NEW FRANCO-BRITISH DRIVE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 33, 2 November 1918, Page 7

NEW FRANCO-BRITISH DRIVE

AN ADVANCE TOWARDS GHENT , ; OFFENSIVE GOING WELL j , .. , ■ London, October 31. | The "United Press reports: "The French and British attacked thie-morning te- i wards Ghent. The offensive is reported to be going well."—AU6.-IWS; Cabls Asen,- ■ Reuter. .... . (y ' :/ ,.,.,,. j THE OFFICIAL REPORTS '.} • ■ ' Londorij October 31.\j Sir Douglas Haig reports: "We made raids in the neighbourhood of Lβ Quee- \ lioy, and made progress at certain points north of the Raisnies.. Forest,"—Aus.-1 N.Z. Cable Asen.-Keuter. ... ' ■ THE FRENCH OFFENSIVE ...... I London, October ax. j A. French communique 6tates: "South of Guise we'captured several enemy. , trenches, and approached the road from Guise tw Lahsrie-la-Ville. We con-! tinned'tne-offensive between Barognes and' Herpy. The liveliest fighting is in j progress west of St. Fergeui."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assii,-Reuter. •• '.; . . (Rec. November 1,8.20 p.m.) ' ■' j '.;■'■' London, October 31, 5.M p.m. ' 'A French communique states: "The enemy last evening violently «mnter-at>, tackedweet of St. Fargaux. Wβ maintained our positions. In two days our Fifth i Army has taken 1453 prisoners."—Aue.-N.Z. Cablo Aesn.-Reuter';:"' WITH THE AMERICANS.. S * *~~"~~~~~ i. ... . ' i ■'' ■ • (E«c. November 1, 7.45 p.m.) . . : ■. .■'■'■;' London, October 31. ! An American official message states•.''Wβ advanced otir lines northward of j Grand Pre and occupied Belle Joyeuse Farm."—Aue.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-R«uter. j ■ ■ ' . ■ ■ ■ ■■ ■ i THE ENEMY'S VANISHED DIVISIONS j STRIKING WASTAGE IN THE BATTLES. ! '-■•'' ■"•'■■ (Rec. November 1, 8.20 p.m.i ■ ■ London, Ocober 31. x . j Whereas in March last the enemy possessod eighty fresh reserve division!, the number' has.now been reduced to fifty, of which only seven have had a fort-1 night'e rest, and none have had a month's. Therefore the Germans have not on* i single division which can be called fresh. Cases have actually occurred in. the i last fortnight of enemy divisions reappearing in the line uriable to muster one; thousand rifles out of an establishment of G750 rifles, excluding machine-gunners.. I In one instance a division was reduced, roughly, by one battalion. During the last six months twenty-five divisions have been disbanded, while in the last four weeks .five third-rate ill-equipped divisions lave been'transferred-from Russia toj the Weet'front! The enemy's total shortage in rifles on-establishment may-safely i be taken as over 550,000. It is estimated that since January.l.the enemy's casual- j •tics-have totalled 2J.millions, of which one .'million represent -perinanent losses, i while the total-reserves at the German depots''are at present estimated not to j exceed 310.000, including the greater.portion.of the 1920'' class. Hitherto every j effort has been made to postpone the employment of the latter clasE, as it ie the • sole remaining reserve of the enemy's man-power, and its 'consumption would I involve serious economic consequences to Germany after the war, .. .. j It is estimated that of eighteen thousand Gefmun guns of all calibres on the', Western front in July, 33 per cent, have been lost in battle casualties alone..' Divisions from Russia- have been thrown into the-battle'unprovided with artillery or machine-guns, while decreasing' aircraft activity, is a further .sign of Germany's deficiency in material resources, causing an increasingly sorious effect on the enemy's moral. Though nothing like general demoralisation has occurred, it remains to be eeen whether the pressure of the Entente armies. can_ be continued with sufficient vigour to cause a'general collapse of the enemy's resistance.—Aus.' N.Z. Cable Assn. . , ' . . ■•' . ■ ' ' ;, THE WAR IN THE AIR ; \ Lono'un, October SI. ■ The Press Bureau reports: "The Independent 'Air Force on Tuesday nig]it i attacked two important chemical works and an aeroplane works at Mannheim : with good results It also bombed the blest furnaces at Burbach, the railways | at Thionvillt and Offenburg, and an aerodrome at Hangenau, and made direct ; hits on all the targete."—Aus.-N,Z: Cable ; Assn.-Ecuter. . j . THE ENEMY'S STATE.OF MIND : r :- ; j WHAT CAPTURED, ORDERS REVEAL.,' ■; ■ ■; (Rec. November 1, 8.20 .p.m.)..... ' , :■ ■■ '■ • London, October 31. :; ! A captured order, signed by General von Larisch, commanding the army corp*. i •of the Busigny sector, and dated October 19, says: "We will accept a_decisive, battle on the Lye-Hermann line, which must be held at any price. The Her. ! mann line is the Scheldt line, which we subsequently captured along voa Lariscu s i ■ Another divisional order says: "The High Command has ordered -that troops j must be made to understand clearly that the Hermann line must be held at nil coats, for the reason that if this be held there are Rood prospects of cairyiDg out peace negotiations or arranging an armistice. If this line be not held, peace in. the near; future is out of the question. Make this point perfectly clear by word oi j Another order sayst "The moiu obstacle to a peace of justice is the unbridled') will of the enemy's army commanders to annihilate the German Army. They j hope to achieve this by renewed attacks/ Only ;by-standing .firm can this scheme j of the enemy commanders be frustrated and an honourable peace eecured. The i enemy's infantry is inferior in quality, and without the capacity for resistance, j If we turn our backs on them we are lost, and with us the whole German Army. , If only everyone stands firm is our. task easy, and we shall be ■able'.to; settle ac- j counts with, the enemy, but every man must understand that it is a question j of honour."—Keuter. .. .... ■ ■ i