WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

FURTHER HEAVY BLOWS. EXPECTED BY THE GERMANS. "JSFPECTIVE RESISTANCE IMPOSSIBLE." Received Sept. IS, 7.30 p.m. London, Sept. 17. Reuters corraspondent with Briii -h Headquarters says there is plenty of evidence that the enemy is anticipating further concerted attacks in various plac?.s. A captured order points out that the Allies must now be expected to strike heavy Mows. The order 'bewails the lack of assault tvpqgs as rendering the prospects of successful counter-attacks or effective resistance impossible. Recent prisoners state that every effort has been made to suppress all the news of the American success at St. Mihiel, in connection with which alarming rumors prevail. The general impression seems to be thnt the American victory i 3 so overwhelming that the German Army Command dare not admit the fact. FURTHER WITHDRAWAL. IN THE ST. MIHtEL SECTOR. AUSTRIAXIS PUT FORWARD Received Sept. 18, 7.30 p m. London, Sent. 17. Reuter's correspondent with" American Headquarters states that evidence 13 accumulating that the enemy .intends to withdraw, behind the Hindeuburg line in Lorraine, if further pressed. The burning towns along the river Moselle are likely to fall into our hands. They include Domniartiu and Loekbauasc, both of which are within the Hindenburg line. The Germans arranged for Austrian troops to bear the brunt of the attack east of St. MiHel, and ordered them to hold us back until all the Germans Were withdrawn. Tho Austrians consequently suilercd tiie heaviest, especially in prisoners. The entire artillery of the Thirst-first barman Division was c;ir>tured. ' FRENCH CAPTUrTpOSITIONS. HEAVY ENEMY LOSSES. London, Sept. 17. Reuter's correspondent at French headquarters, writing on September 15, states: On the plateau east of Laffaux Mill, General Mangin attacked this morning, in the direction of L'Angle Gardien, on the Soissoiis-Maubeuge ro°ad and Colombo farm, near Jouy, and advanced one kilometre on a front of four kilometres, capturing several positions in the valley separating Sanoy from the plateau of Jouy. Despite machine-guns and artillery sweeping the plateau, and vigorous counter-attacks, the French maintained themselves in the captured positions. The chief feature of the day's fightin? was the capture of several subterranean passages dug under the plateau, in which the Germans put up a desperate and furious resistance and lost most heavily. —Rcuter. OFFICIAL REPORTS. London, Sept. 17. A French communique states: During the day the French continued their attacks north-east and west of Sancy and, despite resistance, advanced a kilometre on a front of four kilometres, capturing 000 prisoners. The aviators were active, blazing away at the enemy and making observations. The big stations and roads behind the enemy lines were heavily bombed, a big Are was seen, and much damage done.— Aug. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. A further French communique reports: North of the Aisne artillery on both sides was active. We raided west of Maison-de-Champagne, between St. Hilaire le Grand and Mont Sans Nom. Also north of Rheims we repulsed enemy raids. Wireless German official: We recaptured the eastern fringe of the height eastward of Vaux&illon. The enemy eastward of Laffaux pressed ua back slightly. We repulsed the enemy's attacks at Saumont.—Reuter. BRITISH PROGRESS CONTINUED. London, Sept. 17. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We made progress on Monday in the direction of Lo Verquier, north-westward of St. Quentin, and also slightly improved our positions north-westward of Hulliich and north-eastward of Neuvo Chapclle Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. GERMANS STILL RETREATING. New York, Sept, 17. Reports from the. American front state that the Germans are burning villages along the Moselle and preparing for a further retreat,—Aus. NJZ. Cable Assoc. MAURICE ON THE^SITUATION. London, Sept, 17, General Maurice- writes, - General Pershing's victory has altered, the whole character of the eastern front in France. Tba French, on the American left, have also made considerable pro. gtegs fo the direction of Stain, therefore the front new runs 109 wiles in a straight line in A gputk-eaeieily direction from north of Ventun to near beyond lamevifte, General Foch can now make this front an offensive front whenever he desires, and the Germans wiU mm be obtigfld actively to defend the direct railway communications between Metz and the north and between Jfot? sad Sfcrassfeurg, More -important still, ttey axe obliged to yro--Wt the inntfaeUe Briay iron mwies. Therefore i&e mw tarn* Jn the WSoewe and Lorraine has fceeonie of the greateed; importance to the enejny #pd can no toagpr J» fceid figtaßyv—<Aas, K z ,- C al)le Assoc.. 81%/SAfaA*r fßifobpS IST BELGHJM, Paris, Sept.. 17, ftnfegj&n unijta haye ?iea*had M&W lag* gffij&exn .ftm&«v4a*.3S& »

THE AMERICAN HOSTS. 313,000 ARRIVE IN AUCUST. Received Sept. 19, 12.15 a.m. London, bept. 17. The Press Bureau states that the number of American troops that embarked for Ktuopo in August was 313,000, whereof 180,000 were in British skips.—Atts. and X./i, Cable Assoc. and Reuter. BRITISH GAIN GROUND. ON SEVERAL SECTORS. Received Sept. lis, 12.30 a.m. London, iSopt. 17. Sir Douglas Iliiig ivporU: Minor fighting continues north-west oi St. Qnentin. We pained ground in the neighborhood of Holnou in local encounters, also on the northern front. We captured a German post west of La liasseo, taking prib oilers, and established new posts northeast of Kcuve Chiipclle and in the neighborhood of Ploegstoert. We repulsed .aiders cc*tward of Vierstvaat.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Ileuter. AN AMERICAN REPORT. SUCCESSFUL PATROL ENCOUNTERS Received Sept. 19, 2.10 a.m. London, Sept. 18. An American communique states: In the St. Mihiel sector artillery and aviation activity continued. We captured prisoners in patrol encounters. —Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Router. AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL REPORT. Received Sept. 10, 2 p.m. London, Sept. IS. Wireless Austrian official: Between the Brenta and Monte Sol Alola the Italians yesterday morning opened an attack after strong artillery fire. We drove them back in the Brenta valley before Col Caprilo. Bitter fighting developed at Mounts Pertica, Solalolo and the Tasson Ridge, in which the enemy was forced to retreat everywhere.—Aua. and N.Z, Cable Assoc. and Router. ACTIVITY ON BELGIAN FRONT. Received Sept. 19, 2 a.m. London, Sept. 18. A Belgian communique states: Great artillery activity and patrol fighting are prevailing on the whole front, the former especially intense towards Nicuport, Boesinghe and Mercken.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. PARIS RAID CASUALTIES. Paris, Sept. 17. Six were killed and fifteen injured during the air raid.—Reuter.