British Army, with '.heir American brothers-in-arms, has gained during the past few. days. The. courage and tenacity with which the Empire's troops, after withstanding the terrific onslaughts of last spring, have again resumed the offensive with such decisive results, is the greatest chapter of our military history. The smashing of the enemy's great defensive system in the West, winch ho claimed to be impregnable, is a feat of which we are all justly proud, and for which tho Emnire will bo ever grateful."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. OFFICIAL REPORTS i ' London, October 8, 11.30 p.m. bir Douglas Haig reports: "Early this morning the Third and Fourth Armies attacked on a twenty-mile front betweon St. Quentin and Crambrai, and advanced on the whole front to an'average depth of three miles. The night was stormy, making the assembly of troops difficult. The assault was launched an steady ram, but as' the atteck progressed the weather cleared, favouring the operations, which were completely successful. On tho extreme right of the attack the 6th Division, with part of another English 'division, drove tho enemy trom the high ground south-east and east of Jlontbrehain, and captured iieauregard. In the right centre, the 30th American Division, under General Lewis, captured Brancourt after heavy ftehting, and further to the north-east took Premont, completing a successful advance of over three miles, m which they drove the enemy from a number of farms and woods. On the Americans left, the English, Scottish, .and Irish troops, including troops of the Ath and 66th Division, made equal progress. They captured Sorain early in the day. In the centre, the British and Welsh, of the 38th and 21?t Divisions, broke through the German defences known as the Beaurevoirline, captmed Malincourt and the trench-line west of AValincourt. Ihey encountered obstinate resistance from strong parties of tho enemy with machine-guns at Villers Outreaux, which the Welsh captured after hard ngn.mg. In the lelt centre, the 37th and New Zealand Divisions also broke through the Beaurevoir-Masuieres line, and made deep progress east of the line, the New Zealandors stormed Losdain, and captured Esnes. On the left the attack ot our 2nd, 3rd, and 63rd Divisions met with hard fighting about faeranvillers and Niergnies, and along the line of the Esnes-Oanibrai Road. The enemy strongly counter-attacked in this sector, using tanks, and pressed us back a short distance, but the counter-attack was stopped and the enemy's tanks were put out of action. AVe took possession of Seranvillersand Nierg.mes. Shortly past midnight the Canadians attacked northwards of Cambrai, captured Ramillies, and entered Cambrai. AVe resumed the advance to the north of the Scarpe, and completed the -capture of the German trench system known as the Fresnesntkuvroy line, from the Searpe to.beyond Oppy, and captured Fresnes-lez-Montauban and Neuvireuil, taking several thousand prisoners and many guns. Progress continues on the whole front."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. .... Later. bir Douglas Haig reports: "AVe made further progress yesterday evening east of Sequehart, and in the direction of Bohain and Maretz. AA'e reached the western outskirts of AValincourt, and gained the lino of the La TargettcCambrai Road, capturing Florenville. The Third and Fourth Armies at 5.30 this morning again attacked on tho whole of their front, and made rapid progress everywhere. Shortly after midnight the Canadians attacked north of Cambrai. Ramillies was captured, and crossings over the Canal l'Escaut were secured in the neighbourhood of Ramillies and wo entered Cambrai. Yesterday's prisoners exoeed 8000, and many guns were taken."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. A GLOWING WATCH (Rec. October 10, 5.15 p.m.) London, October 10, 0.25 a.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "AVo inflioted a heavy defeat upon the enemy yesterday.between Cambrai and St. Quentin, taking over 10,000 prisoner's and between a hundred and two hundred guns. No fewer than twenty-three German divisions were engaged on this front, and were severely handled. As the result of this action we have advanced to-day on the wholo front between the Somme and the Sensee, and are making rapid progress eastwards, capturing the enemy's rearguard detachments, isolated batteries, and mach-ine-gun positions. A number of the inhabitants who had been left in the captured villages met us with enthusiasm, The wholo of Cambrai is in our posvgasion. The Canadians of the First Army entered Cambrai from the north, while later the English of tho. Third Army passed through the southern portions of the town,

Since September 21 the British First, Third, and Fourth Annies have broken through the whole of an elabor ato series of deep defensive zones, built-up sucessive beds, and heavily fortified trench lines, including tho entiro Hindenburg system, on a front of 35 miles from St. Qucntin to Arras, having penetrated this battle area to a depth of between thirty and forty miles. We are now operating far beyond and eastward of the Hindenburg defences. During theso operations, and since tho dato mentioned, wo inflicted very heavy losses in killed and wounded. Wo took over 110,000 prisoners and captured 1200 guns. This feat of arms ha s been performed by British troops who had already withstood tho first heavy onslaught of tho enemy's main forces last spring. Only the stubborn endurance and determined spirit of these troops permitted them to pass to the offensive with such conspicuous success. By their heroic action in defence and attack our men from aLI parts of the Empire have proved themselves to be soldiers of; the highest order. Our advance continues. We reached this aftemoon a general line from Bohain to Bussigny and thence to Caurier."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. ON THE FRENCH FRONT London, October 8. A French communique states: "North-east of St. Quentin the French, in conjunction with the British, attacked this morning on: a front of six miles, and, in spite of stubborn resistance, penetrated strong positions and made important progress. We captured Fontaine-TJterte and Bcllecourt Farm, and reached the south-western outskirts of Essigny-10-Petit.- We conquered the woods east of Tilloy, Hill 131, and the village of llouvroy (east of St. QuenOver 1200 prisoners have now been taken. On the Suippe front, fighting continued all day. The Germans strove vigorously to recover the captured positions. Their counter-attacks on the north bank against Orainville and the Pont Givart brideghead were repulsed. Further east the enemy several times unsuccessfully attempted to eject us. from Bazancourt. North of tho Arnes the French and Americans gained fresh successes. Supported by tanks, they drove back the enemy over two miles north of St. Pierre-a-Arnes. On tho right bank of the Aisne we captured tho plateau north-east of Outry, and reached the southern outskirts of Laucon, taking numerous prisoners."— Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. Later. A French communique, issued at 4.35 in the evening, states: "Southeast of St. Quentin during the night we carried bitterly defended German positions between Harly and Neuville-St. Amand, and enveloped the village of .Neuville-St. Amand from the north. The artillery duel is violent south of the Oise, and on the Scarpe front to the north of the Arnes the Germans attempted to deprive us of our gains made yesterday, but failed with heavy losses."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. AMERICANS CLEARING THE VERDUN AREA ; London, October 8. An American official report states: "We captured Cbrnay, and against stubborn fighting continued to advance in the Argonne Forest. The French and Americans east of the Meuso brilliantly attacked in the vicinity of the Caures and Haumont Woods, and occupied the villages of Consenvoye, Brabant, Haumont, and Beaumont, and drove tho enemy well beyond them. In co-operation with the French, on both banks of tho Meuse, we are pushing hack the enemy from the scene of the desperate struggles for Verdun. Today's total of prisoners exceeds 3COO, of whom 1600 were taken by the French east of the Meuse. This) command has captured over 4000 prisoners in the last few days."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. , ' ON THE FLANDERS FRONT London, October 9, 12.25 a.m. A Belgian communique states: "The enemy during the night violently bombarded our front line in. the outskirts of Ro'ulers, and in the daytime bombarded Nieuport and Clercken, and also the back areas. Enemy aeroplanes were very active, machine-gunning our front lines at Moorslede, and Passchen-flaelo."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. THE- ENEMY'S REPORT London, October 9. A German official message states: "There has been fresh heavy fighting between Cambrai and S't. Quentin, in the Champagne, and on the Meuse. Wo repulsed tho enemy south of Cambrai and north of S't. Quentin. The enemy gained ground in the centre of the battlefront at this point. We are fighting west of Bohain, along the roads from Bohain to Cambrai and St. Quen-tin."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ■ CRcc. October 10, 9.55 p.m.) London, October 9. A wireless German official report states: "Between St. Quentin and Cambrai we occupied positions in tho roar, thereby giving up Cambrai." — Aus.-N.Z. O.ible Assn.-Eeuter. ' ' '. (Hec. October 10, 11.30 p.m.) London, October 10. A wireless German official message states: "We broke up the enemy's assault west of the Cambrai-Bonain lload, on both sides of tho R'oemer Eoad. I In the direction of Le Cateau, tho enemy made a deeper breach in our lines. We stopped his thrust on the lino from Walincomt to FJincourt, and west of Bohain. On the southern wing of the attack the enemy gained little ground. Our troops were threatened in flank by a breach in the centre of' the battle front, and were forced to withdraw their wing to the western border of Fresnoy-le-Grand. In Champagne, the Franco-American forces in great iorce only succeeded in breaking our lines on both sides of St. Etienne. Our counter-attack drove them out. Between Brabant and Ornes the enemy forced his way into Consenvoye Woods, t where we brought him to a .stand-still:"—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. :

THE WAR IN THE AIR EXPLOITS DURING THE FLAN'DERS OFFENSIVE. London, October !). A detailed account of tho part of tho airmen in the Flanders 'offensive, beginning on September 28, shows that a hundred machines started at daybreak in thick weather, ill flew low. One pilot from a height of two hundred feet put out of action a battery at Staden, and another from a height of a hundred feet wrecked n train at Thourout and machine-gunned the troops who emerged. Altogether three trains were ignited and four others were hit. Other. machines near Merckem found a transport column a mile long. Eighteen bombs were dropped and wrought havoc', barricading the road with wrecked lorries, dead and dying men and horses. The work continued all night. A number of Belgian divisions on October 1 were unable to draw' supplies because the roads were impassable, and eighty aeroplanes dropped ten thousand rations.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. VALUABLE WORK IN THE GREAT ADVANCE. (Rec. Ootober 10, 11.30 p.m.) London, Ootober 10. Sir Douglas Haig, in his aviation Teport. states: "Our air squadrons were active on the whole front, keeping in close touch with our advancing troops. Smoke curtains dropped round the enemy's strong points proved of great value. Aeroplanes with bombs and machine-gun fire scattered the infantry and transport. We dropped 21 tons of bombs, destroyed ten aeroplanes, and drove down two out of control. Seven British machines are missing. Our night-flyers dropped 23} tons on railways and communications, hit and derailed two trains, and started several large fires at the railway sidings. All the machines returned."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. A NEW INCENDIARY AIR BOMB. (Rec. October 11, 0.50 a.m.) Paris, October 9. The German airmen are using a new and highly effective incendiary bomb; each aeroplane carries two hundred. The spread of fires can only be checked by isolation of localities where chemicals explode.—Reuter. COMMENT ON THE SITUATION . ENEMY FACED WITH FURTHER RETREAT. London, October 9. Tho situation is extremely interesting, particularly in the Oise Valley, at the St. Gobain .massif, and in the direction of Laon. Tho enemy will be soon compelled to abandon all this sector and fall back on a shorter line. The enemy is resisting strongly in the American sector, but the American casualties are not half the number of the prisoners taken. The enemy is counter-attacking heavily on the Suippe, holding up the French advance, but progress towards Machault and Mauroy threatens the eastern flank of the enemy's lines on the Suippe. The British advance is being continued against less resistance than yesterday, the enemy having fallen back during the night.—Aus.'N.Z. Cable Assn. FOCH'S STRATEGY London, October 9. A French Headquarters' correspondent wrote on Tuesday afternoon: "With the extension of the battle to the east of the Meuse, tho entire front is active from Roulers to the Woevre. Tho offensive is at the moment heaviest on three main sectors, corresponding to the wings and the centre—on the Cambrai-St. Queutin front, along the Suippe, and on the Meuse. Marshal Foch, in the intermediate zones, contents himself with steady pressure. For tho moment General Mangin, between the Oise and the. Aisne, is vigilantly following every movement of the enemy. The battle in the Eastern Champagne has died down. Here the Germans have thrown reserves against our troops, who Jmve been fighting uninterruptedly for weeks. Marshal Foch has countered by extending the battle across the Meuse with the aid of the vast American reserves, and the Germans must again find reinforcements." —Aus.--N.Z. Cable Assn. THE NEW ALLIED LINE ON THE MAP (Rec. October 11, 1.10 a.m.) London, October 9. The Allied lino now runs as follow s:—We hold Abancourt, north of Cambrai, Hamilles, Escadoeuvres, Avoingt, Bertray, and Bussigny. The possession of the last two named is doubtful. We have reached the western edge of Bohain, the westorn edge of Fresnoy, and west of Fonsomme. Thence the line turns _ due south of Mazieres ; We are through all the enemy's fortified zones in this area. The Bituation is growing in interest very rapidly

owing to the huge snlients which are growing hourly, and consequently lengthening the lino the Gormans must hold. There is no news as to where the German retreat is likely to stop. Tho lighting to-day was with only weak rearguards. Yesterday the enemy employed twenty-three divisions on n 20mile front. Thoy vainly strove to beat back our attacks, and consequently were hammered in fair fight, and the present retreat was forced upon them. In the Argonne the Franco-American attacks is progressing, but there are no details.—Renter. VERDUN FREED FROM GERMAN MENACE ENEMY EVACUATING TEE ARGONNE FOREST. ' London, October 9. Tlie French and American success east of the Meuse has definitely freed Verdun. The "Echo de Paris" states that owing to the latest advance the Germans are hastily evacuating the Forest of Argonne.—<Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. 10,000 TONS OF SHELLS PER DAY! BRITISH ARTILLERY'S WORK FOR FIFTEEN SUCCESSIVE DAYS. ■ (Eflc. October 10, 7.15 p.m.) London, October 9. Mr. Winston Churchill, speaking at Glasgow, said: "For nearly fifteen successive days we fired over ten thousand tons of shells per day." He said he recently had been shown a captured order by von Ludeiidorff which said: "In a single month the enemy 1 b fire destroyed over 13 per cent, of the German artillery."—Reuter.