WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 August 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

A FRENCH ADVANCE.

GERMAN LINES MENACED. New York, August 10. The French advanced two milea between the Oise and the Aisne, capturing hundreds of prisoners. The French captured St. Mard, a mile south of Roye.— Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc.

London, August 19.

General Mangin has captured a ridge south of Argigncourt, giving him an opportunity to menace the German lines on the Aisne.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Association.

Paris, - uguat 19,

The Carnavalet Museum has . secured a facsimile of the German medal bearing the- dates 1871 and 1914, showing the Eifful Tower and Arc de Triomphe, and inscribed: "rjittrv of German troops into Paris." The medal was struck ill anticipation of the Kaiser dining in the Hotel Astoria on August 15, 1914.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc.

MANCIN'S OFFENSIVE,

IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED.

ENEMY POSITIONS THREATENED. Received August 20, p.m. London, August 19. The operation of General Mangin's 10th Army lias developed, into an offensive, which is promising important developments. At 6 p.m. on .Sunday the 10th Army attacked between the Oise and the Aisne, on a front of fifteen kilometres, and penetrated to a maximum depth of three kilometres. By half past ten they had captured 500 prisoners. An important factor is the seizure of the high ridge south of Andiguicourt, threatening the German positions and lines in the vjeinity of Soissons, which the French mav even turn.

The new capture has given them on the east of the Oise what the Massigny Massif has given them on its west. The French line now runs from the Fontenoy —Nouvion Vingre ridge, south of Andignicourt to Nampocl, on the southern edge of the mountain wood at Tracy le Val.

The French army attacked in the neighborhood of St, Mard and Beauvraignes, also north-east of Nevmuy sur Matz. Little progress is reported, but 350 prisoners were taken.—Press Assoc.

FURTHER PRISONERS,

SOME HEAVY FIGHTING. Received August 20, 8.50 p.m. London, August 1!). The United Press's correspondent states that during the past 2t hours the Allies netted nearly 3000 prisoners in various operations, while the French gathered in 1700 by a mile advance as far as Nampoel, including a divisional staff officer and three battalion commanders.

Heavy fighting at Beauvraignes resulted in the capture of 123, while the French took another 33 this morning northwestward of Roye. Tliev also captured the Bois de Braquemont for the second time in twelve hours, after a momentarily successful German counter-attack.

The British prisoners total 669, near Outersteene.—United Service.

GERMANS MOVING BACK,

SECURING WINTER POSITIONS. Received August 20, S.flO p.m. London, August 19. Reuters correspondent at British headquarters, writing on the evening of tiie 19th, states that from north of Hebuterne to south of Albert the Germans continue slowly, but methodically, to move back.

There are now signs of a retirement in the Scarpe Valley, where patrols have established contact with the enemy on both banks, and progressed on the south bank. Prisoners state that the object of the withdrawal is to secure improved positions before the winter, and conserve man-power.

In a captured document General von Ludendorft bemoans the shortage of horses, and urges the necessity for the strictest care, as they cannot be replaced. The shortage is so serious that officers' animals have been ruthlessly requisitioned. —Reuter.

BRITISH ADVANCE CONTINUED

MERVILLE ENTERED. Received August 20, 10 p.m. London, August 19. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The enemy in the morning strongly attacked our positions on a mile front between Lihons and Herleville, and succeeded ill penetrating our line at two points. Our counter-attack drove them out, and the situation was completely restored. We inflicted many casualties and prisonered a few.

Our advance in the Merville sector was continued, considerable progress being made on a front of ten thousand yards. We entered Merville, and reached the road through Merville from Paradio to Lea Pures Besquei. In sharp fighting wc took prisoners Mid machine guns. Our total prisoners in the neighborhood of Outtersteene are now G7G,' including 18 opicers. Sir Douglas Haig'a aviation report states: We brought down six aeroplanes. One British machine is missing. We dropped sixteen tons of bombs day and night.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter.

FOUR GERMAN ARMIES,

being pushed back by British,

A NEAT .SURPRISE. Received August 21 , 12.45 a.m. London, August 20. Mr. Percival Phillips states that foul' out of live German armies facing Dies British are now occupied with a Imk-k. ward movement, not a general retirement, 'but the 'front involved is sufficiently wide to cause further disquiet among the German troops concerned yesterday.

The German Sixth Army lost its remaining high jrrouml overlooking the Lys Plain when the Scots and Welsh took the Outtersteene Spur by a neat -surprise The Germans were expecting an early morning attach, hut we launched a smoke screen at Id o'clock in the morning and attacked from the north ii« sthead of from the west Therefore, the Germans were surrounded before they-could rn llv.—Au?. N.Z. -{""able Asson,

LOOKING INTO BAILLEUL,

KESULT OF BRITISH ATTACK. Received' August 20, 5.5 p.m. London, August 19. Reuter's correspondent at British headquarters reports that "-Sunday's attack on the northern portion of the Lys salient was on a large scale, and a repetition of the nibbling tactics whereby the Australians had hitherto penetrated from the northern edge of the Nieppe forest through and beyond Morris. We have now obtained a footing on the ridge eastward of Merris, and look right into Bailleul, which is only three miles from our advanced posts.—Reuter,

RAIDS REPULSED,

SOME MINOR ENCOUNTERS.

London, August 19. >Sir Douglas Tlaig reports: Wo took a few prisoners in the Ayette sector, also southward of the Scarpe, where our patrols penetrated some distance into the enemy positions. We repulsed raids northward of the Scarpe and made further progress in the Merville sector. Our artillery and machine-gun lire completely broke up a counter-attack on our new positions between Outtersieen and Meteren.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter.

FRENCH CAINS,

2200 PRISONERS TAKEN. Received August 21, 1.40 a.m. London, August 20. A French communique states:—Between the jratz and the Oise, we continued to progress. We captured Fresnieres, and notwithstanding desperate resistance, we Teached tho outskirts of Lassigny. Further south, we succeeded in dedouching from Thieseourt Wood. On our right we captured Tintrez, and pushed as far as the southern outskirts of Beslicourt.

North of the Aisne, completing our successes between Carlepont and Fontenoy, wo captured the village of Moreain. The number of prisoners wb have taken !n the region since yesterday reaches 2200.—Au5.-N.Z. CaMe Assoc. and Reuter.

FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT,

A GOOD DAY'S WORK. Received August 20, 5.5 p.m. London, August 10, 4.25 p.m. A French communique reports: There was violent artillery lire during the night north and south of the Avre. We prisonered yesterday 400 west of Roys. At six o'clock last evening, between the Oise and the Aisne, our troops rectified our front on a stretch of about fifteen kilometres, between south of Carlspont and Fontenoy, reaching on the whole line an average advance of two kilometres. We occupied the plateau west of Nainpoel, and reached the southern rim of the Andignicourt ravine, capturing Nouvion Vingre and prisonering 1700. —Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter.

GERMAN OFFICIAL. Received August 20, 11.30 p.m. London, August lfl. Wireless German official: We repulsed British attacks 'between Meteren and Merris. We advanced our lines locally north of the Anere. The enemy penetrated the western part of Beauvraignes. We withdrew to the eastern edge of the village. The enemy assault between Carlspont and south-west of Mt. Muvron broke down, after a bitter struggle lasting many hours. Received Aug. 21, 1.30 a m. London, Aug. 20. Wireless German official: In a vigorous daylong battle between the Avre and the Oise the French attack on a wide front broke down, wit.li heavy losses.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter.