GARNERING THE FRUITS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 1918, Page 5

GARNERING THE FRUITS.

Pressing on Enemy's Heels. j C' ?es of a Stand Frustrated. Received Oct. 11, 7,40 p.m. London, Oct. 10. Mr. Robinson writes: Our success is complete. We are garnering the fruits. The enemy is rapidly retreating to the Le Catcau line, and wc are pressing on 'liis heels.' We reached the village of Bertry at noon to-day, nine miles from yesterday's starting point. Between here and Cambrai the (jnemy vainly attempted to stand on the railway. Elsewhere he is blowing up the railway and burning depots and stores. South of Bertry we cut the line, destroying the enemy's hopes of making a stand, which is now impossible this side of Le Cateau. The enemy planned 'his retreat under our pressure, but we struck too rapidly, capturing thousands of prisoners, many guns, and much material before his preparations were complete, and preventing the completion of his destructive programme. Many villages are falling into our hands intact. We are releasing thousands of French citizens, ENTRY INTO CAMBRAI, The Canadians and British entered Cambrai from the north and south at four o'clock in t'he morning. Numbers of German soldiers were in hiding, but they did not attempt to fight. Yesterday's explosions reduced the town to ruins. The fires due to the explosions are still burning, but our troops are extinguishing them. Further mine explosions are possible. The enemy exploded the canal bridges, but we crossed easily. JOY OF CIVILIANS.

Many civilians who remained were hiding in the cellars, and were beside themselves with delight, kissing and embracing anybody in khaki, and telling their experiences to any listener. M. Seraing, a priest, says that last January the Germans deported a thous'and people, including 400 women, magistrates, persons of substance, and gentle families. STUNTED PRISONERS. Our prisoners include a large number of stunted, wizened creatures. All were aware of the proposed armistice, but were indifferent as to the outcome, and were thankful to be out of it. The prisoners' appearance suggests that some divisions were practically reduced to the point of inefficiency, regiments and battalions being universally reduced. Prisonered officers hint that this is the beginning of a big German retreat. GUNNERS AND AIRMEN PRAISED. Our guns and airmen did splendidly. It was a magnificent spectacle to see our guns shelling the whole line, tend fleets of aeroplanes hovering incessantly overhead. Enemy artillery hardly gave any evidence of its existence.—Times Service. EFFECT OF ENEMY DEFEAT.

Deep Retirement to be Faced. Resistance Must Soon Collapse. Received Oct. 11, 7.40 p.m. Paris, Oct. 10. Militarists agree that von LudendoriT must immediately face a deep retirement and a severe contraction of his front. Le Matin states that with the Turks and Austrians refusing to continue to fight, coupled with the striking symptoms of demoralisation in the German troops as seen during the last few days, it is evident the Hohenzollerns' resistance must soon collapse. President Wilson's Note is so worded as to create a maximum of disorder and discord in the enemy's ranks.—Times Service. FORTIFYING ANTWERP AND BRUSSELS. Germans Feverishly Working. Received Oct. 11, 7.45 p.m. Amsterdam, Oct. 10. It is reported that the fortifications round Antwerp have been enormously strengthened. Tha Germans are feverishly entrenching two sides of a triangle with the apex at Termonde and the bases at Antwerp and Brussels. —Reuter. TWO MILES FROM LE CATEAU. ENEMY'S RESISTANCE STIFFENING. Received Oot. 11, 1.30 p.m. London, Oct. 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We continued our advance last night a'gainst gradually increasing resistance. Early in the night advanced detachments established themselveß across the Cambrai-Le Cateau road, within two miles of Le Cateau. Fighting is proceeding southward of the main road on both sides of Caudry, also eastward of Cambrai, where we progressed between the Scarpe and Leos. Patrols are pushing forward and are in touch with the enemy westward of the 'general line Vitry-en-Artois, Esquerchin, Rouvroy. We seem to be in possession of the Sallau mines and Noyelles.—Australian Cable Assoo.

GERMANS ADMIT RETIRING. Received Oct. 11, 9.25 p.m. London, Oct. 10. A wireless German official message states: In face of strong infantry attacks in the direction of L® Cateau we retired, fighting step by step towards new positions. The Franco-American main thrust on Wednesday between the Aire and the Meuse was directed against Sommerance and Romagne, but both remain in our hands. Wo recaptured Sivry, eastward of the Meuse.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter.