WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 18 September 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

FRENCH PROGRESS BETWEEN OISE AND AISNE. , LONDON, September 16 Thi? evening’s French communique reports: Between |the Ois(e and the Aisne we continued to make progress, land carried Mont De Signes. Further south we captured Vailly. AMERICANS GOING ON. FRENCH ALSO PROGRESSING. PARIS, Sept 17. The news from Woevre front is excellent. The Americans have gone beyond , Villers Sosremy and reached Vandieres, which is 2i kilometres from the frontier. East and north-east of.Jaulny (north of Thiaucourt), the Americans, following the valley of the Rurupt de Mad, carried a series of strongly fortified positions in the direction of Gorze and Chamblay. Towards Fresnes the French ad-, vanced three kilometres, on a front of 18 kilometres, and reached a line east of Watifpiville and west of HauteDieppe and, Orgeville,

HEAVY FIGHTING REPORTED. LONDON, Sept 16. A German communique says: In the sector of the Moselle, vigorous Infantry engagements developed before our new positions. The enemy in the evening stood approximately on the line FresneslSt. Hilaire-Houmonr Ramhercourt and Papes Forest. THE FRENCH VICTORY. LONDON, Sept 16. A wireless German officials says: The enemy betwen the Ailette and the Aisne somewhat extended the point at which he broke through the previous day and obtained a footing in the southern part of the valley. .BRAVO, NEW ZEALANDERS! S - ’ ' LONDON, Sept 16. Mr. Robinson, reviewing the New Zealanders’ fighting since August 11, says; They have been almost continuously in the front line, and have splendidly and in a workmanlike manner, held at times a front extraordinarily wide for their strength. Their successes have been won very cheaply, especially at Gkjuzeaucourt, Ba-> paume, Ruyaulcourt. The total casaulties during the whole advance are below the number prisonered. Sir Douglas Haig reports: On the southern portion of the front, our patrols brought in a few prisoners. We slightly advanced our line in the neighbourhood of Ploegstreet and east

of Ypres. Sir Douglas Haig, in a special order, congratulated General Pershing on the victory of the initial American offensive. “Convey to all ranks our unbounded admiration and pleasure.” BRITISH OFFICIAL REPOET, Received 915 a.m. LONDON, SeptemDer 17. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We progressed on Monday in the direction of Liverguer, north-west of St. Quentin. We also slightly improved our position north-west of Hulluch and northeast of Nueve Chapelle. ■ V '• / ‘ GERMANS PREPARING FOR FURTHER RETREAT IN ST. MIHIEL SECTOR. * Received 9. a55.m, NEW YORK, Sept. ,17. Reports from the American front state Germans are burning villages along the Moselle and are preparing ibr a further retreat.

FRENCH STILL ADVANCING. 600* PRISONERS CAPTURED. Received 9.15 a.pn. LONDON, Sept 17. At 1.25 a.m. a French communique states: During the day the French continued their attacks north-east and west of Sancy, and despite resistance advanced one kilometre on a front of four kilometres, capturing six hundred prisoners. Aviators are active, blazing away at the enmy and making observations. Big stations and roads behind the enemy lines were heavily bombed. A big fire was started and much damage was done.

WHOLE WESTERN FRONT '' CHANGES. TO GERMANY’S GREAT DISADVANTAGE. BY AMERICAN SUCCESS. Received 10.5 a.m. LONDON, Sept 17. General Maurice writes: Pershing’s victory has altered the whole character of the Western front in Prance. The French fighting on the American left considerably progressed in the direction of Etain, therefore' the front now runs for a hundred miles in a straight line in south-easterly direction from north of Verdun to beyond Luneville. Foch can now make this new front an offensive front whenever he decides. The Germans are now obliged to actively defend direct railway communications between Metz and the north , and between Metz and Strasburg. More important still, they are obliged to protect the invaluable Briey iron mines. Therefore the new front in Woevre and Lorraine has beof The greatest importance to the enemy, and can no longer be held lightly.