WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

BRITISH REACH CANAL DU NORD. Progress All Along the Line. French Behind the Chemin des Dames. New York, Sept. 3. British troops have reached the Canal-du-Nord and captured Ecourt-St. Qnentin. It is reported that the British have captured Moenvres, and that the- Germans are retreating faster. North-east of Soissons,'the battle, is raging. The Germans are vigorously defending the Pont Rouge plateau'and the Loan railway. The Americans at : ticked, and several villages are in flames.—Aus.-N.Z. Cahle Assoc. New York, Sept. 4. Lens is still in-the hands of the Germans, though the British hold the western outskirts. Gas alone prevents a British occupation of the town. Tlie Germans are retreating east of the Canal-du-Nord, facing the French, while the northern section is endeavorin." to withstand the British. The British have captured Demiemirt ind Rumaneourt, and are advancing in the T.ys salient. Tliev have captured Nicpne and Croix-du-Bac —Aus.-N.Z. Cahle Assoc. Paris. Sept, 4. T t°, lntest n(,fl ' s '" tllat t,,p British ate fighting in the suburbs of Lens, and it is believed the enemy will be unable lor<» to defend the town. General Mantin's armr. after three d.tys* iiffbtiiir. has reached the plateau dominating the vallev of the Ailctte. behind the Ohemin-de*-T>ames, whence <ho citadel of Lann can b» seen. There are also extended views of the German rear and supply roads.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc. London. Sent. 4, 3.1-3 p.m. We hold the line of the western bank of the f<inal-du-X'\d. We crossed the. mn?.l at Haut-Allaines, two miles north o f Peronne. We reached ficourt-St. Dunn-tin this morning, hut do not hold the whole town Since the AnfloFreneh offensive heTan on August 8. 97 German divisions have been engaged —AII3 -N.Z. Cable Assoc. New York. Sept. 4. The British have reached a mile oast of the Canal-du-N.ird- Prisoners admit that thcv were ordered to bold the canal at any eost. Neuville Bonrjonval is surrounded.—Aus -N.Z. Cable Assoc-

A GREAT FEAT. The Capture of Queant German Forces Being Worn Down London, Sept. 4Oncral "Maurice writes:—Giving {lie fullest credit to the magnificent work cf the Tamilian and Australian troops, we must not overlook what the English. Scottish, and Welsh Divisions have* done, It was upon the British Jhat the brunt of the desperate fighting in the spring fell, and it stirs our hearts to see them coming into their own and advancing over ground where the British never trod 'before. Sir Charles Ferguson's Corps, which "aptured the fortress of Queant, was composed of English and Scottish troops and the Naval Division. The capture is one of the great feats of the war. It was not a matter of hustling a retreating enemy: most of the ground was won in fighting a week ago. No one exnected to recover Kemmel. the Netive Eglise Ridge, Bailleul. and Estaires without many thousands of casualties. The enemv has given them up in order to find troops to meet Sir Douglas Haig's advance towards Douai and Camhrai. Our victories are also freeing the French coalfields. The enemy is now on the down grade. He has been forced to (break up eight divisions and to appeal to the despised Austrians for help. The Germans and tbf> Allies have now each about 1<96 divisions, ours having the average greater strength, but the difference is not sufficient to enable General Focli to strike the eoirp-dc-graec. There must he no slackening of our efforts, or we shall postpone the victory.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc.

FRENCH OFFICIAL Steady Progress Made. London, Sept. 4. A French communique states:—Our infantry crossed tlie Somme opposite Epinanconrt. Further south, the French pained a footing in Genvry. cast of the Canal-du-Nord. East of Noynn we made fresh progress and reached the outskirts of Salency. Artillery fire continues heavy in this region. Between the Ailette and the Aisna yesterday, wo captured I'2oo prisoners. Aviators axe actively co-operating with the artillery in destroying centres of resistance. Tons of bombs have been dropped on the hack areas, and the camps attacked with machine-guns. London, Sept. 4. Last evening and night we continued to push the enemy east of the Canal-du-'Kord and between the Ailette and the Aisne. We captured the Bois-du-Thissy. Farther south, our advanced elements, pursuing the enemy, are approaching Cri3olles. NoTth of the Ailette, we carried our l ; nei to the western outskirts of Cow.y le-Ohateau and Jumencourt. To the »euth we advanced east of Leuilly and reached the outskirts of Clamecy and Brayc. We penetrated Bney-le-Long. We took over 1500 prisoners in this region.

ENEMY PANIC-STRICKEN. British Work Around the Germans Remarkable Work by the Gunners. London, Sept. 4. Mr. Gibbs writes: —The enemy is in hard retreat from a, wide belt of country north and south of the Arras-Cam-brai Road in a desperate hurry lest his transport and troops should lie encircled by our men. Beyond doubt, tbe enemy is more panic-stricken than at any time in the war and at bis wits' end to gather fresh reserves in time to make a stand 'before much more is lost. Instead of the expected German counter-attack, our men made a steady forward movement throughout the night, despite rainstorms, and the enemy yielded everywhere. The country in which we are advancing is desolate and monotonous, without high roads, rivers, or valleys; only rubbish heaps of brick mark the fcamlets and tangles of rusted wire, piles of abandoned shells, riflies, boots, and other equipment characterises tbe plague-stricken landCunningly and rapidly tlie naval machine-gunners worked tbeir way forward, but when the infantry took tbe first objective a brigadier-general visited the forward lines and satisfied himself that it was possible for the naval men to continue to advance slowly and cautiously forward until dawn, when tbe turning movement which captured Qnennt was completed. The Germans in Queant fled panicstricken. knowing we were behind their lines. The enemy took away most of his sruns. but was forced to blow np some of bis howitzers. The work of the British gunners in 1-eppin" pace with the infantry was remarkable. They were able to shell tbe eross-roads outside Cambrai, making the highway a terror to the German transport in retreat.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc. COLLAPSE OF THE ENEMY. After Drocourt Line was Broken. Broken German Divisions Laft to Their Fate. London, 'Sept. 4. Mr. Percival Phillips >ays that Sir Henry Home's victory on', the Drocourt line and the capture of 10,000 Germans had a surprising sequel. Without even tie semblance of a counter-attack, the Germans are retiring chastened beyond belief to a uow line beyond the wide, dry moat of the great Xord Canal, si* and a-half miles west of Cambrai'. In places the retreat became a race between the vanishing Germans and the British patrols. Our infantry advanced eight miles in some places during the day and are still pushing into empty hamlets far in advance of the leryEleven German divisions wcro reported to be in the sector, and there were many 3icrns of an impending counterstroke of great magnitude as we broke the Drocourt line. Then the German infantry suddenly slackened its effort. The night was strangely quiet. It was significant that 'British aeroplanes were not fired upon until they were over ths !Kord Canal. -tlany German prisoners taken by the naval units in the Pronville area were exhausted from lack of food. They had had no rations for four days, owing to a breakdown in the communications. Those captured further north complained bitterly of hunger; even stiff-necked cavalry officers swaggering into the cages in smart grey cloaks asked for food and ate ravenously. Gorman artillerymen complained of lack of shells; compauy commanders blamed tbe interruption of the telephones and cyclist services for their inability to get orders carried out; in fact, the Btory of German disorganisation yesterday almost suggests the deliberate abandonment of these broken divisions to their fate.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc. London, Sept. I!. The United Press reports that the British took another 3000 ju'isoners. Sir Julian Byng took 1340 prisoners and 22 field guns on Tuesday. Hindenburg is attempting a temporary stand on tbe Canal-du-Nord. The Canadians are advancing to the western bank. The Germans are about to retire from the Wytschaete and Messines ridges.—Aus.OT.Z. Cable Assoc.

BRITISH OFFICIAL REPORT. Progress on the Lys. London, Sept. 4. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—Two minor actions are reported in different localities. We reached the of the Vaux Woods, northward of Moislains, slightly advanced at other points, and generally reached the line of the Canal-du-Xord. We occupied Ecourt-St Quentin, northward of the Arras-Cambrai Eoad. We made progress astride the Lys. We fire approaching Neuve Chappele and Laventie, and have gained possession of Sailly, Nieppe, and Romarin.— Aus.-N'.Z. Cable Assoc, and Renter. German Official. Received Sept. 5, 8.10 p.m. London, Sept. 4, 0 p.m. Wireless, German official: We withdrew on Monday night troops from the line Arleux-Moeuvres-Manancourt. Wo repulsed four French, attacks against the high ground between Campagno and Bussy. We repulsed, after bitter hand-to-hand fighting, renewed Franco-Ameri-can and Italian attacks between the. Ailette and the Aisne.—Aus. KHZ. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. London, Sept. 5. Wireless German official (evening),? The enemy felt ibis way forward ~±6 *>ur new lines between the-Searpe'-anirthe

TOWARDS CAM BRA!. British Rapid Advance. New Zealanders Nearing CambraJ Received Soft. 5, 10.20 p.m. London, Sept. 5. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The AngloYlelsh forced the pasage of the Tortille liver and the Canal du Nord on a wide front northward of Moislains. During the early part of the day the enemy held the cast banks ot the river and the canal, and endeavored to arrest our advance at this line with artillery and j mai-hinc-gun fire. Despite the natural strength of the enemy's positions, we advanced with great dash and courage, and carried the villages of Manancourt and Etricourt, overcoming the obstacles of tlie canal and the river. We substantially progressed eastward. Further north the English and New Zealanders took Ruyaulcourt, and reached the northern outskirts of Havrincourt, eastwards of the canal. Other English divisions gained the west bank of the canal, opposite Demicourt and Boussees, beating off counterattacks. The English entered Moeuvres from the north, and fighting is still going on among the old Hindenburg line defences. We captured further prisoners and material, including two of three German tanks used in an unsuccessful counterattack on the 31st August. We progressed at different points oil the Lys front. The aviation report states: Aeroplanes and balloons co-operated effectively in the advance on the 3rd inst. We dropped 21 tons of bombs in the day-time and 21 tons at night-time. We destroyed 19 hostile machines and drove dowp 7 uncontrollable. Ten British are missing. THE GREAT PURSUIT. German Rearguards Unable to Stem It. Received Sept. 5, 8.10 p.m. London, Sept. 4. Reuter's correspondent at British headquarters, writing on Wednesday morning, says that the great pursuit of the retiring Germans continues. The German rearguards are quite unable to check our galloping batteries, which frequently fired at masses moving eastward at point blank range. The floods caused by the enemy damming the Sensee-Scarpe canal increased yesterday, but have not seriously retard • ed progress. The amount of enemy war material to bo cleared up in territory over which we have swept is immense. The enemy had no time to destroy all the canal crossings. We rounded up yesterday over 2GOO prisoners and 22 field guns. The booty at Riehebourg St. Vaast, in addition to that already cabled, included two 4.2 howitzers.—Reuter.

ON THE SOISSONS PLATEAU. Franco-American Struggle. Crowned With Victory. Received Sept. 5, 8.10 p.m. London, Sept. 4. Reuter's correspondent at American headquarters states that the long and stubborn struggle of t'he past week on the Soissons plateau lias been crowned with victory, in which some of the best German divisions have been put out of action by Franco-American troops. We are now in possession of the plateau. The enemy incurred the heaviest losses in an endeavor to check our progress, especially ot' the Prussian Guards, whose dead were piled up after live futile counter-attacks. As the result of yesterday's fighting wo greatly strengthened our position along the Ailette, and brought our lines within a few miles of the lino held before the last German advance over the Chemiu des Dames. What the enemy considered his first lino of defence in that region is now entirely in French 'hands. — Renter. BETWEEN THE OISE AND THE SOMME. The Germans Falling Back. | Before the French Armies. Received Sept. 0, 12.30 a.m. London, Sept. 5. Renter's correspondent at I'rench headquarters, writing on the afternoon of the 4th, states: The Germans are falling back between the Somme and the Oise before the armies of General Debeny and General Humbert. This morning our advanced cavalry was a little more than a mile from Guiscard. General Mangin's troops are also advancing and have worked up to the edge of a ravine adjacent to the important Laffaux! plateau. There are numerous signs that the Germans are preparing to withdraw from the Vcsle sector, probably to the old fortified line crossing the Aisne from Juvincourt to Rheims. Fires behind the German front on the Vesle are report in increasing number. Reuter.

CANAL DU NORD CROSSED. Pressing Towards Douai and Cambrai. Germans Retreating Before Franco-Americans. Received Sept. 5, 9.50 p.m. London, Sept. 4, We made further progress along the Canal du Nord, which we crossed on a three-milo front southward of Jnehy. We also reached Neuville Bourjovual, which is a mile eastward of the canal. We are now approaching the old Cambrai battlefield. Our troops are fighting tiieir way through Havvicourt Wood, of which we already hold the- north-western portion. We captured Moeuvres, and are pressing towards the German positions prepared for the defence of Douai aim Cambrai. Large Jlres well behind the Vesle indicate a further German retreat before the Franco-Americans. FRENCH BREAK RESISTANCE. On the Oise Vesle Front. Considerable Headway Made. Received Sept. 0, 1.5 a.m. London, Sept. 4. A French communique states: After breaking stubborn resistance by the enemy our troops to-day compelled him to retreat north of the Oise and the Vesle front, between the Canal du Nord and the Oise. Our advanced elements are following on the heels of the enemy. The rearguards have advanced beyond Libremont, and reached the outskirts of Esmervhallon, and occupied the Hopital Wood, Further east we crossed the Ailette and reached Marizelle, north-east of Manicamp. The enemy left numerous guns and a vast quantity of material. The battle continues on the plateau north of Soissons. When threatened on the right flank the enemy returned north of the Vesle. We captured Buey Elong and Moncel. North of the Aisne, further to the right, we crossed the Vesle on a front of thirty kilometres, and passed Chassemy, Brenclle, Vauberlin, Vauxeetts, and Blanzy, and have gained a footing on the crest north of Baslieux. — and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. NORTHWARD OF THE VESLE. Enemy in Retreat. Americans in Close Pursuit. Received Sept. 0, 1 a.m. London, Sept. 5. Americqp official: Yielding to the continued pressure of the Allied forces, the | enemy is in retreat northward of the Vesle. We are in close pursuit, and have taken Baxoches, Perles, Fismette and Batlieux, capturing prisoners and machine guns, and have reached the Jine Vauxcette—Blanzy le Grand—Hameau. Yesterday our aviators successfully bombed the railroad yards at Longon, Dommary, Baroncourt and Conflans. — Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter.

ENEMY'S NEXT LINES. We Must Take Douai. Foch Has Several Unused Armies Yet. Received Sept. G, 1.30 a.m. Londoa, Sept. 5. General Maurice writes:—The shortest line the enemy can hold in Flanders runs from Ypres to the .JVytschaeteMessines Ridge-Hill 63A T euve ChapelleLa Basset, H» is nearly on tins line now, and will probably try to hoi* it, though he may prefer to relinquish the Lys valley and take a stand on the Aubers Ridge. This would shorten his front by 13 miles. In the spring of 191:7 the enemy had 100 divisions on the West front, of which 110 were m the line and 50 In the reserve. In March, WIS, he liaa 150 in the line, so it has been possible to make considerable savings in the time given him to re-sort his troops. We have not yet turned the main north and south sector of the Hindenburg line, which begins east of Mouvres. To do this we must take DouaiPresumably the enemy's immediate plan is to hold the Sensee Canal, covering Douai, aud go back to the Hindenburg line in front of Cambrai and St.. Quentin to the Chemin des Dames. There are still several Allied armies which have not yet had their say, so Marshal Foch ha's the opportunity of further improving the situation. SIGNIFICANCE OF GERMAN DEFEAT. » An American Comment. Received Sept. fi, 5.5 p.m. Xew York, Sept. 4. The New Ydk Times, -commenting on the British victory, sayssthe importance •of Sir Douglas Haig's victory must be estimated by the significance of the ■break down and shattering of the Dro-court-Queant defence-line defending the railway and of ,- 13ouai and*Cambrai. -Sfo official sophistry- can '.distort the character *>fi»the "defeat, suf-the-KJeimfl.n.'aiinry. The condirtion o£ tho German- army now- verges ton demoralisation. At no 'timef during; | : in.men>aßd\gun.s.—Aus.:tN;Z. ; 'Oable'Assoc.