WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1918, Page 4

WESTERN FRONT.

GERMANS MOST RETIRE.

To a New Line.

London, Oct. 1. The Siegfried line has definitely gone as a defence. The Germans will possibly fall back on the Brunhilde line, from the St. Gobain massif to the Meuse, but will make the movement as slow as possible. The enemy has now 189 divisions on tlie west front, in addition to four dismounted cavalry and four Austrian, meaning that they have disbanded about 20 divisions. The German is still fighting well, but is not the man he was. New York, Oct. 1. Mr. Simmonds, analysing the militarv situation, says: There can be no doubt of the fact that General Foch's battle has reached a,climax, and within a brief period, perhaps hours, certainly days, the Germans' retirement from northern France is assured.

The German resistance is tremendously sustained in certain sectors, but is completely breaking down in others. One of the most amazing incidents has been th 6 Belgian success in the region of the old Ypres salient. In a single day, with insignificant losses, they have retaken territory Which cost the British five months and half a million casualties to [capture a year ago. This means that ,the German army is breaking down. — Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. London, Oct. 1. A French . communique reports: Between the Ailette and the Aisne we advanced eastwards of Ostel. Italian units, operating north of the Aisne, carried Soupir. Wa attacked and made an important advance on a front of 12 kilometres to-day, between the Aisne and the Vesle, capturing, despite resistance, Revillon, Romain, and Montigny-sur-Vesle. Northwards wo reached the outskirts of Maurival and Ventelay. Sixteen hundred prisoners have been counted up to the present. The battle on the whole Champagne 'front is continuing. On the left we flung back the enemy from the village of St. Marie-a-Py, advancing beyond it. North of Somme-Py we reached the bend of the national road. Further east, after violent fighting, we captured Aure village, plateau, and woods. In the centre we carried Mar-

vauv and progressed to the outskirts of Montmaix. We also enlarged our gains north of Sechault in the region of Bouconville.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Keuter. A German communique, issued on 1 October 1 (2.10 a.m.) states: The en&ny breaking into our position on September 27 compelled us to withdraw the right wing of our defensive front from northward of Dixmude to Werken, and evacuate the Wytschaete salient. Tremendous fighting continues between Cambrai and. St., Quentin. The enemy obtained. a footing in the suburbs of Cftmbrai,. and at Neuville and Catimpre southward of Marcoing. The enemy forced v?, P.ack behind the canal sector of Masnieres and Creveoourt. We retook Villers GuislamV The enemy cros3edthe canal between Bellicourt and Belle Eglise. Our regiments northwards of Gricourt withdrew their line to Lehaucourt. The English bought their local Successes sanguinarily. They captured Manre and Ardeuil. We took the front line of the Americans at Apremont and Montrebau wood; We brought down 45 aeroplanes.—Aus. TS.Z. Cable Assoc.

MAURICE'S VIFWc

Outlook Promising. London, Oct. 1, General Maurice writes: The rapid succession of victories on the west front represents the latest, perhaps the most remarkable, development of General Foch's strategy. Our former offensives 'never succeeded in drawing in the enemy reserves, which General Foch has now gone far towards exhausting, The nilnv ber of prisoners and guns taken by the ; Anglo-Belgians has not been in propprtiori to the ground won, and this suggests that Luderdorff has reinforced the Hindenburg line at tjhe expense of the Flanders front.

General Fooh, with the steady inflow of Americans, is able to keep reserves ready to attack whenever and wherever Ludendorff takes such risks.

The outlook is extraordinarily promising, particularly on the British front, justifying high hopes both in Flanders and between Cambrai and St. Quentin. It is not too much to expect a complete readjustment of the enemy's front from the Oise northward and Germany's abandonment of the Belgian coast. Meanwhile, General Allenby, by joining hands with the Arabs at Deraa, has cleared the Yarmuk valley and sealed the fate of the remainder of the 4th Turkish army along the Hedjaz railway. The Turk is cut off from Germany, and must now be anxiously wondering what terms he will obtain.—Aus N7.. On We .Assof ,