CANADIAN SUCCESSES

Taihape Daily Times, 17 September 1918, Page 2

CANADIAN SUCCESSES

SURPRISE ON THE SCARPE, V~ _______ ■ ! y LONDON, Sept Z* The extraordinary progress on the British front is bringing the most critical moments, says Mr. Keith Murdoch, the AustraljJjfi correspondent. The Canadians made a suprise attack to-day between Bullecourt and Cherisy, easily breaking the Hindehburg line and advancing a mile further east than the March, line. They captured the ruins of Riencourt, Heudecourt, and Cagnicourt. These towns throughout the Australians’ battle for Bullecourt looked down from a formidable hillside, which, notwithstanding the utmost gallantry and endurance, were never gained. The Canadian advance brings the armie's within a mile of the great switch line of Drocourt —Queant, which, British correspondents agree, is of immense strength. It is more firmly barricaded than the Hindenburg line itself. It is not yet clear whether the Germans intended to make a prolonged stand here, or retiring to the switch, in view of the first armies bursting the Hindenburg line south Of the Scarpe. The success of the Canadians been the outstanding tactical surprise of the campaign. Their divisions first appeared on the right of the Australians south of the Somme, having vanished mysteriously from before the Germans on the Lens front. An Australian brigade held the line until the morning of battle on August 8, when the Canadians passed through to the offensive, surprising the enemy _ A section of their troops then whisked northward, where they made a surprise atatek north of the Scarpe. Now as mysteriously they have appeared in the Bullecourt sector.