FROM SEA TO BORDER

Taihape Daily Times, 30 September 1918, Page 5

FROM SEA TO BORDER

> WESTERN FRONT.

• ALLIES’ VICTORIOUS ADVANCE Successes by Belgians, Britishers, Americans and French. Thousands of Prisoners and Hundreds of Guns. o German Defences Smashed. d>« >1" —l■■ wi irraa^ \ t Wilson and Enemy Peace Note.

enabled complete success to be achieved at relatively small cost. Several thousand prisoners and many guns were captured. PARIS, September 27 The Sensee River attack, within 24 hours of the Champagne advance, indicates that General Foch has commenced the use of the full Allied strength. Blows on the biggest scale are now coming. Never before have there been two offensive simultaneously on this scale. The American offensive in the- Argonne began at daybreak on Thursday, preceded by a savage barrage of gas shells which lighted up the, skies for miles and drenched the German gun positions. The Germans worked desperately to improve their rear defences when they saw the front lines were failing but the Americans swept on. relentlessly, killing the machme-gunners... and mowing down other obstacles with baby tanks, which only paused when, they . reached mined bridges, A number . of villages were captured by skilful encircling movements.. The Germans are to-day throwing in shock troops in an attempt to stem the disaster. In places the Americans charged 15 .and. even 20 weaves. Varennes fell .quickly. The tanks then wont cross, country eastward -to Cheppy, which was quickly .taken, despite long range anti-tank rifles. FIGHTING FOR CAMBRAI. HEROIC DEEDS BY BRITISH TROOPS. CROSSING THE CANAL DU NORD. SEIGFRIED. DEFENCE KEYSTONE SMASHED. Receiyed, 8.5 G a.m., .. . LONDON, Sept 2S. Mr. Perceval Phillips writes: Today’s attacks on the Hindenburg Line were more difficult and dangerous than last November. The plan was to strike eastward across the Canal, then northwards. The front lay parallel with the Canal, the crossing of which was one of the most remarkable feats in our offensive. It is sixteen feet deep and seventy feet wide, with deep mud at the bottom, rendered passable only at certain points. Surface bridges were impossible, as the sides were too steep in many places for dropping or climbing, and the enemy had the range for every yard. Bourlon Wood gave the most complete observation of our movements. Everything depended on the first rush. An officer said on Thursday night, “Give us fifteen minutes, and all will be all right.” The men had to be assembled at night, scaling ladders brought up and flung down and over at the precise moment. The first handful of intrepid soldiers descended the yawning chasm and bore more ladders wherewith to scale the canal face. With heavy packs and loads of bombs they had to face the enemy machine gunners, and it seemed certain death to the men assembling on the eve of the attack. Everything depended on those fifteen minutes, wherein the attackers must descend the dark pit and reach the other side after a breathless rush, yet they must have breath enough to begin to fight for their lives on the other side. There was an ordeal Tar more exacting and dangerous than merely going over the top, but our men went to victory without mishap or pause. The Canadians, after the passage of the canal at Inchy, had two miles before them. They strode almost leisurely up the slopes in the direction of Bourlon Wood. This was open country, with several systems of fragmentary trenches. These were emergency lines of the inferior Siegfried fortress line. The Canadians went through easily enough and reaped the edge of the wood to schedule time. Meanwhile British battalions on the Canadians’ right , crossed the bottleneck of the canal near. Moeuvres with

IMPORTANT BRITISH ADVANCE. TROOPS ASTRIDE THE DOUAI- . CAMBRAI ROAD. 10,000 PRISONERS AND 200 GUNS TAKEN. LONDON, Sept 28. Sir Douglas Haig reports: —In today’s advance towards Cambrai, notwithstanding great enemy strength, all our objectives were gained. We advanced slightly astride the ArrasCambrai Road. Complete success was attained at comparatively small cost. Several thousands of prisoners were taken, as well as many guns. A later report from Sir Douglas Haig states: —We have taken 10,000 more prisoners and ovdr 200 guns. The Canadians reached the Douai-Cambrai road at nightfall. The Eleventh Division, passing ‘ through, went forward two miles, and captured Epinoy and Oisy'JLeverger. The Flanders opera- ; in conjunction with the Belgians,’ commenced this morning. V A GREAT-DAY. * LONDON, September 28 At 2 am. Sir Douglas Haig reports Portions of our First and Third Armies, under Generals Horne and Byng resepctively, attacked before dawn on a wide front in the general direction of Cambrai. Notwithstanding the great' strength of the enemy’s positions especially in the northern sector, where the Canal Du Nord and open ground sloping towards the enemy rendered advance difficult, all objectives were reached. American detachments on our extreme right captured a series of trench fortified faring,, (forming the outer-defences of the main Hindenburg system south-west of Le Catelet. More to the northward, the Fifth Division capured Beauchamp, and combining with the Lancashire men of the FortyBecond Division,, cleared Bcafdchamp Ridge- running north-east towards Marco in g. In the centre, the Guards and the Third Division of the *Sixth Corps, under General Haldane, breaking through the enemy’s defences eastward of Havrincourt, carried the village of Flesquieres and took possession of a long spur running eastward from Flesquires towards Mareoing. On their left, the Scottish and naval units of the 17th Corps, having stormed the line of the Canal Du Nord eastward and south east of Moeuvres w first checked by the defences at ■Graincourt. Outflanking Graincourt from the north, they seized Anneux and carried forward the whole corps’ front. We captured Graincourt and continued to advance to Cantaing and Fontaine Notre Dame, On the left centre, the Canadian Army Corps, under General Currie, attacking with the First, ' Third and Fourth Canadian Divisions, forced a passage of the Canal Du Nord and captured the villages of Sains Lez Marquion and Bourlon, also the wooded heights of Bourlon Hill. Pressing on, with the assistance of the Eleventh English, they substantially progressed towards Eaillecourt and Haynecourt. Our deep advance astride the ArrasCambrai road was greatly assisted by the close co-operation of the. Twenty second Corps, under General Godley, Operating southward and northward of the Sensee and the Scarpe rivers, and the Fifty-sixth London Division. This corps crossed the Canal Du Nord, and attacking northwards, captured Saiichy Lestree and Sauehy Caughy, Northwards of the Scarpe, on the y extreme left, the English and Scottish completed the capture of Arleux en Gohglle, and the trench system there aborts. Perfect co-operation between r thtr commaiTSfers of the neighbouring r units and between the infantry, artil- . lery, tanks and aircraft, and the gallantry and resource of all ranks, again

the greatest swiftness before the enemy was able to put down a barrage, and passed the Hindenburg support line. Then some wheeled south behind it. towards Graincourt. They had swept the area clear before ten o’clock, reaching the Bapaume-Cam-brai Road. Other British troops crossed the canal between Moeuvres and the Carabrai-Bapaume Road, and met with considerable resistance from machine gun nests. These garrisons were unaware they already surrounded from the north, and surrendeed when they were found they were between two fires. The Germans on the Flesqueeres Ridge had faced south, expecting an attack from the south', as in November, but before we came close they found the Bourlon Wood behind them full of Canadians. Enemy artillery was active until ten o’clock, and practically ceased thereafter, evidently withdrawing. Enemy aeroplanes were unusually enerp etie, low-fiiers attempting to machine gun the infantry. From the comparatively few prisoners taken in the morning it seems certain the enemy had withdrawn some troops in the night, THE FRENCH ALSO STRIKE. TWO IMPORTANT TOWNS OCCUPIED. LONDON, Sept 28. French official: The attack was resumed at Soramepy, also on the heights north of Fontaine-en-Demois, taking prisoners and guns. We occupied Jouy and Aizy. THE FRENCH OPERATIONS. OVER VERY DIFFERENT GROUND ; WONDERFUL WORK BY ARTILLERY. STRONGEST GERMAN TRENCHES SMASHED. Received 10.10 a.m. LONDON, September 28 ■'French headquarters reports: We have now arrived at the enemy’s main lin'e of resistance, which; is : hardest around Sommpy, on the river Py. The infantry’s arrival on the river marks the successful termination of the first, phase of the attack, which is being pressed with unremitting vigour. The advance was made over five or six miles of extraordinarily difficult ground. The loss .of the series of buttes in the .vicinity cost the Germans most heavily in killed, besides nearly eight thousand prisoners. The chain of positions captured is exceedingly strong the French having to storm naked wall of Bluffs, which the enemy had been fortifying for years, and every inch was trenched. By noon the French crossed thirty lines of trenches, the hardest fighting being round. Tahure, French 75’s and the 155’s played a most, important part in the battle; They .were brought within a few. thouand yards of the front in astonishing numbers unpqrccjvcd by the enemy. . AMERICANS’ VICTORIOUS ADVANCE AT VERDUN. 8000 PRISONERS AND 100 GUNS TAKEN. LONDON, Sept 28. French official: Our troops, supported by tanks, advanced to-day on the whole of the battle front, and at certain points to a depth of eight kilometres.

the Douai-Cambrai road by nightfall, the Eleventh Division passing through. The Canadians advanced rapidly a distance of over two miles, capturing Epinay, Oise le Verfcr. Simultaneously the 56th Division, pressing northward along the canal, captured 500 in the j defences north-east of Sauch.y Cauchy. These operations were materially helped by the admirable work of the engineers, who, in less than four hours of the opening of the assault, and despite shell fire, successfully threw across the canal du Nord a number of bridges capable of carrying transport, thus permitting the advance to continue without check. The operations are progressing satisfactorily on the whole battle-front. NOTABLE BELGIAN SUCCESS. TWO GERMAN LINES CARRIED. 6000 PRISONERS AND NUMEROUS GUNS TAKEN. Received 11.10 a.m. LONDON, Sept 28. A Belgian communique states: At dawn on the 28th the Belgian wing attacked German positions between Dixmude and north of Ypres. The attack began after violent artillery preparation lasting some hours, wherein participated in co-operation with Belgian batteries numerous French and British batteries, as well as British airships, which bombarded the coast defences of the enemy and vulnerable points of his communications. After preparation our infantry moved forward to alfTack strongly organised German positions. Vying with each, other ic courage, our troops carried all the organisations of the defensive lines on the 'enemy's, front position, and passed on without stop to attack the second strongly organised position. In spite of enemy resistance and \ vain counter attacks 1 , which nvere launched, particularly astride the railway at Stadl, our infantry captured practically the whole Houlthulst Forest zone, which the Germans had strongly fortified during the last four 'years, and all ground extending to a line marked by the localities of Woutmeu, Pierkinshoek, Shaepbelie, and Brodson. The advance made about six kilometres; Numerous prisoners were brought in, the total ;for the Belgians being four, thousand; the guns have not.yet been counted,,. including a complete battery and crew? as well as guns of a very large calibre. Considerable material was captured. The -number of German dead lying on the field of battle is an evidence of the enemy's losses.

AMERICA'S WORK IN THE AIR. Received 10.10 a.m. WASHINGTON, Sept 29. The “Times” Washington correspondent says ’American fliers with the British forces on the West front brought down fifty enemy ’planes and seven balloons from Ist July to 25th August, according to hews received by the War Department; ” 1 BRITISH TAKE 16,000 PRISONERS. FRENCH STILL PROGRESSING. Received 11.20 a.m. LONDON,' Sept 29. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The An-glo-Americans attacked north-west-ward of St. Quentin this morning. The British have prisonered sixteen thousand since the morning of the 27th.

A French communique says: Our repeated attacks on the plateaux north of the Aisne finally forced the enemy to retire towards the Ailette. Pursuing the German rearguards east of Aisne, Allemant, and Jouy, we occupied the village and southern outskirts of the Forest of Pinon and captured Vaudesson. Chavionon, ’ and Fort Malmaison. Further south we progressed considerably on the plateau north uf Sailly, The Germans in the Champagne furiously counter attacked on our right. Desperate fighting is proceeding in the Bouconville region on the heights south of Gratnuil. Our troops in the Centre and on the left continued to progress, particularly north of ChalleFainges railway. We captured MaufesTand reached the eastern outskirts'" o! St. Mariapy. Our losses are slight. THE LATEST NEWS. CONTINUED AND SUCCESSFUL PROGRESS. OF BRITISH AND AMERICANS Received 10.10 a.m LONDON, September 29 Sir Douglas Haig reports; Operations on the Cambrai battle-front progressed favourably. On the right tho Fifth and Forty-second Divisions had heavy fighting last night about Beauchamp ridge, where the enemy counter-attacked strongly. in the morning they overcame the enemy resistance in this locality and pressed forward two miles beyond, capturing the highly organised defences called ‘ ‘ Highlands ” and “Welsh” ridges. Later, the success was extended to the southwards, capturing Gouzeaucourt. Tho Sixty-Second Yorkshire Division captured Mareoing and progressed

American official: Northwest of Verdun our attack continues. Repeated counter attacks we repelled. We captured 100 guns and 8000 prisoners. BOURLON CAPTURED. CAMBRAFS FALL ASSURED. LONDON, Sept 28. Latest advices sent out on the evening of the 27th state; The British attacked between Sauchij Lestre and Gouzeaucourt and by 2 o’clock in the afternoon bad captured Beauchamp and Graicourt, and advanced three miles, prisonering between 5000 and 6000, Some guns, including a complete battery, were captured. We crossed the Hindenburg outpost defences at a number of points. The capture of Bourlon is of the greatest importance, and it is really a bulwark of Camhrai. We took, in despite of a water line, the whole of which we crossed. We are now in a good position to capture Cam'brai, which the endniy is unable to use as a railway and road junction. Hard fighting is proceeding on the Franco-Amdrf&hn front. The Serbians are trying to cut the Sofia-Drama railway. ■ At 2.40 p.m.. Sir Douglas Haig reports; Our attack on the Cambrai front on the 27th was pressed without relaxation until a late hour. Further progress was made in the evening, more especially in the northern portion of the battlefield, and additional prisoners and guns were captured. | The Sixth and Seventh Corps continued to make good progress between Plesquieres Ridge and Bourlon Heights. The first Canadian Division, passing beyond Haynecourt, reached

south-eastward thereof. The fifth battalion of the Duke of Wellington's forced the crossings of the canal De Loscant at Marcoing, and established itself in the German defences on the cast bank northwards thereof. The second and fifty-seventh Lancashire division cleared the west band of the canal as far north as La Folie Wood, and captured Noyelles-sur-Escant, Cantaing and Fontaine Notre Dame. Lancashires are progressing eastwards of Fontaine Notre Dame, co-operating with the Canadians northward of the Bapaume-Cambrai road. There the enemy resisted strongly and lost heavily in killed and prisoners. Northward of the Arras-Cambrai road the Canadians and English troops are steadily advancing on the east and north. Strong hostile counter attacks at Raillencourt last night were driven back with loss . To-day the Canadians took possession of Raillencourt and Sailly, also a trench system running through these villages more northward. The 56th London Division entered Palleul. The number of prisoners and guns captured continues to increase.

An American communique states: Our attack continues successfully. Today we advanced despite heavy infantry, artillery, and macnine gun firs, and reaclretT the outskirts of Breulles and Exemond. We captured over 20 towns and enormous quantities of material. The number we prisonered Increases. American aviators command the air; they brought down 12 balloons and more than 60 ’planes. American ’planes missing number under .20. Despite unfavourable weather our aviators successfully executed mussions. BRITISH CAPTURE CAMBRAI. AN UNOFFICIAL REPORT. NEW YORK, Sept 28. The United Press correspondent on the West front states: It is unofficially reported that the British have captured Cambrai.