WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

CAMBRAI CAPTURED.

With 8000 Prisoners.

Splendid Progress Made,

New York, Oct. 9. Cambrai 'has been captured, and 8000 prisoners taken.

Bohain, half-way between St. Quentin and Lc Cateau, is in flames. The Anglo-American attack south-east of Cambrai has been re.-u. .ral. There were 10,000 prisoners taken uu Tuesday on the whole front A heavy German .counter-offensive was launched on the Suippe front. The French, east of St. Quentin, have reached Harly and Neuville-St. Armand. London, Oct. S. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The night was stormy, making the assembly of troops difficult, and the assault was laurfched in steady rain, but as the attack progressed the weather cleared, favoring the operations, which were j completely successful. On the extreme right of the attack the 6th Division ana part of another English division drove the enemy from the high ground south-eastward and eastward of Montbrehain and 'captured Beauregard. On the right centre the 30th American Division, under General Lewis, captured Braneourt after heavy fighting, and further north-eastward took Premont, completing! a successful advance of over three miles, in whicih they drove the enemy from a number of farms and woods.

On the Americans' left, English, Scatj tirfh; and Irish troops, including the jtToops of the 26th and 26th Divisions, E.ado equal progress and captured Serain early in the day. In the centre, the English and Welsh of t : !ie 38th and 21st Divisions broke through the German defences known as the Beaurevoir-Masnieres line, and captured Malincout and the trench line westward of Walincourt. They encountered obstinate resistance by strong enemy parties with machine-guns at Villers-Soutreaux, which the Welsh captured after hard fighting.

In the left centre the 37th and New Zealand Divisions also broke through the Beaurevoir-Masnieres line, and made progress eastwards of it. The New Zealandera stormed Lougsart and captured Esnes.

On the left attack, our 2nd, 3rd. and 03rd Divisions had hard fighting about Seranvillers, Niergnies, and along the line of the Esnes-Cambrai road. The enemy strongly counter-attacked in this sector, using tanks, and pressed us back a sliort distance, but the counter-attack was stopped, and the enemy's tanks put out of action. We gained possession of Seranvillers and Niergnies.

We resumed the advance to the northwards of the Searpe. We completed the capture of the German trench system known as the Fresnes-Rouvroy line, from the Searpe to beyond Oppy, and captured Fresnes-le-Montauban and Neuvireuil Wc tool: several thousand prisoners and many guns. Progress continues on the whole front. —Aua. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. London, Oct 9. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We made further progress last evening eastward of Sequehart and in the direction of Boliain and Maretz. We reached the western outskirts of Walincourt and gained the line of La Targette-Cambrai road, capturing Forenville. The 3rd and 4th Armies, at 5.30 this morning, re-attacked on the whole of their front, and are making rapid progress everywhere. Shortly after midnight the Canadians northward of Cambrai, at Ramillies, captured the crossings of the Canal de l'Escaut and secured the neighborhood of Ramillies. We entered Cambrai. Yesterday's prisoners exceed 8000, with many guns. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter.

A COMPLICATED MOVEMENT. COMPLETELY SUCCESSFUL. \ London, Oct 9 I Mr. Gibbs writes: Many wonderful features of to-day's battle differentiate it from other attacks.. One of these was th« unusual hour at which the assault began. Another was the extremely complicated deposition and movement of the troops. Some were fighting eastwards against the Beaurevoir line, others northward and southward behind it. It would have been a difficult task at any time for troops new to the ground, and especially difficult in the darkness. It is astounding that the men were able to keep direction, but they did it. General Rawlinson, on Thursday, took 6800 prisoners and 35 guns. The Americans took two batteries, which they are utilising against the Germans. One regiment bolted as the Americans approached. —Aus. N.Z Cable Assoc. A French communique issued at 4.35 p.m states: South-east of St. Quentm in the night-time we carried bitterlydefended German positions between Harly and Neuville St. Amand, and enveloped the latter village from the north.

AN INTERESTING SITUATION. ENEMY COMPELLED TO ABANDON STRONG POINTS. London, Oct. 9. The situation is extremely interesting, particularly in the Oise Valley, the St. (jobain massif, and in the direction of Laon. The enemy will won be compelled to abandon all this sector and fall back on a shorter line. . The enemy is resisting strongly m the American sector, but the American casualties are not half the number of prisoners taken. The enemy is counter-attacking heavily on the Suippe and holding up the French advance, but progress towards Machault and Maurey threatens the eastern flank of the enemy's Suippe line. The British advance is continuing with less resistance than yesterday, the enemy having fallen hack during the night.—Ans. N.Z. Cable Assoc.