A BIG VICTORY.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1918, Page 5

A BIG VICTORY.

HINDENBURG DEFENCES OVERLOOKED. BLACK DAY FOR GERMANS. COURAGEOUS BRITISH ASSAULTS. GERMANS FLEE PANIC-STRICKEN. Received Sept. 21, 3.5 p.m. London, Sept. 20. Mr. Philip Qibbs writes: Wednesday was one of the greatest days of the war, far more important and successful than w.en I went among the Australians early in the day, for it developed into a big victory before nightfall. After many hours of desperate fighting we are now overlooking the main defences of the Hindenburg line. The enemy launched many fierce counter-attacks .against Gauche Wood, which the Seventh Division of the Lancashire and Yorkshire troops crushed with superb courage. The achievement was the more memorable because this division had been fighting Incessantly since August 8. Meanwhile the enemy was making a fierce attack at Moeuvros and Havrincourt. The German commander ordered the Sixth Division to break the British line, and gave forty batteries to help the attack. The Germans advanced under cover of a frightful line of fire, but the Gunrds were there, and the glorious old Third Division, who were the heroes of the defence of Arras last April. They found quick targets among these masses of Germans and slaughtered them. It was a black day for German hopes and manhood. The Twenty-first division, including the Lincolns and Leicesters, who were fighting south of Villers Guislain, captured the famous position of Vaucelette farm, advancing, like the Australians further south, under cover of a dense smoke screen. The Lincolns and Leice»ters so confused the enemy. that the farm was surrendered before a shot was fired. Near at hand were the Wiltshires. These met the Germans advancing to a counter-attack in the Linnet valley. The WiltaJiires never halted to consider a withdrawal, but charged straight into the German wave of assault and destroyed it, capturing eight field guns. It must never be forgotten that the Seventeenth and Twenty-first Divisions suffered grievously in the March retreat, yet they fought their way back and captured all the ground. Our eastern county men had a very hard time at Epriiv, where the Alpine corps fought like tigerf. Epehy contains] a strong earthwork called Fisher's Keep, which wa? iinally taken after a trench mortar bombardment. The Londoners repulsed counterattacks throughout the day and night. Farther south, near St. Quentin, were the Buffs. Shropshirea, Sherwood* 1 -, and Norfolks fighting at Hobon, ami near by were the Cameron Highlanders and Black Watch at Bcrthaucourt and Fresnov. Some of the Germans of the 119 th Division ran away panic-stricken, but small bodiei of brave men kept the ma-chine-guns busy in the copse. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Router. ADVANCE AT EPEHY. FRENCH PROGRESS AT ST. QUENTIN. Received Sept. 22, 11.40 jj.m. London, Sept. 21, 10.35 p.m. Sir Douglas TTaig reports:—ln a minor operation this morning, eastward of Epehy, English troops successfully advanced the line after heavy fighting. Strong opposition was encountered af all points, and, later, the enemy launch' °d a number of counter-attacks in considerable strength. Despite the resia snce, we substantially progressed on the whole front of the attack. In conjunction with this attack, thi Australians further progressed in a com pletely successful operation in the Har gicourt sector, taking prisoners. A French communique states that, fti night-time, our troops, operating m th< region of St. Quentin, captured Ben a; and progressed northward thereof- W< repulsed an enemy counter-attacl against Castres. The artillery is active in the region o the plntteau northward of the Aisne. In Lorraine, two German attempt! against posts toward Arracourt and An cervillers were without result. —Ails. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. NORTHCLIFFE'S PROPAGANDA GERMAN SOLDIERS LEARN THE TRUTH. VON HUTIER ANGRY. Received Sept. 21, 6.5 p.m. Washington, Sept. 20. A captured order issued by Genera vou Hutier recounts 'how the Allies propaganda is making headway amongs the German soldiers on the western front Von Hutier alludes to Lord Northcliff as a "rascal." He points out that Alliei airmen are constantly dropping leaflet into the trenches, and orders the men t immediately deliver such leaflets to th higher officers. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc BRITISH LOCAL OFFENSIVE. Received Sept. 22, 5:5 p.m. New York, Sept. 21. The British have launched a local of tensive .at Bavrincourt Wood—Aus N.Z. Cable Assoc. i