ATTACK ON LE CATEAU-SOLESMES FRONT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 26, 25 October 1918, Page 5

ATTACK ON LE CATEAU-SOLESMES FRONT

BRITISH LINE ADVANCED TWO MILES HEAVY FIGHTING ON AMERICAN FRONT (Rec. October 24, 10.10 p.m.) London, October 23. A British attack to-day betweep. Le Cateau and Solesmes was launched on six miles of front, and advanced a mile along the whole front. Several \illnges were captured, the enemy resisting stiffly^. We occupy two-thirds of the Raismes Forest, north of the Scheldt, and also have reached the western edge of Valenciennes, occupying the suburbs of Anzin and Bleharies. The enemy is resisting stubbornly behind the Courtrai Canal, and ale j> on the Derwaten. Canal, which the Belgians claim to havo crossed at several points, probably only by email parties occupying bridgeheads. The French havei reached the line of the Senre and Sissone Canal. The enemy will probably attempt to hold his present lino. Wβ may expect operations on both wings to steady down for a few days. The most interesting point is the centre line.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. October 24, 9.50 p.m.) The British, attack this morning Advanced two miles. The. prisoners numbered two thousand and some guns.—Aus.-H.Z. ced two niles. The prsonevs numbered Cable Assn. FOUL WEATHER AND SOGGY GROUND AMAZING PROGRESS NOTWITHSTANDING. London, October 23. Mr. Philip Gitt>3 writes: "The troops are fighting in the . foul'est weather and in soggy ground. On the front from Tournai to Valenciennes we have reached a stage where the Germans will undoubtedly make a stand.- Between October 1 and 20 the British Fourth Army has taken 18,000 prisoners, and the Third Army 10,000. The Germans cannot afford this drain, but the is waning 'and the weather is breaking. Our men are slogging through water pools, with mud splashing them to the neck, and the horses plastered to the «ars. This makes war difficult and slow, but the epeed with which, we are following up the German retreat is nevertheless amazing. We are bringing heavy gita9, aerodromes, hospitals, and telegraphs across battlefields which resemble enters of the moon."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. " THE THRUST AT VALENCIENNES BRITISH PATROLS ACROSS THE SCHELDT. (Rec. October 24, 7.15 p.m.) London, October 23. The United Press correspondent states-.—"The British advance eoutU-ard of Valenciennes to-day was 60 rapid that tho result of the drive may possibly 'be the complete turning of the Valenciennes line. Tho enemy's resistance} elsewhere as far as Holland is stiffening, but our patrols have crossed' the Scheldt northward of Tournai."—United Press. THE SITUATION ON THE SCHELDT FIELD GUN,S ENGAGING AT SHORT RANGE. :Rec. October 24, 9.10 pjm.) ■London, October 23. Mr. Beach Thomas asks the question: Witt Hie enemy strive to hold the Scheldt? He Eays that a large portion of the British Army is now facing the river and canuls, which ore strongly defended, henvily wired, and bristling with guns. Already there has been sharp preliniinmry fighting, mostly gunnery notions, the field guns firing at each other in. full viow at absurdly short range. It is a deadly close duel. Our gunners have the* bettor nerve and are more numerous. A division fighting between tho Lye and the Scheldt captured a big naval and twenty other guns.—United Service.

ENEMY HEAVILY MASSED ON AMERICAN FRONT Nevt York. Octobeo. , 23. Mr. Edwin James, correspondent of the "New York Tiiu.es"' with the American Army, , states that one-fourth of the German military'.strength on the West front is facing the Anierican First Army and the French-, Fourth Army in the Champagne-Meuse region. Since General Pershing opened his attacks on September 28, to the north of Verdun, the American troops have fought and broken up twenty German divisions composed of the Kaiser's best soldiers.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. A WEEK OF FOREST FIGHTING (Rec. October 21, 0.50 p.m.) London, October 23. After a week of fighting the-Americans conquered the fefcost in tho neighbourhood of Brieulles, from which the Germans retreated.— Cable Assn. THE OFFICIAL REPORTS FRESH ATTACK LAUNCHED BY THE BRITISH

FRESH ATTACK LAUNCHED BY THE BRITISH

London, October 2.1, 11.35 p.m. Sir Doudas Haig reports "We entered the western suburbs' of Valenciennes, and penetrated deeply to the- north into Raismes Forest and towards the aiiglo of the Scheldt at Conde. We lmulo progress east of St. .Lmaud, and roaehod the Scheldt at Kalinin <and Bruyfilles, south of Tourmii. Wo took possession of both places. North of Tournai wo captured Froyennes. . Further north thoro was nharp fighting for tho Scheldt crossings at Pontachin.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter, (Roc. .October 24, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 23. Sir Douglas Hnig reports: "Barly this morning wo attacked on', the Le Catoau-Solesmes front, making food progress between Valenciennes and Tournai. Wo took Bruay and reached the west bank of the Scheldt at Blehrtries and Espain. There was considerable resistance on this front,"—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. I

THE DRIVE IN BELGIUM London, October 23. A British and Belgian communique states: "Tho enemy throughout the day endeavoured to maintain his position on,die Lys Derivation (? Derwaten) Canal. Several counter-attacks, with the view of ■"Tetaking our bridgehead, were lepulsed. The Belgians crossed the canal at several points. Tho retreating Germans threw two hundred vehicles into tho Bniges-Gheufc Canal. Tho French improved their bridgehead south of Deynzo, and advanced three kilometres. Other French troops further south crossed the Lys.. Tho French have taken 110 ft prisoners. Tho Second British Army advanced a mile betweon tho Lye and, the Scheldt, and established a bridgehead on the right bank of tho Scheldt, tast of Pecq."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. . ■ ; • ffiec. October 25, 1.50 a.m.) London, October 24. A Belgian communique states: There ib great artillery and machine-gun activity along the whole Belgian front."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable- Assn.-Reuter. ON THE FRENCH FRONT London, October 23, 1.10 a.m. A French communique states: "We forced the enemy to a fresh retreat on the Senre front. We have captured Chalandry and Grandlup, despite obstinate resistance. The line skirts the Serre to Morliers, passes the outskirts of Froidmont end Cohartille, thence along the Buze Canal. The Germans twice renewed their attacks east of Vouzieres, but were everywhere repulsed."—■Aus.N.Z. Cable Asen-Reuter. (Rec. October 25, 1.50 a.m.) London, October 24, 2 a.m. A French communique state: Thore is great activity on the Oiso front. Between the Oise and tho Serre we advanced north of Cataillon du Temple, and carried our line to the outskirts of Chevresiol-des-Dameii. Further east we captured a strongly-defended wood north-east of Mesbrecourt and Richecourt, Desperate struggles occurred in front of the Serre and Suuche. We reached and held the eastern bank of the Souctae, opposite Brazicourt Farm, and in spite of counter-attacks gained •ground south-west of Nizy-le-Comto. East of tlie Aisne sharp fighting continues. In tho region of Vouziers German attacks on the village of Terron and eastward of Vand were heavily lepulsed. We carried Beaurepaire Mill between Olizy and Grand-Pre. BIG HAUL IN EECENT FIGHTING. (Rec. October 24, 11 p.m.) London, Ootober 23.. A French communique states: 'On tho Oiso froiii both ours and the enemy artillery were active. Our First Army captured during the fighting on October 17 and 18 eighty-one guns, one hundred trench mortars, a number of 37 mm. guns, and over seven hundred niachine-guns."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. AMERICAN COMMUNIQUE (Rec. October 25, 1.50 a.m.) London, October 24. An American communique states: "North Of Verdun we made progress at several points in face of determined resistance, and captured Bellen Wood. East of tho Meuse we penetrated. Detrnyes and Wavrille Woods, taking prisoners. We completely occupied Bantheville, west of the Meuse. There was bitter fighting north of Grand-Pre. Artillery firing is violent along the wholo front. Fifteen onemy aeroplanes were shot down. Six American machines are missing."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. THE ENEMY'S REPORT (Rec. October 24, 11 p.m.^ London, October 23. A wireless German official Teport states: "We evacuated a bridgehead op tho Serre and Souche, westward of Marie."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn.-Keutoi'.

THE WAR IN THE AIE A RAID ON METZ. London, October 23. Ihe Prose Bureau- reports: "Two squadrons of Hie Independent Air Force on Monday successfully attacked the barracks and railways at Metz. Another squadron set out to attack factories on tho Rhine, but when near the objective encountered dense clouds, and became separated. Seven machines have . not been located. On Mondr.y night wo heavily and successfully attacked factories at Jvaiserslautern, and also heavily bombed the station at Mewercs."—Aue.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuiter. (Rec. October 25, 1.35 p.m.) London, October 23. The Press Bureau states:—"The Independent Air Force on October 23. heavily attacked the railways at Metz-Sahlons and scored many direct hits on the railway triangle and the barracks. We destroyed one enemy plane and drove down three. One British machine is missing."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assu.-Reuter.