WESTERN ALLIES.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 October 1918, Page 4

WESTERN ALLIES.

fAUSTRALIAN & NiZ. CABLE ASSOCIATION]

FRENCH OPERATIONS

LONDON, Oct. 26

A French report says: On the Oise front we repulsed two ,attempts east of the Canal, between Lomgchamps and Noyales. We began to press the enemy east of Sissone and oast of Rethel. We carried the village of Ambly-Fewry, between the canal and the Aistie, despite a determined defence. There is great artillery 'activity on the Oise front. We are everywheremaintaining contact with the enemy. We checked several infantry reactions. The battle has been continued between Sissone and Chateau Porcien, where we have broken enemy resistance and carried powerful positions, which were organised and continually reinforced since last year, between Hannognc, Rocouvranee and Moulin-dc-Hcrpliy. On a front of seven kilometres we reached a depth of three kilometres, and pushed forward our line as far as the Re-couvranco-Conde-Hcrpliy road, taking many prisoners and considerable material. Between the Oise and Serre rivers our attacks have continued successfully. Wo have further advanced north of Villers-lec-Sec, and have captured an enemy fortified centre, repulsing several count-er-attacks, and taking 800 prisoners. We crossed the Serre river between Crecy and Mortiers, and occupied the northern bank for a distance of a kilometre.

Furious fightiug lias occurred east of the Souche river. It ended in our eapTuring the villages of Yesles, Caumont and Pierrepont. There lias been a most vigilant daylong battle beyond the Aisne, between Sissonne and Chateau Porcien. Supported by our tanks, we attacked in the morning the enemy’s powerful defences. We advanced on the left in the woods fringing the gissone-La Solve roach To 'the eastwards we stormed Petit-St. Quentin, and obtained the villages of Hannogne and Recouvrance, while our right penetrated the enemy position. In this locality we captured 2000 prisoners, 9 guns, as well as numerous machineguns.

A later message says the French infantry arc near Villers-le-Scc. Its fall is probable. Its loss may compel the enemy to fall back a considerable distance before renewing the battle on the Hunding line.

PLAN TO TAKE CALAIS. LONDON, Oct, 25,

Mi' Beach Thomas says: The advance of the Allies in Belgium has brought to light a colossal plan of the enemy to capture Calais on the 23rd of July last, from the Lys-Bailleul salient. The Germans prepared an assault to startle humanity, and to destroy England. They had built special railways for the carriage of heavy guns and ammunition, great stocks of which were hidden in ditches and at many dumps along the ]in.e i 'of advance. Meanwhile the troops were endeavouring, despite a terrific hammering, to hold the deep salient, and were waiting the moment, to advance. They thus lost 120,000 men m three months under the concentrated British artillery fire. Finally, they were compelled to abandon the salient in July without attempting the coup.

MR ROBINSON’S REPORT. LONDON, Oct. 25

Mr Robinson reports: Hard fighting is proceeding along the whole line of the Scheldt river. There has been a fierce struggle for the Tonrnni canal bridgeheads. Patrols several times succeeded in crossing the canal under ma-chine-gun fire, but were unable to retain a permanent footing. Another bitter struggle is raging in the suburbs of Tournai. A small wood has changed hands three times in twenty-four hours. Me are close to the south side of the town, which the Germans everywhere are holding strongly. It is formidably protected by double belts of wire, while there are machine-guns in the cellars and on the roofs. Around and below Valenciennes the enemy’s resistance is equally stubborn.

AMERICAN OPERATIONS. NEW YORK, Oct. 26

General Pershing reports: Heavy fighting is proceeding on the Meuse front. The Americans have taken Ormond Wood. The battle on the Verdun front has continued most violently. Hast of the Meuse river we occupied Berm ant Wood last evening. The Germans to-day counter-attacked repeatedly between Bormant and Detraiy Woods, repulsed with the heaviest losses. Only in Bella Wood did the enemy, in his fifth attack force us to withdraw from the eastern part. We adranced west of the Meuse. North-west of Grand Pro, in the face of a determined resistance we entered Bourgoyne Wood. On the Verdun front on Friday evening, the enemy extended to the west side of the Meuse his efForts to wrest from us our gains of the preceding days. In the region of Bantheville, the enemy attacked positions between Rappes Wood and Bantheville Wood, but were repulsed with heavy losses. Our line remained everywhere unchanged. Northward of the Aire v T e have now established positions- in the southern portion of Bois de Bourgoyne on both hanks of the Meuse. Northwards of Verdun the battle, which is being fought by our First Army, continues with incessant severity on the entire front of 25 miles. The enemy is offering a determined resistance. We have taken prisoner on this front since September 26th of over 20,000 men, over 150 guns, thousands of trench mortars, and several thousand machine-guns. NEW YORK, Oct. 26. General March states the Germans have now evacuated seven thousand and a quarter miles of country in Belgium and France. ' The entire coalfields have been reconquered, except a five-mile strip on the Belgian border. Tlie Franco-Atnerican lines are now parallel to the enemy railway along the French front, constituting a greatdanger thereto.

GERMAN CASUALTIES. NEW YORK, Oct. 27. Mr .Tames, the New York “Times” correspondent at the American front, says the American First Army has inflicted on the Germans 70,000 casualties. including 20,000 prisoners.