WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1918, Page 6

WESTERN FRONT.

ADVANCE OF ALLIES CONTINUES

GERMAN DEFENCES PIERCED. RETIREMENT TO FRONTIER. New York, Oct. 3. The Germans are retreating across the Aisne canal and the French are pursuing. The Americans are making progress in the Argonne forest region. The enemy is withdrawing on the American left to the lireimhilde line. New York, Oct. 2. The British have captured Rolleghemcapelle and advanced three miles southeast of Roulers.

The Germans are preparing to evacuate the Lille region. The British smashed the German lines five miles north-east of St. Quentin. The New Zealanders have occupied Crevecoeur and Rumilly. St. Quentin is on fire.

The Australians cleared the German defences south of Le Catelet and captured Joncourt.

British monitors are bombarding the Belgian coast. Roulers and Menin are on fire. French guns dominate <*e Ostend-Courtrai railway.—Am. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

London, Oct. 2. United Press reports state: The Hindenburg system has become a sieve and will soon be a memory, and open warfare on a scale similar to the first invasion will be made possible. The British 9th Corps, co-operating with the Australians on the right, smashed the German resistance along the main line and traversed the supporting trench system called the Beaurevoir line, taking Beaurevoir, Wiancourt, and Sequchart. This enabled the French to advance straight eastward about St. Quentin, cutting off the latter and compelling its evacuation.

The French found it necessary to pierce the Hindenburg system only on a narrow front. The Germans are getting out of the trenches, which form a semi-circle in front of the city.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

London, Oct. 2. An Amsterdam message reports that British warships again bombarded the Belgian coast on Tuesday night. A great fire was observed in the direction of Bruges.

Les Nouvelles reports that the Germans are constructing pontoon bridges across the Meuse opposite all the Belgian roads leading to the river, and have completed preparations for blowing up the fixed bridges. Civilians have evacuated Courtrai, Roubaix and Lille, and are arriving at Antwerp and Liege in great numbers. The Daily Evpress Amsterdam correspondent states that von Falkenhausen's military secretary, speaking to the leading Dutchmen at The Hague, said plans were ready for the early evacuation of Belgium. The Germans will return to their frontier in order to show the world that they really want to defend the Fatherland.

It is rumored that the Dutch authorities have taken the hint and will strengthen their Belgian frontier to. prevent the violation of Dutch territory by the retreating Germans.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

London, Oct. 2.

Sir Douglas Haig*s report, dated Oct. 2, 12.10 p.m., says that after maintaining strong pressure early in the day the 32nd Division successfully attacked in tihe afternoon the German defensive line at Fonsomme. In the neighborhood of Beaurevoir we captured Sequeahart and Proselles and breached the FonsommeBeaurevoir line. Northwards we cleared Joncourt of the enemy. The Australians (completed the capture of the defences southward of Le Catelet and Gouy. Southward of Cambrai a fierce struggle all day terminated in a successful attack at dusk, by which the New Zealanders, English and Scottish troops drove out the enemy from Crevecoeur and Rumilly and established themselves on the high ground eastward and northward of those villages. Several hundred prisoners were secured in these operations.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. London, Oct. 2. The Belgians have made further progress in the direction of Eooglede and Routers. The British seized Ledeghem and seized the Lys river line between Wervieq and Comines.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

TEH BELGIAN BATTLEFIELDS.

CONVERTED INTO A QUAGMIRE,

London, Oct. 2.

Correspondents point out that the heavy rains have converted the Belgian battlefields into a quagmire. Our troops, during the remarkably successful advance, waded through mud waist high. The Belgians displayed extraordinary spirit when they learned that the 100 th Regiment of Saxons, who were the perpetrators of the Dinant outrages, was opposed to them. The principal haul of guns and prisoners was secured in Houthulst Wood. Anticipating a big capture of guns, additional gun crews accompanied the advance and promptly turned the weapons $n the retreating troops. It is reported that 600 Germans who surrendered began shooting the Belgians in the back. They paid dearly for their treachery, as none reached the prisoners' cages. The German casualties are heavy. The German dead outnumbered ours fourfold In places. , The French have reached the Aisne canal.

FRENCH OFFICIAL. Received Oct. 3, 2.50 p.m. London, Oct. 2. A French communique states: In St. Quentin a very lively action occurred during fhe night-time, the enemy heing thrown over to the east bank of the canal, where he resists energetically. 'Between the Aisne and the Vesle we gained fresh advantages. AVest of Rheims we hold Pouillon Thil and the southern outskirts of. Villers Franquez. The St. Thierry massif is in onr hands. We also gained ground north of the Ailette and carried our line to the southern outskirts of Betheiny.—Aus. Assoc.

- A DECISIVE BATTLE, MOST CRITICAL OF THE WAR. GERMAN DEFENCES CRUMBLING. DESPERATE FIGHTING BY CANADIANS. New York, Oct. 2, A United Press message from London states that it is believed the Allies have taken Cambrai. The 'Britisll lmve encircled Armen-tieres.—Atlg.-N.Z, Cable Assoc. London, Oct. 2. Mr. Percival Phillips writes from Headquarters:—The derman 17th Army has issued an order: "Cambrai must not fall." Meanwhile the enemy has massed fresh divisions around the beleaguered town. General von Bulow is determined to fight to a finish. The Canadians, at 5 o'clock this morning, drove again with their full weight behind a moving screen of Ted-hot metal towards the Scheldt Canal, northwards of the town. Eight German divisions, including rested and newly-trained reserves, arc wedged in depth along the fij miles' front between Cambrai and Aubencheul by the Sensee River. • The Canadians suffered severe losses, but this only stiffened them.—Aus-N.Z. Cabla Assoe

Mr. Phillips, continuing, says:—The Canadians underwent a liard ordeal yesterday, when they failed to make progress. Tlieir battlefront was flung forward against a devastating machine-gun fire, and they pushed into Blecourt and Tilloy, 'but, by sheer force of shells, the Germans pressed them back. • General Currie withdrew his men and swiftly planned a heavier barrage, and attacked agam to-day along the whole front. Despite German reinforcements, the Canadians by 9 o'clock had reached the Morenehies and Poivt d'Aire bridgehead and Ramillieg on the north.

As the Canadians fought in the villages and over the spurs a, great pillar of smoke arose from Camhrai, which indicated that it had been set on fire, as was expected. The enemr deliherate.lv started the fires, for no British shell fell within the town- Despite their dogged resistance, the Germans must have realised that their task was hopeless.

The fighting southward and southwestward of the town, where the English. Scottish, and others were engaged, resulted m n further advance around that side of Oamhrai. One of the finest exploits has hoen the storming of the German salient eastward of Marcoing. The New Zealanders participated, and cleared the south hank of the canal, and, in co-oneration with the Yorkshires, entered Crevecoeur. Yester£av the Australians homhed their war northward throneh the Tfindenburs defences towards Bony, and made considerable progft*s They attacked this mornin" between Bonv and Joncourt, push in? north-westward and occupying the Mill ridue and Estrees. Other troops took Lavergies. The Australian movement threatens the German garrison at Gouy- i'hey fpimd strong resistance in a patch ot o!d trenches between Nauroy and Estrees, where the Cermans maintained a lamp signalling-station for the Hindenburg line. As the result M to-day's, operations, we are established nearly four miles to the eastward of the Hindenhurg main defences. At some points southward of Vendhuile we are against the southern end of the so-called Masniercs-Beaure-voir line, which we (dread v hold north of Vendhuile, while behind it there is a well-established trench, system.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assoc. Mr. Oibhs writes:—Probably the deciBivo battle of tha war i« being fought on the Cambrai front. The enemy is putting in all his possible strength, fearing that if the English and Canadian spearhead drives deeper above and below the city, he will be forced in full retreat into the ooen plans and the whole defensive system turned. Consequently the enemy ha\ brought up very strong reinforcements, and all are fighting with desperate courage, but the defensive is now crumbling under our pressure.

Tuesday's and Wednesday's fightin? was the most critical of the battle. If we can beat the enorav where he now stands, we shall have driven him out of his last continuous defences, organised as unbreakable positions.—Aus. -N.Z, Cable Assoc.