THE NEXT MOVE.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1918, Page 5

THE NEXT MOVE.

ALL PARIS ON TIP-TOE WITH EXPECTATION. IMMENSELY STRONG GERMAN POSITIONS. Received Sept. 12, 1 a.m. Paris, Sept. 11. Well informed opinion does not credit General Foch with the intention to endeavor to reduce the Hindenburg line by direct frontal attack. All Paris is on tip-toe with expectation as to the next move. Many are closely watching General Mangin's operations arount St. Gobain Forest, but others are looking for events beyond Rheims, and even beyond Verdun. It is known that the Germans have immensely strengthened the Hindenburg defences and railways behind the new lines, and have practically doubled many new sidings. Every station is crowded with trucks filled with munitions and supplies. Behind St. Quentin powerful new trenches have been created along the canal, and vast new systems of barbed wire are everywhere, also an enormous number of reinforced concrete shelters, some large enough to hold a hundred, but mostly built to contain garrisons of eight or nine men. The roofs of these fortlets are four or five feet thick, and are declared to be able to resist repeated hits from eight and ten-inch gum— Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. GERMAN DEFENSIVE SYSTEM. HINDENBURG LINE ONLY AN ELEMENT. GERMANS WORKING FEVERISHLY, Received Sept. 11, 7.30 p.m. Paris, Sept. 10. The Hindenburg line is only an element in the multifarious defensive works. The second line of withdrawal is called the "Hunding line," and starts south of Lille, passing west of Douai to the front of Cambrai, east of La Catelet, and along tile Oise and Aisne, where it runs from five to ten kilometres behind the present line. The third is called the "Metzlille line," and runs ten miles east of Dovai, covering Mezieres, Charlevillc, and Sedan, following to the right bank of the Mouse, finally rejoining the "Hunding line." The Germans are working feverishly at a fourth line of withdrawal. Each line shortens the front, so can be defended by fewer' effectives and thus maintain the defensives outside 'German territory.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. OUR PLANS FOR 1919. MORE BRITISH INFANTRY A NECESSITY. Received Sept. 12, 1 a.m. London, Sept. 11. Colonel Repiugtou, writing from Franco, urges that the recent great improvement in our position in France demands reconsideration of our plans for lfll!) He says that France is preparing for a maximum effort to secure victory in 1010, but he cannot find Britain doing the same. He declares that the vast array of tanks and aeroplanes arc not substitutes for infantry, which must be kept up to strength If we really intend to go "all out" for victory in 1919 we must secure the utmost possible increase of infantry strength.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter SHARP RESISTANCE. MET WITH BY THE FRENCH. Received Sept. 11, 10.1.5 p.m. London, Sept. 10. A French communique states: Between the Somme and the Oise our troops progressed, despite sharp resistance. We advanced beyond Hinancourt and repulsed a counter-attack debouching from Essigny-le-Grand Fighting occurred along the St. Quentin-La Fere road. We occupy Travecy village, south of the Oise. We threw back several counterattacks in the region of Laffaux.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS. MADE BY THE FRENCH. Received Sept. 11, 10.40 p.m. London, Sept. 10. Reuter's correspondent at French headquarters, writing on the afternoon of the 10th, says that, despite the wind and,rainstorms yesterday, further considerable progress was made, between St. Quentin and the Oise. We are closing on Essigny-le-Grand village. The enemy is toughly resisting on the line Essigny-le-Grand-Hinancourt. Further south oui patrols are progresir.g without serious opposition in the direction of Travecy We are well in touch with the Hindenburg positions on the hank of the Oise-Sambre canal. South of the Ailette the enemy's artillery and machine-gur resistance is becoming steadily heavier —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. FURTHER BRITISH ATTACK. London. Sept. 10. The United 'Press correspondent states that the British are nearing St. Quentir and have established an outpost new Fresnoy-le-Petit, three miles from th< Hindenburg line. The British below Epeliy opened ai attack at 3 o'clock this morning on i 3000 yards front.