SENSATIONAL REPORT

Taihape Daily Times, 18 October 1918, Page 5

SENSATIONAL REPORT

* AN ARMISTICE ARRANGER. BRITISH OCCUPY OSTEND. German Army on Verge of Complete Rout GERMAN SECOND LINE BROKEN. THE KAISER STILL REIGNS.

' WESTERN FRONT. GERMANS RETREATING SUCCESSFULLY. < LONDON, Oct 10. A French communique issued at 4.10 p.m,, says: We slightly progressed at night-time north of Sissones. North or Asfeld we checked a .violent counter attack in the region of Stoerman Mont. South-west of Rethel wc captured the village of Acy, Reuter’s correspondent at French headquarters states: Our continued advance on the Laon-Aisne front has dissipated any enemy hope of standing on the prepared Serre-Sissone-Rethel line. French troops /have been fighting incessantly for three weeks, most of them with only brief rests since the spring, but they scout the idea of ah armistice. They know that What prevents the enemy retreating rapidly is his inability to escape, without disastrous loss, from the tentacles ■which Foch- has thrown around him. The German retirement is technically well conducted. He has got. ■ most of ftis material away but it is blocking roads for the retreating troops. Hence the retreat pace has . compulsorily slackened, ahd may prove the costliest operation? - the German command has yet attempted. THE AMERICAN ADVANCE. - NEW YORK, Oct 16Some Americans west.of the Meuse are slowly cutting thro'ugh the Krelmiilde line, - after a savage battle. French and Italians are co-operating:. The French gain? in the Rethel neigh-, bourhood (about half-way between Rheims and Mezieres) are notably assisting the American progress . MONTREAL, Oct 17. Mr. James, correspondent with the American army, states that the Americans drove deeper into the Kriemhilde line, north of Verdun. They captured Juvin (Juvigny?) and advanced beyond the enemy second lines. GENERAL MAURICE’S REVIEW. LONDON, Oct ID. General Maurice writes that the military Situation is extraordinarily favourable, but he does not see any likelihood of another and greater Sedan. Haig’s victory on October Bth German withdrawal to the Hundung-Kriemhilde line. The second retreat is not yet complete. The Americans northward of Verdun are breaching the Kriemhilde line, and the French at Sissones tare breaking in the Hunding line. The British at Le cateau and. Solesnes arc menacing the northern extension of the Hunding system, but on the whole the German withdrawal was well carried out. There is no sign that their fighting spirit is broken, though it is sensibly weakened. Tbe enemy’s delaying actions’, together with the utilisation of many railways which are not shown on ordinary maps, make Sedans difficult of acomplishmenr. - Meanwhile, Foch’s power of attacking everywhere is daily increasing. THE CAPTURE OF LAON. LONDON, Oct 16. Mr. Perris writes: It is Incorrec? to say the Germans took hostages from Laon during the retreat. Twentyfour inhabitants, Including twelve wo- | men, were deported in January and on the pretext that France acted smilarly in Alsace, but these were returned to Laon or Repatriated to France In April In accordance with the Berne agreement. The Mayor of llfbn was removed on Saturday, noe as a hostage, but ostensibly to give an account of his stewardship of the American Relief Committed. It is evident the real reakbn of his removal was to prevent him speaking to his :

countrymen. Three hundred mobilisable men were also taken. The ’American Relief Committee alone prevented actual starvation at Laon , LILLE CAPTURED. Received 8.35 a.m. : NEW YORK, Oct 17. The United Press London correspon- ■ dent learns the Allies have captured : Lille. NEW BRITISH OFFENSIVE STARTED. Received 9.5 a.m. NEW YORK, Oct 17. 'A new British offensive has been started on Bohain-Le Cateau front. DEVASTATION TO CEASE. Received 12.50 a.m. LONDON, October 17. The German High Command has ordered a discontinuance of devastation. FRANCO-AMERICAN REPORT. Received 11.45 a.m. LONDON, October 17. . An American communique, issued at 2.55 this morning states; The First American army continues its attacks, and has advanced on both sides of the Meuse. A French communique states: To-day we made progress north-west of Sissonne, carrying Notre Dame de Liesse, and west of Grand Prej where the village of Talma was captured, COURTRAI CAPTURED BY THE ALLIES. LONDON, Oct 16. The Allied advance in Flanders continues, and Gourtrai sixteen miles ,due east of Ypres, has been captured. Reuter’s correspondent at British headquarters states that the Allies advanced amazingly well, though the fighting was obstinate in places. The number of prisoners is expected to largely exceed eleven thousand, which was the total yesterday morning. Roulers was found undamaged, and twelve hundred of its inhabitants were i liberated. DESTROYERS LEAVE ZEEBRUGGE FOR GERMANY. LONDON, Oct 16 Silence reigns at Zeebrugge, whence the largest destroyers on a recent stormy night sailed for Germany. 100,000 BELGIAN REFUGEES FLEEINNG TO HOLLAND. LONDON, October 16. , The commander of the German army iat Antwerp notified the authorities that 100,000 fugitives are going to Holland. GERMAN SECOND LINE BROKEN. Received 9.5 a.m. NEW YORK, Oct 17. The United Press correspondent at | Paris learns that the Allies have effected a break through of the Getman second line of defences in Belgium, advancing nine miles, probably in the region of Thielt. THIELT OCCUPIED. FRENCH CAVALRY REACH OSTEND. BRITISH FORCES ALSO LANDED. Received 10.15 a.m. NEW YORK, Oct 17, The United Press Paris correspondent states the Belgians have entered Thielt. French cavalry have reached Os tend. British naval forces have also landed.

VON ARNIM’S ARMY. ON VERGE OF COMPLETE ROUT. Received 0.15 a.m. NEW YORK, October 17 General von Arnim’s army is retreating on the North. Saa-Lille front, and is alleged to be on the verge of a complete route. VARIOUS OFFICIAL REPORTS OVER 20 VILLAGES FREED. Received 9.40 a.m. LONDON, October 17. At 10.10 a.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: On the 15th the troops under the King of the Belgians continued their attacks between Dixmude. and the Lys and advanced tan average depth of over six kilometres. The Belgians crossed the Yser northward of Dixmude, and occupied Schoorbakke. The B’ritish crossed the Lys, and pushed several kilometres beyond Menin. The Belgians captured Thourout, and the French took Lichtervelde and Ardays. The British occupied Menin, and it is reported they entered Courtrai. Over twenty villages have been freed. A Belgian communique states: Our troops continued to advance the whole front attack, and crossed the Yser at Schoorbakke. We progressed towards Schoore, captured Keyem, reached Prafstbosch, and are enveloping the Thourout line. We reached the railway station at Wynendael and Hooge on the Thourout-Bruges Road, where we advanced between Thourout and Mandel. The French troops reached Turfhanne and gained the outskirts of Coolseamp. South of the iLichterveldeThielt railway we advanced beyond Ardaye. The French entered the Park of Ardois Castle, from whence the line runs to the outskirts of Emelghem and Iseghem, which are now occupied. Further east the Belgians are beyond the j railway station of Ingelmnnster and have reached the Lys near Bavichove. Several were prisonered to-day. The enemy all diay bombarded Dunkirk and Lapanne. . BRITISH OCCUPY OSTEND LONDON, October. 17. The ,High Commissioner reports:—; The Admiralty reports: Vice-Admiral Keyes this afternoon landed at Ostend, which is clear of the enemy,'