The Great Retreat.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 31 August 1918, Page 3

The Great Retreat.

GREAT WORK BY AUSTRALIANS. 1 CORRiESPONDiENTS' STORIES. ißeceived this day, 12.35 p.m. London, August 30. ■Mr Phillip Gibbs writes: From tlhe hills north o;P the Scarpe to south of the' Somme the enemy is retreading and trying to get away behind his rearguards before being caught or killed. Machine gunners in places are fiercely resisting in ordier to gaiiv time for a. more orderly retreat. This defence fe strongest on the northern half of tfliie Australian front, perhaps in order to delay the fall of Peronne until the enormous sjores are removed, but further north the German army is stea.. ling away in the darkness and in lihe daylight our men are trudging after tliern in great elation. They eagerly press on until uliable to go further because tfliiey have the enemy on lihe run. Every hour brings news of more villages and woods recaptured). Th© United Press correspondent states: The Australians who face Peronne sire across the Somme and have reached almost striking distance. They crossed bo the north bank by a bnd(ge, reaching Cleary. Oombles was taken together with a battery of field guns. Mr Percival Phillips says: The German High Command its making a desperate effort to cheek the advance at the northern end of the line, throwing in every available man. Last night there were two attacks four divi eions between tlhe Cambrai road and the Soarpe .The attackers were be.il «n back after hard fighting. Much "of yesterday's fighting nn the direction of Hendincourt al i}d. BiiUecmrrt was again of the rare oldt-fashion. Ed soi*i, gunnel's deispite the poor vrsibility shelling tflife fleeing transport by direct observation. ' The Australians in the south are performing a difficult task. -The enemy's withdrawal hangs up. (the northern end. He is obliged to swung back with the greatest speed between Bapaume and tine Somme, but the Australians have the necessary speed \t>o .keep m. German resistance at Biaches is stiffening .as the Germans are iinxiou.s to diestroy the bridges: befoie they put the river between themselves and the Australians Whom they dislike so heartily.