Encircling Bapaume.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 29 August 1918, Page 3

Encircling Bapaume.

TOUGH JOB roil NEW ZEAL ANDERS. CANADIANS BREAK NEW GROUND. Received this day, 10 a.m. London, August 28. Mr Percival Phillips writes : The. Canadians in penetrating the greenwood east of Moncliy are in country untrodden by Entente troops since the Beginning* of the war. They are not yet firmly established, but are fighting hard and slowly forging ahead. The New Zealaiulers pushing north of Bapaume actually reached the Cambrai road, nearly encircling the town, but machine guns forced them to retire. They aiia now resting on the railway to the northeast. Though small detachments have reached the outskirts it. does not mean we are attempting to storm the place, which will fall unaided. The sector which gives the enemy the greatest) anxiety is the ten-mile strip between Bapaume and the Scarpe. The Canadians went over at 3.20 a.mi on Monday and found only an inferior division opposed to them. Thiey had to go over 6000 yards and the first stage was done "in the darkness relieved by bursts of brilliant moonlight. Tli'ey covered the distance in splendid time (though the _ German batteries made good their escape. sli°anwhile the Scottish attack from Neuville Vitasee was equally successful. The object was to turn Henin Hill, but then? was no opposition on the hill. It was quite a spectacular affair, the Scots going forward steadily while the enemy retreated m disorder. Thus the Scots were enabled to establish contact with th:> Canadians.