THE WSTERN FRONT

Hokitika Guardian, 4 September 1918, Page 2

THE WSTERN FRONT

[per PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.]

GOOD NEWS,

TAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] LONDON, Sept. 2. This afternoon’s news from the British front is most encouraging. Peronne having been captured the British are pressing the enemy rearguards. There are fires eastwards of Lens which indicate that the enemy is destroying stores, preparatory to evacuating the town. There are also fires visible eastward of Armcntieres, indicating that the enemy contemplates a retirement on a large scale in this sector. British patrols have pushed forward in the direction of Lens. South of the Scarpe River tho Brutish have reached the western edge of Hamblan .capturing Bnlloeourt and Morval.

IN FLANDERS . STILL RETIRING. . LONDON, September 2. The Unied Press stated that the capture of Neuve Eglise was mainly owing to the British working round from the north, compelling the evacuation and allowing the Germans no rest. In tlie region of Peronne, part of the Fourth Army attacked them to-day. Reuter learns that the British line in Flanders now runs through Voormcz,cele, immedately west of Wiilvergliom, through Neuve Eg] so and to Steenwcrck to the east of Kstairos and I.«Conture. The German retirement in Flanders is continuing.

FURTHER PROGRESS. LONDON, September 3. A force of English and Canadians at five this morning, attacked on a 25 mile front south of the Scarpe river. The Canadians after breaking through the switch line, were still advancing at three this afternoon. The enemy meanwhile are heavily counter-attacking further south, below Queant. Reuter states that in this region the British have, penetrated from the western edge of Etaing to the western edge of .and thence are approaching Queant.

MESSAGE TO NEW ZEALANDERS LONDON, Sept. 2. Mijssrs Massey and Ward, have issued .messages to the New Zealand troops. Mr. Massey says: “That he trust their victories will continue uutil liberty triumphs. May it come quickly, but- until it comes let the soldiers and civilians do their duty, in order to make peace honourable and permanent.

“Sir Joseph Ward congratulated the troops, especially on the capture of Bapaume ,which confirms the New Zealanders’ highest reputation. He found them spoken of everywhere in the highest terms as men .as well as sol diers. Ho regrets (that the exigencies of service prevented all long service men-visiting the Dominions, but leave will ho granted in the future as far as possible.” Sir Joseph pays tribute to the services of tlio nursing staff women , and others assisting at the clubs and canteens .

FURTHER FRENCH ADVANCE NUMBER OF PLACES CAPTURED. LONDON; Sept. 3rd. This evening’s news is that the First French Army has taken Roye Lo Petite and also Champagne, northward of Noyon. General Mnngin’s Army, which is operating between the Aisne and Ailette Rivers, has captured the villages of Leury, Conchy, and Thierney, and has reached the western edge of C’resy. Two thousand prisoners were captured by this army on Sunday. On the whole front the small local operations show that only strong rearguards are holding the German linos.

THE GERMAN MORALE. ('Received This Day at 9.15 a.m.f NEW YORK, Sep. 3. Cyril Brown, the ‘“World’s” Berlin correspondent, lately at Stockholm, has returned to New York. Interviewed, he said: “Six months ago Germany was at the zenith of her fighting power. To-day she has definitely passed the zenith, and her power shows a continuous downward tendency. The Germans are now giving up hope of a victorious military decision or early peace. “ For the first time in the war she has completely lost the initiative all along the line, and the German people know it. The Army’s morale has suffered relatively more than the people’s morale. Only the picked shock troops retain the old spirit and morale. The great bulk of the Army is affected by a fear of impending defeat. Food conditions are no worse than six months ago but. will be much more serious in the late winter and early spring, when acute starvation conditions will increase the pessimism caused by continuous military reverses. ’ ’