LATE NEWS

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

LATE NEWS

BRILLIANT DEVELOPMENT OF HAIG'S NEW ATTACK

THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS

SWEEPING ADVANCE OVER DIFFICULT GROUND

(Rec. October 25, 2.10 a.m.) London, October 24, 1.30 a.m. i Sir Douglas Haig reports: "This nioniing's attack by the British Third and Fourth Armies between " the v Sambre Canal and the Scheldt Kivevsbuthward ; of Valenciennes, was over difficult'country. Many etreams, villages, and woods were resolutely defended. During the assembly period and early stages of the battle the hostile artillery was most i active with high oxplosjve and gas shells. Our troope throughout the dajr j advanced in snite of resistance, especi- 1 ally by the artillery and machine-guns. The infantry advanced some hours before dawn, penetrated the enemy's de- { fences ou the whole front, and captured i important' villages, Pommeruel For- ■. | est, and Eomenies. On the extreme ] right strong resistance was niet with at j the fortified farm of Gimbremont and I the railway, and we had to halt near by. ■ j We stormed Beaurain with, the aSiet- i ance of the tanks. On the left j the English crossed the Harpies Eiver and captured Vertain; During the morning we pressed the attack on tliq whole front, carrying the enemy's positions to a- depth of over three miles, and driving him out of many strongly-defended villages, farms, and j woods. The English of the Twenty-fifth j Division had hard fighting at the Bois- i le Vequei and made good progress through the wood. The East •_ County troops of-the Eighteenth Division advanced 3i miles, and captured Bousies. | The Anglo-Scottish troops of the Twentyfifth and Twenty-third Divisions secured the crossings ot Harpies at Vendegies. Wood, and captured Vendegies village. Other English .troops, with the New Zealanders on their left, reached the outskirts of Neuville, and established themselves on the high ground northwest- j ward of 7 the village. Further north we \ ■ captured Esoarmain. We took prisoner j several thousands. The advance con-' .' tinues on the whole front. I'—Aue,-N.2.1'—Aue,-N.2.- • Cable Assn.-Eeuter.