SENSATIONAL ADVANCE

Taihape Daily Times, 4 September 1918, Page 5

SENSATIONAL ADVANCE

£ , 'C’ V ' ■■ , • - Germans Fighting a Desperate Battle plrreparaMe Disaster Facing the Huns . -csa v.v/i cti . ■ '■ ' . —a T*; : ? Hi a-1) -.0. _ , Wilson Gives Indications of Peace FRENCH ADVANCE AT SOISSONS Rapid British Movement in Russia

crawled along shell pits over the crest and got near the town before being observed. They rushed the town, in which were a thousand Germans. There was fierce bayonet fighting, and the attack resulted in 250 prisoners, ail the rest being killed or wounded. The Times correspondent at American headquarters reports that .a picturesque feature of the fighting at Juvigny was the galloping tip of a large force of American artillery in the nick of time to prevent the Germans saving their heaviest guns. This was a fine example of rapid fighting, supplementing a pushing advance by scores of machine-gunners, who swept the fugitives with deadly effect. The artillery laid down a triple barrage covering wide stretches of “the-field and woods and well wired trenches,.on which the enemy especially relied. The infantry following the barrage . captured the guns and took, a thousand prisoners. French tanks smartly, as; sisted .in cleaning up outlying niachinegun nests. .... ~j v.

The Germans retreated beyond Ternay, with the Americans at their heels.

ATTACK ON 25 MILES’ FRONT. STILL ADVANCING. LONDON, September 2. The English and Canadians, at 5 o ’clock this morning, attacked on a twenty-five mile front, south of the Searpe. The Canadians, after breaking through the. switch line , were, still advancing at 3 o ’clock this afternoon. The' en,em.y., is, heavily counterattacking south of Queanf.;. 'r, ■, ..

BRITISH WELL THROUGH THE r n LINE. ' .■' ■' LONDON, September ,2.. We penetrated from the , western edge of Etaing,,to the western edge of Cagnicourt, thence approaching Queant BRILLIANT WORK AT PERONNE LONDON, September 2. The capture of Neuvre Eglise was mainly owing to the British working round from the, north, compelling the evacuation The British arc allowing the Gormans no rest in the region of Peronne Part of the Fourth Army attacked them to-day. German counter attacks on Sunday against Mont St. Quentin were intended to stave off a renewed rush. While the Australians brilliantly recaptured positions on both sides of the mountain, including Feuillacourt, others forced their way across the river southwards of the ‘city despite the mashes, and reached the high ground beyond Peronne. Another unit took Anvil Wood and pushed through Peronne and Flamicourt and attacked Bacquets and Flisqucs Woods. Many Germans -were taken prisoner. They also had an unusual death list.

ENEMY’S DESPERATE .EFFORTS LONDON, September 2. The desperate effort to check the avalanche till safe behind the Hindenburg Line is shown by the identification of some twenty three divisions which have been thrown on to the Somme front since the battle began, totalling well over thirty divisions. Ludendorff, in an order which was captured, throws light on the raggedness of the German gunfire which has been noticeable throughout. The order speaks of the startling results of the British gunnery, which destroyed thirteen per cent of the German guns. He orders increased . counter-battery WOrk. ... ... GERMAN OFFOIAL REPORT LONDON, September 2. Wireless German official.—The enemy northward of Hondecourt, after gaining ground in the direction of Lagni-

court, was driven, back to Hondccourt. Wo repulsed an attack south-eastward of Bapaumc, mainly directed against Villers Aueloss. Wc pulled up the enemy on the lino Sailly-St. Pierre Vaast Wood, and eastward of Bouchavesncs and ■ Mont Quentin. The enemy occupied Peronne. Wireless German official—The English gained ground south east of Arras and north of Peronne. The French attacked this afternoon between the Oise and the Aisne.

FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT. PARIS, September 2. Official —Sincb July 18th the French, have captured 75,000 prisoners and 700 guns. ENEMY’S POWERFUL DEFENCES SMASHED. RESISTANCE BROKEN ON WHOLE FRONT LONDON, September 2. Sir Douglas Haig reports: AngloCanadians, accompanied by tanks, attacked astride the Arras —Cambrai road, and carried, on a wide front, that portion of the powerful Rrocourt —Queant line which lies south of the Scarpe. The enemy strongly held the trenches, and determinedly resisted our advance. The resistance was broken on the whole front with great enemy loss.

The Canadians captured Dury, Villers, Les Gagnicourt and Caguicoun, and are progressing beyond these places.

On the Canadian left, the English fought their way forward northeast of Eterpigny. English and Scottish on the right advanced beyond Reincourt and Les Gagnicourt in the direction of Queant. They captured many strongly fortified positions, including Moreuil. Southwards we progressed, and early in the afternoon we repulsed a heavy counter attack, launched in great strength eastward of Vaux Vraucourt. The En•glish reached the outskirts of the village of Beugny and captured .Villers Auflour.

All day long there was .a sharp fighting in the neighbourhood of Le Transloy, where we. resisted counter attacks and the English captured a village between Saillisel and Peronne. English and Australians drove the enemy from St Pierre Vaast Wooes, and captured Allaines and Haute Allaines.

The Australians beat off the enemy with heavy loss in repeated counter attacks east and southeast of Peronne

AIRMEN ASSIST LONDON, September 2. Sir Douglas Haig’s aviation report states: There was improved weather bn the Ist instant. Despite opposition our aeroplanes maintained contact with, the advancing troops. Our low fliers all day long bombed and machine gunned the retreating enemy, causing heavy loss and confusion. We heavily bombed bridges and rail connections in the back areas. We destroyed eight aeroplanes and drove down-four uncontrollable. We also .set on fire six balloons. Eight British are missing. Our night fliers heavily attacked the aerodrome at St Quentin, direct hits being observed. One night flier has not returned. We dropped thirty tons of bombs. Anti aircraft guns on Friday brought down one German night flier. THE FLANDERS OFFENSIVE. GERMAN RETIREMENT CONTINUES. LONDON September 2. Reuters learns that the line in Flanders runs from Voolmezeolo immediately via Wulverghem, through Ncuve Eglise, Steenwerck to east of ( Estaires to La Couture. 1 The Germans retirement is continuing. WESTERN OUTSKIRTS OF LENS ENTERED. j LONDON, September 2. I Patrols progressed in the western I outskirts of Lens. We continue to gain ground, keeping in close contact with the enemy on the Lys front. FRENCH PROGRESS. i LONDON, Sept. 2. A French communique states: The troops who crossed the Canal Du Nord 1 yesterday, near Nesle, advanced east of the canal and gained a footing on the western slopes of. Hill 72. A POWERFUL ATTACK. LONDON, September 3. Between the Ailettc and the Aisne wo continued to progress on the plateau east of Cereyaumont and Juvigny. We captured (Louilly, Terny, and Sorny, despite furious resistance. An American communique says: We ! advanced northward of the Aisne doi spite strong resistance. We took the i I heights of Terny and Sorny.

THE QUEANT-DROUCOITET LINE SMASHED BY THE BRITISH. TEN THOUSAND PRISONERS TAKEN. LENS AND QUEANT CAPTURED. :BRITISH EN ROUTE TO : DOUAI. u .-i , Received 9.50 'a.m, ' l ’-- . . " NEW YORK,' September 3. ‘ United Press London messages state that the British have taken Lens and Qucant, and are advancing on a twenty mile front. They captured 10,000 prisoners, also occupied Wulverghem and B’erticourt. The enemy is retreating . along the whole Drocourt-Queant line; The British have captured Lamblain Ics Pres, and are enroute to Douai. THE FIGHT IN PROGRESS BRITISH REACH OPEN COUNTRY. HUNS THROW IN CLERKS Received 10.5. LONDON, September 3 We advanced to-day four miles on a twenty mile front, the enemy hurriedly retiring behind the Hindenburg switch line. , .... . ... . .... . Street ; fighting ,is in progress -in Moislains,. and Allaines, northeast of Percnne. Our line of advance now runs from Vormezelle —Neuve Eglise and La Coutre. Between the Scarpe and the Somme the enemy is strongly reacting in the centre, and it is expected that he will certainly react against the switch.

The weather is stormy and gusty. The enemy has another swithch line from Douai to Cambrai, but it is net very good, certainly less formidable than in the Queant region. Beyond the second line the open country is somewhat marshy until the Cambrai plain is reached.

Fighting continues near Lens; we captured the suburb of Puitsmorsc. Mr Percival Phillips says; We broke the Drocourt line to-day, and British and Canadians are driving a considerable distance into the open country beyond that line. Our troops are assisted by a force of tanks, which latest reports say are far ahead of our infantry; a thousand prisoners were taken.

Germans of the Seventeenth. Army made a supreme effort to hold General Horne’s army, and every scrap of available material was thrown into the battle. Divisions were bunched together indiscriminately, including tired infantry, dismounted cavalry and headquarters’ clerks, who were all fighting with the energy of despair. GERMANS RUN SCREAMING. PRISONERS SWARM LIKE SHEEP. HUN ADMISSION OF DEFEAT. Received 10 a.m. LONDON, September 3. The United correspondent states that thousands of German prisoners are swarming down the roads like sheep. Such disheartened masses captured has seldom been seen since the war began. Germans in the front line ran screaming before our first; assault, throwing up their hands. They admit that the Germans are heatcn, but this docs not mean that to-day’s battle was a triumphant parade for the Canadians and the Anglo-Seottish troops. On the

SEVERAL THOUSAND PRISONERS TAKEN ON LAST MONDAY FRENCH AND BRITISH ADVANCING Received 10 .m. r LONDON, September 3 The French have crossed the Canal between Du Nord and Nesle, and progressed near to Juvigny, capturing Tennysorny, , Sir Douglas Haig reports that our progress continued, and our gains have been consolidated. We took several thousand prisoners to-dayr’-HUN SWITCH LINE. CANADIANS SMASH IN TWAIN. BRITISH CONTINUE TO ADVANCE. Received 9.50 a.m. LONDON, September 3. The English and Canadians attacked at five in the morning on a 23 mile front, southward of the Searpe River. The Canadians smashed through the switch line, cutting it in twain on a six mile front, between Etaing and a point south of Gagnicourt. Our line now runs along the western edge of tho Etaing, the eastern side, of Dury, the western edge of Gagnicourt to west of Queant. Heavy fighting continues in our favour,, the British co-operating with the Canadians. Near Queant a scries of enemy counter attacks expelled us from Vaux wmod, which we captured in the mirhing We are advancing on Rocquigny, eastward of Le Transloy.

contrary some of the hardest fighting recorded for months .occurred before Hindenburg line,, reported to ; be crossed. The Germans threw in great masses to stop gaps and fought murderously at some points, but those German masses contained the elements of fatal weakness, including worked out divisions from Bapaume and B’ullecourt. Further German masses .arc still coming up and much fighting still remains. Our success in overcoming deep wire barriers was duo largely to :out.v e ou£ A use shells . clearing disturbing, the earth!, and tanks played a big part. As an example >of , .-miscellaneous character of the present German line, the Lancashircs took prisoners from six different divisions on a front of two thousand yards. Incidents of the day include the performance of a machine gun sergeant, who killed sixty Gormans at Hcndccourt.

STORY OF-THE FIGHTING. ENEMY CAUGHT DEBOUCHING BY BRITISH ARTILLERY 0* ___ FEARFUL LOSSES INFLICTED Received 11.30 LONDON, September 3. Reuter’s correspondent at headquarters writes: That the enemy is on the qui vive is shown by the fact that his barrage came to within one minute of the opening of our bombardment. It was; of the heaviest, but badly directed, and caused great damage to h!s own men. As our leading waves broke forward many Germans sprang up and came running over with hands up. The outposts and front line trenches were cleared with the smallest resistance. Our airmen, hampered by bad visibility, nevertheless reported the German batteries limbering up and forming rearguards. By 11.30 we had reached Gagnicourt, and were attacking great concentrations of Germans with machine gun posts in Bois de Douches considerably eastward of Cagnicourt; and Dury was captured, and some of the heaviest fighting occurred on -Mbiit Dury slopes, which were honeycombed with defences. As dense masses of Germans-were debouching from a sunken road nearby bur batteries opened fire, inflicting terrible losses. Our own men were in many places exposed to terribly severe fire. The enemy seems to be organising resistance in echelcn at great depth.

' WESTERN FRONT.

CANADIAN ATTACK. ON A FIVE-MILE FRONT;. 1 LONDON, September 2. Early this morning the Canadians attacked on a five-mile front astride the Arras-Cambrai road, and broke through the strong Droconrt-Que,ant line despite most stubborn resistance. The tanks played a most important part, and penetrated Duty, 11 miles south east of Arras and also the western edge of Gagnicourt, three miles to the south. Heavy fighting is proceeding for the high ground between Bury and Etaing, three miles north of Bury, -Possibly the front has been pierced on a line-of. four miles. Large numbers of prisoners were taken from seven divisions captured at Noreuil, six miles north-east of Bapaume, and Villers-au-Filos. ,

The capture .of Files means that Le Transloy is outflanked on both sides, and may be regarded as practically ours. We are nearing Beugny, four miles north-east of Bapaume, but it is not ,set • captured. . The capture of ;Saillisel is, most important, for it is on the highest ground on Somme and commands, .the. Tprtille Eiver. If we can retain it the German position in the, Trptille Valley will be critical. General Bebcney’s army yesterday captured Hill 77, east of Nesle, The Germans counter-attacked strongly, and drove the French from, the crest, but the French are now fighting hard to recapture the position. ALLIES’ HUGE “BAG.” ' PAEIS, September 2. Between July 16 and August 31 the Allies captured 128,000 prisoners, 2,069 guns, 1,734 mine throwers and 13,700 machine guns. SOWN BY THE GERMANS. LONDON, Sept. 2. Mr. H. P. Robinson states that the British troops have garnered the German crops in the recaptured territories “BRAVEST I EVER SAW” LONDON, September 2. In speaking of Lieutenant-Colonel ■Cecil Humphries, a New Zealander, who died of wounds last week while commanding a battalion of the Norfolk Regiment, hi|s saidHe was, without exception, the bravest man I ever saw.”

DROCOURT-QUEANT LINE. SMASHED. ON SIX MILE FRONT. LONDON, Sept. 2. The Drocourt-Queant switch line has been definitely smashed in two along a six-mile front, a heavy haul of prisoners being made. Le Transloy and St. Pierre Vaast Wood have been captured, and we have reached Moislains, four miles north-east of Peronne, and AUaines, on the Tortille, two miles north-east of Peronne. The United Press Association correspondent says that ten counter-at-tacks pushed the Australians back on the Mont St. Quentin flank, but the summit was held, and the Australians recaptured the flank positions and won further ground. AMERICANS RUSH JUVIGNY WITH BAYONET. WHOLE GARRISON KILLED, WOUNDED OR CAPTURED t LONDON, September 2. e Americans ’ capture of Juvigny, 4i miles north of Soissons, was a remarkable exploit. The town lay on the further slope of a hill. Two parties