CAMBRAI AND ST. QUENTIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 October 1918, Page 5

CAMBRAI AND ST. QUENTIN.

THEIR FALL

Received Sept. 30, 7.45 p.m. London, Sept. 29. The Australian Press Association learns that the fall of Cambrai is only a matter of time owing to the capture of [ several important points. There is every [likelihood that St. Quentin is about to fall, as the Allies have gained an important footing on the eastern side of the underground canal near Bellicourt. I The advance between Ypres and Dixmude has reached a depth of four miles and yielded 0000 prisoners.—Australian Cable Assoc.

ATTACK BY THE 4th ARMY. A DRAMATIC INCfIDENT. AUSTRALIANS CHEERED ON BY THE AMERICANS. NEW ZEALANDERS' DASHING ATTACK. Received Sept. 30, 7.45 p.m. London, Sept. 20. Reuter's correspondent at British headquarters, writing on the evening of the 29th, says this morning's attack by the Fourth Army did not surprise the enemy, being preceded by a fortyeight hours' bombardment.

A large force of Americans advanced. The first waves, accompanied by a big concourse of tanks, moved forward mainly on a sii! thousand yards front south of Vendhuille. The weather was fine, with a light mist. The Americans, using the Vendhuile gap as a bridge, stormed forward, deploying fanwise. A British division crossed the waterway in magnificent style, many men swimming under machine-gun Are, and entered the village of Belleglise. Tho first phase of the battle ended by nine o'clock. After a pause, a dramatic incident marked the resumption of the attack. Tho Americans opened their ranks while the Australians, who had been moving up to support, swept through and formed the first wave and renewed the attack amid a storm of cheering. Hard fighting occurred in many places where tho Germans had established redoubts of great strength. Strong positions south-west of Cambrai were attacked dashingly by the New Zealanders, who drove a wedge into the enemy line and prisonered 1000. The Canadians in the morning were approaching Ramilles, and were due north of the town and astride important communications. —Renter.

CANAL STORMED,

BY AUSTRALIANS AND AMERICANS,

Received Sept. 30, 10.30 p.m.

London, Sept. 30,

Mr. Philip Gibbs says that the Australians and Americans stormed the canal astride Bellicourt, and established bridges. Despite the heavy barrage they went ahead with the tanks towards the next organised line of German resistance, known as the Masnieres—Beaurevorr line.—Australian Cable Association.

200,000 PRISONERS. TAKEN ON WEITERN FRONT. Received Sept. 30, 10 p.m. Paris, Sept. 29. Since July 18 the Allies have taken over 200,000 prisoners, 3000 guns, 20,000 machine guns and huge quantities of material. These figures do not include the Palestine, Macedonia and Mesopotamia fronts. FORMIDABLE NETWORK OF DEFENCES.

ALLIES' REMARKABLE PROGRESS,

Received Sept. 30, 10.30" p.m. London, Sept. 29. Reuter's correspondent at British headquarters, writing on Saturday morning, says in regard to yesterday's battle on the Cambrai front that the whole of our objectives were won to an extreme depth of five miles, through the most formidable and intricate network of defences the War has yet produced. So remarkable was our progress that we brought up not only field batteries, but heavy sixty-pounders, to the edge of Buillon Wood, raking it before the Germans had completed their withdrawal from the group of heights which for four years had formed the central pillar of his line in France.

General Foch's strategy compels him, as it did at the Marne, to withdraw his centre before the Allies attack north and east, and forced him to withdraw his wings. This retreat is the first fruits of the British-French-American offensive of the last three days.—Reuter.

KING ALBERT'S INSPIRING ORDER. "FORWARD FOR IGHT AND LIBERTY." Received Sept. 30, 7.46 p.m. Paris, Sept. 29. King Albert personally commanded the Belgians prior to the attack. He issued an order as follows: "Soldiers, it is for you to hurl bade the invader who has oppressed your brothers. for over four years. The hour is decisive. Germany leverywhore is falling back. Forward for right and liberty for glorious, immortal Belgium!"—Aus. N.Z. Cable Association.