WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 October 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

GERMANS' OBSTINATE 1 RESISTANCE. PEACE PROPOSALS STIR Otfß %M TO MORE INTENSE EFFORTS. Received Oct. 8, 7.40 p.m. ~ ~ , , London, Oct. 7. Mr. Murdoch says that Germany's armistice proposals stirred our men to more intense efforts. The Allies have suflered what !may be called minor reverses during the past few days, in that they failed to achieve all of their objectives. The Germans' obstinate resistance While losing heavily in prisoners and positions, have saved their armies from a repetition of the August and September retreats. Our nieVare beginning to think that a period of stabilisation is likely to lie readied shortly, but Germany's proposal, launched during critical battles, convinces them that .she fears a collapse. Describing the fighting, he says that the Germans crowd thickly on the front line between Cambi-ai and St. Quentin. They have no trenches for seven miles, merely strong posts (built about shellholes, they put up ■ some desperate struggles. He mentions the Victorians, In one case, prisonered 700, considerably more than the number of attackers, but 200 dribbled back to the German lines, as it was impossible to detail guards to escort the \> prisoners to the rear, ■ .'..'.

; Many Germans fought with desperation, their guns, firing 300 yards at point Hank range. The Germans answered our creeping barrage with one creeping backwards, designed to pelt our men 'during their advance. This new idea in warfare must he the last Tesort of the desperate defenders, for it sacrifices the defenders indiscriminately with the attackers,—United Service*

REDOUBLED VIOLENCE. ENEMY'S GREAT EFFORTS. TO ARREST FRENCH ADVANCE. Received Oct. S. 7.40 p.m. London, Oct. 1, 12.10 pm. French official:—We prisonered 400 in local fighting at Aubencheul-aux-Bois. We established points at canal crossings northward of Aubenehcnl-aux-B'ac, north-east and weseward of Oppy. We captured a post eastward of Berelau, and slightly progressed northward of Wezmackuart. A French communique issued at. 5 p.m. states:—North of St. Quonfin the struggle was continued at night-time with redoubled violence, the enemy's several attempts to re-take the captured positions being all broken, with the exception of the region of the Thilloy Fnrm, where he regained a slight advantage. The fight continues along the Suippe front. The Germans are vigilant, and are endeavoring with all their strength to arrest our advance. On the north bank of the Suippe, the struggle was particularly lively in the region of Bertrieburt. Further'east, we captured St. Masmes. On the right we enteVed Hauvine, north of the Arties.— j Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Neuter.

BRITISH CAPTURE FRESNOY. BEHIND T.HE OLD GERMAN LINE. Received Oct. 8, 7..40 p.mLondon, Oct. 7. The only change in the northern position of> the battlefield is the British capture of Fresnoy. We now hold the enemy's whole front behind tins line from which" he stafteS M March M. The French crosssed the river Suippe on a front of twtf lailtfa frothßertricourfi and Pon't Glvart, securing a small briifge■Mfttfl

, The French are' now facing the strong Hunding line, therefore it- is not expected they will immediately break through 1 ., The 1 German retirement' to a depth of 10 miles oil a front of 30 gives him greater strength.

The French advanced a mile northwestward of St. Quentirt v capturing RemaueouTt and Morcou'rt, and obtained;a' definite looting on the east bank of the' St. Quentiri canal. This advance was assisted by the British 1 operations further north, and us nearer' the O'ise Valley and enemy conimunieatidns in the St. Gobain region, where the situation is already uncomfbrfablc.—A'us - S.Z. Cable Assoc.

RETREAT FROM THE COAST. COASTAL liM 'tMWb$E&. ■ . Amsterdam, Oct. 7. The removal of stores and the dismantling of works in' the Flanders coast areas 1 continues. ZoelJriig'ge is idlfe The reeK from the coast towns have' been deported inland—Aus.-N,Z. Cable Assoc. GERMAN OFHCIAIi. Received Oct, 8, 11.45 r/.m'liondon, Oct. 7. Wireless German official:— The aneiny, who first gained ground on the Sormne Canal towards Essigny le Petit, Was" pressed back on Sunday.as far a's Remaucourt. ■ Tie . Americans continued their violent attack between the Arg'onne and the Meuse, but-were beaten back-on the heights eastward of the Aisne.—Aus.-N.?. Cable Assoc- and Reirtef.

A RECUMBENT KAISER. The Hague, Oct. 7. Newspapers state that panic is increasing in Germany. The Kaiser has developed religious raania> arid is. Btwnding hours on his knees, praying for the dynasty and the Cftcwri.

! BRITISH LINE ADVANCED. AERIAL ACTIVITY. Received Oct. 8, 11.40 p.m. London, Oet. 7, 10.20 p.m. Sir Douglas Hoig reports:—By a successful operation, we advanced our line on a four-mile front north of the Scarpo, capturing Bireho Bfc. 'Vaast and Oppy and a number of prisoners and machineguns. ■■■ ■;.■'■■' , We. progressed in patrol fighting north-east lof Epiony, north of Anbenclieul aux, Bois. We dropped over seven tons of bombs .behind the enemy lines. German aircraft was inactive. We dropped one balloon. Five "British aeroplanes are missing. Our night-fliers dropped 161 tons, obtaining many direct hits on railways.— Aus.-N.Z. ■ Cable Assoc. and Beuter. DELAYING ACTIONS. EXPECTED TILL AISNE IS ' REACHED. AMERICANS IN TOUCH WITH MAIN ENEMY POSITIONS. Received Get- 8, 7.40 p.m. Paris, Oct. 7. Though the two Aisne tributaries, the Suipps and RetoUrne, with the frequent marshy ground and thick woods between are still dominated by the they are only expected to "fight delaying actions* and they will make their first real stand on the Aisne. The Americans in the Argonne, after advancing from one to three miles since Friday, lire now in touch -with' the main enemy position. It is extremely strong, naturally and artificially. -The enemy aiao knows that as defeat here" is fraught with 'terrible consequences, it must be held, even if it becomes "necessary to withdraw the Aisne armies.— Aus.-N.iZ. (Mile Assoc- and Renter.

PATHETIC ENTHUSIASM,

LrtpRATBB CIVILIANS... gekman officer.'■ I Received Oct. 8, 7.40 p.m. ' \ _ London, Oct. 7, Mi. Siting Hit Sunday, Says U'at civilians from Mont Boucbairt disclosed themselves to the Australians from caves, woods, and deserted houses. They were mostly old men and women, with some cripples. They greeted their deliverers with p'&thefic ehthtfsksinV The. Germans had rounded up all i\ie' ablebodied, citizens and sent them 1 ib thfi rear. They described the anxious days of waiting while the advance was in progress.' ~ \ ,■'.■■■.■■ .. It was strange tc?W, old women w t ear' insr steel helmets, which the Australians willingly gave up, walking back.to where. the motor-cars were waiting- Some of the aged women had Mem killed % shells oiu'tside the Australian headquarters. The refugees' nerves were shattered by days of terrible shelling while waiting in their hiding-places. A prisoneved officer stated that he wa» determined ia surreholer at the first opportunity, as |he was no longer able to bear the privations of the front line, especially as ,he was convinced that Germany was beaten. He added: "The Germans/in this sector had sufficient troops tb withstand an attack' and to" deliver a counter-attack, but after thai; they were powerless until frtsh forces Arrived." He believed the .line must he withdrawn as far as te Cateau. Sfe declared that Germany's resource's were barely sufficient to maintain the armies in the field through the winter., .He expected an early peacp, and'that a re-' volution in Germany 'would be .cerfaiin to follow quiftkly.-Au3.-K-Z. Cable Assoc.