MONTDIDIER CAPTURED

Taihape Daily Times, 12 August 1918, Page 5

MONTDIDIER CAPTURED

FRENCH CAPTURE THE CITY. LONDON, August 11. Sir Douglas Haig reports; An attack was launched on the evening of the 9th in accordance with the Allied plan by the right of the French First Army, south of Montdidier. It was developed by the Allies during the morning with complete success.' We enveloped from the north and south-east Mont'didier, which fell into the hands of the French before midday, with many prisoners and a quantity of material. 'fhe advance of the French First Army continued all day long in co■opAration with the British hard pressing* the retreating Germans southward of Lihnbs,’ we overcame the enemy's' resistance and made substantial progress. • :! ■' -V. • "•.'•r A•- ' " The general (line reacohd by ' the Allies now runs 'from' north to' South through iLihbnk, Freshby les Rbyc, Lignieres and Conchy Ids Pots'.” The num- ! her of prisoners is increasing.] A French communique states: Our atttacks on the Avre battlefront continued all day with increasing success. Montdidier, was outflanked east and north and fell during the morning. Continuing our victorious advance on the right of the British,’ we pushed ten kilometres east of 'Montdidier on the front Andechy-La ' B'oissiere-Fres- j champs. Extending the action south-eastward we attacked German positions on the right and left of St. Just Roye road on a front of twenty kilometres. (St.Just is S.W. of Montdidier). We captured Rollot, Onvillers, Soxel, EessensSur Matz, Conchy, Le» Pdts, Neuvillo Sur Sessons and Elincourt' advancing ten kilometres at certain points. The French, in three clays’ fighting have advanced twenty kilometres along, the Aihiens-Eoye road, and'captured over 8000 prisoners. Wo have counted up to the present 200 guns among the enormous material. A French communique, at 2.30 a.m., states: Following up the -advance on the right of the British Fourth Army, our troops to?day scored fresh successes. After breaking the resistance, of the enemy, we carried the villages of Pierre Pont, Contoir, Hangeste-cn-Santerre. We also captured Arvillers. Our progress in this direction since yesterday morning has (attained a depth of fourteen kilometres. Besides a considerable quantity of material, we have captured 4000 prisoners. Our losses, like the British, have been particularly light STEADILY INCREASING NUMBERS OF AMERICANS. ARRIVING IN FRANCE. Received 11.10 a.m. WASHINGTON, August 11. General Pershing has cabled to the War Department that the French Government has adopted elaborate plans for the improvement of port facilities for handling the steadily increasing numbers of American troops arriving in France under the expanding war programme. Members of the Senate Military Committee were told by the War Department that the flow of Americans to France kept up to the average. BRITISH OFFICIAL REPORT. Received 10.30 a.m. LONDON, August 11. Sir Douglas Haig reports: By a successful operation last night, we advanced our line north of the Somme, on the high ground between Etinenem and Dernicourt. Fighting south of tie river is reported at various points. The- French progressed along the south bank of the Avre and reached the outskirts of Lechelle and St. Aurin. We repulsed a local attack in the morning on our position northward of Kemcll, taking prisoners and slightly improving cur positions eastward of Eoboeq.

THE RECENT FIGHTBT®. POSITION HAS GREAT POSSIBILITIES. Received 9 a.m. LONDON, Aug.) 11. The result of the two days’ attack on a twenty mile front is twenty-four thousand prisoners and three hundred guns with, a maximum advance /(of twelve miles. ThciPrench resumed the attaekycat dawn on Saturday, • penetrating;./four miles in six hours and surrounding , Montdider on four sides. Field guns command the important railway junction of Chaulnes, compelling the Germans to abandon its use and to depend on roads and light railways, which an inadequate to their needs. Canadian cavalry is operating near Chaulnes and report strong enemy rearguards are covering the evacuation of stores. The whole situation offers great possibilities, and it is expected the enemy will foe (compelled to (retire tot tfifi Somme line seven miles distant. FOOH’S HATCHET BLOWS. REDUCING SALIENT AFTER SALIENT. FRENCH ENTER MONTDIDIER. FURTHER GREAT HAULS OF PRISONERS. Received 9 a.m. PARIS, August 11. The Allies are steadily' progressing, and Foch’s hatchet blows are reducing salient after salient. The French entered Montdidier towards noon before the enemy had time to get away. Meanwhile the Allies’ centre between Lihons and Favrelles was pushed on with further great hauls of prisoners until they gained possession of Fresnoy-les-Roye, three milfes northward of Roye. • The Ahiericans co-operated wdth the British""bn Friday night, recapturing Chippilly spur. Preceded by tanks and well'timed barrages they swiftly gained' T their objectives, while a terrific struggle at close quarters enabled the Allies to take Morlancourt. OUR RECENT VICTORIES ON MARNE AND SOMME.

RESULT OP UNIFIED COMMAND. LLOYD GEORGE'S OPINION Received 9.30 a.m. LONDON, August 11. Mr Lloyd George, speaking at Newport, said the Allied victory on the Marne and Somme had resulted in the capture of nearly, 60,000 prisoners and 900 guns. One of the greatest factors in those victories had been the combined command. 36,000 PRISONERS AND 500 GUNS CAPTURED. ‘’"dHAtfLNES TAKEN BY COLONIALS. Received 9.25 a.m. , LONDON, August 11. Thirty-six thousand prisoners and ■five hundred guns have been already captured. The Canadians and Australians took Chaulnes.