The Drive on St. Quentin.

Taihape Daily Times, 20 September 1918, Page 5

The Drive on St. Quentin.

NEW ATTACK COVERS FIFTEEN MILE FRONT. AVERAGE DEPTH OF OVER TWO MILES GAINED LONDON, Sepember 18. The British attack covered . a 15mile front from Holnon to Gouzcaucourt, the average advance being between two and three miles. The Australians participated in the attack. The captures include Ronssoy, 10 miles north-west of St.-Quentin, . Villeret, 2J miles further south and Le Verguier six miles north-west of St. Quentin, We passed the Siegfried line in two places

Later messages state that practically all the objectives were gained and three thousand prisoners and. a number of guns were captured. The United Press Asoeiation correspondent reports that the British attacked the German positions this side of the Hindenburg line from Pozieres

almost to St. Quentin. Progress was so good that it may bring the British "■ into actual contact with the main de- . fences. The attack was launched spiritedly with throe minutes of heavy bombardment, then the usual barrage. Fighting is reported at Fresnoy, six miles west of Douai andstiff German resistance was met at Epehy and Ronssoy.

Heavy gas shelling at Yormand and Holnon Wood during the fight srave evidence of German suspicions there. The German artillery was inactive elsewhere. The attack caught the Germans in the midst of a new trench system, the building of which was begun a few days ago. There was a long tunnel in the middle portion of the attacked line. At a few points, the British were compelled to engage new strong divisions, which the enemy originally intended to use exclusively for the defence of the Hindenburg lin.e itself. Their use outside shows perhaps the enemy is not ready yet to take his final stand behind the line. The enemy, supported by a gas barrage, re-took Moeuvres. The British captures include Berthaneourt, Lcmpire, ten miles north-west of St. Quentin and Fresnoy. The French are simultaneously attacking beyond Holnon.

AUSTRALIANS’ MIXED EXPERL .. ... LONDON, Sept 19. Mr. Gibbs states: The Australians encountered and overcame stiff resistance at Hargincourt and Leverguir. Elsewhere the Germans rushed out of their trenches and surrendered before the Australian barrage reached them. The Australians at an early hour prisonered 500FRENCH C (3-OPERATE WITH BRITISH. LONDON, Sept 19. Reuter’s correspondent at British headquarters states; This morning’s attack, extending southward from Gouzeaucourt to the junction of our right flank with the French army, partook of the character of an over-run-ning movement, carrying our line well into the enemy outpost zone and bringing us nearer the Hindenburg system over a wide stretch. The country hereabouts consists of little rTftges, gullies and wo<Dds and lends Itself to the elastic defence which the Germans are employing. The attack moved in progressive stages, as it was necessary to pause while the enemy pockets were mopped up. The Flench progressed well In conformity with our advance. Rain was falling when the attack was launched, and

aeroplane observation was impossible. The weather has sine© improved. Reuter’s correspondent says: The object of the latest British attack is probably the Siegfried line, of which we are within a mile, and beyond it at one or two places. Jir

SUBSTANTIAL ADVANCE INTO NEW TERRITORY. LONDON September 19. At 12.10 a.m., Sir Douglas Haig reports; Troops belonging to the Third and Fourth British Annies attacked with complete success at 5.20 this morning on a front of about sixteen miles, between Holnon and - Gouzcaueourt. Our troops on the whole of this front, advancing in heavy. storms of rain, captured .the enemy. positions by assault. They swept over the old British trench systems of March, 1918 and reached and captured the outer defences of the Hindenburg Line in wide sectors; English' And -Scottish troops on ■ 'the right captured Fresnoy, Le Petit> Bterthaucourt and Pontru, meeting and overcoming strong resistance particularly on the extreme right. In the right centre two Australian divisions capured Leverguir, Villarets; and Hargicourt. Pushing forward with great determination they thomseives, in the old advanced German positions west and south-west of Bollicourt, having penetrated the enemy defences to a depth of three miles. In the left centre the Seventy-fourth Yeomanry Division, and ’other divisions composed of East Country and London troops captured Lempleux le Guerard, Ronssoy, Epeny and Peizercs also penetrating to a great depth north ‘ward of Pezicres.

The Twenty-first Division attacked over the northern portion of the sector defended by it so gallantly on 21st and 22nd March. Having captured its old front trenches with strong point, Yaucolctte Farm, *and beaten off a counter-attack it pushed forward more than a mile beyond this line, capturing several hundred prisoners and a battery complete with teams. On the left the English and Welsh troops carried the remainder of the high ground southward of Gouzeau-' court, reaching the outskirts of Villous Guislain. a.nd capturing Gauch Wood.

We 'captured over 6000 prisoners and a number of guns in the course of these successfiif operations. The Anglo-American offensive aims at regaining the line held prior to March 21st which is in front, but nowhere crosses, the Hindenburg Line. Our objective has already bc.on attained on a ten miles front. At some points wo are beyond the March line which now runs west of Gouzoacourt and Villers Guislain, east of Lempire inclusive of Hargieourt, Villoret. Le Verguier, Berthancourt. Fresnoy and Holnon. The Germans are fighting well.

Router’s correspondent at British headquarters, writing on the evening of the 18th, says: In to-day’s fighting near St. Quentin the enemy fought doggedly, evidently with a clear conception of the great strategic importance of the ground. The weather helped him to some measure by decreasing observation in the early stages, so that we occasionally were almost on top of the enemy before he observed us. Contrawise, the rain rendered the ground mushy and made difficult going in the gullies. Tanks contributed to the progress. The Germans assembled considerable artillery along the front of attack, backed by long-range guns, firing from well behind the Hindenburg Line although the latter had to restrict their shooting to a comparatively few targets previously registered There were no series obstacles to the advance, German Alpine corps carrying the brunt of the resistance and putting up a stout struggle around the key positions at Epehy. The morale of some' other enemy, divisions is poor, and al-

though the machine-gunners generally stick to their guns to the last, the infantry shows a readiness to surrender.

Tho Australians made good progress on the right, capturing Ascension Farm, which is a strong redoubt north of Fresnoy and Vlllerct. upon a spur dominating the St. Quentin canal. The general impression is that it has been a good day for tho Allies. One spot at which, comparatively little progress was made is around the point of the Franco-British laison but our guns arc coming more into effective action. ’ s

MORE BRITISH SUCCESSES AUSTRALIANS PENETRATE HINDENBURG LINE. FOR DISTANCE OF THREE MILES. 6000 PRISONERS AND MANY ! GUNS TAKEN. Received 9.10 a.m. LONDON, September 18 Sir Douglas Haig reports: The Third and Fourth British Armies were completely successful in an attack on a front of sixteen miles from Holnon to the neighbourhood of Gouzeaucourt. We reached and captured the outer defences of the Hindcnburg line in -wide sectors. The Australians penetrated the defences to a depth of three miles, and established themselves. Over 6000 prisoners and a number of guns were captured. French official: In conjunction with the British we progressed westwards of St. Quentin between Holnon and Essigney-lo- Grand, on a front of a dozen kilometres. Despite fierce resistance we advanced our lines two kilometres, and now hold the southern outskirts of OouteskoUr;. Nortjh pf the Aisne we progressed west of Jouy. Strong counter-attacks on the plateau cast of Allernand were repulsed.

DETAILS OF THE FIGHTING. VERY STUBBORN GERMAN RELY;;, SI STANCE. POSITIONS SEAMED WITH ’ MACHINE GUNS. Received 9.10 a.m. LONDON, Sept 19. Mr. Perceval Phillips -writes: The casualties of the Third and Fourth Armies were, not heavy.. They attacked at 5.20 on a front of fifteen miles, with the co-operation of the French on our right. Although greater resistance was “encountered than during the earlier stages of the British advance, the troops of the United Kingdom and Australia made satisfactory progress along the ridges protected by well-fortified villages, which give access to our old outpost line immediately before the Hindenburg line. All the essential objects of the attack were attained, and the infantry are still going forward. The Hun was prepared for the blow and intended to fight stubbornly on bits of high ground. We are up against stronger forces than the old rearguards. The ridges and spurs attacked were seamed with trenches, which connected Gouzeaucourt, Hargicourt, and the ruined villages, and afforded an ample screen for machine gunners. The remains of several farms are embedded in the trench system, which ran along the entire front. Rain fell while the infantry was assembling and made the ground sticky. News came back slowly, and it is still impossible to know the full results attained. Our attack commenced three-quarters of an hour before the Germans expected. Enemy bateries across flic canal replied promptly. The gunfire was heavier than any since the eighth.

CO-OPERATIVE FRENCH ADVANCE OVERCOMES ALL RESISTANCE. TWO MILES FROM ST. QUENTIN. Received 9.30 a.m. LONDON, Sept 19. Reuter’s corespondent at French headquarters, on the evening of the 18th writes: Debeney’s army continues to advance in the direction of St. Quentin in conjunction with the British on the north, and was resisted vigorously by the Germans a few hundred yards in front of the Hindenburg line, which runs west of the town, whose suburbs form part of the defence groups. The infantry are lavishly supplied with machine guns, dotted everywhere, endeavouring to hold up the advance, but vainly. The French, in alternating rushes with infiltration tactics, are steadily progressing. They are now only two miles from St. Quentin suburbs, and are already holding some of their old trenches on a wide stretch of front. AUSTRALIANS CARRY HINDENBURG'S LINE, i Received 10 a.m, NEW YORK, Sept 19. The British in the St. Quentin attack have captured an additional 3000 prisoners. North of Pontruet the Australians have carried the Hindenburg Line and outposts.

WEATHER INTERFERES WITH OPERATIONS. ENEMY USING GIANT PLANES. Received 9.50 a.m. LONDON, Sept 19. Mr. Gibbs says the English troops met very hard resistance at Epehy, where the German Alpine Corps put up a hard fight. It is too soon to sum up the results of the day’s fighting now. It is raining again, which does not help our troops, but may prevent night bombing over our lines. Lately, the enemy has been flying giant planes by night, the monsters carrying crews of eight and bombs thirteen feet long, containing two thousand pounds of explosives. We destroyed several during the past week.

HUNS USING LONG RANGE GUNS. END OF OPEN WARFARE APPROACHING. Received 9.30 a.m, LONDON September 19 Mr Phillip Gibbs writes: The primary object of the English, Scottish, Irish and Australian attack was to regain our old outposts line, running along the ridge from which the spurs strike down to St. Quentin Canal. The enemy had already withdrawn their artillery behind the canal, relying mainly on long range high velocities to harrass our positions. He is now strong in gun power for protecting the Hindenburg line and has a most unusual number of long range guns. The enemy is holding the outpost line with troops who have borne the full brunt of recent battles, and whose spirit is lowered to gloomy depths. Less mauled divisions are being reserved, to defend the Hindenburg line itself. The enemy is now giving their troops no rest or support until thoroughly worn- out, when they stiffen with material of a better class. This method is merciless but necessary. Among the men fighting to-day were the remnants of ,the Second. Guards Division, who were routed. like rats from Mont St., Quentin and Peronne. .The rain storm early this morning made the ground bad for tanks, the slimy chalk' giving no grip but after a brief hurricane of fire our troops went forward with perfect confidence. The losses at the first asault were light, men mostly hit by shell splinters not machine-gun bullets showing the temporary end of open warfare. -

OFFICIAL STORY OF OPERATIONS DESPERATE COUNTER 'ATTACKS REPULSED. WITH GREAT ENEMY LOSSES. Received 11.55 a.m. LONDON, Sept 19. At 3.15 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The enemy opened a violent bombardment from many guns Yesterday afternoon in ' the ' northern portion of the battlefront. The fire rapidly cut all telephone communication with divisions in the line. The German infantry, at five in the afternoon, strongly attacked on a wide front from the neighbourhood of Trescault northwards. The Guards, Third, and 37th Divisions completely repulsed the enemy at all points with great loss. Another strong attack northward of Moeuvres was driven off witn heavy losses. In certain localities bodies of the enemy succeeded in reaching and entering our trenches, where our counter attacks overwhelmed them. Our line in these localities has been re-established intact. Many prisoners were taken and great numlbers of German dead lie before our position on the whole front attacked.

Southward of Gouzeaucourt the operations of the Third and Fourth British 'Armies continued successfully. In the evening and during the night the English troops progressed northward of Pontruet, reaching the outpost positions of the Hindenburg Line. On their left the Fourth Australian Division renewed the attack at eleven in the evening, and the outpost positions of the Hindenburg Line arter some heavy fighting, capturing many prisoners and a number of machine guns. This Division and the First Australian Division hold the outpost positions of Hindenburg Line on the whole of their respective fronts. Further north severe fighting occurred eastwards of Ronssoy and Epehy. We took possession of Lempire and beat off determined counter attacks in the fillers Gauislain sector. The 17th Division, which prisonered several hundred yesterday, recaptured Gauche Wood, which the enemy had regained, and later repulsed with severe loss a stronger enemy counter attack from fillers GaufsTain. Repeated enemy attacks at Gauche Wocd in the afternoon apd evening were repulsed. -A- successful local operation yestereye improved our positions southward and eastward of Ploegsteert. A numf>er of prisoners were captured.

THE ST. MIHIEL SECTOR. ENEMY’S SUBSTANTIAL WITH. DRAWAL. ' LONDON, Sept 18. Retuer’s correspondent at the American headquarters, writing on the evening of the 17th, states: The line in the St. Mihiel sector now runs Rounvaux —Manheulles —Pingse VilleSaint Hilaire —Doncourt —Woel Haumont, between Jaulny and Rembercourt, just north of Yandieres, south of Hampey to the old line east of Pont a Mousson. The enemy has been continuing general withdrawals towards the position which now constitute his line. GERMAN REPORT. LONDON, Sept 19. Wireless German official. —The French, by a strong thrust in the direction of Rinon, and southward of the Laffaux —Chavrignon road, temporarily penetrated our lines. Our counter thrust drove them back. MULHAUSBN REPORTED TO BE EVACUATED. Received 11.15 a.m. PARIS, September 19. A Basle newspaper reports that the Germans have evacuated Mulhausen. (Mulh?;usen is a town of 98,740 inhabitants, in Alsace. Germany. It is a centre of a great cotton industry. Mxdhauscn. in the earty part of the war was attacked by the French and captured only to be recaptured again by the Germans, in whose hands it has remained ever since. The vicinity has been the scone of some sanguinary fighting at intervals ever since. It was in this locality that first blood of the war was split between the French and the Teutons.)