WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

ON THE BRITISH FRONT. Cambrai Within Grasp. Capture of Bourlon. Received Sept. 29, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. '27. lhe latest advices, issued on the even'oI ~ the th, are to the effect that the British attacked between Sauchyestrce ami Cuuzeaucourt. By 2 p.m. they had captured BcauchainjS and Uraincourt and advanced three miles, prisor.ering between 5001) and COOO." Some guns, including a complete battery, were captured. We crossed the Hindenburg outpost defences at a number of points. The capture of Bourlon is of the greatest importance, as it is really the bulwark of Cambrai. We took it, despite the waterline, whereof the* whole was crossed. We are now in a good position to capture Cambrai, which the enemy is unable to use, as the railway and 'road junctions are commanded by us. Hard fighting is proceeding on the Franco-American front.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc.

A SMASHING DRIVE. Remarkable Progress Made. Through the Hindenburg Defences. Roceivcd Sept. 29, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 27, 5 30 p.m. The United Press states that General Byng's army, with some divisions of General Home's, including Canadians, started a smashing drive towards Carabrai, and made remarkable progress. By 9 o'clock they had crossed an enormously difficult canal between Moeuvres and Havricourt, and 7000 yards of the Hindenburg trendies and deep wires beyond. The British, towards 8 o'clock, were seen advancing up the Bourlon spur, the Germans surrendering. The tanks started at half-past S in Flesquieres, and the infantry followed immediately The primary objectives between Moeuvres and Havricourt were attained, that eastward of Moeu?res being a distance of threo miles, while eastward of ITavrincourt they gained scarcely a mile, the German position here being the strongest. Following the main road at Marquion to Bantouzele-en-Escart, elements of General Rawlinson's army on the right advanced slightly, protecting the flarrk. There is evidence that a considerable degree of surprise was achieved. There was littlj preliminary bombardment. The mist, preceding a perfect day, hid the opening as°nult, since the critical point was the stretch of canal, which the, British and Canadians negotiated successfully.

Beauramp, Fesf|iiiores Graincourt, Fontaines, }votre Damp. Bourlon, Cantamg, Lavagmierie, Villers Gnislain, and Gonnelipn are unlikely to he held by the German?.—Aus.-V.Z. Cable Assoc. Received Sent 29,. 5.5 p.m. New York, Sept. 23. The Canadians have crossed thcUouaiCftmbrai Road. Tho Fr?neh have captured Sommepy. In the Cambrain area the British took 10.000 nrisoncrs and 200 guns. The British have captured Arlelix.— United Press. REPORTS CAPTURE OF CAMBRAI. Passchendaele Outflanked. Received Sept. 29,. ]*wu, The United Press' the West front states cially reported that captured CambraiThe Poiecapelle and AMERICy^^HHHBH iiio now total The prisoners Germans TirfSj^gMHjHH Americans Hitting Points. v. Received Sept. 29, 11.45 p.m. New York, Sept. 28. Mr- James writes:—The advance of the First American Army o« the Cham-pagne-Argonne-Meuse front is meeting with stern resistance by Germany's best soldiers. The Germans threw in at least four divisions within 24 hours. The enemy brought up several times that number, despite which we are satisfactorily advancing, hitting at strategic points along the Dannevoux-Montfaucon line. Our advance is hampered by heavy rains, making difficult the 'bringing up of artillery, but this !s jifoceedins? satisfactorilyIt i$ believed tbe Germans are forming what is hoped to be a solid line along the Kriemhiloe-Stenning line, running from Grandpre-Ohampsigneulle, Landres, St- Georges, Romange but Montfaucon, Brieulles, ffaraucourt, and Damvillers. The enemy lias been preparing this line for a long time.

ALLIES' FULL STRENGTH. Foch Commencing to Use It. Blows on Biggest Scale Coming. Americans Sweep on Relentlessly Received Sept. 29, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Sept. 27. The Sensee river attack, which was made within twenty-four hours of the Champagne advance, indicates that Marshal Foeh has commenced to use the full Allied strength, and t'lmt blows on the biggest scale are now coming. Never before have there been two offensives simultaneously on this scale. The American offensive in the Argonnu began at daybreak on Thursday, being preceded by a savage barrage of gas shells, which lighted up the skies for miles and drenched the German gun positions. The Germans worked desperately to improve their rear defences when they saw the front lines failing, but the Americans swept on relentlessly, killing the machine-gunners and mowing down other obstacles with baby tanks, which only paused when they reached mined bridges. A number of villages were captured by skilful encircling movements. The Germans to-day are throwing in shock troops, in the attempt to stem the disaster. In places the Americans charged in fifteen and even twenty waves. Varennes fell quickly. The tanks then went across country eastward to Cheppy, which was quickly taken, despite the long-range anti-tank rifles.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. Received Sept. 29, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 28.

An American communique states: The First Army continued to attack northwest of Verdun and took Charpentry, Very, Epinonville, and Ivoiry. Repeated hostile counter-attacks were thrown back. We captured over a hundred guns, of which twelve were heavies, many trench mortars, and hundreds of ma-chine-guns. The prisoners now total over 8000, including 125 officers. Wireless German official: The enemy gained ground towards Cambrai. Renewed vigorous Franco-American attacks in the Champagne and between the Argonne and the Heuse failed.

FORMIDABLE DEFENCES. Brilliantly Captured. Big Haul of Prisoners. Received Sept. 29, 5.5. p.m. London, Sept. 27. A French, communique states: Yesterday's attack in the Champagne developed successfully from the Suipe to the Argonne. The first German positions, consisting of a formidable network of trenches and barbed wire over five kilometres (three miles) deep, which the enemy has not ceased to strengthen since 1915, were brilliantly captured on a front of thirty-five kilometres, and were passed at certain points. Navarin farm, the Buttes of Souain, Montmuret, Tahure, and Mesnil, and the villages of Tahure, Ripont, Rouvroy, Cerna-en-Dormois, Servon, and STelzicourt, which were organised at points d'appui and obstinately defended, were captured in the first day of the battle after severe fighting. The prisoners counted exceed 7000. The enemy did not attempt to re-attack at night-time. * The attack was resumed this morning and is proceeding satisfactorily, despite the bad weather.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. OFFENSIVE IN FLANDERS.

An Advance of Two Miles. HDnPoelcapelle Captured. Received Sept. 29, C.5 p.m. ■ London, Sept- 2S. Haig has announced that in conjunction with the Bel an offensive : n Flanders offensive began north of 'Received Sept. 29, 5.5 p.m. ■K Paris, Sept. "S. HB British and Belgians, attacking Yftres and Dixmude. advanced taking Poilcapclle.—United KwNS' COUNTER-ATTACK. Hp Mfeated by Americans. V Sept. 29, 5.5 p.m. Ira Washington, Sept. 27 Hpheral Pershing is continuing his Bai- in the Argonne. From additional Boners captured, the German Guards ■msion, which fought previously at Belfcau "Wood, have been identified. Blr. James ..writes: Tho first heavy Herman counter-attacks since the Ameripfts advanced failed. The enemy brought reinforcements. ®ie 'Americans have captured Charpenwy, Very, Epinonville, and Ivoiry, also Smore than 100 guns.—United Press. The German Account. Received Sept. 30, 115 a.m. London, Sept. 28. Wirelfess German official:—Sixteen English Canadian divisions attacked astride ruid between the Arras-Cambrai and Peronne-Catnbrai roads. The enemy advanced towards Roulon-Fleaquicves. He extended these bretwies and pressed Us back northward of tho Arras-Cambrai Road, as far as the Misqueverger-Hayne-eoiurt line. We repulsed strong AngloAmerk- ' attacks between Epehy and Bellicourt, driving back the enemy beyond the starting-point. At Lempire, the French gained a little ground between the Suippe and the Aisne. Eastward of ArgonneS; American attacks were brought to a standstill southward of the Apremont line. We evacuated Montfaucon in view of its threatened encirclement. Aus.4i&. Coible Assoc. Rnd Reutcsr.

| THE DRIVE DESCRIBED. Admirable Work by Engineers. ! All Objectives Reached. Thousands of Prisoners. Received Sept. 20, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 28, 2.40 p.m. Sir iloagias Ilaig reports:—Our attacks on the Cambrai front on the 27th were pressed, without relaxation, until 4 late hour- Further progress was made in the evening, more especially in the northern portion of the battlefield, Mid additional prisoners and guns captured. the first Canadian division, passing beyond Haynecourt, reached the DouaN Cambrai Road by nightfall, the Llth division passing through. The Canadians advanced rapidly a distant of over two tniles, capturing Epinoy ahd Oisy-le-Vorgef. Simultaneously, the 50th Division, pressing northwards along tho canal, captured 500 prisoners in the defences north-east of &uchy-Caucissy. Tlimb operations were materially helped by the admirable work of the Engineers, who, in less than four hours of the opening of the assault, despite shell fire, successfully threw aeros the Canal du NTord a number of bridges capable of carrying transport, thus permitting the advance to continue without a cheek. Operations are progressing satisfactorily this morning on the whole battlefront. The operations of the Second, British Army in Flanders commenced this morning, in conjunction with the Belgian Army, and will be reported in the Belgian communique.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc- and Reuter. Received Sept. 29, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 23. 2 a.m. Sir Douglas Bail? reports:—Portion? of our First and' Third Armies, under Senerak Home and Byng respectively, attacked before dawn on the west front .in the general direction of Cambrai. Notwithstanding the great strength of the enemy's positions, especially in the northern sector, where the Canal du Nnrd and the open ground sloping towards the enemy rendered the advance most difficult, all objectives were reached.

American detachments on the extreme right captured a series of trenches and fortified farms, forming the outer defences of the main Hindenburg system south-west of Le Catelet. More to the northward, the Fifth Division captured Beaucamp and Combing, and with the Tjancashire men of the 42nd division, cleared the Beaucamp ridge, running liort.h-east towards IVTarcomg. In the ridge centre, the Guards and tliiTd division of the Sixth Corps, under General Haldane, breaking through the enemy's defences eastward of Havvincourt. carried the village of Flesquieres and took possession of the long spur running eastwards from Flesquieres towards Marcoing. On their left, the Scottish and Naval units of the Seventeenth Corps, having stormed a link of the Canal du Nord eastward and southward of Moeuvres, were first checked by the defences at Graincouft. Outflanking Graincourt from the north, they seized Amiens, and carried forward the whole corps' front. Wc captured Graincourt and continued our advance to Cantaing and Fontaine-Notre Dame-

On the left centre, the Canadian corps, under General Currie, attacking with the first, third, and fourth Canadian livi«ions, forced the passage of the Canal du jSTord, and captured the villages of Sains-lez-Marquoin and Bourlon, aJso the wooded heights of Bourlon Hill. Pressing on, with the assistance of the eleventh English division, they subsequently progressed towards Saillecourt and Haynecourt. Our deep advance astride the ArrasCambrai Road was greatly assisted by the close co-operation of the Twentysecond Corps under General Godley, operating southward and northward of the Sensee and the Scarpe rivers, and the fifty-seventh London division. Thil corps crossed the Canal du Kord and, attacking northwards, captured Sauchy-L«-otree and Saucliy-Cauc'hy, northwards of the Scarpe. On the extreme left, the English and Scottish completed the capture of Ar-Icnx-en-Gehele and the trench system thereabouts.

The perfect co-operation between the commanders of the neighboring units and between the infantry, artillery, and tanks, and the aircraft, and the gallantry and resourcefulness of all ranks, again enabled complete success to be achieved at a relatively small cost Several thousand prisoners and many .guns Were captured-

ON THE FRENCH FRONT. Enemy's Vain .Efforts Aviators' Fine Work, Received Sept. 29, 6,5 p.mLondon, Sept. 28. A French communique states:—Our troops to-day, tanks supporting, made a fresh advanco on the whole battlefront. The enemy vainly attempted to arrest our progress. We progressed [between Authrwe and St. Ma ie Apy, despite violent counter-attacks. Eastwards of the Somme we crossed Olsallerange railway on a front of four kilometres, advancing over two kilometres. Northwards and north-east of Manure, we captured a powerfullyorganised centre of resistance at Gratreuil and Fontame-en-Dermois. Further east, on the right, our 'lines were earned to a kilometre south of Boucouville,- and we conquered Lechelle and Tournay woods. Since yesterday *wr advance at certain points reached eight kilometres (nearly five aiiles) . In two days the prisoners captured by the French exceed 10,000 and much material. . The fine weather enabled the aviators to co-operate to the fullest extent throughout the battle. Many tons of explosives were dropped in the rear of the 'battlefield during the daytime and on cantonments, bivouacs, and aerodrome stations at night-time. Our fighting planes practically nullified enemy observation. We downed 42 cnctny machines and fired seven balloons. —Aiis -N.2L Cwblo Assoc. adn S«utsr,

HINDENBURG LINE TAKEN. Other Defensive Lines Behind. Americans Go Into Fight Like Wildcats. Received Sept. 30, 12,10 a.m, London, Sept. 28. Renter's correspondent at American 'headquarters, writing on the evening of September 27, says: We have taken what may be-considered the Hindenburg line, ■but behind it is a string of trenches called "Hagcnstelling," and behind that, and joined to it, are the defensive works "Volkersteliing," which connect a' series of strong places. All these must be passed before ''Krieinhidestelling," which is the line on which the German main reliance is placed, can be reached. Montffiucon is the key to the whole of this front, as it forms a kind of hinge where Volkerstelling is joined to Hagenstelling, so as to enable the German front to swing some ninety degrees from the south to prevent any successful exit from the Bois do Montfaueon in front of it. The Times correspondent says that General Pershing personally directed the attack. The men, realising the magnitude of the fight, went in like wild cats. Aeroplanes advanced in dense formations, many flying low owing to the mist —Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. LARGE ENEMY FORCES IN RESERVE. French Successes. Received Sept, 30, 12.30 a.m.

London, Sept. 29 The Times' correspondent at British Headquarters says it is estimated that nine German divisions have been engaged some, consisting of composite elements, several of which are comparatively fresh in the line- Large forces are undoubtedly held close in reserve.— Times ServiceReceived Sept. 30, 1-15 a.m. London, Sept. 26. French communique:—This morning the attack was resumed at 5.30. We captured the villages of Sommepy and carried the heights northward of Fon-taine-en-Dermois. We have taken morn prisoners and gtins. The battle continues between the Aijette and the Aisne. . The pressure of our troops and, iiorth-eitstwards of Saucy, vigorous local operations, gave us ground and 250 prisoners, including 40 officers. A counterattack, northward of Allemant, completely failed. Futlier southward, we penetrated the ravine from Jauy to Aizy and occupied these two villages.—Aus.-Jf-Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter-

Operations Near the Sensee. Received Sept. 2*9, 6.5 p.m. London, Sept. 28.

Sir Douglas Haig reports:-—We attacked at 5.20 this morning on a wide front southward of the Sensee River. We carried out successful operations during the night-time in the neighborhood of Arleux- north-west of La liassee and south-west of Fieurbaix, advancing our line.—Aus.-N.Z Cable Assoc. and Reuter.