STEADY BRITISH PROGRESS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1918, Page 5

STEADY BRITISH PROGRESS.

CLEARING OUT THE ENEMY. London, Oct. 13. Sir Douglas Haig reports: There was local figf.iting along the line of the Selle river between Le Cateau and Solesmes. We steadily progressed north-west of Solesmes towards the Selle valley and drove out the enemy rearguards at St. Vaast, St. Aubert, Villers-en-Cauchie, and Avesnes-le-Sec.

More northward we cleared the west bail!;: of the Sensee canal between Arleuxi .and Corbehem, both of which are in our possession. We are closely approaching the line of the canal westwards of Douai. Eastwards of Lens we captured Montigny, Harnes, and Annay. We inflicted numerous casualties on the German rearguards and took prisoners in sharp local fighting on the whole of this front.

Sir Douglas Haig's aviation report states that low-flyers bombed and ma-chine-gunned parties of German infantry and transport, dropping nine tons of bombs and inflicting casualties. Nightflying was impossible.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

An American communique states: East ward of the Mecso there has been heavy fighting in the Bois-des-Ca-nres. We attained our objective!) on both sides of the river. Wo tave taken 17,650 prisoners since September 2(5 in this sector.— Ans. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

The Germans in the Champagne abandoned the line of the Retourne and are undoubtedly going behind the Aisne. The rapidity of the retirement may be gauged by the fact that the Frentfhi' this morning advanced four or five miles on ,the whole of this front. The advance is so rapid that it is difficult to follow the exact line, but there is nothing for a considerable distance to impede the French advance.

The British north of the Scarpe have reached a. line about two miles west of Douai. The enemy is obviously retiring behind the Sensee canal. We shall probably be on the edge of the canal and the outskirts of Douai on Sunday morning. On the Cliemin des Dames the French progressed from the west, the enemy falling back beyond the eastern end towards the Rheims-Laon road, north of Berry-au-Bac. It is expected the enemy will shortly evacuate the whole of the Chemin des Dames and retire behind the Ailette. ,

THE TERRORS OF RETREAT,

GROWTH OF DEMORALISATION. London. Oct. 12. Mr. Gibsb states: Airmen report that the roads south-eastwards of Le Cateau are surging with traffic and transport, struggling, to get clear of the British advance. Amid: the streams are deported French civilians. Frequently the crossmads are blocked and confusion and disorder reign. Some of our aviators a r n doing- their best to increase the confu--sJoDiand fears of'the -retreating army..

The-Germans,. for the first time in this waavknowtho retreat withvthe. enemy hard on their Steals. The terror will bo with them to the end. The' tanks have gone after them, to theamazement of' the villagers.. The" enemy hoped to make the. roadsimpas&afele, but/wo were too quick, £Uid the oiitynv - unahtoi to mine-the to plan. It-must not be-, forgotten payin^"the^price-of victocy* (iur patrols still face machine-guna and field-guns with,tha:same fcigfetfu}' fatigues. We. must not forget* tho-sple> <■ did sacrifices. of the ■officei^nAin^-'^hn are trudging-'through sheila and'tflUefca. towards, victory. Yet the- sumt,o£ defeat and think; only of » peace. We Kaiser's offer them off their mental Wa. ■ moralisatiea ha ? gtqwm^* B . Cable Af~~