THE WESTERN FRONT

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1918, Page 2

THE WESTERN FRONT

[PER TRESS ASSOCIATION. COPYRIGHT.] BATTLE oTaMI.NS. GENERAL HAIG’S REPORT. ALL OBJECTIVES GAINED. ON 20 MILE FRONT. I AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION it REUTER.j (Received this day at 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 9. General Haig reports that operations wore begun in the morning on Amiens front, by the French First Army under General De Berry and the British Fourth Army under General Rawlinson, and it is proceeding satisfactorily. The Allied troops assembled under cover of the night, unnoticed by the enemy. ' At tho hour fixed for the assault, the French, Canadian, English, and Australian Divisions assisted by a large number of Tanks, stormed a' front of over twenty miles, from Avre to Branche, to the neighbourhood of Morlancourt. The enemy were surprised and we rapidly progressed at. all points. At an early hour our first objectives were reached on the whole front. During the morning, the infantry s advance continued actively, assisted by British cavalry, light tanks, and motor machine gun batteries. 1 he, German resistance was overcome at certain points, after sharp fighting. General Haig continued.—The French gallantly attacked and crossed the Avre, despite opposition, and carried hostile defences on the greater part. Our final objectives, northward of the Somme were gained before noon, but in the neighbourhood of Chiepilly and southward of Morlancourt, the enemy carried out a prolonged resistance until they were finally broken by our troops, who gained their objectives gallantly. Allied infantry southward of the Somme gained (luring the afternoon the final objectives on the whole front. Assisted by light Tanks and armoured cars, the cavalry passed through the infantry and beyond the objectives, riding down the German transport limbers in retreat. They surrounded and captured the villages, taking many prisoners. Wo reached the' general lino of Plessier, Roxain Villers, Beaueourt Caix, Framervillo. Chippily, and westward of Morlancourt. It. is impossible to estimate the prisoners or guns and material, but several thousand prisoners and many guns were captured.

BATTLE OF AMIENS. HOW IT PROGRESSED. LONDON, Aug 9. Tim “United Press” correspondent writing in the afternoon says the British went into the battle first, the noses of tho Tanks keeping well against the steel wall of the creeping barrage, and were supported hv fast whippets, while swarms of battle planes were engaged. The battlefield was covered with a black lia/.e, making flying difficult. The French, on the right hv agreement, came in a few minutes later, their artillery having smothered the territory southwards of the Amiens — Koye road -beforehand. Tiny whippets raced and dodged across the fields, scattering terror everywhere, and running down the Germans. Tho country is hilly, but mostly open, und is ideal for Tanks. These crossed the Avre without trouble. They led the infantry in the battle and blasted a way forward with machine-guns and cannon. . Up to eight in the morning few, if any German aeroplanes appeared, hut despite the haze, the Allied machines added to the enemy’s confusion. Prisoners include Wurtemhurgers, Bavarians and others from half a dozen different divisions. Tho weather is good, but it is threatening to rain.

Beports from Aloreuil region are most optimistic. *The Germans are offering slight resistance. [Whippets are diminutative size of the Tank family. They are not unlike armoured ears, with catterpillar wheels. These machines are more mobile than Tanks, and carry less men. The armoured compartment for the guns and machines are not unlike the conning tower of a submarine. A sketch of one of these latest, engines of warfare mav he seen at the “Guardian Office.]

IN AIORLANCOUBT SECTOR

A SUBSTANTIAL ADVANCE. LONDON, August 8

It ia apparent that the Germans on tho Franc o-B riti sh front, between Afont Didier, and tho sea have retired at various points and in varying depths. This is porbably explainable by the desire to improve their defensive positeins. The withdraw! on the Lys sector is | due to the marsh ground and the f•"' ; that our positions dominate him, hut it Is difficult to understand the slight retirement at Givenchy. It is probable that the Lys retirement may he a preliminary to a general withdrawal or part of tho enemy’s scheme, or it may only be to strengthen the front between Bailleul and La Bassce Canal Tho effect, however, reduces the probability or danger of a renewed offensive. The* Franco-British at Aloreuil and Alorlnneourt mode a substantial advance to a depth of about four thousand yards. It is reported that Aloreuil. Domnin, Abancourt and Alorlnneourt are in our hands, also the height west of Cerisy. and south Morlancourt. General Bawlinson commands the Fourth Army and General Anthione, the French Army.