BAPAUME CAPTURED

Taihape Daily Times, 27 August 1918, Page 5

BAPAUME CAPTURED

WESTERN FRONT.

IRRESISTIBLE BRITISH ADVANCE ■ 0 New Zealaaders Share in Ik Glory All German Counter Attacks Repulsed Evidence of German Demoralisation Possibility of Germans Retiring to the Rhine

BAPAUME CAPTURED. FRINGE OF BULLECOURT LONDON, August 25. Bapaume lias been captured by the British. It is reported that the British outposts have reached the fringe of Bullecourt, where the Australians performed such prodigies of valour in the battle of the Ancre, and also captured High Wood, where the New Zealanders fought against long odds with -wonderful resource and ultimate success. • AMERICA ELATED. A BIG DRIVE COMING. .■ NEW YORK, August 25. The "New York Times" Washington correspondent states that military circles are elated at the latest Allied success. A'big drive by the American army is expected-in the southern sectors of the west front. Mr. James, j correspondent with the American ar-, my, states that the Germans launched thr£g violent attacks ia the Vesle sedtoryhut these were broken by American troops. In one instance three German battalions attacked one American, which held its ground. Fighting continued, all the afternoon and night. \ . IS THE ENEMY CRACKING? ;' J— njT (SFFICER SAYS SO. A,,g-.ist 20. Mr. Nevinscn stages: Friday' night and Saturday morning were the toning points of the present Sommn campaign, perhaps of the whole war, A high officer, who speaks with knowledge and caution, says: The enemy seems to he cracking. " Mr Nevinson adds: Five months ago we thought we were cracking. Therefore, it is unsafe to prophesy, but there is no doubt the German armies opposing our Third Army and Fourth Army, are disconcerted.

Mr. Nevinson describes a -walking tour over portion of the battlefield, wMch is full of interesting evidence of the enemy's disarray. He reached the summit of the mound on which Thiepval is situated/ where he first met enemy soldiers. They were prisoners. A large batch was docilely following three British guards.

whole of the next ' ridge, and the valley beyond the Germans •were scattered. They were evidence of a division which had lost cohesion and hope. I was unarmed, yet none attempted to shoot. Some lurked in hiding- places, and if detected they surrendered forthwith, throwing away everything except their clothes and the sack containing food, soap an<L razor. Mr Nevinson says he saw a solitary British cavalry men armed only with an empty German revolver, prowling round collecting small batches Their talk amongst themselves consisted of complaints against their superiors who had caused them to lose touch with their companies, though they all seemed to be glad to be taken prisoner AMSTERDAM, August 26.

A remarkable demonstration in the poor quarters in Berlin followed a report that the military age limit would shortly' be raised. Excited crowds assembled in the streets, but dissolved on the appearance of the poEce.

The frequenters of a certain cafe revenged themselves by throwing pictures of the Kaiser, the Crown Prinee Hindenburg and Ludendorff* from the windows, where they were trampled This example was initeihy h. large number of householders;

BRITISHERS' GREAT HAUL. PARIS, August 26. Since August Bth, over 40,000 Germans have been taken prisoner on the British front. The British method of avoiding a direct attack on enemy strong positions and attacking weaker points on the right and left of the stronghold, forcing its evacuation or surrender, has enabled them to gain their objectives at small cost, through the process is somewhat slower.. ' LONDON, August 26. The Daily Telegraph's Rotterdam correspondent says: The past week will rank as one of the most important of war events on the Western front and have a tremendous effort on . the people of Germany,, who are only now allowed to know that Ludendorff,'s gamble has failed and. that a defensive ; policy must be resumed on the West while Germany consolidates her gains in the East. Competent observers declare that the people of Berlin have completely lost their nerve. BRITISH CASUALTIES. THE ADVANCE PAST BAPAUME. Receved 8.40 a.m. NEW YORK, ugust 26. British casualties in the Third and Fourth armies, from August 21 tb 25, are estimated at 23,000. German prisoners exceed. 20,00(k The British on Sunday captured 1500 prisoners, aad, they are now nearing Longueval.

BETWEEN AISNE AND AILETTE. THE . WEDGE GOING 1N...--BAD WEATHER . EXPERIENCED.' Ree-r.vGu 9 ~.m. : , .. t LONDON, August 2^. A Frencn communique reports reciprocal artillery activity in the region of Lassignay. Between the Ailette and the Aisne we made fresh progress, east of Bagneux, and repulsed counter attacks west of Crecy au Mont, and we took 400 prisoners. There ie nothing doing elsewhere; bad weather hampered aviators bombing in the daytime, but the weather is improving. At night bombeia dropped 19£ tons in the rear of the battlefield, on stations and bivouacs. Numerous hits were registered and fires were observed at Laon, Guiscard, and Guignicourt. RETIREMENT TO THE RHINE. GERMAN FIGHT FOR EXISTENCE. Received 9.10 a.m. LONDON, AUGUST 26. The German Press is admitting the possibility of retiring to the Rhine. They admit the battle is now one for the existence of Germany. Australians have captured 12,000 Germans since Bth August, a larger number than Australian casualties. A German counter attack at Soissons utterly failed. ADVANCE ALONG THE SCARPE. MANY TOWNS CAPTURED. GERMANS RETIRING FROM VESLE LONDON, August 26. British troops attacked along the Searpe and made good progress. They advanced two miles on a four mile front, capturing Favreulle, Monchy le Preux, Wancourt and Goumagpe. The attack extended from Fampoux to the heights north-east of Neuville Vitasse. The Germans tare reported to .be withdrawing north of the Vesle.

FOCH'S COUNTER-STROKE. PARIS, August 25. President Poincaire, accompanied by M. Clemenceau (Premier), visited General Petain's headquarters and decorated him with the Medaille Militaire. Subsequently he visited Marshal Foch's headquarters and presented him with a marshal's baton in the presence of the Allies' military representatives. President Poincaire, in a speech, said: "By wise successive operations, combined with surprise, the enemy had been defeated on the Marne, the Aisne, the Avre, the Somme, and the Oise. You have broken the enemy's offensive, disconcerted his plans, exhausted his reserves, and captured en masse his men, guns, machine guns, and munitions. The glory belongs to you, Monsieur le Marechal, and all the armies you command."

AMERICA'S LOSSES. WASHINGTON, August 25. General P. C. Marsh, Chief of Staff, says that the United States army Overseas is now a million and a-half. American losses in the recent attacks were not unreasonably heavy. One American division captured 68 German guns recently and 3500 prisoners. General Pershing as yet has not organised the first American field army. DISORGANISATION "N GERMAN ARMY. LONDON, August 26. The United Press correspondent states: Out of scanty reserves badly needed elsewhere, Hindenburg and Ludendorff are throwing in Prussians, Saxons, Bavarians and marines in an effort to check the British progress on the Somme field. They have thrown in by regiments, not divisions, some elements of the same divisions as SCre now found as far apart as Biefvillers and Mametz, but notwithstanding the attempts to repair the holes in the line as fast as they develop', the German's continue retreating, only holding desperately some points like Bapaume in order to prevent the complete breaking down of their defence and the turning of a forced withdrawal into a riotous retreat. As it is, the disorganisation in some places is so great"that a British armoured car was enabled to harass traffic. TELL-TALE CAGES. LONDON, August 26. A tour of the cages on Sunday revealed that the Fortieth and Twentythird Saxon Divisions, and the Thirtysixth Prussian Division had been added to the forces in the northern par* 1 of the battlefield, the Saxons being brought from Belgium. Prisoners included large numbers of the Third Marines, caught eastward of MiraumOnt, where they AVere reinforcing taa Bavarians when Miraffmont was pinched off at noon on Saturday. • Alsatian prisoners stated that the Germans were scattering them in groups all' through the army. They declared that punishment for desertion is visited on the deserters' families. In some cases sisters are sent to work in the front line. This is probably responsible for the stories that the Germans are using women to fight on the battle line.

FOURTH ARMYS HAUL. LONDON, August 26. The Fourth Army, including the Australians, between the 18th and 21st, captured ever 30,000 prisoners and nearly 500 guns. ROYE FURTHER ENDANGERED FRENCH CAPTURE FRESNOY. Received 9 a.m. NEW YORK, August 26. The French have captured Fresnoy les Roye. AUSTRALIANS CAPTURE GERMAN SUPER GUN. EXHIBITED UN PARIS. Received 9.50 a.m. PARIS, August 26. From an early hour yesterday thousands flocked to the Champ de Mars to see the gun captured by the Australians, who baptised it "Little Bertha." The gun, which was taken with our own locomotive, was exhibited with four trucks, containing shells, spare parts, repair shops and gunners' quarters. The gun weighs 150 tons, the tube is twenty-six feet long, and the shells five feet high. It can only be fired in one direction, and accordingly is moved on curved rails. The detachment of Australians who captured the gun mounted guard. Visitors all day cheered and congratulated them. Many visitors travelled long distances from the provinces. The gun is Inscribed, "Captured by British Fourth Army, August 8, 1918." It is understood the gun later will be exhibited in London.

OPERATIONS ROUND. BAPAUME. DESPERATE FIGHTING BY GERMANS. IRRESISTIBLE VALOUR OF BRITISH. WHOLE BATTALIONS OF HUNS CAPTURED. Received 9.50 a.m. LONDON, AUGUST 26. Mr. Perceval Phillips writes:., .It must not b<3' forgotten that' our Well,, won triumphs often mean hard fight-, ing, with'severe losses at one'or .two! points,- J but our : losses on the whole were lightl ' Sometimes >ithdre was grim, close quarter work with the bayonet in deep craters by moonlight. Thousands of the enemy found themselves trapped, for example, at Bihucourt, Sapigneeu, and near Bapaume. These included some of the fittest and most skilled of the German Army, but they only fought in. desperation, and the British tide could not be stayed. The German infantry 'hourly become more confused and more helpless, and the enemy's N defences cleared and broke. He tried repeatedly to reorganise a covered line of resistance, but was as often shattered into fragments. The rearguard charges behind Bapaume could scarcely be greater. Perhaps the commanders were partly blameworthy, but the men lost heart. Our prisoners were utterly discouraged. There are movements everywhere. Peronne Road threatened to delay us where it crossed the wilderness of the Somme battlefields; but fhese are passed, and good roads and fairly good ground are regained. A gallant incident is recorded at Miraumont. The British encircled the garrison, and the enmy tried hard to retire. They sent up a strong force, which occupied the ravine. A small British force, pushing aside of the town, found themselves at night on the edge of a ravine full of Germans, and themselves encircled, but they hung on all day. Other British troops on.. Friday night waded across the flooded river Ancre and made a forced march in the darkness. Aeroplanes, at dawn on Saturday, bore a message to hold on as help was coming. The enemy in the ravine did not dare attack,,, and had summoned reinforcements, but the British reinforcements were on their way and cleared the ravine, and turned to assist in the assault of Miraumont, which captured the German reinforcements which arrived, one battalion of which was captured en bloc.

NEW ZEALANDERS EN ROUTE FOR BAPAUME. WALK OVER BAVARIANS. Received 10 a.m. <o AUGUST 26. Mr. Perceval JHiillips, continuing iiis narrative, says: As soon as the British had cleared , Miraumo.nt, ..the New Zealander.s, with, the assistance of tanks, attacked Loupaxt Wood, en route to Bapaume. They, found little opposition within, but. the trenches' beyond; wer« full of Bavarians. ~Th£ New Zealanders passed ovor these within two hours, and did not wait to gather prisoners, but pushed ahead and attacked Grevillers —an old acquaintance—and by the middle of the afternoon began fighting for Bapaume's inner defenses. There were good trenches around the suburbs and well-wired slopes. Meanwhile other troops climbed the slopes before Powith, quickened pulse, in order to gaze on the promised land behind. They found Pozieres no longer the same; the old ruins are gone. There are new ones now, of British hutments and tumbled-down cemeteries. The German artillery beyond Bapaume on Sunday were energetically trying To counteract the enemy infantry's instability, but the barrage nowhere delayed our advance. Our airmen report seeing the patrols inside of Bapaume, but these are probably reconnaissances. A FRENCH REPORT. Received 10.25 a.m. LONDON, AUGUST 26. A French communique states there was a lively artillery action at night time in the region of Roye, Beauvraignes, and between the Ailette and the Aisne. Enemy raids in the Vosges were resultless. ENEMY DISORGANISATION APPARENT. RESERVES BEING USED UP. Received 11.45 a.m. LONDON, AUGUST 26. Renter's correspondent with British headquarters states that the degree of confusion behind the German lines is incredible. Reinforcements are hurrying up on the stop-gap principle. This is an indication that the Germans are desperately pressed or they would not -thus break, up their reserves. Friday's advance has. been in the nature of a great sweep from Bray to the north of Bapaume. It is estimated that since 21st August twenty thousand have

been prisonered by the British: Since July 15 the Allied total has reached one hundred thousand. It is reported the Guards' outposts have reached-the fringe of Bullecourt, and we have captured the high wood of Eaucourt and Labbaye. Advancing upon Longueval, the New Zealanders, with tanks helping, had a stiff fight cleaning out the enemy from Loupart Wood, dominating Bapaume, but eventually they prisonered over four hundred. The significant fact in the present disorganisation'of the -enemy is that there is practically 'no.' counter attacking today.-' Stubborn resistance occurred at 'various points.

MORE CAPTURES-BY BRITISH. Received 11.45 a.m. NEW YORK, August 26. The British have captured Suzanne, Cappy, and have reached the outskirts of Thilloy. HAIG'S REPORT. STIFF BAYONET FIGHTING. Received 10.53 a.m. LONDON, August 26. Sir Douglas Haig reports: OfTr troops at 3 o'clock this morning attacked in the Scarpe sector. Good progress is reported. On the southern battlefront we slightly advanced our line astride the Somme, aHa by a successful operation carried out on Sunday progressed in the direction of Maricourt. The enemy on Sunday evening launched strong counter attacks southward and northward of Bapaume, also in the neighbourhoods of Eaucoip't, Labbaye, and Favreuil. The attacks were repulsed. Northward of Favreuil we met the enemy with the bayonet, inflicting heavy casualties and taking prisoners. Another counter attack later in the evening in the neighbourhood of Favreuil was also unsuccessful. Favreuil is in our hands and we have made progress beyond the village. We improved our position south-eastward 'of Mory and westward of Croiselles. Heavy rain is now falling along the whole battle front. ' .."."

THE GERMAN VERSION. "ALL ATTACKS REPULSED." Received 11.45 a.m. "LONDON; August 26. German, wireless report: Strong English forvos, led by tanks, advancing betweer; NTeuville St. Leger collapsed. Cur post's at St. Leger withdrew to the eastward of the village. Strong attacks, initiated by numerous tanks, against Bapaume collapsed. We threw back the enemy beyond Pozieres. The enemy six times stormed our middle front eastward of Albert to the Somme. We threw them back to Lamboiselle and over the Albert>sßray road. Our projecting lines here were withdrawn at night time. Our nightfliers on Saturday dropped seventy-five tons of bombs on camps and railway stations.. '•■>■•.< A German evening official states: Heavy attacks on both sides of Bapaume failed. _.,,_ ■ -.-, .

BRITISH STILL PROGRESSING. IN SPITE OF GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS. Received 10.15 a.m. LONDON, August 26. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Hostile opposition has increased to-day with the arrival of German, reinforcements. Many German counter attacks were broken with loss under our fire. Our troops, despite counter attacks, fought their way forward'with great gallantry, and, overcoming resistance, further progressed, taking many prisoners'. On the northern bank of the Somme the Australians, by successful attacks early in the morning, carried the enemy's positions on the high ground eastward of Bray, while on their left the London and East County divisions continued to advance in the direction of Carney, and have taken Mametz. The Welsh captured Mametz Wood in the centre of our attack. We crossed the Albert-Bapaume road along its whole length southward of Bapaume and captured Martinpuich, Lesars, and Le Barque. Northward of Bapaume severe fighting occurred at Favreuil and about Mory and Croiseiie» We progressed eastward of Behagcies and in Neuville Vitasse. A counter attack against our Givenchy sector was repulsed. The aviation report states: Airmen on Saturday carried out varied work, with much low flying and artillery observations. We dropped 43 tons of bombs. Valenciennes and Cambrai rail connections were amongst the targets. A WORD OF WARNING. TO TEMPER OPTIMISM WITH CAUTION. Received 11.45 a.m. LONDON, August 26. Router's correspondent at British headquarters,' writing last evening, sr.vs:—-We have reached the most dra-

matic era of the war. Yet despite our suececces, we ought at present to temper our optimism with, caution. Since yesterday 'morning the enemy have been disintegrated over a considerable zone of the Somtme battlefield. In some places groups of Germans are wandering about for an opportunity to surrender and the degree of enemy demoralisation in certain places is greatest factor in the present position. Yesterday the enemy cracked up in the neighbourhood of TMepval ridge, but we must prepare for his recovery at strong lines of resistance. The battlefield scene was amazing.