REUTER'S REPORT.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 August 1918, Page 3

REUTER'S REPORT.

[I*ER PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.] fiercfTattacks. LONDON, August 13. Router’s correspondent at British Headquarters, writing on the afternoon of the 13th, states that the Allied drive from Mont Didier to north ot tin Somme has reached a comparatively quiet stage. The enemy is s W I hurrying up reinforcements and deploying gas to the utmost capacity, His main ■concentration of reserves is around Rove which he is manifestly anxious to retain, leastwise for the present. The Australians, who have been fighting in the region of Proyart Wood met strong machine gun resistance at Madome Wood. The Canadianns also improved their positions on the right their front.

ENEMY RESISTING. (Received This Day, at 12.10. a.m.) LONDON, August 14. Reuter’s correspondent at French Headquarters ■writing on the afternoon of the 13th states the enemy are deserately clinging to the Western and Southern edges of the Thiescourt Hills between Lassigny nnd Oise. The key to the whole position is St Claude farm, on a hill 600 feet high, just east of Nareuillamotto dominating the whole region.

Further north between the Ouroy and Bois do Loges the Germans hold a line of old entrenchments stuffed with machine guns. The capture of Bois de Loges on the morning of the 12fli effected a magnificent dash. The Germans counter attacking in the afternoon re-occupied part of the Wood. Prior to a great attack on Lassigny, one of our air scouts noticed dense columns of men and transport pouring through the illage. The French sent 121 planes to attack them and twenty-seven tons of bomba were dropped on the Germans in the streets of Lassigny. Men and horses were killed and fires caused . fhe streets were blocked with the wreckage of waggons. The march of the German columns were retarded for hours.

FIGHT FOR LASSIGNY. (Received This Dnv at noon.) LONDON, August 14.

Reuter’s correspondent at French Headquarters states General Humbert, whose front as a result of the progress now faces east, instead of north reattack fed Lassigny and Thiescourt, Massif positions to-day. His left was heavily counter attacked and remained on the, defensive but the right pushed forward all round the western and southern edges of Lrttle Switzerland, and reached Pressier do Royo park and village of Berval, where Humbert’s same army stopped Hutierc’s rush last March, after one of the bloodiest fights of the year. ‘To-day’s battle waged till Evening, when the French held St Claude farm and Econvillon, two of the most important podntjn on the Massif. Tho fighting was difficult, the enemy holding the front thinly, with almost as many machine guns as men. Their whereabouts are difficult to locate. The enemy is filling the valley passes and woods with mustard gas.- The French are fighting their way with rifles nnd grenades, advancing over Broken country by infiltration. The enemy’s tactics indicate he is retiring to a not distant defensive line.