WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 September 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

FRENCH AMAZING ADVANCE, Back in Old Line in Places.

Prussians' Desperate Valor.

Beceived Sept. 8, 5.5 p.m.

, , , London, Sept. ti. rfeuter a correspondent, writing on the afternoon of the 6th, states that the drench are in fierce pursuit of the enemv over the devastated country. General ltebeney-g troops crossed the Somnie in force all night, from Epenancourt to "noy, while, to southward, General Humterts army compelled the Germans to ™row up the sponge and bolt for th e HMdenburg line along the whole front. Tke French have now passed Chaunv, WW early in the day were close to Tergnier, which is situated a mile from the place where the Hindenburg line crosaes the Oise.

On the right General llanein's armv h*s taken the height above Landricourt. which gives us a view up the Ailette Wiley as far as Knon. General Mangin's men were fighting thw morning practically on the old line. There were engagements along the upper edge of the Couey forest and the Koziere farm, which commands Barisis. The latter was the point of junction of the Franco-British fronts before the attack of 21st March.

Reuters correspondent at American headquarters states that the amazing advance of General Mangin's left and centre during the past 24 hours is a direct result of actions in the earlier daya of the week. A French officer, who had seen the hottest fighting at Verdun, testifies that he has not witnessed more desperate valor than that shown by the Prussian Guards in the attempt' to check the French advance towards the Chemin-des-Dames. Some of the guards charged right up to the tanks, which they tried to smash with the butts of their rifles. Their fighting was nearly as desperate when Leuilly was captured, also the Mont-des-Lombes. In all cases the Germans were fiercely aggressive, and thereby they piled up their casualties beyond all expectations. The French have captured Xeuville, which is just below the ridge of hill where, through railway tunnels, they can look across the head cf the valley at Laffaux, which our gunfire has rendered uninhabitable.

Despite their losses, the Germans still hold the outworks of the hills about Vauxillon for the sake" of their eommand over the Ailette valley and for cross-fire. They will thus bring en our advance towards the Chemin des Dames. Still, fighting is expected between VauxUloa and Laffaux.—Reuter.

BRITISH PROGRESS CONTINUES. Jearly Seven Miles East of the Somme. And Still Advancing. Beceived Sept. 8, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. C, Midnight. dir Douglas Haig reports: Our proems continues. On the southern portion of the battle-front we are in close touch with the French army. On our right, southward of Peronne, we are already nearly seren miles eastward of the Somme and advancing on » general line Monchy, La Cache, vmignies, Finconrt, all of which places ue in our hands. We rapidly overcame the resistance of the enemy's covering troops, who endeavored to delay us. We took prisoners southward of the Cologne river. On'the high ground about Norlu the enemy contested our advance with great stubbornness. There was sharp flighting about Nuriu and around Neqnancourt. la the valley northward we captured Longavesnes and Lieramont, and are approaching Ifetr-en-Coutre and the southern portions of the Havrincourt wood, taking prisoners. Local fighting west of La Bassee and east Of Bac St Amur resulted in the capture of prisoners. We slightly advanced opposite Erquingham and south-east of Ypres. Our aeroplanes machine-gunned and bombed enemy troops. Enemy aircraft are flying in large formations on the German side of the line, and were active, especially at Cambrai. We destroyed 23 hostile machines and drove down 14 uncontrollable. Thirteen British are missing. We dropped' 21 tons of bombs on various targets. Night flying is impossible. <— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Renter.

SATURDAY'S ADVANCE. More Rapid Than Expected. capture of Tergnier of Greatest importance. BeceiTef-SepC. 8,. 5.& p.m. London, Sept. 7. To-day's pfogwa on practically the whole front from HavriDcourt to the Aisne has been more rapid than was expected. The British line, starting from HaTiinooart wood, of which we hold half, rnss through Metz-en-Conrtnre, Fins, Lvamont, Fincourt, to Lanchy, where the French take it np, thence it runs to Aubigny and Tergmer, westward t>r Amjgnr, Bassoles, and Aulers, then west on the edge of Sacy to Celle, where it joint the old line. The capture of Tergnier railway junction i»of the greatest importance, as the enemy thereby lost his main line of communication between Laon and St. Quentin. In order to get another line to these places the enemy must go back to the single rail-line through Ribecourt. The French are now fighting on ground untouched since August, 1914.—Aus. KZ. Cable Assoc.