WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

AMERICANS AT ST. MIHIEL. Rapidity of Advance, if Eight Miles Gained. d Enemy No Time to Resist. e ~ British Close to Armentieres. 'a t Received Sept. 15, 5.5 p.m. '" T London, Sept. 13. '• 10-Uays news from the American front is ■xoelkmt The prisoners at 10 o clock this morning amounted to 9500, besides sixty guns. The advance is such as to seriously endanger the Gorman troops still in the 6>t. Mihiel pocket. The Americans have narrowed the bottle neck to less than «isj miies. It was reported yesternight that two German divisions were in the neck, ana it is doubtful -rhether they succeeded in escaping, but will probably be enl" trapped. '■ The advance continues with such rstn L pidity that it is difficult to keep touch " with the movements. _ The lino to-day is reported to run from Herbeuville, Dommartin, westward , of j>ommegierre, Laworville, Narmont , Wood, along the western outskirts of St. Mihiel, througJi the forest of Vencharcs to Vieville, thence to Thiauconrt lie huo eastward of this point is indefinite. It is reported the Americans captured Beney, Thiaucourt, Vigreulles, and Heudicourt. Tl le line thence, apparently runs from Hontspc to the lake at vaux. where it joins the old line. I If this bj the true line, the Americans ■have advanced on the south side on a fourteen-mile front to a depth of eieht milc3. ' ° Upon the west, where tho country is much more difficult and there is probably a greater resistance, the Allies have advanced on a twelvs-mile front by three miles in depth. The capture of i Vigneulles, if certain, would mean an t. advance on the south of ten miles. 0 The Germans are blowing up the t dumps at Hattonville and Dampvitoux. :i Both places are outside the pocket. 1 Prisoners say the attack was expected, y but was delivered so raoidly that they 3 were overwhelmed, and tins defenders e had had no time to put up flip stubborn resistance which they were sternly ori dered to make. 3 The French staff give as an instance . that the Americans easily captured the t village of Pannes, which was capable of e strong defence. The authority adds-: Regarding the e British front, the situation is regarded 6 as extremely satisfactory. The capture , of Havrincourt and the crossing of the . canal to tho south gives a possible step- ., pmg stone for turning the Canal du , Nord in the direction of Bourlon and . Cambrai, whilo tho capture of Jean- . court also brings the British a little ~ nearer the line held in March. J We reached the borders of the river Lys to the north-westward of Armen tieres, and are now in front of the Pout do Dieppe, within a mile of Arnientieret. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. ENTRY INTO ST. MIHIEL. ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION TO GENERALS. ! AUSTRIAN COMMENTS ON 'ALLIED SUCCESS. 1 Received Sept. 15, 5.5 p.m. i Ottawa, Sept. 13. The United Press correspondent on the west front states that Generals Petain, Pershing, and Baker walked into St. Mfhiel, where they were received in a most enthusiastic manner by tho townspeople. The Chicago News' Hague correspon- . dent states that the Vienna Neue Freie Presse attributes much of the Allied success to their new powerful gas creating monster flames and an explosion. The paper adds: 'Toch now has great tec'h- > nical resources and more than a million ' Americans, so he can keep up the offen--1 sive. He thinks he can tire out the German army and compel the higher command to call up reserves, but tho higher command is reserving the men and applying the tactics of elastic defence and strong counter-attack.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. 17 MILES FROM METZ. ENEMY READJUSTING HIS LINE. ' DELIVERANCE 01? FRENCH PEOPLE. 1 Received Sept. 15, 5.5 p.in, London, Sept. 14. The Americans are 17 miles from Metz and 10 from the outer fortifications, but it must be understood that the advance is not directed again that fortress. The enemy is readjusting his line north of the old St. Mihiel salient, retiring on a front of seven miles between Be'vonvaux and Chatillon. French patrols are in contact with him, Keuter's correspondent at American 1 "Headquaijters states that General Perl silling and General Petain entered St. - Mihiel on the afternoon of the 13th. The Germans hadn't time to evacuate the inhabitants, but previously dejorted all boys of from 10 to ilti. They forced the old people to work. As for the rest, the least said the better. What a relief it was from all those year 3 of oppression ) was judgeable by the transports of joy with which the Americans were greeted. p The same was the experience in all the • other towns and villages captured.— fc Reuter. B - ... ° REFUGEES FROM LILLE. I REPORTED EVACUATION OF TOWN. 3 ' 1 a Received Sept. 15, 5.5 p.m. 4 1 Amsterdam, Sept. 13. e Many fugitives from Lille are arriving. (1 They state Lille is being evacuated, the =. Germans constructing a number of auxili- ■- ary bridges over the Meuse.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter.

' # FURTHER AMERICAN SUCCESSES,, i .

12 MILE OF SALIENT TAKEN. 13,300 PRISONERS CAPTURED. Received Sept. 15, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 14. Aj: American official report, dated September 14, 1.35 a.m., states: —In the St. Mihiel sector wo achieved further successes. The junction of our troops advancing from tho south of the sector with those advancing from the west has given u3 possession of the whole salient to points j'2 miles northeast of St. Mihiel, and resulted in the capture of many prisoners. Forced back by our steady advance, " the enemy is retiring and destroying' large quantities of materials as he goeft ' Tho number of prisoners has risen to 13,308. Our line now includes Herhouville, Thillot, Hattonville, St. Benoit, Jaulny, s Thiaucourt, and Vieville—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc. 0 —-i—---1 A 810 SUCCESS ih ALL VILLAGES IN SALIENT CAPTURED. a f Received Sept. 15, 5.5 p.m. '" London, Sept. 13, 9.50 p.m. : - The American line now runs directly - from Ragny, on the Moselle, to Hattonville, thi-nce along the foot of the reights d of the Meuse. All villages in the salient 4 have been captured. Tho front has been r . reduced from forty to twenty miles. * The enemy claim that they foresaw the evacuation and prepared for it, but s the number of prisoners fails to bear a this out. The loss of 12.000 can scarcely ' be described as a. successful operation, but the few stores left shows that the 9 Germans were preparing to leave the - ground. 8 The town of St. Mihiel was practically * undamaged. The railway from Verdun f to Commercy, Toul, and Nancy is intact, 11 and will be used at once. The Thiancourt- St. Mihiel railway is also intact. e The operation must be regarded as a - big local success.—-Aus. NJS. Cable Association and Renter. 8 FIRST AMERICAN OFFENSIVE. a e FORERUNNER OF INVASION OF ° GERMANY. e , j Received Sept. 15,11,50 p.m. e New York, Sept. 14. There is an intense thrill throughout America at to-day's news as to the first ~ American offensive. It is considered to be the forerunner of an eventual Anieri- * can invasion of Germany. It is emphasised, however, that present operations are limited, presumably to the elimination r of the St. Mihiel salient, though there is , a possibility that General Pershing may follow up and attack in the direction of * Metz. Mr. Newton D. Baker, Secretary of War, was at tho St. Mihiel sector observing tho operations. Mr. Grasty interviewed a high French military authority in Paris, who said: "There are five weeks more of good offensive weather. If the summer continued for three months more it would, perhaps, be possible to get a decision. However, south of the Sommc, perhaps, the offensive can be continued after mid- ; October.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. ENEMY RAIDS REPULSED. s BRITISH PROGRESS 'AT LA BASSEE. i Received Sept, 10,12.50 a.m. London, Sept. 14, midnight. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We repulsed 3 a raid in the Gouzeaucourt sector, and . established new posts in the trench lines , eastward and northward of the village. I We progressed in local fighting astride . the La Bassee Canal, and repulsed a , raid in the neighborhood of Neuve Cha- . pelle. . The weather is still interfering with . Air work. Ten tons of bombs were r dropped and five enemy machines were ] j downed. ; The Air Ministry reports extensive _ bombing of railways and other objectives, in conjunction with the American attacks. Two hostile machines have been brought down.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. THE HAVRINCOURT ATTACK. i MORE ACCOMPLISHED THAN INTENDED. j * Received Sept. 15, 5.5 p.m. 3 London, Sept. 13. Router's correspondent at British } headquarters reports: Thursday morn- ■ ing's attack east of Havrincourt was del signed to clear out irritating enemy - nests and to generally improve our line along a series of spurs in tho region of i Gouzeaucourt; but something more was - accomplished, Havrincourt being captur- :, ed, also the important village of Tres--3 cault, on the fringe of our old trench 9 system. Although artillery activity has I increased considerably on this part of e the front, the Germans, unquestionably, ; are beginning to feel a shortage of amf munition. The weather continues of the n .wildest.

PROGRESS OF LA BASSEE.

IMPORTANT OBSERVATION POST TAKEN. HAIG'S DESPATCHES ON THE SOMME OPERATIONS. SPLENDID FIGHTING SPIRIT (l MAINTAINED. e, . r „ g Received Sept. 15, 5.5 p.m. r _ London, Sept. 13, 11.45 p m. 3 Sir Douglas Haig reports:—ln" the t Vermand-Jeancourt sector, north-west of . St. Qncntin, we gained ground in conp tact with the enemy's advanced detaehinents South-west of La Bassee our ;j progress was continued, despite roachme--4 gnu opposition. We took possession of j_ the Fosse de liethune and the adjoining 0 slag heap, an important local feature, giving wide observation of the surround- , ing country northward thereof. We ,' hold the German trench lines immedi- ;_ ately west of Auchj-, near La, Bassee, and are pressing forward into the village. Low clouds and heavy rain interfere Kith aerial work- Enemy aeroplanes are inactive. Night flying is sibleSir Douglas Haig, in a supplementary despatch, states:—ln a series of successful battles on tho Somme front, beginning on August 8, English, Scottish, and Welsh divisions took an important share in the fighting, and performed many gallant actions. Most of these divisions have been advancing over the same j ground whereon they met and ultimate- . !y checked the eihjmy's groat offensive 3 in March. Curing the past few weeks t they show, without exception, that the ! tremendous strain sustained earlier in the year, with" so much courage and tej solution, has in nowise diminished their t splendid fighting spirit For example, r the Guards' division, which in March and f April, at Boyees, Soiry, and Besqneres ~ maintained the northern .pivot of our dei fence, attacked on August 21 and cap--2 tured Moyeuneville, Hamelincourt, also Saint Leger on August 24 7 Th? gallant exploits of'some twenty 1 other divisions are mentioned, including ■i the Fourth, which ibrokethe enemv's attack on the north bank of the Sca'rpe on ■ August 28, and in the face of strong re--1 sistance, on September 2, carried the defences of tho Drocourt-Queant line. The Thirty-second Division, after heavy fighting at Dammery, on August 10 and 11, captured Herlesville on August 23, and Vermandovillers on August 27, and successfully participated with the Australians in the advance across th# Sonvrae Sir Douglas Haig states that his acconrt of the doings there of the different Anglo-Scottish-Welsh divisions are necessarily brief and • incomplete. He concludes: On the same battle-field whereon they withstood the heaviest aat sanlt, tho British Army has ever 'faced, t all have fought side by side with the j splendid divisions from Australia, Can. . ada, and New Zealand, with the cour- . age gallantry, and enterprise which is « onlv equalled by their success.—Aus.- , N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter., [ BETWEEN THE AISNE AND THE E VESLE. 1 ERENICH ADVANCE. ! THREATENING TO TURN IMPORTAND POSITION. s -| Received Sept. 15, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 14, 6 p.m. The French attacked on a five-mile front between the Aisne and the Vesle, from the direction of the Forest de Courcy, at the south end of the Gobain massif. Progressing favorably, they ■ took prisoner 1900, whereof one division took 1000. Tho enemy's counter-action was weak, though his front lines were strongly held. Prisoners say that they were told tohold at all costs. The advance threatens to turn the west flank of Chemin des Dames and also endangers the Laon-Gobain massif. ; In a simultaneous attack on the Ail- ■ «tte, the French captured Mont des ngr.es and the villages of Allemant and oancy, and are now on the western out- , «Wrts of Vailly.-Al» 3 .-N.Z. Cafcle Assoc SKILFUL FIGHTING. j OF ENGLISH REGIMENTS AND NEW , ZEALANDERS. ENBMY*S SHORTAGE OF RESERVES. Received Sept. "IS, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 13. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes that flu/ skilful fighting of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Rifl e Brigades and the New Zealanders, for Havrincourt, Trescault and Meuvres, developed with considerable success. Th e prisoners taken totalled JO3O and included many sturdy soldiers. L The hardest task confronted the Rifle- . men, who havo been working alongside . tho New Zealandcrs since the offensive r began. It is evident that the enemy inj tended to defend Havrincourt Wood seri- ; onsly, as they had dug new rifle-pits in s double rows on the edge of the wood, . and strong bodies of marksmen with . machine-guns held them, i The English battalions dashed through . the north-west corner, while the New s Zealanders pushed forward below the ( wood. Thus the enemy machine-gunners . were outflanked and retreated during the > night. When dawn broke yesterday our guns were brought up by a miracle of labor through miles of mud, and provided a creeping barrage, behind wljjch the in- j fantry resumed the advance. " i The enemy had been ordered to hold j r Havrincourt, Trescault, and Jougeau-1 b court at all costs. They comprised divit sions which- suffered heavily in the re- - cent fighting, yet have not received any 3 fresh drafts, which strikingly reveals the f unexpected weakness of the German re--3 sources, as the same thing was observed i lately on other parts of the front. r The enemy fought hard in strong posi--, • tions, especially on ridge belhind Trescault, where a British battalion commander reconnoitred tho position and 1 then ordered an attack, which prosped 8 successful after a fierce fight, in wMch 1 140 men and 18 machina-guna were I |taken.-r Aus, .3ST.Z. Cable" i&awc, and R«rte»

ST. QUENTIN LINE ADVANCED. FUTILE VIOLENT ENEMY ATTACKS TO RECOVER POSITIONS AT GOUZEAUCOURT. Received Sept. 15, 5.5 p.jfi. London, Sept. U, 2.10 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The number taken prisoner by us during the successful operations of the Third Army on the Trescault—Havrincourt sector on September 12 exceeds 1500. As the result of progress made yester- « day north-west of St. Quentin our line 1 is now established eastward of Behecourt i- and Jeanoourt.. '■■ During the pa3t twenty-four hours the r enemy made several determined, but un- !- successful attempts to recover the posif tions captured in the neighborhoods of g Gouzeaucourt and Havrincourt. Yester- :, day a strong hostile attack, in which the ;. enemy employed flamtnenwerfer, was ree pulsed with heavy loss, southward of . Souzeaueourt. At Havrincourt the enemy h attacked yesterday morning in force, and, . under cover of a heavy artillery bombardment, penetrated the eastern portion e of the village, but, after hard fighting, were driven out and the positions restored. r Northward of Havrincourt we adyaneed slightly between the village and - I? t i an ? l ' In the evening the enemv attacked eastward of Trescault, ana gained a footing in the trenches, but was i driven out immediately. A strong bombe, mg attack was launched, in which K- - quid fire was employed, against our no--3 sitions north-west of Gouzeaucourt. After 3 ™T cln e °» r advanced posts to withdraw, - this attack was successfully beaten off! b There was local fighting yesterdav in 3 the Morons sector, without material 3 change in the situation, i Another attack eastward of Moeuvres . was repulsed. r > V f e , est f M shed a fcw p oß ts along the , west bank of the Canal du Nord & the 1 r^ m,] ' 0 . od ? f ® oud £ «wd Conchy and 3 opposiCe Oisy le Verger! ' . In th,e La Bassee sector we occupied " n % la i Eassee .- A, «-N.Z. <&d»' , Assoc, and Reuter. J FRENCH REACH VAILLY. ; BRITISH CAPTURE AUCHY. : Received Sept. 15, 5.5 pja. . Xhei French attacked on both sides of thei Ailette and reached the edge of , Vailly. They captured Mont Desalges and 1500 prisoners. The British captured , Auchy, near La Bassee. The British captured 1500 prisoners during that flght- , mg at Havrincourt.—Aus. NX Oable Assoc. FRENCH SUCCESSES. \ ENEMY RAID REPULSED, Received Sept. 15, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 13, 4.30 p.m. ' A French communique states: We ' occupied the village of Savy. An import- i ant enemy raid north-east of Mesnil-les-Hubes, Champagne, was repulsed. We i made several raids in the region of Ver- i dun and took prisoners.—Aus, N.Z. Cable I Assoc, and Reuter. ] Received Sept. 15, 5.5 p.m. ■ London, Sept. 14. j A French communique states: During , the night we progressed between Savy , - and the St. Quentin-Ham road. j South of the Ailette river wo extended '. our positions north pf Nontheuil la . Fosse. • ' , Two German counter-attacks were So- ' pulsed in the region of Laffaux aiu ! ' Moisy farm.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and ; Reuter. , i ATTACK ON THE BELGIANS. j ,„ . i SOME POSTS RECAPTURED. Received Sept. 15, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 54. A Belgian communique states: At nigiht-timo the enemy violently bombard- ( ed our advanced works east of Nieuport/ and temporarily penetrated observation' posts north-west of St. George's. Aftar violent artillerying the enemy re-occu- , pied the line of outposts which we re- 1 cently captured. South-east of Draai- ; bank we re-conquered all posts, despite | vigorous reactions, prisonering fifty.—' i Auk N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter, i A GERMAN REPORT, 1 THE USUAL COLORING. , i Received Sept. 15, 6.5 p.m. j London, Sept. 13. i A wireless German official jnessage ( states: Theienemy captured Havrincourt. ' Fresh enemy attacks between Moeuvrea 1 and Gouzesucourt were repulsed. i In anticipation of an attaob, the i evacuation of the St. Mihiel salient, i which had long been under consideration j ' was commenced a few days ago, ' A French advance to the heights east- ■ ward of Maas was repulsed. We tern- ; porarily lost the Combres height, but it ■ was recaptured by Landwehr. | Austro-Hungaiians, southward of ' Combres, by strong resistance assured * the retreat of the divisions at St. Mihiel. ] The enemy gained ground at TMaueourt. J The evacuation of the salient was com- 1 pleted at night undisturbed.—Aus. N.Z. < Cable Assoc, and Renter. ' Received Sept. 15, 5.5 p.m. ' ' London. Sept. 14. ■ Wireless German official: Our ad- j vances and enemy advances led to vio- ' 1 lent fighting at Moeuvres and Havrin- 1 Court. Enemy attacks between the ] Ailette and the Aisne failed. The enemy ' ■ felt his way forward eastward of ' ' Combres and north-west of Thiaucourt. 1 ' —AUS.-N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. <