THE WESTERN FRONT

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1918, Page 2

THE WESTERN FRONT

[rEn I’RESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.] THE NEW ZEALANDERS. (Received this day at. 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, August 22. Mr Gilmour states with splendid vigor the New Zealanders participated in the general British attack at tjaylight on the 22ud, eastward of Hobuterne and Gommccourt where for the past four months the New Zealanders have been in close touch with uneasy enemy, unable to learn the actual results on the battlefield, but tho N°w Zealander commander states they gained all objectives. Two units were engaged and with tho slightest casualties, 8 in one unit and 30 in the other, they prisonered over two hundred before the evening. The conditions were ideal for a thrust, which was designed to accelerate the enemy’s retreat.

An officer well foirward, reported early that the advance might continuo probably for some miles. Early in tlie morning the ground was covered with mist, which was only dispersed by tho sun, after the operation had been completed. The New Zealanders jumped off from the ruins a Thtssieux,. which the patrols had penetrated in the past few days. The Germans offered little resistance and could not see their attackers until they were within a few yards . They walked a considerable distance and there is a prospect of getting ahead of the Old Somme country. To-day, Loupart Wood appears outlined in the foreground and it is possible to see. Bnpaume on ihe horizon where probably the Germans are- already establishing their main line of defences.

There is every indication that the enemy, consequent on the Allied gigantic offensive spreading, may be taking the precaution to reach a defensive lino without disaster. 'lhe New Zealanders are mostly within sight of Flers. Although to-day the New Zealanders look a comparatively small share in the main battle their entire units were ready for any offensive. -THE GERMAN RETREAT. facts speak for"themselves. PARIS, August 22. Referring to yesterday’s German communique a semi-official statement says that the German High Command is no longer able to plead an elastic falling back, or victory for his rearguards, or a desire to secure more freedom of movement, to explain his retreat. He simply denies it. His method is too simple to take auyono in. Facts speak for themselves.

CAPTURES AT OISE AND AIRNE. TOTAL OVER 10.000. Received, this day at 8.46 a.m. LONDON, August 23. The total enemy prisonered between the Oise and Aisne from lSth to 20tli August, is over ten thousand, while the French losses are reported to be small Allied forces in tli Ancre section have now advanced practically to the line of Albert-Arras railway and the enemy’s right flank on the Ancre. Thiepval rid'gc is already threatened. The enemy’s retirement- may be a preliminary to a withdrawal on a more extended scale, such as he undertook early in 1917 to the Hindenburg line. It is noteworthy that the attacks of th 0 Tenth French Army on the Oise and Aisne, and of the Third British Army, south of Arras, completely surprised the enemy, thereby saying much for the efficiency of the present tactical methods. The harmonious working of a Frenph Army under General Haig’s order, is a tribute to the value of a unified command and the confidence the French place in General Haig.

OPERATIONS REVIEWED. in outsidTcentres. iteeeived. this Hnv at n 45 fl-tn. LONDON, August 23. There is nothing of importance from Italy, but it. is interesting to note that the Austrian losses on the British front from June 15th to August 15th are estimated at- 20,200 and ours total 2,544. There is no confirmation of the alleg ed Bolshevik success over the Czechoslovaks at various points, or that the Czechs have fallen hack east of th 0 Volga. The only, change in the Persia and Caucasus theatres is the defeat of Jolus by the Turks west of Lake Urumiah. The Turks have taken the town of Urumiah. This has caused a whole sale emigration of Join population, who were closely pursued by the Turks, until a British cavalry force, dispersed the enemy enabling the fugitives to escape.

general mangin. CAPTURES 5,000 MORE PRISONERS. (Received This Day, at 9.25 a.m.) NEW YORK, Aug. 22. General Mangin’s aVmy have captured five thousand additional pnson-

EFFECT DF ADVANCE. WHAT IT MEANS. Received, this day at 8.45 a.m. LONDON, August 22. Hie Australian Press Association learns that it is too early yet, to say what the effect of the advance between the Aisne and Oise will have upon the situation, hut it- evidently eonstitutes a serious threat to the enemy positions north of the Aisne, and if continued further will outflank the whole German line on the Aisne and Vesle. It also threatens his liuo west- of the Oise. FACTS RECOGNISED. AMSTERDAM, Aug. 23. The German military authorities officially admit tlie accuracy of Mr. Baker’s statement that- there are Franco, and seven hundred 1,200,0000 American fighters in thousand of these are fighting troops, four hundred thousand being already at tho front.