WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 21 October 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

- WHOLE FLEIMISH COAST RE- ; CAPTURED. 1»-. V ...._... ‘C A LONDON, October 18. The great sweeping movement "now progressing in Belgium is crowded with dramatic events, particularly the reentry into Ostend on -the -anniversary of its surrender, four years ago. Admiral Sir Roger K-eyes wasithe first man ashore.’ The people were wild .with delight, and carried shoulder--high the French airmen who lauded as the German reargwards hastened from the town. The British marines met a stirring reception. The-y witnessed extraordinary pathetic scenes when the inhabitants later welcomed the Belgian infantry, who were flushediwith pride in their mission of liberation. Meanwhile the Belgian cavalry, pressing on » Bruges, saw the Germans hurrying to--wards Eecloo, a railway junction l 15. miles east‘ of Bruges. The whole Flemisli ‘coast may be regvarded as in the Allies’ hands; - ~ 4 . ' 2 . _ DRAMATIC" SCENES =AT LIBERA- "€_' - ''T'IONIOF LILLE. . ,‘~- 7'l_’er_c'eva.l-Phillips writes that the German -Commandant at Lille, at four on ‘Thursday"morning,‘ called the.‘ WO- - children and old men from theirbeldsfand assembled themdn the princip‘al'”3squares.« ' German‘””oflic'ers said, “Go, you may leave in the direction 0! your friends,‘ our enemy.” Thereupon little processions moved westward in the _darkness_’ _ Simultaneously the German garrison apparently prepared to march the opposite way. Shortly after daybreak, in consequence of the inhabitants’ signals tcfthe airmen, our patrols rapidly pushed through Hau- . Ibourdin into the city. llt—is impossible to give an adequate summary of to-day’s stirring events. The Hun is cracking up; his retrea» ing armies from the Channel to Valenciennes show greater signs of demeralisation, and only the machine gunnersiare holding out. Courtrai town was not bombarded. The enemy’s high explosives search the roads in the British-held quarter, but display almost ostentatious care to avoid the destruction ~oT buildings in the town.

The women and children, so far, are -ysafe. Those within the British Unes have been evacuated, but others are caught in the screen of the German rearguard covering the retreat from Lille, a novel position, almost unparalleled in war. They remain in cellars, and move behind shattered windows, listening with feverish impatience for the sound of British voices. ATTEMPT TO CUT MAIN LINE OF RETREAT. LONDON, October 18. Renter's correspondent at British headquarters, writing on Thursday evening, says:—This has been a black day for German arms. "Whilst between Lille and the sea a wonderful crop of most brilliant suceess was being garnered by.the Allies, the Fourth British Army struck hard between Le Cateau and B'ohain, laiming in the direction across which the enemy is trying to effect his main retreat. Fighting has been heavy, but progress has been satisfactory. The principal tactical objectives were TGaehed at an early hour. The heaviest resistance was encountered -around Le Cateau. The prisoners at mid-day mustered 1800, from six . different divisions. The party under Admiral Keyes, %hich occupied Ostend, met an enthusiastic reception. situation at Courtrai is interestWg. We hold one-third of the town, in which portion 5000 inhabitants have ben liberated/ the Germans retaining the remainder of the town containing 30,000 civilians. We tare virtually all

round the place, and the enemy's tenure is decidedly precarious. He attempted on Monday night to evacuite all civilian males from the ages of 17 to 55. The Allies have taken prisoner over 13,000 in Flanders up to last night. FOUR THOUSAND PRISONERS IN LE CATEAU OFFENSIVE. LONDON. October 18. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Prisoners in the operations on the Bohain-Le Cateau front exceed four thousand. We also took a number of guns. We continue to advance on the whole front between the Sensee' Canal and the Lys. We crossed the canal on the front northward of Cambrai, and are now astride the Douai-Deniian road, four miles south-eastward of Douai, and have captured a number of,villages. GERMANY'S LAST APPEAL. LYING PROMISES TO THE. TROOPS. NEW YORK, Oct 19. ' Mr. James, with the American Army, cables: Prisoners say that-the German Notes, with President WII-. son's replies, were posted at all German headquarters. Captured orders tell the German soldiers' 1 that they must fight the hardest Sow, for the purpose of getting better peace terms, and guard the Fatherland from invasion. ~ • -■■■ i'Hi \ Mr. James continues: "I saw a document which was circulated among the German soldiers, saying that France, America, and Italy wanted peace; also a leaflet, saying that when the German armies were withdrawn from France and Belgium, the American and British armies would withdraw from France." .;.; FOURTH ARMY'S GREAT WORK. LONDON, Oct 19. In our opreations during the past three days in'the Le Cateau sector, Rawlinson's Fourth Army has completed an advance of from five to eight miles across difficult country, which the enemy defended with tenacity. Having driven the enemy on the first day by their • attack from strong positions on the Tight bank of the Selle river, by determined and persistent fighting, they have successfully cleared the whole of the high ground eastward of the river ' line, capturing many villages in the course of their advance, with over 5000 prisoners and a number of guns. GERMANS' WAJNING" POWER. LONDON, Oct 19. ' A striking feature of the situation is the enemy's inability to replace the last three months' losses. The Germans do not attempt to dispute the British general superiority, but are content to concentrate their strength, in particular sectors. ! Von Below, in a recent army order, said the numbers of German air scouts could never equal the enemy's strength in figTiting machines. He added that the troops in quiet seetors must rely on ground defences. FRENCH CONTINUING VICTORS lOUS ADVANCE. LONDON, Oct 19. A French communique states: During the night the First Army, continuing its victorious advance," completed the task of throwing back the enemy, who endeavoured to maintain at all costs his position on the west bank of the Oise. We presently reached the canal front east of the forest of Andigny to the north of Mauteviplle. We hold Hannappes, Tupigny, and Noyales,also the majority of the places bordering on the canal. ' Since the opening of the battle in *

this region on October itth, we have prisonered. 3000 and captured 20 guns and a considerable number of mschine guns, also important war material, including an entire munition train. On the Aisne front, we cleared the enemy between the canal and the ■ Aisne to the west of Attigny. We captured Amfiley le Haul, taking prisoners. Received 11.40 a.m. PARIS, Oct 207- . West of Chateau Porcien we also' attacked the Hunding-Stelling line, and captured a ridge north of Germainmont; we have taken seven hundred prisoners. The battle in Vo«zieres region continued all day on the hills. East of the Aisne we captured Macquart Farm, Hill 193, and Castvandy. We captured and passed far beyond the village of Chesres, taking four hundred prisoners and ten guns. Numerous air fights occurred between the Aisne and the Argonhe, where the German air "craft concentrated. GENERAL MARSH'S REPORT. 800 SQUARE MILES RECAPTURED. Received 9.15 a.m. NEW YORK, Oct 19. General Marsh reports: The German retirement which began last week on a sixty-mile front has now spread until it has affected all except fifteen miles of the 250-mile front from the coast to the Meuse. The America* Army is slowly progressing normwest of Verdun against stiff resistance. The entire Belgian coast is securely in the Allies' hands. The Germans' retreat is increasing in speed, and in four days eight hundred square miles have been given up. The Hindenburg defences are entirely behind the Allies. CONTINUING THE PURSUIT. ANOTHER DEFENSIVE LINE SHATTERED. Received 9.20 a.m. LONDON, October 20. On the Oise front the enemy was completely thrown back east of the river. The right wing of 'the First Army continuing the pursuit between the ' Oise and La Fere, captured Ridemont and Villers-iLe-Sec; The Tenth Army on the Serre front attacked the Hunding and Stellung Line between Pouilly, Sissonne and Marshest, They pierced this powerful fortification on a front of five kilometres shattering the stubborn'resistance and advancing twelve hundred metres, taking one thousand prisoners. The enemy's counter-attacks west of Barenton Brook were repulsed with heavy loss. Fighting was equally severe between Sissonne Chateau and Porcien. We progressed importantly by local attacks, reaching the Sissonne-Lasalve road, and capturing several fortified works. WHOLE OF WESTERN FLANDERS CLEARED. REMARKABLE ALLIED ACHIEVEMENT. Received 10.10 a.m. LONDON, October 20. At 4.30 this morning Sir Douglas Haig reported: A Belgian communique states that the Anglo-Belgian and French armies, commanded by King Albert, to-day developed the results of the last six days. The Belgians occupied Zeebrugge and Heyst, and stormed Bruges. Elsewhere the Belgians crossd the Bruges-Ghent Canal; their left reached the Dutch frontiers and their right Altre, half way between Bruges and Ghent. The French carried Thielt and the adjoining high ground, despite the stubborn resistance of the enemy, who endeavoured to bar the way to the Lys. The French line at the end of the day reached Hullevincat and along the Lys to Gramme, Golthein, and Wielsheke. The Second British Army completely cleaned up Courtrai and advanced six kilometres east thereof. Southwards they reached the Courtrai-Tournai road and although the enemy destroyed alLjjommunication they advanced almost to the iSchelde. Since the beginning of the operations of the Flanders group the armies have advanced fifty kilometre on a front of sixty kilometres. The Flanders coast is completely liberated, also the whole of Western Flanders. ALLIES TRIUMPHANT ENTRY INTO LILLE. RECEIVED WITH DELIRIOUS JOY. HUNS' UNSPEAKABLE ACTIONS. Received 9 a.m. LONDON, October 19. Mr. Gibbs writes: I visited Lille, and saw the joy of hundreds of thousands of people, who during the war period had suffered tragic things and unforgettable outrages to liberty. Although it was early morning the streets were thronged with well dressed women, children, and black coated men. The city's broad avenues, streets and parks everywhere were draped with English and French flags, w hich had been hidden carefully, f o r°it meant

prison for any civilian to possess fraeh symbols* They were now waved, from every balcony. The Germans blew up the bridges around the city a'f ew ' hours before fleeing. The British built i>foot bridges, whereon they entered the i town. The people opened their arms in a great embrace of gratitude and lovo for those who helped to rescue them. It was an overwhelming uplifting. Before one had gone far up j the first avenue he was surrounded by I great crowds of ladies, one of whom broke through, and clasping both hands said: "We embrace you for the gladness you have brought us." She kissed us on both cheeks. It was a signal for general embraces. Pretty girls' offered their cheeks, small boys pushed through and turned iip them faces to kiss the soldiers. Old men joined in, and mothers lifted children to be kissed. This lasted, not for a few minutes, but for hours. Everybody had learned a few words of English greeting, and constantly cried, "welcome, welcome"; '' Long Live England.'' Nearly one hundred English people~were liberated in (Lille. The inhabitants of Lille will never forget the German crimes, and recall the reign of terror at Easter, 1916. Eight thousand young women were forcibly sent to work hundreds of miles away. Machine guns were posted at each end of the street. Officers ordered all families to gather in the doorways, and made arbitrary choice. Some were dragged out of bed screaming. Unspeakable things happened to them after being removed. Twelve days later twelve thousand men 'and boys were removed. It is generally known the Germans removed millions of pounds worth of textile machinery from Lille and neighbouring towns, and smashed what remained' with a deliberate plan to kill the industry. But Lille to-day' is a city of thanksgiving.

OFFICIAL REPORTS. Received 10 a.m. LONDON, October 20. An American communique reports:— West of the Meuse heavy infantryfighting occurred at Loges Wood; there is heavy artillery and machine-gunning elsewhere. North of Verdun the Americans, with the co-operation of the British north of Wassighy they reached the Sombre-Oise canal. A Belgian communique states: 'Our troops continue in pursuit of the enemy. They occupied Zeebrugge, and Bruges, and passed the' Bruges-Ghent canal, and progressed towards Altre. ANGLO-AMERICAN CO-OPERATION HAIG'S SPECIAL REPORT. Received 11.40 a.m. LONDON, Oct 20. Sir Douglas Haig, in a special despatch, .dealing with the operations of the 27th ati6 3.oth Divisions in co-op-eration with the Fourth British; Army for the last three weeks,, says: In the course of fighting they. displayed soldierly qualities of a high order,: anc materially assisted in the success of our attacks, especially in breaking the Hindenburg Line on the 29th of September, when they fought with the utmost dash and bravery, arid captured Bellicourt and Nauroy. Early this morning we attacked? the enemy's positions on the line of the Selle River, despite considerable opposition. Further north the advance continued yesterday afternoon' and evening, when we completed "the capture of Denain and reached the general line of Hav-luy-Hamage and Brilliart-Beuvry. Tlie enemy's resistance is incerasing on this front. The enemy commenced to withdraw northward of the Cam-bral-Bavai Road. We occupied Saulzoir and progress was made towarots Denaiu from the south and northwards of the Sensee Canal. We have already entered Denain and reached Eseaudin and Sonain on our left. The Eighth Division have taken Marchiennes. During the past ten days in the course of the advance over eighteen miles they prisOnered several hundred. Further northwards we steadily continue to advance and Have reached the general line of Orchies, Cobrieux, Bourghelles and Templeuve, southward of Roubaix and Nechine. REPORT THAT DEVASTATIONS TO CEASE NOT TRUE. Received 10.10 a.m. BERLIN, Oct 19. The German Press report that the publication of the communique that devastations are to cease is without foundation. GERMAN ARMY IN PERIL. ENEMY'S DEFENCE BROKEN. LONDON, Oct 19. Reuter's correspondent at the British headquarters, writing on the evening of the 18th, states: The great northern drive has become mainly a question of keeping contact. Appreciable progress by the AngioFrench pivoting on Le Cateau would leave the Germans exposed to a flnak fraught with possibilities of a rout. Hence the ?trenuous resistance e«-

countered by the Anglo-Americans under General Rawlinson. The enemy s counter attacks at Larderi-Molan, west of Ribeauville, Lavallee, and Mulatre, led to very fierce fighting- this morning, which lessened the resistance, showing the enemy's defence has been broken. . We progressed satisfactorily« Infantry gained the line of railway west of Quesnoy. Patrols are reported through Quesnoy itself. We are also on the west bank of the Deule, and have made a good advance in the Le Cateau region, being well beyond the Selle.

FRANCO-BRITISH-AMERICAN PROGRESS. LONDON, Oct 19. Sir Douglas Haig reports (at 1 a.m): The British and Americans continued to attack between Bohain anoTLe Cateau. They made good progress in cooperation with the French on their right. Despite heavy resistance, we once more have driven the enemy from the positions he took up. We captured Massigny and Ribekueaill, and entered Bazeul, where lighting continues. We prisonered over 1200 in these operations. At 1.25 tliis afternoon Sir Douglas Haig reported: We made further progress north-east of Bohain, capturing the village of Mazinghien, and completing the capture of Bazeul. The advance continues.