WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

THE SECOND SWITCH LINE. Smashed in Two. On Six Miles Front. Heavy Haul of Prisoners. Received Sept. 3, i 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 2. The second Drocourt-Qneant switch, line is definitely smashed in two along a six-mile front, with a heavy haul of prisoners. Le Transloy and St. Pierre Vaast wood have been captured. We reached Moislains and Allaines, on the Tortille. Tiie United Press correspondent says that ten counter-attacks pushed the Australians back on the Mont St. Quentin flank, but the summit was held, and the Australians recaptured the flank positions and gained further groundUnited Service. NOREUIL AND VILLERS CAPTURED. SWITCH LINE BROKEN. ENF.UY MAN-POWER SITUATION. London, Sept. 2. We have captured Noreuil and Villers-au-Flos. The Australians took 3500 prisoners at Peronne. The Canadians to-day broke through the Drceourt-Queant line on a two-mile front and are now in Drury. Facts ascertained regarding the enemy's man-power show that there are 100 divisions on the battle-front now, compared with 204 when the offensive began. The enemy has been compelled to break up eight divisions for drafts to replace losses. He has also broken up several assault battalions, and reduced the battalions to three companies instead of four in at least eight divisions. Only two Austrians are on the west front, and their fighting capabilities and qualities are doubtful. Obviously the enemy's man-power situation is not good. It is significant that he has made several changes in the high command. Two army commanders have retired, and the Crown Prince has wisely been deprived of half his army corps, which has been transferred to General von Boehm.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. REMARKABLE AMERICAN EXPLOIT. IN CAPTURING JUVIGNY. London, Sept. 2. The capture of Juvigny by the Americans was a remarkable exploit. The town lay on the further slope of a hill. Two parties crawled along the shell pits over the crest and got near the town before they were observed, and rushed the town, in which there were 1000 Germans. There was fierce bayonet fighting. The attack resulted in 250 prisoners being taken; all the rest were killed or wounded. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. The Times correspondent at American headquarters reports that a picturesque feature of the, fighting at Juvigny was the galloping up of a large force of American artillery in the nick of time to prevent the Germans saving the heaviest guns. This fine example of Tapid fighting supplemented the pushing df the advance by scores of machinegunners, who swept the fugitives with deadly effect. The artillery laid down a triple barrage covering wide stretches of the fields, woods, and the well-wired trenches on which the enemy especially relied. The infantry, following the barrage, captured the guns and took 1000 prisoners. French tanks smartly assisted in cleaning up the outlying machine-gun nests. °The Germans ' retreated beyond Terny, with the Americans at their heels. —Times.

DETAILS OF FIGHTING. FROM VOORMEZELLE TO PERONNE. London, Sept. 2. Renter's ' correspondent, writing on Sunday evening from British headquarters, stated that yesterday saw fighting on the front of the British armies from north of Voormezelle to south of Peronne. On both flanks our troops advanced victoriously. In the centre they bitterly contested the vast meshwork of defences guarding the Drocourt line. The battle round Bullecourt, though resulting in only Blight territorial changes, has been particularly bitter. Early yesterday morning the attack here was resumed. A formidable station redoubt, which was previously taken and lost, was recaptured, and the Londoners, advancing on a front of 2500 yards, supported by tanks, once again brilliantly emphasised the long-accepted truth that as a soldier the Cockney is second to none in the world. TJie Germans clearly anticipated an attack, for at dawn they opened a very heavy barrage of considerable depth. On the right another British division was fighting its way valiantly through the honeycombed defences of Eeoust and Longatte. Long after the assaulting waves had gained the objectives, mop-ping-up parties would unearth machinegun burrows, containing many dismounted troopers of the 15th Dragoons, who were hurriedly thrown in to replace the infantry. This is an indication of the serious shortage of the German reserves. —Reuter. AUSTRALIANS' RECORD CAPTURES. London, Sept. 2. Mr. Gihbs states that between August 26 and 31 the Australians took ten times more prisoners than the whole Australian casualties. This is a record for the present war.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Association. GERMANS LOSE CROPS. London, Sept. 2. Mr. Robertson states that the troops garnered the German crops in the recaptured territories.—Times Service.

THE CANADIAN ATTACK. TORTILLE RIVER BOMIKATED. _ London, Sept. 2. Early this morning the Canadians attacked on a five-mile front astride the Arras-'Cambrai road aiul broke through tlie strong Drocourt-Queant line, despite most stubborn resistance. tanks played a most important part, and penetrated Dury, also tlie western edge of Cagniconrt. Heavy fighting is pioeeeding tor tlie high ground between I>ury and Jitaing. Possibly tlie front is pierced for four miles, A large number of prisoners, from seven divisions, were captured at JJoreuil. Hie capture of Villers-au-Flos means that Le '1 ranslov is outflanked on botli sides, and may be regarded as practically ours. We are Hearing Beugny, but have not yet captured it. The capture of Sailly-S'aillisel is most important, for it is on the high ground in the Somme watershed, and comntands the Tortille river. If we can retain if the Herman position in the Tortille valley will be critical. ) General Debenev's army yesterday captured Hill 77, east of Nesle. The Germans counter-attacked strongly and drove the French from the crest. The French are fighting hard to recapture the position.—Aus. X.Z. Cable Assoc.

A SPLENDID SUCCESS. AUSTRALIANS AT PERONNE. London, Sept. 2. The story of the Australian success around Peronne is a splendid one. Between August 29 and 31 the troops covered 7 ] / 2 miles on a front of three miles. The frontal crossing of the river was abandoned owing to the strength of the enemy and the marshy ground. The Germans fully expected an attack upon Peronne from the river, and all dispositions were made with a view to frontal resistance. A cleverly executed turning movement completely surprised the Germans and threw thein into eonfusion. Our casualties were amazingly small, working out at one-tenth of the number of prisoners captured.—Reuter. CAPTURE OF SAILLISEL. GOOD PROGRESS MADE. i London, Sept. 2. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Welsh and East County troops on Sunday evening captured Sailly-Saillisel and SaiUisel after heavy lighting. English troops have drawn nearer Le Transloy and Moreuil, where they took a number of prisoners. _ English and Scottish troops at nighttime captured Reincourt-lez-Cagnieourt and positions to the southward, with hundreds of prisoners. In the sector southward of theScarpe ,the Canadians and English attacked at j5 o'clock this morning, and are reported to be making good progress. In the Lys sector we readied the Lys river eastward of Estaires and captured Neuve Eglise.—Aus. N.Z. Cahle Assoc.

LATEST BATTLE WON. NEW ZEALANDERS' GRIT. London, Sept. 2. The United Press correspondent states that the latest battle of the Somme has been definitely won. There remains only a little pressure here and there until Hindenburg's divisions are njrain.all behind the Hindenburg line. The German counter-attacks about Peronne merely show that the Germans object to the pace which the Australians are setting, for if they accepted the pace it would mean involving losses of thousands, instead of hundreds. Nobody here believes in the invulnerability of the Hindenburg line. The New Zealanders, after a marvellous advance to the edge ot Bapaume, refused to consider a proposition that they should be relieved before the city was actually taken.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

i THE PENALTY OF FAILURE. GERMAN COMMANDERS RETIRED. Amsterdam, Sept. 2. One hundred and fifty senior German officers ranging from generals to colonels have been relieved of their commands on the western front. The Crown Princes of Germany and Bavaria are not likeiy to return to the western front. For a long time Prince Rupprecht has been living in a chateau in Bavaria and Prince Wilhelm at Potsdam.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. FRENCH OPERATIONS. London. Sept. 2. A French communique states: There is artillery activity in the region of the Somine and the Canal-du-Nord. We gained a footing in the woods west of Couchy-lc-Chateau, and captured Crecy-ou-Mont. Davlight bombers, flying at a low altitude,'dropped 23 tons of bombs en enemy concentrations and convoys. Aviators also used several tens of thousands of cartridges against the Genuuis.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Router. London,, >j*. 2. A French communique state. Sa the resion of the Canal-du-Nord there was violent artillery fire. We repulsed two counter-attacks against the village of Campagne. In the region of the Ailette we made fresh progress in the wood west of Couchy-le-Chateau and east of Pont St. .Mard.—Aus. N.Z. Cahle Assoc, and Reuter. 125.000 PRISONERS CAPTURED. Paris, Sept. 2. Between July 10 and August 31 the Allies captured 128,000 prisoners, 1009 guns 1734 mine-throwers, and 13,700 machine-guns.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. EYESIGHT DESTROYING GAS. New York, Sept. 2. Mr. Cliarles T. Grasty cables from Paris that lie learns from a military source that the Germans have invented and are now using small quantities of a gaß which completely destroys the eye •sight.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc,

DESPERATE HUN EFFORTS. TO STEM THE AVALANCHE. RAGGEDNESS OF ENEMY GUNNERY. Received Sept. 3, 8 p.m. London, Sept. 2. The capture of Neuvc liaise was mainly owinjj to the British working rouml from the north, compelling its evacuation and allowing the Germans no rest. Tn the region of Pcronne a part of the I'ourtli Army attacked them to-day. The Gorman counter-attacks on Sunday against Mont St. Quentin were intended to stave off the renewed rush. While tho Australians brilliantly recaptured positions on .both sides of the mountain, including Feuillacourt, others forced their way across the river southwards of the city, and despite the marshes, reached the high ground beyond Pcronne. Another unit tool-: Anvil Wood find pushed through Peronne, and' attacked Bacquets and Flisques woods. Many Germans were taken prisoners. They also had an unusual death list. Tho desperate effort to check the avalanche till safe behind the Hindenburg line is shown by the identification of some twenty-three divisions thrown into the Somme front since the battle began. A total of well over thirty divisions have' been used by Ludendorfjf. A captured order throws light on the the raggedness of the German gunnery, which is noticeable throughout. The order speaks of the startling results of British gunnery, which (destroyed 13 per cent, of the German guns. He orders increased counter-battery work.—United 'Press. London, Sept. 2, 0 p.m. Wireless German official: The enemy northward of Hendecourt, after gaining ground in the direction of Lagnicourt, was driven back to Hendecourt. We repulsed an attack south-eastward of Bapaume, mainly directed against Villers-au-en-Loss. We pulled up the enemy on the line. Saillv-St. Pierre Vaast Wood and eastward of Bouchavegncs and Mont St. Quentin. The enemy has occupied Peronne.—Aus. N.Z, Cable Assoc. and | Reuter. ► Received Sept. 3, 8.30 p.m. Paris, Sept. 2. Official: Since July 18 the French have (captured 75,000 prisoners and 700guns.-r-Reuter.

STRONG ENEMY RESISTANCE. TO BRITISH ADVANCE. BUT BROKEN ON THE WHOLE FRONT. Received Sept. 4, 12.20 a.m. London, Sept. 2. Sir Douglas Haig reports: AngloCanadians, accompanied by' tanks, attacked astride the Arras-Cambrai road and carried on a wide front that portion of the powerful Drocourt-Queant line Which lies southward of the Scarpe. The enemy strongly held the trenches and determinedly resisted our advance. This resistance was broken on the whole front, with great enemy loss. The Canadians captured Dury, Villers lcz Cagnicourt, and Cagnicourt, and are progressing beyond those places. On the Canadian, left tho English fought their way forward north-east of Eterpigny. The English and Scottish on the right advanced beyond Reineourt lez Cagnicourt, in the direction of Queant and captured many strongly fortified positions, including Noreuil. ' Southwards, we progressed, and early in the afternoon we repulsed a heavy counter-attack launched in great strength eastward, of Vaulx and Vrauccmrt. The English reached the outskirts of Beugny and captured Villers-au-Flos. All day long there was sharp fighting in the neighborhood of Le Transloy, where we repulsed counter-attacks, and the English captured the village between Saillisei and Peronne. The English, and Australians drove the enemy from St. Piere Vaast Wood and captured Allaines and Haute Allaines. The Australians beat off the/ enemy with heavy losses in repeated counterattacks east and south-east of Peronne. We prisonered several thousand during the day. Patrols progressed in the western outskirts of Lens. We continue to gain ground, keeping close contact with the enemy on the Lys front. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter,

SOUTH OF THE SCARPE. ENGLISH AND CANADIANS STILL ADVANCING. Received, Sept. 3, 9.40 p.m. London, Sept. 2. The English and Canadians at 5 in the morning attacked on a 25-mile front south of the Scarpe. The Canadians after breaking through the switch line, were still advancing at three in the afternoon. The enemy are heavily counter-attacking south of Queant. Router learns that the/line in Flanders runs from Voormezeele immediately west of Mulverghem through Neuve Eglise and Steenwerck to east of Estaires and Lacouture. The German retirement is continuing. We have penetrated from, the western edge of Eiaing to the western edge of Cagnicourt, thence approaching Queant, —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

FRENCH CONTINUED. DESPITE FURIOUS RESISTANCE.; Received September 4, 12.20 a.m. London, September 2. A French communique states-.—The troops who crossed the Canal du Nord yesterday near Nesh> advanced east of the canal and gained a footing on the western slopes of Hill 72, between the Ailette and the Aisne. We continued our progress on the plateau of Cercy-au-Mont. Juvigny was captured, as were S>uilly, Teniy, and Sorny, despite furious resistance. We also advanced north of Courcy. ' An American communique states:—We advanced northward of the Aisne, de-r spite strong resistance, and took the '■ eights of Terny Wireless German official (evening) :-- The English gained ground soiith-eastiof Arras and north of Peronne, The- ' French attacked in the afternoon he:twaen tb« <M«e and the Aisn«,

AERIAL CAVALRY. CAUSE HEAVY CASUALTIES AND CONFUSION. Received Sept. 4, 12.20 a..m, London, Sept. 3. Sir Douglas ITaig's aviation report fitates: There was improved weather oil the Ist hist., and, despite the opposition, our aeroplanes maintained contact with the advancing troops. Our low-fliers all day long bombed and machine-gunned the retreating enemy, causing heavy casualties and confusion. We heavily bombed bridges and rail connections in enemy back areas. We destroyed eight aeroplanes aiul drove down four uncontrollable. We also set on fire six balloons. Eight British aeroplanes are missing. Our night-fliers heavily attacked an aerodrome at St. Qucntin. Direct hits were observed. One night-flier has not returned. We dropped over 34 tons of bombs ob anti-aircraft guns on Friday, and brought down one German nigktbombcr. The Air Ministry reports:—Our aeroplanes on the morning of the 2nd attacked. Buhl aerodrome with very good results. ' Many direct hits were observed or. hangars, and hostile aeroplanes on the ground were destroyed. All the British machines returned.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Keuter. NEW ZEALANDER3 ,T BAPAUME. A BLINDFOLD MANOEUVRE. THE CAPTURE OF LOUPART WOOD. (Special from the New Zealand Official War Correspondent.) (By Cablegram.) August 29. The capture of Loupart Wood and the enemy positions in the vicinity by the New Zealander9 was a most dashing bit of work. It was accomplished by North Island troops. ' The Wellington troops attacked the wood, and the Auckland men inarched on Grevillers, other Wellington troops being in clos.e support, ready to fill up any gaps that might occur. The troops were on the move by 2 a.m., in pitcli darkness, proceeding towards an assembly point that none of them had ever seen. From . ihere they had to go forward to an objective that had not been reconnoitred. The troops made no error in getting to the assembly point, and at 4.15 a.m., still in the pitch dark, they had taken three-quarters of Grevillers and were in Loupart Wood. By the afternoon they were on their final .objective. For some time there was trouble from the neighboring village of Biefvillers. One company of a Wellington battalion, with a few Aucklanders, was therefore diverted to attack and capture Biefvillers, and another New Zealand unit also co-operated splendidly in the capture of this village, which enabled our troops to continue their advance through the rest of Greviller3. In this brilliant enterprise the New Zealanders captured a large number of prisoners, a battery of 5.9 howitzers, two other guns, and many machine-guns. A remarkable feature of the operation was the celerity with which,it was planned and carried out. There was not time to put a single order on paper, and the positions were stormed in the darkness without the firing of a single round from the artillery. Both leadership and initiative have been splendid to enable the troops to get there.

THE TAKING OF BAPAUME. August 29,11 a.m. The New Zealanders have taken Bapaume. Early this morning patrols entered the outskirts, and North Island troops are now right through the town and are pushing on. Apparently there was little resistance, the enemy having been so severely handled in the previous fighting that he had to get out. The Rifles share with the North Island troops the honor of getting through Bapaume this morning. The Rifles went through on the north, and the others on the south, and the two units met at the brick works on the eastern side of the town. Both brigades are now marching forward in great heart on Fremicourt and Bancourt. The day is fine, with sun and a drying wind. 8 p.m.: Pressing beyond Bapaume, our troops went on till they found the enemy holding a trench line on the high ground north-west of Beugny. They are close to the villages of Beaugnatre, Fremicourt and Bancourt, and they are more than a mile beyond Bapaume on its eastern side.

To-day on the battlefield one saw something of the war of movement. A gallop across country unfolded exhilarating scenes. Transport was already pouring up into the new territory we had occupied, and the various headquarters had moved up to advanced positions. These are days of scant accommodation, and you will iind major-generals sleeping at night in their motor-cars or in tents, with their valises on the bare ground; offices are established in dug-outs in which there is iscarcely room to turn; but everyone is working cheerfully tirelessly to maintain the initiative we now. possess. Hiding to-day well north of Bapaume; we saw our howitzers being rushed along a road, towed by motorlorries. Some enemy aeroplanes came flying low over us, and immediately there was a fusilade of machine-gun and rifle bullets. German shells were now bursting in Bapaume and along the old parts, but our men are beyond the town. Near a headquarters was a group of Saxon prisoners, captured in the advance by the Rifle Brigade. A company officer said they had been cut off by our machine-gim fire. His corporal and others had been killed, and they had to surrender to the Now Zeahuiders. He himself was a Dresden man, and had learnt English from an English friend with whom ho used to play tennis. He thought the German intention was to retire to the Hindenburg line, Among the booty captured by us this morning were two 15-cent'imetre guns (sixunch) and five horses. FREMICOURT A$D BANCOURT, August 30. At ■ an easly hour this moiming we were awakened by the continueus/thunder of artilfesy ; "It was. % signaller a. renewal of "the attack the New ZcahuiderS; their almost ißrcsistr ible dash and undaunted courage, they followed the heavy bairagn heading. straight for-sw.p mora ¥i'il|ggs—FrctmiT court and Ba : •BSrae. Tihjp liad ntm in the s4|fe{ffi^as^l& } , wh^.%es%leaaced,

before Fremicourt, though it was well garrisoned, had fallen to the Rifles witli a bag of 240 prisoners. On the left English troops co-operated in the attack; to the Bouth was the smaller village of Bancourt, and the capture of this was allotted to the. North Island troops; On the right were other English troops protecting their flank. This attack also' succeeded, and both attacking forces at once began to push to objectives further ahead. The enemy had, however, established himself on high ground beyond the village, and was prepared to contest the position strongly. He still has his artillery in strength beyond the crest of the ridge, and so far he has lost few guns in the fighting here.