THE WESTERN ARMAGEDDON

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 37, 7 November 1918, Page 5

THE WESTERN ARMAGEDDON

NEW FRENCH OFFENSIVE ON FORTY-MILE FRONT SMASHING DRIVES BY BRITISH AND AMERICAN ARMIES Paris, November 5. The French have launched an offensive on a forty-mile front, from the Peron River to the Aiene.—Aus.-N.S. Cable A6s:i. GERMAN RETREAT ON SCHELDT-AISNE FRONT. New York, November 5. The 'Allies hare captured Bavny, on tlio railnuy between Valenciennes and Maubeugt, and are advancing rapidly. The Germane nro retreating on the Scheldt-Aisne front. The' Allies have begun to seize Ghent.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE DRIVE ON THE MEUSE Washington, November 5. The Americans continue to advance north-west of Verdun, and are extending the area of attack to the east bank of the Sleuse. . All the towns west of the river soutn of Hallos have been captured.—Aus.-N.3. Cable Assn. Montreal, November 5. The United Press correspondent on the American front states that the Americans have crossed the Menee In great force.—Aus.-N.Z,. Cable Assn. GENERAL SITUATION AT A GLANCE London, November 5. On practically the whole front between Guise and the Scheldt we have advanced from a mile to two wiles. Fighting is proceeding at Quesnoy, where the position is obscure. The enemy is heavily coiratei-attacking from the Mormal Forest, the southern part of which we penetrated for a mile. The American advance, continues, and troops are now two thousand yards south-west of Stenny and Beaumont. The French line runs along the southern Ardennes Canal. The French and Americans are within ten miles of the Longnyon-Mezieres-Hirson railway. i Later. The weather conditions on the front are very bad, and it ie too early yet to predict the effect of tho fighting. The German opposition was stiff dur'in" yesterday morning, but it lessened as the day progressed. We identified cfuring the advance twenty regiments on the front of one of our armies alone. The progress this miming was accentuated in the Mormal Forest. The Americans Jiave reached tho outskirts of Stenay. They havo also occupied Grandes Aγrnoises and are now within eight miles of the railway through Mezieres. The position at Ghent indicates that the fall of the city may not come for some time. Tho British have captured Lβ Quesnoy.— MOST STUPENDOUS CONFLICT OF THE WAR (Roc. November 6, 8.30 p.m.) _ , , • London, November 5. : Reuters correspondent at British Headquarters says: "Tie series of battles raging on the front promises to bo the most stupendous conflict of the war. It is a mistake to supposo that the Allies' are only engaged with the rearguards of an enemy who is retreating according to plan. Really the Germans are being forced to fight their hardest by attacks which threaten to achieve the strategio collapse of the enemy, and the successes gained have been against immense concentrations of troops striving most determinedly to hold vital points. General Foch, adhering to his right-angle front, is steadily reducing the enomy's area of manoeuvre, squeezing him against tho Aniennes Hills from ,the west and south, robbing him of mobility in a fashion which is likely to prove disastrous before long. As the enemy's strategy becomes more hopeless his strength is being deeply sapped. Already his exit via Metz is fast closing as the result of tho American approaoh on Stenay. threatening his communications between the German northern armies based on Liege and the southern arinies based on, Luxemburg, which will be divided by the Ardennes wedgs, thus forcing whole line from the Snrnbro northwards to a retreat to the Antwerp-Namur positions, if the enemy attempts to divert hia eastern forces to the Mouse line, these will be increasingly congested by the British advance south of Valenciennes. Sir Douglas Haig's forces yesterday broke one of the enemy's strongest strategic positions, and are approaching important communications'whose .vital point is Mons junction. Allies' Splendid Plan, "Never throughout the war have tho Allied armies proved of higher quality, for they have resisted the temptation to take things easily against an enemy who was only too anxious to surrender territory, but whom they are fighting most vigorously. They believe in a knock-out blow. It has become a habit of speech to say that the enemy is. still unbroken and unbeaten, but if things continue much longer at their present rate we ehall suddenly awake to a realisation of. the fact that this statement has ceased to be true." r > lie writer pays a. great tribute to the artillery for the tireless'devotion with iviich it followed up the infantry and its extraordinary efficiency. "Teams galloped into.action, unlimbercd, swung' round, and picked up their ranges, often under shell-lire and upon gassed ground, in gloriously fino style." Brave New Zealanders. Describing the taking of Lβ Quesnoy by tho New Zealander.s, the correspondent iays: "Tho town crowns a knoll 300 feet high. It is a fortress of the Vauban type] with immensely strong ramparts, surrounded by deep moats. Such was the obstacle that confronted the gallant infantry as they converged upon the place, and it was evident that a toiigfi job lay before them. . Our airmen had reported that the town was well garrisoned., As a storming attack seemed out of the question, tho New Zealanders deployed by way of the Champs des Mansevres, and along the railway north-east of the town, closing in at Potelle, and thus surrounding the fortress. The airmen joined in the attack,- wheeling over tho town and machine-gunning the incessantly.' Under the cover of smoke screens tho New. Zealanders crept to a gateway which the Germans were keeping , open as a line of retreat. Then followed a spell of confused and-desperate fightiug, and the entrance was 6ecured and the town captured. The skill and valour with which the stronghold was carried are beyond praise."—Keutor.

THE OFFICIAL REPORTS IBDCOICTIDI P AnVAVPD DV TUP DDITTCU t IttllLolollDLii AuVAINLci l>i Inb mtulMl London, November 5, 1.20 a.m. Sir Doughs Eaig reports: "The British Fourth, Third, and First Armies attacked between the Sambre Canal at Oisy and the Scheldt, to the northward of Valencionnes. On the whole of this thirty-mile front the British and New Zeaknders broke in deeply on the enemy's positions and took over 10,000 prisoners and 200 guns. On the right of the attack the Ist and 32nd Divisions attacked in conjunction with the Trench to the south of them. These divisions, with great (lash and gallantry, stormed tho formidable lino of tho Sambro Canal, oyorcamo resistance, and reached a depth of three miles to the east. The Ist Division, under Genor.il Strickland, after'capturing Catillon, forced the passages of the canal opposite Catillon and near tho lock. Two miles south of tiie latter point, assisted by engineers, the Camerons crossed the canal in six minutes. Tie Ist Division captured Femy, Hautreve, and La Groise, and took 1500 prisoners. To tho left, the 32nd Division crossed the Ors Caual, and after severe fighting captured Buu de Haut, and cleared the line of the canal to the south and north of this villiige. The division captured Mezieres, La Folie, and Sambreton. "In the centre we attached the. western, face of the Mormnl Forest. Infantry and' tanks drove the enemy from the western outskirts of the forest and captured Soyeres, Preux-au-Bois, Hccq, Futoy, and Louvignies. The 25th Division forced tho crossings of the Satnbro Canal, opposite Landrecies, which it captured. Further north the 18th and. 50th Divisions penetrated tho forest, and are still advancing. The 3Bth Division reached Los Grand les Paturelles. The 17th Division enptured Locquignol, in the centro of tho forest. "There was severe fighting at Lo Quesnoy,, where the New Zealanders repulsed a strong counter-attack, inflicting heavy losses. Wβ passed south and north of this fortified. , town, and are now several miles east of it. Wo drove out the enemy from his new positions on the Aunelle Eiver. The Guards ■ captured Preux-au-Sart, and the 24th 'Division captured Wargnies-le-Petit and WaTgnics-le-Grand. The Canadians made progress on the right bank of tlio Scheldt, and passed beyond Estroux and Onnaing. Our advance continues on the whole battlefront." A message dated November 5, 1.25 p.m., says: "Yesterday afternoon wo completely surrounded and captured the walled town of Le Quesnoy, taking over a thousand prisoners. The 37th and G2nd Divisions, in hard fighting, e'outn and north of Lo Quesnoy, took many prisoners. Theso divisions, after overcoming strong resistance at the outset about Louvignies and Orsinval, pushed forward rapidly on the flanks of the New.Zealanders east of Le Quesnoy, advancing with them to a depth of three or four miles, capturing the villages Jolimetz, Lβ Bond Quesne, Frasnoy, and ■Lβ Petit Marais.We progressed further in the evening in Mornial Forest and east of Valenciennes, capturing the village of Eth."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Heutor. SAMBRE-OrSE CANAL CROSSINGS FORCED BY THE FRENCH , London, November 5. A French communique states: "The French First Army this morning attacked in conjunction with tho British on tho Sambie-Oiso Canal between tho Oise and Vadencourt. Despite the difficulties of crossing tho canal and the stiffest enemy resistance, we everywhere forced tho crossings and gained a footing on the heights oi the eastern bank; We reached tho outskirts of the villages of Bone, La Cauteete, Le Neuville, Les Dorongt, and Iron, and passed Les Quilles, realising a maximum ndrauco of about two miles. We captured over 3000 prisoners and 15 guns. We completed the occupation of the south bank of tho Ardennes Canal between flemuy and Lo Chcsne. The enemy has resisted vigorously on tho northern bank'since November 1. Fil'ty-thrco guns wore captured in this region." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. <Hee. November G, 7.20 p.m.) London, November 5, 4.50 p.m. A French communiquo states: "Our , repeated successes have compelled the enemy to carry out a frosh retreat at several points'of tho front. With unwearying ardour we havo maintained close North-east of Guise we occupied Borgue-sui'-Sanibre, where two hundred civilians were freed. Along the whole front of the First Army tho attacks wore, resumed this morning. _ Between Peron, where wo captured Pargny Wood, and north of Sissonne, we reached a line passing tho Froidmoiit Sugar Factory, west of Auti'oncourt, Cnrienx, Goudolancourt and Machecourt. Our advanced guards, supported by nrtillery, are progressniE between Sissonne and the Chateau of Porcien. We penetrated all parts of the Hunding positions where the enemy was still holding out, forcing him to withdraw. Our advance is general botween oast of St. Quentin-le-Petit and tho outskirts of Larpy."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router. THE. AMERICAN DRIVE London, November 5. An American communique states: "Tim First Army continued its advance oil (lie entire front between tho Meuse and Bar. On the extreme right we drnvo the enemy into the valley of the Meiiso and loiiglil through the forest of Dienlet, oml occupied Lniieiivillc' opposite an important crossing of the .Mouse near Stonily. We seized the Beiuimont-Stenny road and the heights overlooking Beaumont." On the loft we reached Gram) Ai'inoises, despito vigorbue opposition. The Kiicmy abandoned imicli material. One hundred and fortj'-five aeroplanes bombed the. crowded enemy traffic to Jlontmcdy anil destroyed thirty enemy aeroplanes. Sovcii American machined are missing."—A ns.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eouter. (Bee. November G, 7.20 p.m.) London, November 5. An American official report states: "Our First Army resumed the attack this morning, and in spite of desperate opposition forced tho crossing of tho Mouse at Breulles and Clery-le-Petit. We have now developed a new line in heavily wooded nnd very difficult terrain on the heights eastward of tho river. Between these noints the enemy on our entire front is opposing our advance with heavy artillery and machine-gun ■ fire, notwithstanding which wo are making excellent progress. We hold tho west bank of the Meuee as far northwards as opposito Pouilly."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router,

: T . I \ THE ENEMY'S REPORT . ! , . . . . j (Roc. November G, 10.30 p.m.) ! London,. November 5. i A wireless German official report elotes:— "Wo evacuated Le Quesnoy and tho front northward of Normal Forest. Wo stemmed tho enemy's thrust eastward ' of Jolimetz and southward of the forest. Wo also (stemmed, a .thrust on -the ! SamWOise Canal. We withdrew to tho east bauk of the Ifeuse northward of '' Stonay. , '—Aus.-N.Z. Cuble Assii.-Reuter. j - ! URGENT ORDER IN CAPTURED DOCUMENT. ! (Rec. November G, 7.20 p.m.) "" j , , ' London, November 5. • A British Flanders official report etaj.es that among tho captured docummte \ wns an order issued by General von Larisclie on October 19, in which it was de- ! clared that the Lys-Hermann lino must be held at all costs.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable ] Aesn. j COWARDS AND CHEATS | (Dec. November G, 7.20 p.m.) m, t, ... , , , . ~ London, November 5. i Tho British troops during the pursuit discovered that the German''Machine-- ! gunners had adopted the trick of donning Belgian workmen's clothes, putting the i British on the wrong scent. Other Germans wore found hiding in Lille in civil- I inn dress. They pleaded that they feared the ■inhabitants , vengeance.-Aus.-N.Z- i Cable Assn. : «.u.