WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

BRILLIANT BRITISH ADVANCE. On Fifteen Miles Front. Towards St. Quentin. Hindenburg Line Crossed.. . New York, Sept. IS. The British have advanced. throe miles towardu St. Quentin anil captured 1500 prisoners. The British surrounded Epeliy and crossed the Hindenburg Line at Vilboret and Gozeaucourt. Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. The British have captured Hamcourt. „. _ London. Sept. 18. Sir Douglas Haig reports: As the lesult of yesterday's operations we gamed possession of Holnon Village. This morning we attacked north-west-ward of St. Quentin. Last night the enemy attacked at Moeuvres under cover of a heavy barrage and pressed us back to the western outskirts of the village. By successful local "operations in the uight time we slightly advanced our line immediately south of the La Bassee Canal.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Tim T- "f ,T> I>ondon ' 18 ' J-Jie limed Press correspondent reports: The British attacked on a considerable front from Peizicres to Saw \\ ood at 3.20 this morning. The French, from Savv southward, are advancing and supporting the flank simultaneously. Despite heavy rain ti> a attack is progressing successfully Aih -\ t 7 Cable As-n. " The British attack covered a 15-milc front from Holnon to Oonzeaucnurt. An average advance was made of between two and three miles. The Australians participated in the fighting. The captures include Ronssoy Villoret and Le Verguier. We passed tiie oiegfried Line in two places. Later messages state that practically all the objectives were gained and 300J p. isoners and a number of jmns captured. The United Preps correspondent reports: The British attacked the German positions this sido of the Hindenburg Line from Peizieres almost to St. Quentin. Progress was so goou that it may bring the British into actual contact with the mam defences. The attack wa? launched spiritedly with a three-minute heavy bombarland then tin usual barrage. Fighting is reported oi Fresnoy. 'iiiei I .* is still Gcrmaj': resistance at Epehy and Ronssoy. Heavy gas shelling at' Vermand and Holnon Wood during the fight gave evidence of German suspithere, but tiie German artillery was inactive c-lscwhere. The attack caught the Germans in the midst of budding a new trench system which was begun a few days a<ro along a tunnel in tho middle portion of the attacked line. At a few points the British, were compelled to cngaffo new strong divisions which the enemy is not ready yet to take his final stand behind the line. The enemy, supported by a sas barrage. retook .Moeuvres. " , Tiie limes correspondent sav* that ] the British captures include Brrlh:incourt. I/empire and Fresnoy. The ■ French are .liimiltnnoously' aMaekin" , below Holnon.—Au«.-X.Z. Cable Assn. j A GENERAL'S EXHORTATIONS. NOT A FOOT MUST BE YIELDED. London, Si nt. IS. Eeuter's correspondent at* British Headquarters states that a capiuroa document, signed von Alorgen, dated September 20, and addressed to the 14th Reserve Corps, near St. Quentin says:— "Hitherto, owing to military reason*, we have allowed tho English 'to occupy the desolate country. Now, however, ■ you have taken up a stro'g defensive , position, and not a foot more ground • must be given up." ; The note exhtfrts the men tp defend [ their homes, _ families and Fatherland, i and adds: ''\ou are more than a match , for the enemy, who only attacks with i dash when accompanied by tanks. [ These we will destroy. I expect every ' man from the general to the youngest ■ private to do his duty in the imminent i. decisive battles." Von Morgen is- the general who . streaked off in a motor-car early in our attack on the Bth.—Renter. FRENCH STILL PROGRESSING. J GERMANS VIOLENTLY" COUNTERI ATTACK. 1 London, Sept. 17. A French communique says: Vest of St. Quentin we nrsde progress in the Holon and Savy district and continue to enlarge our gains between the Ailette and the Aisne. We made progress by local attacks on the plateaux east and north of Al--5 lemant. We captured this morning, after a sharp fight, a strongly-held point east of Sancy. The number of bodies found north of Laffaux l proves tho heaviness of the enemy losses in the ■ recent fighting. 5 The Germns on the Vesle front three s times counter-attacked our positions in the Glennes region, but were repulsed e with heavy losses. e Six enemy aeroplanes were brought I down on the 16th. Our bombing squad- ® rons dropped 10 tons at night on ene- ' my stations, bivouacs and aerodromes, despite a raging tempest.—Aus.-N.Z. a Cable Assn and Reuter. II London, Sept. 18. P A French communique states: South of the Oise there was artillery fired urin<r the night. Violent i_temy counters attacks on the plateau region north of 8 Sancy were without result. We maintained our gains in the Champagne. In Lorraine we carried out a coup-de-main and took prisoners.—Aus.-N.Z. ™ Cable Assn. and Reuter. ' New York, Sept, IS. re The Germans are violently counterattacking at Sancy, north-east of Sois- *' sons. The French have maintained their e " gains.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.