FALL OF LE CATEAU

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 15, 12 October 1918, Page 7

FALL OF LE CATEAU

BRITISH ADVANCE TEN MILES ; y FURTHp SUCCESS BY THE FRENCH ■v ; GREAT HAUL OF PRISONERS ' AND BOOTY RUMOURED ABDICATION OF \ ■■

.'. '" To-day's reports .throw new light upon the magnitude of the ylctory won by,the,British armies in their eastward drive on the Cam-brai-St. Quentin front. It is now apparent that the German de- '.'.' fence collapsed and gave way disastrously under the tremendous ■. British onset. - The attacking troops, aro within two miles of Le "■' .'Gateau; and twelve miles ahead of their starting point.. The enemy r is striving desperately to patch his broken line, but it is stated that airmen report a remarkable confusion of troops and transport moving'eastward from Le Cateau. Further south the French are now v..five miles, east -of St. Quentin, and in the north the British are following up. an enemy retreat ca st of' Lens. The French and Americans are steadily gaining ground at .various points on the Reims- * Verdun front. Military authorities in Paris are of the opinion that ? the enemy is under the necessity of immediately beginning an px- ■ '" tended retreat. There are. interesting reports about Turkey and the ..' 6taie.of affairs in the Balkans. Advices from Vienna state that the i Ministerial Council has decided to introduce national autonomy, ;. "thereby meeting President Wilson's stipulation.". Persistent rui moiirs of the Kaiser's abdication have drawn a formal denial from "■Berlin. A late unofficial message state's that Le Cateau has been . .'.captured... ' ' -\ - '.''■•

LE CATEAU CAPTURED

(BRITISH ADVANCE REACHED A DEPTH OF TEN MILES : - FRENCH CAPTURE SERVAIS '' -h ...■...'•■ . By Telegraph-Press Aesociation-.Cojjrinlvi ..,:'■ ' (Rec. October 12, 1.15 am.) ,' l Vancouver, October 11. The British advance has reached an average' depth of ten miles. Le Cateau has been captured. The line runs from the Selle River to St. Souplet ... and Solmes. The French east of St. Quentin 'have advanced four miles, and '. captured Servais (south of La Fere).—Renter. .-.•■', - . New York, October 10. ■■i The British-American advance south-east of Cambrai has brought 1 them to open country, with no barriers until Valenciennes is reached. The French in th»Sf. Quentin area have captured Ma rcy and Fontaine Notre Dame. The . Americans have resumed the offensive in ■ the Argonne. TCast of the Meuse tha French and Americans captured 3000 prisoners, and occupied Charny (?). •-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . :•,'', ■■. DEEP GERMAN/RETIREMENT FORESHADOWED. •"'....''. (Rec. October 11, 7.20 p.m.) .... Paris? October 10. _ The militarists agree that von Ludendorff must ; immediately face a deep, ; . retirement, and'; a. severe contraction of front.—"The Times."

BATTLE PROGRESSING SATISFACTORILY . FOUR GERMAN ARMIES MENACED BY ALLIED FORCES. , London, October 10. ' R«uterVcorrespondent at French Headquarters, writing on Wednesday, says: "From St. Quentin to the .\Voevre the battle progressed satisfactorily to-day. East of St. Quentin General Debeney's troops, after a hitter struggle, broke through the enemy line from Karly to Neuville, which had been converted into a field fortress. . On the extreme right of General army in the Champagne the attack west of the Argonne has given us possession of Vaux-lez-Mourons, practically in the niotith of the Grandpre Valley. North of , the Arnes the Germans are counter-attacking to regain the ground lost yesterday. Everywhere the fighting is extremely hard. The £crmans realise that the key to the whole manoeuvre is in tho centre, between St. Quentin and the: Aisne, where four German armies are crowded into a narrow space, and are menaoed by the' Allied armies, on the north and east of the St. Gobain Forest and the Aisne plateau, where the Germans deemed themselves safe against an attack. The Germans in the Champagne are still holding tenaciously, but wero driven back .at several important points. The Germans on both sides of. St. Quentin-are retreating before the British and French, and ill tbo centre are five jniles east' of St. Quentin. : The French are in the .'Wotan' line, the.Germans' secondary defence! system. The enemy has evidently abandoned the idea of making an offective stand in the Wotan defence's, which are partly in the possession of the French."---Reuter.

, MANY GERMANS THROW DOWN THEIR ARMS. . London, October 10. M. Hutin writes: "Owing to tho rapidity of the Allied attack completely upsetting tjie arrangements-for the withdrawal, large numbers of Germans," for the first time during the war, throw down their arms. Such de- . feats ; will produce an enormous effect on German public opinion. They are ' specially due to the legendary tenacity of the British troops."—Reuter. TWENTY THOUSAND PRISONERS CAPTURED IN TWO DAYS. ; - (Rec. October 11, 7.20 p.m.) Paris, October .10. ■ ■ The Allies have taken 20,000 prisoners in two days, 15,000 being captured on .tho Cnmbrai-St.- Quentin front—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn, ENEMY'S PLANS ENTIRELY UPSET ■ GENERAL MAURICE ANTICIPATES. WITHDRAWAL OF ENEMY'S CENTRE. . London, October 10. • General Maurice, military, correspondent of the "Daily News," considers that the fighting since the second battle of the Marne has entirely upffet the German calculations.. Their object in shortening their line was to economise men; but the only effect has been to force tbom to spend men at a greater rate,than they ever calculated upon. In addition to 200,000 prisoners l taken since tho Jlarno battle began, the German casualties number about a million. The great result of all this fighting is that we are able to strike anywhere and with greater effectiveness. This was proved in Flanders. .As soon as tho enemy withdrew men to reinforce tho Argonhe and Champagne sectors, wo cained ground in Flanders, with astonishing ease. General ( Maurice anticipates the withdrawal of the enemy's centre; but warns his readers against exaggerated i hopes or over-confidence which may lead possibly to future disappointment. t-Aus.-N.Z; Cable Assn. ■

OFFICIAL REPORTS . BRITISH ADVANCE CONTINUED _ _ London, October 10, 1.25 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "We continued to advance yesterday evening against gradually increasing l'esistanco. Early in the night our advanced detachments established themselves across the Cjambrai-Le Cateau road, within two miles of Le Cateau. Fighting is proceeding south of the main road on both sides of Caudry, and also east of G'ambrai, where wo made progress. Between the Scarpe River and lens our patrols are pushing forward, and are ill touch with the enemy west of the general line of Vitry-en-Artois, foe], and Kouvroy. We seem to be in possession of Sallautnines and Novelles (both two miles east of Lens)." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ON THE FRENCH FRONT k , London, October 10. A French communique states: "The furious British and French attacks for soveral days past north and south of St. Qucntin' have forced a general German retreat in that region. To-day our Firet Army pursued the "enemy rearguard between the Somnie Atid the Oise, everywhere shattering local resistance atid taking prisoners. East of the St. Quentin-Le Gateau railway wo Kbu-ns 'Wood and Beautrous village. Further south we passed Fonsomnie

and reached Fontaine -Notre Dame, and captured Marc.v. North of the Oise we- occupied Mezieres-sur-Oise. Our advance is five miles east of St. Quentin. We have taken 2000. prisoners, and also guns and numerous machine-guns. North of tlio Ames we repulsed violent, counter-attacks; and approached nearer Cauroy. Our attacks in the Aisne Valley had satisfactory results. We captured the plateau' and village of Monteheutm, and Grand Ham and Lancon. Wo crossed the Aisno north-east of Montcheutin, and captured Senile, on the'north hank, after a stiff fight, in which wc took 600 prisoners, guns, and machine-guns."

A Inter communique states: ''The pursuit was continued during the niglit. East of St. Quentin we occupied Landricourt Wood, and passed Beautroux and Fontaine Notre Dame. North cf the Aisne we vigorously pressed the enemy east of Ostel. We crossed the Aisne Canal further to the east, in tho neighbourhood of Villcrs-on-Prayeres. In Champagne a vigorous attack enabled us to capture Liry."—Aus.-N.Z. Cabl6 Assn.'Renter. THE ENEMY'S REPORT (Rec. October 11, 9.25 p.m.) London, October 10. A wireless German official report states: "In the face of strong infantry attacks in the direction of Le Cateau we retired fighting step by step towards our new positions. The Franco-Americans' main tnrust on Wednesday between the Airo and the Meuse was directed against Sommerance and Eomagne. Both remain in our hands. We recaptured Sivry, eastward of the Meuse."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ,

THE ADVANCE THROUGH CAMBRAI EVIDENCES OP HURRIED EVACUATION. London, October 10. Reuters correspondent at British Headquarters, writing 011 Wednesday evening, says: "The Canadian patrols were the first to enter Cambrai, and went in this morning, when it was still burning at many points. The Canadians advanced warily through the town, and reached tlio eastern outskirts at sunrise, encountering a thin screen of machine-gunners. The evacuation had evidently been decided upon hurriedly, as a considerable amount of undamaged booty was captured'. A few more German tanks appeared to-day, but wero soon-put out of action, as our artillery advanced' so,rapidly that they were_ knocked out almost as soon as they appeared. The enemy has been hurriedly retreating all day. Everywhere is heard the cry : 'We've got Fritz on the run!' A series of explosions occurred in Cambrai and reduced the town to ruins."—-Reuter,

THE ENEMY'S SWIFT WITHDRAWAL. ■ ■ (Rtx. October 11, 9.25 p.m.) » London, October 10. Renter's correspondent at British Headquarters, writing on October 10, says: '.'The enemy's withdrawal between St. Quentiu and Cambrai yesterday was so rapid that our patrols were scarcely able to maintain touch. Last night this swift retirement seemed to be continuing on our right, but the machine-gun resistance stiffened on the left. Airmen report a remarkable confusion of troops and transport ltoving eastward .from to Cateau. —Reuier. CENTRE OF CAMBRAI DESTROYED WITH INFERNAL •■ MACHINES. < Paris, October 10. Formidable infernal machines were used for blowing up the centre of Cambrai immediately after the retreat. Tho Town Hali and many monuments were destroyed. Squads of British pioneers have amavailingly attempted to prevent the spread -of the fires.—Router. ' '

WORK OF THE VANDALS AND LOOTERS.' Londonj October 10. Mr. Philip Gibbs. writes: "When wo entered Cambrai we were surprised to find so many houses and public buildings standing, but scattered firos burned, and rumbling sounds of falling masonry in other parts gave warning of danger, as it was known that the place might be mined and booby-traps were probable. I saw a proclamation on one door, signed by Commander Gloss, notifying the inhabitants early in September that they should be prepared to move eastward, and that they would be only allowed to take light baggage. Some of the houses contained furniture, but among the numerous mansions tattered tapestries, torn books, and pictures showed the vandal's hand. The majority of the small houses contained merely wreckage. Some showed that homo life had suddenly ceased with the evacuation. Even tables were laid for meals. There was general evidence of German looters having rummaged the contents for spoils... The cathedral was not badly damaged." Mr. Gibb's message was dispatohed before the explosions began. —Aus.'-N.Z. Cable Assn. EIGHTY GERMAN DIVISIONS DEFEATED. (Rec. October 12, 1.35 a.m.) . . London, October 1(1. Since August 8 the British have defeat-ed eighty German divisions. The 'German infantry divisions are now reduced to 183, in addition to eight Aus-trian.—Atls.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' • THE GERMAN GETTING AN INTENSIFIED FORM OF HIS OWN MEDICINE. (Rec. October 11, 7.20 p.m.) ■' ■ ■ London, October 10. '"'.The-"Western'Morning- News" slates that the British are using a most devastating 'mustard' gas, which penetrates the enemy's clothes and masks,, which are inferior in quality owing to the shortage of rubber. This partlyaccounts for our rapid progress. Wo are giving tho.German an intensified form of the medicine he exploited.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE GERMAN PLAN OF A GRADUAL WITHDRAWAL UPSET BY LOSS OF CAMBRAI. (Rec.. October 11, 7.20 p.m.) , . 1 London, October 10. ' The United Press correspondent states: "A captured telegram to the General Staff of the Ninth Corps, from the' Kaiser's Adjutant-General, tuys: 'His Majesty is displeased to notice, when passing villages along the roads and railway crossings, that the troops fail to pay tho necessary respect, and the inhabitants'do not greet him in a proper manner by removing their headgear.' Tlie Staff ordered 'that this must be seen to. The Germans expected to spend a fortnight in retiring towards Douai and a fortnight in reaching thd Gise defence line on the Oise. Tho loss of Cambrai upset tlie plan of ii gradual withdrawal. British cavalry was definitely in action oil Wednesday boyond Bertry, while the infantry was marching in fours through .Bertry. 'i'his was one of the most remarkable fights since the Germans first overran thenorthern areas. To-day's reports show that the Anglo-Americans are still rolling the tattered Germans before them. The whole battlefield is aflame Laijt night towns and farmhouses, tlso quantities of stores, were . destroyed. There is evidence that the minc-s under .Cambrai were set with times fuses, and were intended to kill as many as possible. An explosion last night wrecked the centre of the city. Tho flash and roar were seen and heard for miles. Tho centre of the city, however, had already been thoroughly destroyed by recent fires. Fifteen to twenty blocks are almost in complete ruins. The bridges over tho Escaut were blown up. The British engineers are building temporary crossings. The Germans ordered tho evacuation for tho Gt'n, 7th, and Bth, midnight of the Bth being the latest possible date. The cathedral and the Church St. Herbert were used as observation posts. The cathedral tower has suffered from sliells, and looks ready to fall. Twont.y fires were counted, and in some casos wlid&e the windows were not brokon the curtninj behind burning indicated.deliberate arson."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE RAPID STROKE OF THE BRITISH PREVENTED THE ENEMY COMPLETING HIS PROGRAMME OF .DESTRUCTION. (Rec. October 11, 7.20 p.m.) London, October 10, morning. Mr. H. Perry Robinson writes: "Our success is complete, and we are garnering the fruits. The enemy is rapidly retreating on the Le Cntean line, and we are pressing on his-heels. We readied the village of Bertry at noon' to-day, nine miles from yesterday's starting point. Between here and C'ambrai the enemy lias vainly attempted to stand on the railway. Elsewhere,he is blowing up the railway and burning depots and stores. South of Bertry «o cut the line, destroying the hopes of a temporary stand, which is now impossible this side of Le Cateau. Hie enemy planned to retreat under our pressure, but wo struck too rapidly, capturing thousands of prisoners, many guns, and much material before liis preparations were complete, and prevented the completion of his destructive programme. Many villages aro falling into our hands intact, releasing thousands of French citizens. The Canadians and British entered Cambrai north and. south at 4 o'clock this morning. Numbers of German soldiers in hiding did not attempt to fight. Vestcril.iy s explosions have reduced the town to ruins. Fires due' to the explosions are ! still burning, but our troops are extinguishing them. Further mine explosions are possible. The enemy exploded the canal bridges, but we crossed easily. Many civilians who remained hidiitg in cellars were beside themselves with delight, kissing and embracing anybody-in khaki, and telling their experiences to any listener. A. priest says that last January the Germans deported a thousand of the inhabitants, including four hundred women, Magistrates, and persons of substance and gentle families. The prisoners include a large number o 1 : stunted and wizened creatures. They are all aware of the proposed armistice,_ but were indifferent to the outcome and thankful to be out of it. The prisoners' appearance suggests that some divisions have been practically reduced to a point of inefficiency. Regiments ami battalions liave been universally reduced. Officers taken prisoner hint that this is the beginning of a big German retreat. Our guns and airmen did splendidly. It was a magnificent spectacle to sec our guns shelling the whole line and lleets of aeroplanes hovering incessantly c,\ erliead. The enemy artillery hardly gaco ' any evidence of its existence."—"The Times." * 1 \ ANTWERP FORTIFICATIONS ENORMOUSLY STRENGTHENED (Rcc. October 11, 7.20 p.m.) Amsterdam, October 10. / It is reported that the fortifications, round Antwerp have been enormously.' strengthened. The Germans are feverishly entrenching oii two sides of a' triangle, with the apex at Terniode and tile bases at Antwerp and Brussels. —Renter. " / J THE WAR IN THE AIR / . London, October/ JO. The French report states: "Unfavourable weather on Tuesday restricted . air operations. The weather improved in the nicrlit, and the bombers dj-oppetl 26 tons on several stations and the railway;', Connecting them."—Au'y.-fI.H. Cable Assu.-Reuter. f ■