WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

ANTWERP-METZ DEFENCE LINE. STRENGTHENED BY THE ENEMY. •WAIT TILL OUR SCHEME IS COMPLETE." London, Sept. 12. The Germans are repairing and strengthening the Antwerp forts and constructing a new final defensive iine between Antwerp and Metz, called the Parsifal Line. The battered and retreating enemy is refitting the deluged t/enehes in the Hindenburg Line under most trying conditions, which are further affecting his morale. Mr. Beach Thomas reports that letters found on many of those captured in tha trenches apparently emanate from the German Command, and are addressed to the British, but are/probably intended to influence the German soldiers. Some read: "Dear Tommy,—You think you are beating us, but wait till our scheme is complete. You will find everything changed."—United Service. FURTHER BRITISH ADVANCE. HAYRINCOURT TAKEN. London, Sept. 12. The United Press states that Sir Julian Byng, attacking from above and below Moeuvres, crossed the Canal du Nord, despite opposition, and established' posts on the east side. Sir Henry Rawlinson, northward of Attilly (near St. Quentin) moved his line northward about 1000 yards. New York, Sept. 12. The British have captured the village of Havrincourt. ST. MIHIEL SALIENT ATTACKED. FIRST LINE TRENCHES GAINED. New York, Sept. 12. The American offensive is on both sides of St. Mihiel. The French are assisting. The Germans are retiring in the regions of Fresnes and Si Baussant. The French and Americans'have captured Thiaucourt, Pannes, and Guiseard. It is believed the fall of St. Mihiel is imminent.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. New York, Sept. 12. The French have launched a heavy attack against the St. Mihiel salient. The London correspondent of the United Press says that the Americans have started an offensive between the Meuse and the Moselle, with limited objectives. General Pershing, commanding the Ist American Army, attacked the St. Mihiel sector, captured ten villages, and advanced to a depth of several kilometres on a 15-kilometre (10 mile) front. The French and Americans gained the German first-line trenches at St. Mihiel. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. PROSPECTS OF FURTHER ADVANCE. FOCH WILL NOT REST ON HIS OARS. Received Sept. 13, 5.5 p.m. .Paris, Sept. 12. Military critics discuss the Allied prospects of a further advance, now that the German retreat has been stopped by the Hindenburg line. Flood 3 and the wide trenches prevent the use of tanks, so a reversion to the old system of artillery preparation is necessary to shatter the immense stretches of entanglements. Vast numbers of aeroplanes dropping great quantities of explosives will assist the artillery, probably resulting in a surprise. The actual fronts attacked may be limited, but surprise and secrecy are necessary to avoid the Germans massing troops at the threatened points. Ludendorff is laboring under a delusion if he believes that General Foch will not attack before spring.—Reuter. ACROSS THE CANAL DU NORD. BRITISH PROGRESS, Received Sept. 13, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 12, 2 a.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Yesterday evening we captured Attilly, Verraaua, and Vendelles, and at night time progressed on the western outskirts of Holnon Wood. English troops were successful in local operations in the afternoon in the Havrincourt and Moeuvres sectors. We crossed the Canal du Nord northwest of Havrincourt, and established ourselves on the eastern bank, eastward and northward of Moeuvres. At nighttime we captured strongly fortified positions known as the railway triangle south-west of La Bassee.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. ADVANCE TOWARDS VIGNEULLES. Washington, Sept. 12. The French and Americans are advancing in the direction of Vigneulles.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. BRITISH CROSS NORTHERN CANAL. New York, Sept. 12. British and French airmen and artillery are co-operating in a big drive. The British crossed the Canal-du-Nord near Havrincourt. —Aus. N.Z. Cable, Association. , GERMAN OFFICIAL Received Sept. 13, 7.55 p.m. London, Sept. 12. Wireless German official: English attacks this evening against Marquion and the Havrincourt canal sector failed.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. Received Sept. 13, 10 p.m. London, Sept. 12. German official: Renewed English attacks between the Arras-Cambrai and Poronne-Cambsai roads failed. The Franco- Americans attacked the St. afitoAtaod, K«W^«mtmuM,

| ST. MIHIEL CAPTURED.

With 10,000 Prisoners and Supplies, Received Sept, 13, 7.55 p.m. Ottawa, Sept. 12. iiio United Press correspondent on the west front states that it is officially reported that the French have captured St. Mihiel.The New York Times' London correspondent states that the Americans east of St. Mihiel advanced to a greatest depth of Ave miles. The Now York World's correspondent states that the St. Mihiel salient has been captured, with approximately ten thousand prisoners, nine howitzers, and considerable supplies.—United Press > , ACCOUNT OF THE ATTACK. Tanks Play a Great Part. Powerful Concrete Lines Smashed. Sept. Sept. 13, 9.30 p.m.' London, Sept. 12. ine United PreßS corespondent at American headquarters says that the Americans and French attacked the western side of the St. Mihiel salient, pushing' from the region of Fresnes on a fifteen kilometres front. The French, on the peak of the salient, kept pace with the Americans pinching in the sides. More than a hundred tanks, manned by Americans, aided in smashing the powerful concreted Bosche first line, the tanks operating behind a dense smoke screen. The weather was ideal for air fighting, j Many prisoners are already passing to I the cages, ftnd the total will probably be large, many being from the crack] 10th Division, which took part in the Marne offensive in July. j There was little infantry resistance.! The first villages were captured in' forty-five minutes. The woods and other strong points were then enveloped. CAPTURE OF TRESCAULT. I NEW ZEALANDERS AND JAEGERS. OBSTINATE RESISTANCE OVERCOME. Received Sept. 13, 9.30 p.m. London, Sept. 12, 11.20 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Despite the weather, our operations continue successfully. This morning, in the Havrincourt sector, the English captured Trescault and the old British trench lines east and north thereof. On their right the New Zealanders progressed east of 'Gouzeaucouit Wood, overcoming obstinate resistance by a Jaegar division. At Havrincourt the 62nd Yorkshires, who carried the'village on November 29, 1917, attacked for a second time over the same ground with like success. Other English troops attacked across the Canal du Nord, north of Havrincourt. After sharp fighting we captured a village and the canaL North of the Bapaume-Cambrai road the Lancashires, after sharp fighting, completed the capture of Moeuvres. We took a thousand prisoners in these operations. We further progressed south of La Bassee canal and north-west of Armentieres. WANTON DESTRUCTION. HAM WIPED OUT BY THE HUNS. Received Sept. 13, 7.55 p.m. London, Sept. 12. Reuter's correspondent at French headquarters says that Ham, the largest, town in the devastated country which the Germans spared in their retreat last year, has been visited with destruction even more complete and more unjustifiable than Noyon. They methodically destroyed it by fire. The inhabitants were evacuated and infernal machines placed in the houses, Fires were started, and by pressing a button miles away bridges were blown up. Ham was undamaged by shell-fire, neither side being interested in firing on the town. -The only excuse that the Germans could make, namely, that it blocked the roads against pursuit, is invalid. The destruction of the bridges alone made it impossible for the French to enter the town until they were replaced.—Reuter. ' NORTH OF THE AILETTE. Received Sept. 13, 7.55 p.m. London, Sept. 12. A French communique states: North of the Ailette we raided and took prisoners. There has been artillerying in the region of Rheims and Prones. Two enemy raids in the Champagne and Vosges were repulsed.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter.

FRANCO-AMERICAN ADVANCE.

Five Miles Gained at St. Mihiel. Attack Developing Favorably* Received Sept. 14,12.45 a.m. London, Sept. 13. American official: This morning our troops operating on the St. Mihiei sector made considerable gains. Assisted by French units, they broke the enemy's resistance, and advanced at some points to a depth of five miles. We have hitherto counted 8000 prisoners, and the operation is still in progress. A French communique states: Westward of Sc. Quentin, co-operating with the British, we advanced to the Ilolnonsavy Road. An American attack in the St. Miliiel region is developing under the best conditions.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. GERMANS EVACUATING DOUAI. Enemy Attacking South of The Aisne. Americans iiflict Heavy Losses. Received Sept. 14, 12.50 a.m. i Washington, Sept. 11. Advices from France state that the uennans are systematically evacuating Douai. Huge quantities of stores ihave been observed behind the German lines. The Germans continue attacking the American front south of the Aisne, the enemy desperately attempting to secure the Mont Rouge plateau, but is suffering heavy losses.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. MASTER HAND OF FOCO. RAPID SERIES OF BLOWSTHE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE. London, August 23. The series of Mows now being dealt the Germans on the whole front from the Belgian frontier to Rlieims is retnarkabie not .merely for the rapidity with which they have succeeded each other, but for the fact that they are dot isolated enterprises, but integral parts of a great strategic scheme directed by a master. As a Paris expert expressively phrases it, Ludendorff is like a bully being manijguvred and mastered by a piu-jitsu expert. It is conceded* that the Germans planned to retreat, but they have been forced to carry out the retreat according to the will of the Allies. The fresh heavy losses he has again sustained proves that his retreat was in ho way the voluntary operation' he pretend.?. Apart from material losses, the enemy is suffering heavily in morale from the paralysing uncertainty imposed on him Iby the variety In tactics and strategy of the Allied operations, Th<? attacks of Manjgin and Byng, the two outstanding operations of the moment, were successful because both effected a complete surprise. Byng avoided a frontal attack along the Somme, and by striking further north prepared the way for a converging attack on the Somme positions from the north and the south. Reuter's correspondent at French headquarters, commenting on General Byng's attack, says that the inference is that the Germans will be given no respite. Blow will follow blow, until the enemy is forced to'make a bigger step backward than he has yet contemplated. Mr. Percy Robinson, correspondent of The Times, on the West front, says:— Tbe whole 'battle area is strangely;familiar ground. The positions are approximately those of ISIS- Since the German retreat, we have actually been able to biry their dead alongside their comrades in the cemeteries made in the wihter of MIG The whole battlefield is undulating. The suawnits of from 300 ft to. 450 ft are. strongly fortified, and should have teen eaesily defended. But we prospered everywhere. The enemy freely surrendered- Wounded told mo that we got Lewis ( gims on to the roads and ha-lloed to the fleeing Germans. They came running iback with their hands up, and seemed delighted to be captured. Some fairly bubbled over with laughter. They brought their packs and rations. One carried a whole leg of bacon. Other Wounded men complained that they had wen nor Germans except those who were running to surrender. Our casualties Were incredibly light. It seems inconceivable. Thg German infantry everywhere behaved like rabbits. Everywhere I hear tales of easiest victories. To say that we have recovered 20 square miles of territory without ref'stance signifies little. The essential j thing' is that the Germans are throwing into the gutter all that coat them so touch to win Additional documents that have been captured forbid the Germans to write homo pessimistic letters. "Better color it a rosy hue than paint it black," one document savs. Another called the attention of the men to the increasing reluctance to attack "Officers must compel cowards to go, and shoot them if necessary."