THE DAY GOES WELL.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1918, Page 5

THE DAY GOES WELL.

Germans' Stubborn Resistance. Our Guns Taking a Heavy Toll. Received Sept. 20, 1 a.m. London, Sept. 18. The object of the latest British attack is probably the Siegfried line, of which we are within a mile, and beyond it in one or two places. The British advance has so far reached between two and three miles. We have captured many guns. The Anglo-Australian offensive aims at regaining the line held prior to March 21, which fronts but nowhere crosses the Hindenbubrg line. The objective has already been attained on a ten-miles front. At some points we are beyond the March line, which now runs west of Goiuseaueourt, Villers Guislain, east of Lemure, inclusive of Hargicourt, Villoret, Leverguser, Berthaneourt, Fresnoy and Holnon. The Germans are fighting well—Times Service. Reuters correspondent at British headquarters, writing on the evening of the 18th, says: In to-day's fighting near St. Quentin the enemy fought doggedly, evidently witli a clear conception of the great strategic importance 6f the ground. The weather helped them in some measure by decreasing observation in the eaily stages, so that we occasionally were almost on top of the enemy before they observed us, and contrawise. Rain rendered the ground mushy and tho going in the gullies difficult. The tanks contributed to the progress. Jhe Germans assembled considerable artillery along the front of the attack, backed by long-range guns firing from well behind the Hindenburg line, although the latter had to restrict its shooting to a comparatively • few targets previously registered. There were no serious obsUtbles to the advance. The German Alpine Corps is carrying the brunt of the resistance, putting "j> a stout struggle around the key positions at Epehy. The moral of some of the other enemy divisions is poor, and although the machine-gunners generally suck to their guns to the last, the infantry shows a readiness to surrender. lne Australians made good progress on the- right, capturing Ascension Farm winch was a strong redoubt north of f' C n U|lon a fil>ur dominating St. Quentin Canal. The general impression is that it has It « y f ° r t!,e Allie9 ' one s P ot ch . tllerp 19 comparatively little co BHH S )! S i aroUnd , the P ° int 0f the Fran " morn T"' Ut ° Ur gUM are eom " section I il" T r ° int ° action in this IZ, fn • f >ln r 8 toll of the coucen■tni ed xn antry. The ground is - well adapted for defence. ADVANCE of THREE MILES. 6000 Prisoners Taken. Ten Towns Captured. Received Sept. m, 7.45 p.m. Tho t,-< i ~ ou ' nva . Nejit. IS. Jh* west ' front /tXs That'S British between Holnon wood and Couzenucourt i"": prisoner I ° ca P lurod thousand prisoners and a number of guns, besid-s Assoc. "' i) 0- X-Z- Cable ATTACK MOVES IN PROGRESSIVE STAGES. Over a Wide Stretch. Australians' Experiences. Received Sept. 10, 7.45 p.m. T , , London. Sept. 18. Reuters correspondent at British headquarters states that this morning's attack extended from southward of Gouzeaucourt to the junction of our right nank with the French army, and partook oi the character of an overrunning movement, carrying the line well into the ei.emy outpost zone, and briiigin" us very near the ilindeuburg system "over a wide stretch. The _ country hereabouts consists ot little ridges, gullies, and woods, and lends itself to an elastic defence, which the Germans are employing. Hie attack moved in progressive stages, as it was necessary to pause "bile the c-nemy pockets were mopucl up. The French progressed well in conformity with our advance. Rain was falling when the attack was launched and aeroplane observation was impossible. The weather has improved. deceived Sept. 19, 7.45 p.m. London, Sept. 19. Mr. Philip Gibbs states that the Australians encountered and overcame still resistance at Hargicourt and Lerveguir, Elsewhere the Germans rushed out oi the trenches to surrender before the Australian barrage reached t'hem. The Australians at an early hour had prison- ! ered five hundred.