GENERAL BRITISH ADVANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 September 1918, Page 6

GENERAL BRITISH ADVANCE.

IN FACE OP VIGOROUS RESISTANCE London, September 6. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We forced the crossings of the Somme southwards of Peronne in the face of vigorous resistance by enemy rearguards on the eastern bank. We captured the villages of St. Christ, Brie, I.e Mesuil and Bruntel, and took a number of prisoners. We j are now advancing astride the AmiensSt. Quentin road. We have reached Athies and Mons-cn-Ciia-isscc, and captured Doingt, eastward of Peronne, and also made important progress on the high ground between Peronne and Nurlu. We hold Bus.su and arc Hearing TemNurlu and Equancourt, where there was sharp fighting during the night time. We gained ground westward of La Bassee and beat off an attack against one of our new points. We are. now established in portions of the old German front line eastward of Neuve Ohapelle, and hold the old British front line in the Fansuissart sector. The English advanced the line northwestward of Armentieres.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. and Renter. IMPORTANT FRENCH ADVANCE. ON THE SOUTHERN FLANK. London, September (1. A French communique reports: During the day the Freneli continued to pursue the retreating enemy, and by evening, on the Canal-du-Nord and Vesle front, we made an important advance, despite local resistance. We horn Falvy and Offoy, on the north bank of the Somme Canal. To the south our lines approach the Ham road which borders between Pie-sis Patte Doic and Berlancourt. South-east of the latter our front passes through the outskirts of Guivrv, Gnilloul and Crepigny, north of Marest and Dampcourt. to the southern outskirts of Abbecourt. On the whole Ailctte front the enemy, exhausted by hard fighting since August 20. tn-day began to give ground. Our !unit= pursuing the German rearguards !rapidly progressed north of the Aadette Pierremande and Autreville are in our hands, as well as the greater part oi the Lower Forest of Ctaay. Further east we occupy Folembray, Coucy-le-Chateau and Coucy-la-Ville. We advanced a kilometre south of Frcsnes. On the right our front passes east of Landricourt. South of the Aailette we hold the line Neuville-sur-Margival, Vregny, to the western slopes of Conde Fort. Over 31} villages were recaptured to-day on this part of the front. South of the Vesle we border the Aisne between Conde and Ville d'Arcy. Eastwards the line passes north of Dhuizel to Barbouval, and over the Beauregard Plateau. Our airmen were prominent in the battle, flying very low and machinegunning the retreating troops, transport and bivouacs. Thousands of bombs dropped on the stations, causing the utmost e&nfusiou.—-Aus.-N.Z- Cable Assoc.