THE TEST OF BATTLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 October 1918, Page 5

THE TEST OF BATTLE.

Storming of Colossal Defences.

New Zealanders' Unbelievable Speed.

! Received Oct. 1, 10.30 p.m , London, Sept. 30. I Mr. Beach Thomas writes: To-day was to be the test of battle. The enemy know that if he failed to stand here he •vould stand nowhere. Consequently he bought up special storm divisions. General Monash faced a problem, as hard a problem as a solver could wish. The only favorable accident was the disappearance of the eanal under a hili, giving the tanks an opening. When the forty-eight hours' bombardment ended with a hurricane of gas shells, the Americans bounded forward and fought with desperate bravery and forced the redoubts, the tanks helping. The Midland troops stormed the colossal defences at Belle Eglise. At nine o'clock the Australians leap-frogged through the Americans, after which the successive strong points of the superSiegfried line were won, and signals were flying up from the objectives a thousand yards ahead Among these Le Catelet •vas most valuable, for the roads and railways to Cambrai will soon be between the pincers. (The Canadians are approaching from the north, and the English, Scottish, and New Zealanders from the south. The New Zealanders reached the road towards Cambrai with unbelievable opeed, sending back a thousand prisoners before morning. When the mist cleared it could be seen they had encircled La Vacquerie and bombed out the garrison before the scheduled hour.—United Service.

WRENCHED FROM THE GERMANS.

The Last of Hindenburg Line.

A Thrilling Story.

Received Sept. 11, 10.30 p.m

London, Sept. 30.

Mr. Percival Phillips writes: To-day defeat fell upon the Hun, when the last remaining fragment of the Hindenburg line was wrenched from the Serman front. Men of the British Isles, Australia, New Zealand, and America broke the surviving limb of the WotanSiegfried fortress almost at a single stride. I don't see how the three German armies opposite us can hope to repair iheir fortunes. The story is full of thrilling interest, and must be told oiecemeal. Take the first breaking of tho Hindenburg line south of Vendhuille. The Australians and Americans drove frontally through the main support system and over the tunnel of the canal dividing them. They attacked from the old German outpost lino a mile westward of the canal through six layers of ]eep trenches, protected by broad banks cf wire, the whole forming the strongest defensive system erected by the enemy on the west front. It had never been assaulted before, and was manned by pood German divisions, who were ordered to hold it until they died, knowing that the immediate future of their army depended on their exertions. But no troops, however stout, could offer much resistance after such a bombardment as preceded the attack. The Americans were first through the battered defences and found themselves in the German main defences when they had gone 1200 yards. Only isolated machine-gun fire hindered the Americans to any extent until they came against the villages of 3ony and Bellicourt, which were strongly fortified, but they passed both before [eight o'clock, when it was reported they 'were still fighting. Eastward of the canal tunnel, along the railway ridge, between La Catalet and Nauroy, more opposition was encountered, but, the fog lifting, yielded a fresh surprise. The Australians came over the broken fields and struck hard at the German line. It wavered and then fell back further towards the next iine of villages and a half-dug trench System running southward towards Estrees.

Meanwhile the New Zealanders had wonderful success They attacked at three o'clock in the morning, spreading '"anwise as they advanced, and reached the plateau wood on the MasnieresCambrai road. They encountered a strong point at La Vacquarie, into whicli they worked from northward and southward along the roads and pinched off the village, taking over 1000 prisoners. :They are reported to be still going strong. | Prisoners represent every battalion of the 18th Prussian Division. You liad only to see this wonderful onward sweep of the British armies to-day in order to realise how far the Hun has gone along the road to utter defeat.

IMPORTANT CAPTURES. CAMBRAI SUBURBS GAINED. ENEMY EVACUATING THE CHEMIN-DES-DAMES. Received Oct. 1, 11 p.m. London, Sept. 30. The Belgians have captured Verken and Staden. The British have captured Gheluwe and Warneton. Fighting is proceeding within Cambrai. We have captured the western and south-western suburbs. •

The enemy is evacuating the Chemin fles Dames—Australian Cable Assoc.

MANGIN'S STEADY PRESSURE. GIVES COMMAND OF THE AILETTE VALLEY. Received Oct. 1, 10.30 p.m London, Sept. 30. Mr. Campbell writes: General Mangin '.n two days won the ground which the French gained last year after three months' preparation. It commands the whole Ailette valley. It is impossible for the enemy to stand on the Ailette. A retreat from the Aisne is only a matter of time.—United Service.