PROGRESS NEAR PERONNE.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 September 1918, Page 5

PROGRESS NEAR PERONNE.

More Villages Taken,

Ground Gained at La Bassee.. Received Sept. 8, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 7, 1 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We further progressed cast and north of Poronno and captured Hancourt, Sore! le Grand, ifety. en Couture. Northward of Mctz en Couture we penetrated the western portions of Havrineourt Wood and prisonered a number.

Northward of the La Basse Canal we gained ground in the German positions about Canteleu;: and Viglaines.

Further north we carried out a successful minor operation between Hill 03 and Wulverghem, advancing our line a short distance in the direction of Messines— Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Renter.

ADVANCE ON SOMME FRONT,

The New Line,

St. Quentin Canal Crossed. Received Sept. S, 11.50 p.m. London, Sept. 8, 330 a.m. A French communique statefs:—Today's advance reached seven or eight kilometres in depth on the Somine front. The enemy, whose resistance kis greatly increased, failed, despite all his efforts to prevent the passage of the St. Quentin Canal, which we crossed at the Pont de Tugny and St. Simon. After heavy fighting, we possess these - places. We hold a line running from the western outskirts of Vaux, Flequieres, Appencourt, east of Pont de Tugny, St. Simon, Avisnes, the western outskirts of Jussy, Ham, Tergnier railway, Amigny. and Brsisses. The enemy has everywhere left vast quantities of war material. There is little change on the Ailette-Ai-Tge front. AVo advanced north of Vauxillon and carried Cellis-sur-Aisne. We repulsed two violent counter-at-tacks south of Laffaux mill, the enemv's artillery violently countering.— Aus.-N.Z Cable Assoc, and Renter. VTF3T Rdmvh-R

OUR CONSTANT PRESSURE

Forcing Back the Germans. Huge Hauls of Materials. Received Sept 8, 11.40 p.m. London, Sept. 7. Sir Douglas Haig reports that on the whols front sout liof Ravrincourt the German retreat continues under our close and constant pressure. We have reached the line Beauvois-Roisel-Hav-rincourt Wood. Our advanced detachments are in frequent encounters with the fierman rearguards and are taking prisoners, and inflicting numerous casualties. The stocks of coal, road metal, and quantities of other war material which have fallen into our possession prove the enemy's intention to remain in occupation of the Somme battlefield during the winter months, and the hurried nature of the retreat forced upon him. We captuTed, northward of Havrincourt, a strong point called "The Spoil Heap," on the west bank of the canal, due north, opposite Hermies, taking a number of prisoners and machine-gun". Sir Douglas Haig's aviation report states:—We 'brought down 11 and drove down 12 enemv machines- Tire British machine? are missing. We dropped 32 tons of bombs, dav and night, heavilv attacking the railway connections at Armentieres, T.ille, Douai. Denaine, Cambrai. and St Qnentin. All our night-fliers returned.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter.

REBELLION AMONGST HUNS. Desertions Increasing Alarmingly Received Sept. 8, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. C. The Daily Telegraph's Rotterdam correspondent states that though the stories of German demoralisation must be received cautiously, certain information is available which is beyond doubt. It appears that a Bavarian division on the Arras front recently became so mutinous that it was disarmed and entrained for Bavaria, guarded by Prussians, and several imprisoned. Mutinies among the Silesian troops resulted in hundreds of executions. Desertions are increasing alarmingly. It is estimated that Berlin conceals 20,000 deserters. The "go-slow" policy is spreading at munition factories, and has seriously decreased output. _ Such a situation explains manifestoes like von Hindenburg's, and numerous other appeals to the nation's waning war spirit.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc.

American Official. Received Sept. 9. 1.20 a.m. London, Sept. 3. An American communique states: —■ South of the Aisne, our troops entered Muscourt. Hostile counter-attacks in this sector were repulsed and our line was slightly advanced. Two strong, hostile raids in the Woevre were beaten off. In Alsace a successful raiding party inflicted losses on the enemy.