A NEW LINE IN THE REAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 September 1918, Page 5

A NEW LINE IN THE REAR.

_ Being Rapidly Fortified. Germans Admit Gravity of Their Position, Received Sept. (J. 7.35 p.m. Loudon, Sept. 5. Dutch and iielyian reports describe the vapid i'ortilieatiou of the Touniai-Mons line, it is unvested that Von Lndendorif U trying' to form a stable front in the' .UeiiHi'-Siunbro-Touniai-Lille district, i:uil tfct .Sau. ('enuaii critics admit that the position is the most «ri'.ve since that of the Marne in IW4. They eliai;; to the hope of checkin;: the advance when the front has been further narrowed. —United Servic*.

HEAVY FIGHTING. Germans' Retirement Closely Pursued. Received Sept. 0, 9.30 p.m. London, Sept. 5. The enemy withdrawal from the Lys sector continues. British and American troops are closely pursuing the Germans. The latter may, however, claim that a withdrawal has taken place "according to plan." , The steady withdrawal of Hie enemy under pressure back to the line of the Somme and Oise Canal lias been accompanied by heavy fighting. The I'rencli have gained a footing on the east side in the neighborhood of Xoyoii, and used it yesterday as a jumping oil place in a further advance towarus the Somme. The lighting is particularly heavy in the neighborhood of Juvigny and Fc'rnysomy, where the Americans are operating, and a considerable advance was made. Possibly as a result, the enemy has commenced to withdraw from the line of the Vesle to across the Aisne.

GERMAN BIG GUNS. Brought Into Play Again. To Stop the British Advance. Received Sept. 6, 7.35 p.m. London, Sept. 5. The United Press correspondent states: In the endeavor for the moment to transform the retreat into a stand-off artillery battle, the Germans are unloosing their big guns far in the rear on all points of the British advance, supplementing their strong line with heavy and light machine-guns, along the Canal du Xord. A storm of sheila is methodically dropping along the present front line, and an extensive use of gas is Hooding the valleys and woods, indicating that Von Hindenburg is seeking to obtain the initiative at. least in tho matter of his own. retirement. Troops in the Monaconrt district were held up at the canal, not only by ma-chine-gtras, but by heavy shells, permitting the. Germans to essay a counterattack, which, however, was repulsed.— United Service. [ADVANCE SOUTH OF SCARPE. What Will Germans Do? London, Sept. 5. Mr. Perry Robinson writes: Wednesday's advance south of the Scarpe averaged 3000 to 7000 yards. It is uncertain whether the enemy will elect to stand behind the Xord Canal. He can hardly give up the line on the right through Oisy-le-Verger, Bourlon, and I'lesquieres without surrendering Cambrai, while on the left retreat beyond Vitry-en-Artois endangers Douai. Tho flooding of the Sensee and Scarpe rivers suggests an intention to stand on these lines. Where the enemy has fallen back so rapidly we have had difficulty in catching him, but the first blow was so shattering, and the subsequent pressure so continuous, that we were able to take 15,000 prisoners on a narrow front in three days.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

RAPID FRENCH ADVANCE. Dominating Heights Taken. London, Sept. 5. A French communique reports: During the night we maintained contact with the enemy rearguards and advanced east of the Canal du Nord and in the direction of the Aisne. East of Nesle we cro&ed the Somme Canal in the region of Voyennes and Offoy. t Further south we passed Moubleure, Esmery-Hallon, Flavy-le-Melleux', aud carried our lines north of Guiscard to the outskirts of Berlancourt. Between the Ailette and the Aisne we carried Clamecy, Braye, and Missy-sur-Aisne. Last night we repulsed two violent counter-attacks on the Montftles-Tombs, east of Leuilly, and maintained our position. On the Vcsle front the French and American troops took the crest of the heights dominating the Aisne. Extending our action still further we also crossed the Vesle between Lea Vanteaux and Joneherry.

German Retreat Explained (?)

London, Sept. 5. A wireless German official message states: The enemy pressed back our front field troops to a. new line between, Ypres and La Bassee. We.continued the withdrawal in the region of Roye and ffreed ourselves without a fight, the enemy following slowly. Wo withdrew from'the Vesle positions eastward of Soissons undisturbed.—Aus. N.Z. Cable I Assoc.