WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 August 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

AN IMPORTANT RETIREMENT. GERMAN PREPARATIONS. Received Aug. 18, 2.35 p.m. Paris, Aug. 18. There aro various indications, confirmed by aerial observation, that the (!ermau s are preparing for a fairly important retirement in Flanders, wliile the French operations west of iSoissons give the impression that only curtain troops are employed to cover the withdrawal. The enemy has increased his resistance at certain points foef woen the Somrue, the Avre, and the Oise, this being mainly due to our hustling their retreat.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. ENCLOSING ROYE. WITHDRAWAL OF ENEMY HEAVY aim A BRITISH ATTACK. Received Aug. I' 9, 7.10 p.m. London, Aug. 18. Renter's correspondent at British headquarters states that there has been severe parol fighting between Chaulnes and Rove during the past 24 hours. The Allies aro gradually enclosing Rove. The French are within a few hundred yards of the railway station. The Germans have not made any heavy counter-attacMS since Thursday. Their heavy artillery has diminished, suggesting the withdrawal of theii heavies. Local guerilla fighting continues north of the Ancre. Our patrols are steadily advancing in the region of Hazeibrouck. The enemy is very vigilant, with considerable artillery activity. It is uncertain if this is merely a diversion. A later message states that the British this morning attacked the 41th Saxon 'Division holding Oultersteen, and captured fcho village and also the ridge.—Reuter. "STORM TROOPS." GERMAN TRIBUTE TO AO3TR AIJANS Received Aug. 19, 235 p.m. London, Aug. 18. Mr. Hughes, addressing Australian hospital patients, wounded in the recent fighting, said Australia lmd the honor of J reaching the furthest point gained in the | advance. They cleared the enemy from a hundred square miles of territory, and captured over 10,000 prisoners and 120 guns. Their total casualties were a little over 2000. One of the be.^t-tributes to the Australians was in a captured map showing that whenever the Australians frere known to 'hold sectors the Germans labelled these "storm troops."—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. , AUSTRALIANS CAPTURE STORES. London, Aug. IS. Mt. Gilmour, writing from Australian headquarters, snvs that the Germans abandoned a vast store of foodstuffs at Lihons, including much wine, spirits, and sugar, and afield hospital furnished. Further evidence of the shortage of cotton stuffs was given by the fact that night shirti*, bandages, and string were all made of paper. The Australians were much amused at the nightshirts sewn with black thread and with a dingy paper bow at the neck. They captured several bicycles with scores of little springs under the outer metal tvre instead of a rubber tyre. Mr. Murdoch, writing from Australian headquarters, refers to the keenness for further fighting and the confidence which has roused all the Ip/f-nt desire to meet and drive the enemy headlong. He describes the champion of a New South Wales unit, of herculean type, who astonished the Germans during the Bretonneux fighting fov breaking an officer's neok with his fingers. He got well ahead of his company during the fighting on the 3th and reached the German fi,eld> batteries, from which the enemy appeared suddenly. He was attacked from a dug-out behind, hut. rushing forward with a 'bayonet, he killed nine Bosches who were quivering there with little fighting spirit, and thus captured the battery —Aus. N.Z. Caible Aasoc. LOCAL OPERATIONS. SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED OUT BY THE BRITISH. Received August 20, 12.15 a.m. London, Aug. 19. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We carried out a successful local operation on a I front of over four mies between Vieux Berquin and Bailleul, with slight loss. We advanced our line from 1000 to 2000 yards, and captured the village of Outteruteene and several defended farms and 'nouses. We prisonered over <IOO. We also progressed south-west of Merville, and between Chilly and Fransart, taking prisoners. We repulsed attacks against posts in the neighborhood of Beaucourt, Serre and Puisseux, taking prisoners. We destroyed five aeroplanes. Three British aro missing. We dropped thirteen tons of bombs. A French communique states: The artillery duel was continued ia the daytime, particularly in the region of Canny sur Matz and Beauvragnes. Local actions south of the Avre resulted in our capturing prisoners. Eight enemy aeroplanes were felled, and three captive balloons set on fire yesterday. London, August 18. Wireless German official: We drove back enemy attacks along the roads from Amiens and Montdidier to Roye. Enemy attacks between Beauvragnes and Lassigny collapsed. -The enemy obtained a foothold in our foremost trenches northward of Autreclies, in the Vosges. Our posts, which were advanced in the Favre region as far as Frappello, yielded to a local enemy thrust. —Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. AIR FIGHTING AT ZBEBRUGG-E. Amsterdam, Aug. IS. Tn the air fighting throughout Friday, off Flushing and Zeebrugge, -two English and one French machine were damaged and landed in Dutch territory.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc-