PASSING OF THE SCHELDT.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 October 1918, Page 5

PASSING OF THE SCHELDT.

One of the Greatest Feats in History of War.

Marvellous Valor Displayed.

Received Oct, 3, 7.45 p.m

Loudon, Sept. 30. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: —There had bei:n ceaseless firing for 48 liours before the morning's, attack began Tiie gunners fired gas-shells for 10 hours, spreading the zone of death over a wide territory and flinging thousands of rounds of gas-shells over the German batteries and assembly-places. Fellow!?)" a fetv minutes' hurricane bombardment, the infantry advanced behind the creeping barrage A hundred or more tanks had gone forward at night,-time, hiding until they crawled out at daylight, and, with the infantry, made for the Scheldt, which was €0 yards wide, where it goes above ground. Elsewhere it is enclosed Jti tuftncl- The crossing of the canal was recognised as a military feat as great as anything in the history of the war, more difficult even than the crossing of the Canal du Nord.

The canal goes under the ground for five kilometres northward of Bellicourt, This portion was defended by the Hindenburg line with iinnunse belts of wire, deep and wide trenches, and a network of earthworks.

Within nn hour after the attack began, reports arrived that the South Midlanders had secured a crossing and were well on the other side. The main Hindenburg line on this sector was broken through, anil the troop* were so much past it at many, points that it is now only an ironical memory.

The Australians and Americans, on the right of the attack, formed the canal where it is partly n.bovi> and partly below the ground around the Bellicourt line. Here it was terrific in its original strength, for, besides the wide canal, there was ft great "belt of wire and many trenches, T>ut the guns cut the wire.

This morning the troop? displayed marvellous valor in establishing'bridges. Luckily, the heavy German barrage fell mostlv behind them, and some of our wounded were hurt in their eafcrncss to 1--ocp close to their own barrage, the Americans being less experienced in this than the Australian veterans. Prisoners state that, ths MasnieresT!eHu 'Revoir line is not manned, but observers report a rapid movement of German trains westward, showing that the enemy is rushing up reinforcements to hold this position, where probably a sreat battle will be fought. Once through that line, we are out in tho oper country, when anything may happen.— Aust. Cable Assoc.

FALL OF IMPORTANT POSTS. Declared to be Imminent. The Advance in Flanders. Received Oct. 1, 7.45 p.m London, Sept. 30. The fall of St. Qiientin and Cambrai is regarded as imminent. Already both towns are useless to the enemy from the viewpoint of road and railway communication, and it is doubtful if anything can be got in or out of St- Quentin. The fall of both places would mean the complete readjustment of tho whole enemy line between the Scarpe and the Oise.

The Anglo-Belgian advance in Flanders. on a front of 25 miles, has now reached a geneml depth of five miles, though it is eight miles at the sharpest point. In two days wo gained twice the ground taken in the 'Messines-Pass-chendaele offensive from June to November. This suggests some insufficiency of fighting power in the German armr.

The advance is a serious tlirust on tlie whole system of communications affecting the Belgian coast- Tho Tailway between "Roulers and IVfeemn is the ma'il connection between Lille and the Ostend front, thus being now useless for railways. Eight main roads meet at TCoulers. and the swamps ground makes the building of fresh military roads impossible—All?.Cable Assoc.

BIG GERMAN RETREAT. Foreshadowed by the Military. Foch's Plans Working Admirably Received Oct. 1, 10.30 p.m. Paris, Sept 30. The military anticipate :i further big German retreat, in order to shorten their lines and economise their manpower. General loch's plans to aVaorb German reserves are working magnificently. If the British capture Cawbral, it will open the way to Ardennes by the northeast— Aus.-NZ Cable Assoc.

VIOLENT COUNTER-ATTACKS. Smashed by the French. Received Oct. 1, 10 30 p.m. London, Sept. 30. A French communique states:—Dur> ing the night the Germans made violent counter attacks in the region of Urvillers, south of 6t. Quentin, all of which were smashed. There was no infantry fighting last mght in the Champagne, where the battle was renewej at dawn to^lay— Aus -N.Z. Cable Assoc. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. London, Sept. 30. A wireless German evening message says: There were fresh engagements eastward of Ypres, and tremendous fight* Img between Cambrai and St. Quentin, the English assaults failing on the wliole. Violent Franco-American attacks in the Champagne and between tlio Argoime and the Meuse were repulsed except for local breaches on both sides of Aidouil.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.