WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

HIGH GROUND CAPTURED. AUSTRALIANS ADVANCING. GERMANS RAPIDLY RETREATING. Received Sept. 1, 5.5 p.m. New York, August 31. Mount Keramel has been captured. The Eritiih liuve captured Mont St. Queutin, sontfi ot Peronne. The British have captured Dranoutre. The Australians are advancing east of (,'iery, on the Somme, capturing many prisoners. The Germans are retreating rapidly opposite Betliune. The British are attacking Harrierea Wood, north of Peronne.—Press Assoc. A FURIOUS STRUGGLE. GERMANS DRIVEN BACK. FRENCH ADVANCE CONTINUED. Received Aug. 31, 5.5 p.m. London, Aug. 30. Reuter's correspondent at French headquarters, writing on Thursday night, says: German counterattacks were supported by heavily reinforced artillery. The German attack on Morchain, on the west bank of the Somme, was driven back after a furious struggle. Enemy resistance was particularly stiff in the region of Rouy-le-Grand, Rouy-le-Petit, and Quigery, two kilometres from Nesle. Our artillery pulverised a number of the enemy strong points. Quigery fell by the evening, likewise Bailleul and Moyencourt. Further south, after fierce grenade fighting, the French entered Quesnoy Wood. —Reuter. FURTHER IMPORTANT CAPTURES. CANADIAN ATTACK PROGRESSING. FRENCH REPULSE ATTACKS. Received Aug. 31, 5.5 p.m. London, Aug. 30. Sir Douglas Haig announces the capture of Clery-sur-Somme, Combles, Bullecourt, Hendecourt, Lez, and Bagnieourt. A Canadian attack between Hendecourt and the Arras-Cambrai road is progressing favorably. A French communique reports: On the Somme and in the region of the Canal du Nord there was no change during the night. Between the Somme and the Ailette we repulsed several enemy counter-attacks cast of Pasly, land maintained our gains. On the Vesle and in the Champagne enemy raids were resultless. It is calm elsewhere.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter.

PERONNE SERIOUSLY THREATENED. AS RESULT OP ALLIES' ADVANCE. Received Aug. 31, 3.5 p.m. New York, Aug. 30. The New York Times' Washington correspondent learns that official War Department dispatches from France say that iPeronne is seriously threatened as the result of the Allies' advance. —Times Service. A GERMAN REPORT. "WE SHIFTED OUR DEFENCE LINE." Received Sept. 1, 3.5 p.m. London, Aug. 31. A wireless German official message states: After bitter fighting we captured Runcourt and the eastern part of Bulleeourt. We shifted our defence to a line running eastward of Bapaume to north-westward of iPeronne. The French obtained a foothold on the east bank of the Ailette, westward of Foembray. Franco-American attacks between P<mt St. Mard and Chauvigny severely failed. A German evening official message states: Great English attacks on a wide front south-eastward of Arras failed.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received Sept. 1, 11.35 p.m. London, Aug. 31. Wireless German official: Wo recaptured Hendecourt and threw®back the enemy on both sides of Bulleeourt and beyond the western border of the village. We recaptured Ecoust. French attacks between Libermont and northeast of Noyon were mostly brought to a standstill, on the west bank of the Oise. We recaptured Chevilly. The enemy captured Juvigny.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. AN "ALL-AMERICAN" 'FRONT. Received September 1, 5.5 p.mNew York, August 31. Grasty cables from Paris: —"With three months' battle experience as a guide concerning the American troops, the French and British recognise that the best results henceforth will be obtainable by the organisation of an 'All-American' front, allowing the Americans to complete their own training, furnish their own supplies, to assume complete control on the front. The time for the brigading of American troops with the French and British has passed." Washington, August 30. General March states that the United States troops arc withdrawing from the British and French brigades in order to join the tot American Army now forming.

NEW ZEALANDERS ENTER BAPAUME.

AUSTRALIANS CROSS THE SOMME. ENEMY COVER RETREAT. Received Sept. 1, 5.5 p.m. London, Aug. 31. Renter's correspondent at British headquarters says: There was nothing particularly dramatic in the New Zealanuers' capture of Bapaume. The enemy offered a rearguard resistance, and finally retreated along the Cambrai road as the New Zealanders cautiously entered the ruins of the town. Tho Australians in several places readied the left bank, of the Somme, especially opposite tile important village of Brie. Large bodies of the enemy are covering the retreat of the main German forces, —Reuter. HARD FIGHTING NEAR BAPAUME. FURTHER GROUND GAINED. SUCCESSFUL CANADIAN ATTACK. IMPORTANT FRENCH ADVANCE, Received Sept. 1, 5.5 p.m. London, Aug. 31. Sir Douglas Haig reports on the 31st, at 12.20 a.m.: Operations are proceeding satisfactorily northward and eastward of Bapaume, despite the increased resistance. Hard fighting has taken place on the greater part of this front. The enemy made a number of heavy counterattacks. We entered lieincourt les Bapaume and Bancourt, where we actively engaged the enemy all day long. We captured Fremicourt and Vaux-Vrau-court, and reached the western outskirts of Beugny. The enemy Is still obstinately defending Ecoustsmein, though closely pressed. Determined counter-attacks in strong force at Bullc court and Hendecourt compelled us to fall back to the western outskirts thereof, and to the German trench system between these two villages, where our fire stopped the enemy's attack. The Canadians successfully attacked astride the Arras-Cambrai road and captured the defences between Hendecourt and Haucourt, capturing Haucourt and prisonering hundreds. We maintained a vigorous pressure southward of Bapaume and gained ground. We also progressed eastward and north-eastward of Clery, prisonering three hundred. We, closely following the withdrawal of the enemy in the Lys sector, took possession oi Bailleul. A French communique states: We threw back to the eastern bank of the Canal du Nord the remaining enemy detachments, and captured Catigny and [Sermaize. Following up, we advanced and crossed the canal at two points, before Catigny and Beanrams/jiapturing Chevilly and Hill 09 and reaching Genwry. Further south there was desperate fighting in the region north and east of Noyon. We hold Happlincoiirt and Mt. St. Simeon. We captured the village of Champs, north of the Ailette, also CJiavigny and Cuffies, north of Soissons, and reached the outskirts of Crouy. Our aviators on tho 29tli dropped 48 tons of bombs. Twenty enemy aeroplanes were grassed.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter.

ACTIVITY OF NEW ZEALANDERS. ASTONISHING WORK BY THE LONDONERS. HUN .HOPES OF VICTORY DESTROYED. Received Sept. 1, 5.5 p.m. London, Aug. 31. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: The New Zealanders during the past month were never still. They have advanced thirteen miles since the Bth. There was no need to storm Bapaume, the Germans quitting when the New Zealanders worked down north-east of the town. There were only three casualties whilst going into the town. Mr. Gibbs continues: Since the 23rd the London troops fighting in the battle made astonishing progress. They stormed Boyelle, Boiry, and Senequerelle, taking 700 prisoners on the way to CroisUles, where some were placed under terrible fire from massed machine-guns. With the Scottish they broke the Hindenburg line across the Sensee valley and captured Croisilles, and went halfway to Bullecourt. The brigade-major of the Londoners rode calmly into Croisilles and established himself in advance of his men. Throughout this week the young Londoners, who in April last helped to break the German assaults at Arras by the most exalted courage, liave again been fighting with the arts that lt,ave never failed, though some of them have suffered from the agony of' sleeplessness and lain in wet ditches under the sweep of machine-guns. GLOWING TRIBUTE TO OUR MEN. Our men are marvellous. Highlanders or Cockneys, Welsh or South Country, Lancashires or Yorkshires —during the last three weeks they have all defeated I the storm divisions of the German army and wiped out all the enemy's gains since March 21, from Amiens to Bapaume, and Arras to the Somme, and have for ever destroyed all Germany's hapes of victory. By the strength of their souls they have done this, and by risk of their bodies, and by the last limit of human pluck, lighting most of all against fatigue and the desire erf sleep, which has been more terrible this time than the enemy ahead. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. LIVELY ARTILLERY DUEL. Received Sept. 1, 0.5 p.m. London, August 31, 4 p.m. A French communique states: There was a lively artillery duel during the night time in the region of Canal du Nord, also north of Noyon and between the Ailette and (flie Aisne.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter.

WEARING THE GREAT SWITCH

CANADIANS GET BEYOND MARCH. ' LINE. WHAT WILL GERMANS DO? STAND OR BIMjONIG RETREAT t' Received Sept. 1, 5.5 p.m. London, August 31. The Canadians have been used in several surprise attacks. Yesterday, between 'Bullecourt and Cherishy, they easily broke the Hmdenburg Line, advancing a mile further east than the March line. This advance brings the armies within a mile of the great switch line Drocourt —Queant, which, the British correspondents agree, is of immense strength, and more heavily barricaded than the Hindenburg Line itself. It is not yet clear whether the Germans intend to make a prolonged stand here or will be retiring to the switch. In view of the First Anny bursting the Hindenburg Line south of the Scarpe, the momentous question is: Will the Germans stand firm at Drocourt, or do they, for some reason of morale or politics, intend to prolong the retreat? Some critics discuss the possibility of a retirement to the Meuse as a short defensive line, releasing numerous divisions, or even a retirement to a more distant line, as a preliminary to a peace offensive. The whole of France and Britain is profoundly stirred by the events. The temper of the people is rising. There is no doubt that the Allied amies will follow and strike wherever the Germans stand. The German public is most depressed, but comments indicate that the bitter disappointment is confined to the failure to grab Paris and tho Channel ports.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc.

FURTHER BRITISH CAPTURES. ADVANCED POSTS ACROSS THE SOMME. Received Sept. 1, 5.5 p.m. London, Aug. 30 The British this qiorning advanced two thousand yards on a front of seven miles from Bullecourt to the Searpe, bringing them almost within one mile of the Droucourt-Queant switch line. We have taken Reincourt and Combles, holding the Somme line from Buscourt, west of Peronne, to the junction of the French lines, and placed advanced posts across the Somme north of Biaches and Eterpigny. : There is little news from the French ! front. The French are holding the .line of the Somme and canals as far as Noyon. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. OPEN WARFARE INCREASING GUNS PROMPTLY FOLLOW INFANTRY. Received Sept. 1, 5.5 p.m. London, August 31. .. Reuter's correspondent at British head' l quarters, describing the rapidity of the advance both north and south, says that in the great British, battle area open warfare is becoming still more open. One of the most remarkable features ia the promptness of the field guns, which galloped into action far forward, and with marvellous celerity. The heavy guns I are trundling towards the front across the broken and littered roads, and the shell-tossed country. The tanks are doing great work, though we are using them aomewhat sparingly. Ideal fighting weather prevails. I Prisoners are incredulous regarding the | extent of the German set-back all along the line.—Reuter Service. THE ENEMY'S DEFENCE. MACHINE GUNNERS' TENACITY. AUSTRALIANS PUSH ONWARDS. Received Sept. 1, 5.5 p.m. London, August 31. Mr, Gilmour states that the enemy is making the utmost use of his opportunities of defence. His guns are spasmodically active. Some are firing at barrage speed, where the dumps are being used up before it is necessary to abandon them. Although there are' everywhere signs of disorganisation, the enemy machine gunners remain in the most favorable posts, retiring only when on the point of being surrounded. Every gully and wood is warmly contested against the Australians, but the advance continues steadily.. The guns are keeping well on the heels of the infantry, who are able to crash down upon the points of the greatest resistance. Notwithstanding the long and tiling period of the heaviest fighting, the Australians are pushing qn with good heart and with the slightest casualties.— Australian Cable Association.