GERMANS DISORGANISED

Taihape Daily Times, 5 September 1918, Page 5

GERMANS DISORGANISED

BRITISH ADVANCE EIGHT MILES IMPORTANT MOVE IN EL ANDERS : V t. ’ , Huns Preparing to Evacuate Messiaes IMPORTANT FRENCH ADVANCE WITHIN SIGHT OF LAON.

The enemy last night evacuated Lens. The enemy is also evacuating Wuevergm. (This is probably Wulverghem, south-east of Ypres). ' ENEMY'S FUTILE RAIDS. LONDON, Sept 3. A F’rench communique, issued at ~ p.m., stated: There was artillery fire in the night on the Somme and between the Oise and the Aisne. Enemy raids in the region of the Vesle and the Vosges were without result. There is nothing to report elsewhere. AMERICANS FIGHTING HARD. LONDON, Sept 3. Reuter’s correspondent at American headquarters, writing on Monday night, says: A great fight progressed all day long north and north-east -of Soissons. The enemy is vigorously defending Pont Rouge Plateau, east of the Soissons railway, also the line’ right along the north of the Aisne. We are bombarding his positions from the south and west. Villages which the enemy ho?d are burning like vast torches. Fires are spreading through neighbouring woods. The enemy drenched our positions at midday with gas, but a retaliation barrage silenced his guns.

SITUATION EXTREMELY INTERESTING. LONDON, September 3. The enemy, contrary to expectation, is not attempting to recapture the Qucant-Drocourt switch line, but is hurriedly retreating. He has’ another line behind the Nord Canal, in the' Berbioros - Moeuvres district, which probably will bo the next line of defence. It is noT strong, and is too near Douai and Cambrai for comfort. The enemy last night evacuated Queant, Pronville, Doignes and Vein. The situation is extremely interesting’ and opens up enormous possibilities. Ten thousand prisoners were taken yesterday. To-day’s prisoners have not yet been counted. Other successes are of secondary importance. The great feat is the piercing of the Switch Line. The tanks terrified the enemy at all points, but the German artillery was better than recently., and knocked over a feAv, preventing the same valuable assistance in further positions. BRITISH .APPROACHING ENEMY’S SECOND LINE. LONDON, September 3, We made further progress eastward of the Switch Line, and are now approaching the enemy’s second line, having made a two-mile front eastward of Le Transloy, capturing Yprcs, also Le Mesnil and several villages.

ARMENTIERES CAPTURED. LONDON, September 3. In the iLys sector we captured Eichcbourpp St. VaasQ,, and reached Nouve Chapelie. ' > r FURTHER RETIREMENTS. LONDON, September 3. Progress on the Western front continued to-day. Further villages were captured this afternoon. The enemy shows indications of further retirement, large fires being observed in Bus and Bertincourt.We gained two miles on a six mile front in the Le Mesnil region. We now hold Ytres, Etrincourt, Manacourt and Le Mesnil.

Our line south of the Scarpe runs south from Etaing, a kilometre cast of Dury, the western outskirts of Buissy and east of Pronville. The enemy southward of Sen’see river is evacuating positions westward

of the Canal Du Nord. We are pressing the enemy closely. We have reached the southern outskirts of Sailly-sur-Lelys, south-west of Armenticres. We have reached the western outskirts of Neuve Chapelle. We have captured Richebourg St. Yaast. There arc signs of an enemy retirement astride the Cambrai-Bapaume road. i

ESTAIRES CAPTURED •LONDON, September 3. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Southward of the Lys the English captured Richebourg St. Yaast, and established themselves on the line of the La Bassce road between Richebourg and Estaires.

We captured Estaires also a number of prisoners and a few guns. Wo advanced slightly in the western outskirts of Lons and eastward and northward of Givenchy les La Bassee. V/e also progressed north of Steenwerck and entered Wulverghem. Our aeroplanes -worked all day long in front of the advancing battle line, while observation balloons followed closely. Largo formations of hostile machines frequently attacked our airmen, who persisted in their various tasks, maintaining in contact with the infantry and artillery. They also silenced anti-tanks guns and dropped supplies of small arm ammunition to the infantry in the advanced zone.

THE TRAIL OF THE GERMAN. LONDON, Sept 3. Mr. Robinson writes; The retreating enemy is carrying out his old work destroying everything. All towns and villages on the horizon are wreathed in smoke by day, and the skies are ablaze at night.- Bailleul Is ruined like Ypres. The solid stone and brick town has been reduced to formless heaps of rubble with a few broken ruins. Only fragments of the cathedral remain

CLOSE TO GERMAN SECOND LINE LONDON, September 3. . Sir Douglas Haig reports: After the heavy defeat inflicted on the enemy pn the 2nd, our progress between Peronne and the Sensee continued. We reached the general line B'eaumctz les ;‘Cambrai-Baralle- Rumacourt-iLe Clusc. We captured or drove back with loss, hostile rearguards who resisted our advance. Our artillery inflicted heavy casualties on the retreating enemy. Our batteries, over open sights successfully engaged large numbers of the enemy retiring in close formation over the ridge north-west of EquanCOurt. In his Hurried retreat the enemy left quantities of stores and material.

Sir Douglas Haig’s communique shows that Lens is not yet occupied, despite an earlier reprot that the town had been evacuated.

THE ALLIES PROGRESS NORTH AND SOUTH. MORE VILLAGES CAPTURED. Received 8.55 a.m. LONDON, Sept 3. British troops have reached the Canal du Nord. and captured Ecourt St. Quentin. It is reported the British have captured Moeuvres. The Germans are retreating faster. i A battle is* raging north-east of Soissons. The Germans are vigorously defending Pont Rouge Plateau and Laon railway, which the Americans have attacked. Several villages are in flames.

j ENEMY’S PANIC-STRICKEN RETREAT. NO TIME TO MAKE A STAND. MUCH MATERIAL ABANDONED. HOWITZERS BLOWN UP. Received 10.15 a.m. , LONDON, Sept 4. Mr Phillip Gibbs rvrites: The enemy is in hard retreat from a wide belt of country north and south of the Arras-Cambrai road. He is in a desperate hurry lest his transport and troops arc encircled by our men. Beyond a doubt the enemy is more panicstricken than at any time of the war, and at his wits’ end to gather fresw reserves in time to make a stand before much more is lost, instead of the expected German counter attack. Our men have made a steady forward movement throughout the night, despite rainstorms. The enemy has yielded everywhere. The country wherein we are advancing is desolate and monotonous, without high roads, rivers, and valleys. Only rubbish heaps of brick mark the hamlets, and tangles of rusted wire, piles of abandoned shells, rifles, bombs, and other equipment, characterise this plaguestricken land. Cunningly and rapidly the naval machine gunners worked way forward, but when the infantry took the first objective the brigadier-General visited the forward lines and satisfied himself that it was possible for the naval men to continue

their advance slowly and , cautiously forward until dawn. When the turning movement which captiifed Queant was completed the Germans in Queant fled panic-stricken.: knowing we were behind their lines. The enemy took away most of his guns, but was forced to blow up some of his howitzers. The work of the British gunners in keeping pace with the infantry is remarkable. t They were able to shell the cross roads outside Cambrai, making the highway a terror to cross for the German transport In retreat.

BRITISH ADVANCE IN LYS ... SECTOR. several plages captured Received 10 a.m. LONDON, September 4. The B'ritish have captured Demicourt and Eumancourt, Advancing in the, Lys salient the British have captured Neippe, Croix Dubac and Laromath., HUNS TRYING TO HOLD UP BRITISH. Received 10 a.m. NEW YORK, September 4. Lons is still German, though, the British hold the western outskirts. Gas alone prevents the British occupation of the town. The Gormans are retreating east of the Canal du Nord, facing the French, while a German northern action is endeavouring to withstand the British. THE FRENCH .MAKE FURTHER PROGRESS. Received 9 a.m. -LONDON, September 4. A French communique states:— Our infantry crossed the Somme opposite Epencourt. Further south the French gained a footing at Genvy, cast of the Canal Nord.| East of Noyon we made fresh progress, and reached the outskirts of Salency and artillerying continues heavy in this region, between the Ailette and the Aisne. Yesterday we captured , 1200 prisoners. Our .aviators' are actively co-operating with the artillery In destroying centres of resistance'. Tons of bombs were dropped on back areas and camps have been machine-gunned.

BREAKING THE DROCOURT LlNfe. BRITISH CHASE VANISHING GERMANS. AN ADVANCE OF EIGHT MILES. HUNS EXHAUSTED FROM LACK OF FOOD. ' GREAT DISORGANISATION EVIDENT. Received 10. SO a.m. LONDON, Sept 4. Mr. Perceval Phillips says; General Horne’s victory on the Drocourt line with the capture of 10,000 Germans, had a surprising sequel. Without even the semblance of a counter' attack the Germans retired and were chased beyond belief to a new line beyond the wide, dry moat of the great Nord Canal, 6i miles west of Cambrai. In places the retreat became a race between the vanishing Germans and British patrols. Our infantry advanced eight miles in some places, during the day, and are still pushing intu empty hamlets far in advance of their artillery. Eleven German divisions were reported in this sector, and there were many signs of impending counterstrokes of great magnitude. As we broke the Drocourt line the German infantry suddenly slackened their effort; the night was strangely quiet and it was significant that British aeroplanes were not fired upon until over the Nord Canal. Many German prisoners were taken -by naval units. In the Proville area the Germans were exhausted from lack of food; they had no rations for four days, owing to a breakdown of communtCßtions. Those captured further north complained bitterly; hungry, stiffnecked cavalry officers, who went swaggering into the cages in the>r smart grey cloaks, asked for food and ate ravenously German artillerymen complained of the lack of shells. Company commanders were blamed for interruption of telephone and cyclist services for the Inability to gSt orders' carried out. In fact, the story of German disorganisation, yesterday, almost suggests deliberate abandonment of these broken divisions to their fate.

HAIG REPORTS PROGRESS. Received 31.30 a.m. LONDON, September 4. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Two minor actions are reported in different localities. We have reached the oast side of Vaux Woods, north of Moislaincs. We have f lightly advanced ;at other points and generally reached the line ( of the Canal du Nord. and occupied Ecourt St. Quentin north of the ArrasCambrai • road; Astride the Lys we are approaching Neuve Chapelle and L'avcntie, and have gained possession of Sailly, Nieppe and Cromin.

GERMANS ABOUT TO RETIRE FROM WYTSCHAETE AND MESSINES. Received 11.30 a.m. LONDON, September 4 The Germans are about to retire from the Wytschacte - and Massines ridges. MORE PRISONERS AND GUNS TAKEN. HINDENBURG ATTEMPTING A '’STAND. . ; Received T 1.30 a.m. I LONDON, September 4 The United Press reports the British have captured another 3000 prisoners. General Byng took 1946 prisoners and 23 field guns on Tuesday. Hindenburg is attempting a temporary stand at the Canal du Nord, The Canadians are advancing on the western bank of the Canal. IMPORTANT FRENCH CAPTURES. VIGOROUSLY CHASING THE HUNS.Received 11.30 a.m. LONDON, Sept 4. A French communique states: Last evening we continued to push the enemy east of the Canal du Nord, and between the Ailette and the Aisne. We captured Bois du Chapitre, nortneast of Chevielly and Busy. Further south our advanced elements are pursuing the enemy, and are approach, ing Croiselles. North of the Ailette we carried our lines to the western outskirts of Coucy le Chateau, and Juvencourt to the south. We advanced east to Livelly and reached the outskirts of Claminenz and Braye, and also penetrated Babylelong. We piiscnered over 1500 in this region. On the Vesle front our elements crossed the river at several points.

THE LATEST REPORT. . Received 1i.30 a.m. NEW YORK, September 4 The' British have reached a mile cast:. of the Canal du Nord. Prisoners admit they wore ordered to hold’ the Canal at any cost. Neuville and Bour Jouval have been surrounded. GENERAL MAURICE’S REVIEW. MUST BE NO SLACKENING OF EFFORT. Received 11.30 a.m. LONDON, September 4. General Maurice writes: While giving the fullest credit to the magnificent work of the’ Canadian land Australian troops, we must not overlook what the English, Scottish and Welsh divisions have done. It was upon the British that the brunt of the desperate fighting in the spring fell, and it stirred our hearts to see them coming into their own, advancing over ground where British never trod before. ’General Ferguson’s corps, which captured the fortress of Qucant, is composed of English 'and Scottish troops ’and naval divisions; The capture is one of the great feats of the l war. It is not a matter of hustling the Retreating enemy. Most of the ground was won in the fighting a week ago. No one expected to recover Kcnimel Hill and Neuve Eglisc ridge, Bailluel, and Estairos without many thousands of casualties. The enemy has given them up in order to send troops to meet Haig’s advance towards Douai and Cambrai. Our victories are also freeing the French coalfields. The enemy is now on the down grade. He is forced to break up eight divisions and appeal to the despised Austrians for help. The Germans and the Allies have now each about 196 divisions, ours having an average greater strength; but the difference is not sufficient to enable General Foch to strike the coup-de-gnacc. There must be no slackening of our efforts or postpone the victory.

THE GERMAN POSITION. ACCORDING TO CROWN PRINCE. Received 11.30 a.m. AMSTERDAM, Sept 4. The Crown Prince, interviewed by the Berlin correspondent of a Hungarian newspaper, stated that owing to our elastic system of defence we have retired in some places. Germany is carrying on a defensive war. We don’t wish to destroy our enemies; for us victory means only successful defence. The Fatherland asked what would be the end of the Avar, and the Crown Prince pointed out the Allies’ losses, and added that the present attack would continue, but can’t reach its goals. Only the brilliant defenfco of our troops prevents the enemies’ enormous superiority from crushing us. He concluded: The French are fighting excellently and unselfishly; the English are badly led, and the Americans don’t know what they are fighting for

STILL FIGHTING FOR LENS. FRENCH IN SIGHT OF LAON. Received 11.45 a.m. PARIS, Sept 4. The latest news is that the British are fighting in the suburbs of Lens. It is believed the enemy will not long be able to defend the town. Mangin’s army, after three days* fighting, has reached the plateau dominating the valley of the Ailette, behind Chemin des whence the citadel of Laon can be seen, also extended views over the' German rear and supply roads.

WESTERN FRONT.

CANADIANS CARET ALL BEFORE THEM. LONDON, September 3. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Monday’s operations south, of the Scarpe -were completely successful. The enemy was heavily defeated in bis prepared defences of the Drocourt-Queant system, with the result he is retiring this morning along practically the whole battlefront. In Monday’s battle, besides inflicting heavy losses, we took prisoner about ten thousand. Our troops are now advancing, and it is reported have entered Pronville. 14 miles south-east of Arras, Doignes, 4 miles further south, and Bertincourt, 6 miles south-east of Bapaume. The Canadians showed the greatest skill and courage on Monday in storming the Drocourt-Queant lines, which had been perfected during the last eighteen months and provided most formidable obstacles,, furnished with every device of modern engineering. The defences were reinforced to sdeh a degree that on a front of eight thousand yards eleven German divisions were identified. by the strength of the enemy’s defensive organisation, .tffb Canadians, assisted admirably by' English troops on the left, carried all before them.

Southward of the Canadian corps the English,. Scottish, and naval troops of the Seventeenth Corps, under Lieut.General Sir Charles Ferguson, performed a n<? less gallant and arduous task in storming the junctions of the Dro-court-Queant .and Hindenburg system. These were of the most formidable character, but the troops swept over and around them, encircling Queant from the north. As a result this important pivot fell into our hands by nightfall. The tank corps again assisted materially in the success of the operations.

STfLL PUSHING ON. LONDON, Sept '4. Reuter’s correspondent at French headquarters writes: General Mangin’s attack on the plateau .between the Ailette and the Aisne yesterday afternoon resulted in another important advance. On the left, opposite Guny, we have a bridgehead across the Ailette and French troops have occupied the woods westward of Coney 3e Chateau. We have also established a footing in a little wood southeast ofMoulin de Nougent, so we are now Mftely a mile from Coney. TernySorny, which resisted several attacks, has been captured and a footing obtained on the plateau north-east of Crony. We are on the edge of the second plateau, across the Marglvat Valley, through which the SoissonsI7aon railway runs. Over 1200 were prisonsred during the day. Tanks played an important part in yesterday’p French attack. The enemy is naturally defending the plateau tooth and nail. Prussian Guards delivered five futile counter attacks, leaving tno ground littered with their dead. Five days’ hard fighting between the Ailette and the Aisne has given good results. The first powerfully organised line across the Terny-Sorny plateau has been taken and the second line is already being attacked. The French are across the Ailette at several points. The battle has used up several of the enemy’s divisions, which are no match for Mangin’s colonials.

Wireless German official.— The English, south-east of Arras, by superior forces, pressed ps back on both sides of the Arrad-Camjirai high road.

/ The French westward southward of Coucy l e Chateau slightly pressed us Jback4jrPom the Ailette. vStrhng repeated enemy attacks between the Alsne and the 'Ailette failed.