Gen. Maurice’s Review.

Taihape Daily Times, 12 August 1918, Page 5

Gen. Maurice’s Review.

THE POSSIBILITIES OF THE VICTORY. Received 11.25 a.m. LONDON, August 12. General Maurice writes: —The British near Chaulnes should now be able to strangle the enemy’s communications in the Montdidier salient, the same way as Foch’s blow on the Somme upset the arrangements for supplying the troops in the Marne salient, and thereby eventually force his retreat. Our rapid advance southward of the Somme has begun to have that effect. The French have extended their attack south as far as the Marz, and are steadily pushing the enemy back from his position on the Avre. It is in this quarter we may expect the greatest progress in the immediate future, because the enemy is certain to strive desperately to check the centre of the attack in' the neighbourhood of Chaulnes, where our men are I fighting, until he extricates his left flank, to prevent getting into a dangerous position. Some effects of the victory are already apparent. The main line from Amiens to Clermont and Creil is in working order, and possibly within a day or two we shall be using the line from Amiens along the Avre Valley to Compeigue, thus improving our chances of developing the victory. The Germans are now pressed everywhere along a forty-five mile front, and wo may fairly hope by working a wide base to force the enemy back as far as the Somme, Peronne to Voyennes, thence along the Canal to Noyon, implying the recapture of the bulk of the ground lost in the great battle of last March. The guns captured are variously estimated i from three hundred and fifty to four

hundred, including a fifteen-inch piece previously used for bombarding Am. iens. The British, turning it round, bombarded Ham. It is reported that both Roye and ' Chaulnes have been taken. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. LONDON, ’August 11. Wireless German official message: We repulsed partial attacks at many points between the Yser and the Ancre. The British and French, bringing up strong reserves, continued attacks on the whole front between the Ancre and the Avre. We threw back the enemy on both sides of the Somme and astride the Foucarcdurt-Villers Bretonneux road. The enemy gained ground in the centre of the battlefront, between Rosieres and Hangest. Our counter-attacks brought him to a standstill westward of Lihons and eastward of the Rosieres-Arvillers line. We withdrew during the nighttime to our rear lines eastward of Montdidier. German evening official message: Between the Ancre and the Oise the enemy attacks were shatered before our fighting positions. Wireless German official. —The enemy attacked with strong forces on the Bth, between the Ancre and the Avre. Favoured by a thick fog, he forced his Avay with tanks into our infantry and artillery lines,’ We threw him out of our positions north of the Somme. Between the Somme and the Avre our cunter-attacks brught him to a standstill. We suffered loss of prisoners and guns, and took prisoners English, Australians, Canadians and French . A GREAT ALLIED VICTORY. GERMANS’ DESPERATE SITUATION. Received-10-.5 a.m,; NEW YORKy- August 11. : fMr. Frank FL - Simmonds, the leading American military expert, writes: The German defeat between the Somme- and the Oise has already attained the proportions; of a great disaster. Within three days Foch’s second blow dislocated more than one hundred miles of German front. There -is reason to believe the German withdrawal will reach the old Hindenburg line. The occupation of Chaulnes paralyses the railway lines within the collapsing salient. The Germans east of line from Chaulnes to Noyon arc in a desperate situation. They may escape, but will be forced to leave behind guns and munitions. A great victory has been won, the consequences of which may hot yet be measured.”