BRITISH PROGRESS MAINTAINED.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1918, Page 5

BRITISH PROGRESS MAINTAINED.

STRONG ENEMY COUNTER-ATTACK. Received Oct. 14, 10.45 p.m. London, Oct. 13, 11.20 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Local engagements continued on the line of the Selle river. We enlarged our bridgehead positions in the neighborhood of Solesmes, and progressed on the west bank of the river about Haussy Saulzoir. We took prisoners in local fighting in the neighborhood of Lieu St. Amand. Early in the morning our troops crossed the Sensee Canal at Aubigny au Bac, but were unable to -rasimtain tho positions in the face of a strong counterattack. We continued to advance north-west of Douai. We hold Courcclles, Lez Lens, Noyelles-Godault, and are approaching the line of the Hautedeule Canal. On the whole front between Douai and Vendinleviel we prisonered a number on this sector.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. Received Oct. 14, 10.15 p.m. London, Oct. 13. Reuter's correspqndent at British headquarters, writing on the evening of the 13th, says: Between Le Cateau and St. Vaast the Germans, in strength, are fighting hard. We renewed our attack here yesterday. The severest fighting occurred along the railway embankment from Montigny to Neuville. Large new enemy forces have been fiercely counter-attacking, supported by tanks, the whole morning, but by the afternoon the British tenacity triumphed and we are pursuing the Germans eastward.—Reuter.

FRENCH MAKE GOOD PROGRESS. LAON AND LA FERE TAKEN. KEYSTONE OF GERMAN 'DEFENCE GONE. ' Received Oct. 14, 10 50 p.m. London, Oct. 13. Renter's correspondent at French headquarters, writing on the* evening of the 13th, says that further French progress was recorded front the Oise to the Aisne and in the Champagne. Southeast of Laon we reached the line running straight from Orgeval to Araifontaine. In the centre we occupied n strong position north of the Aisne. We are bridging the river under occasional heavy artillerying. Farther east, in the great northward bend of the Aisne, we hold the southern bank of the river to Vouzieres. North of this lines numerous fires indicate thaS the enemy doe 3 not intend to hold for long his new natural line along' the Sorre River.

The French entered Laon without a of natural obstacles winch for years light, tlius re-conquering the great group have formed the, keystone of the German defence in Prance.—Reuter.

Received Oct. 'A, 5.30 p.m. London, Oct. IS, 5 p.m. A French communique states:—We captured La Fere and crossed the railway from La Fere tcrwards Laon, in the neighborhood of Danizy and Versigny to the north-east.

The villages of the Serre are aflame. In the St. Gobain massif we occupied St Nicholas-aux-Bois and 3ucy.—Aus.-N.Z. 'Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received Oct. 14, 8.30 p.m. London, Oct. 13. Italian troops progressed north of the • Ailette. Further east wo hold the line rof Aizelles, Berrieux, Amifontaine. , We cleared the last points of re3istr,ance in tho bend of the Aisne. —Aus.-fJEZ.-Cable Assoc. and Reuter. WHAT THE GERMANS SAY. Received Oct-14, 7.30 p.m. London, Oct. 13, <J p.m. Wireless? German official: We withdrew .somewhat north-east of Cambrai, but 'tho-renemy did not follow. We reached ;®ear Avesnes le Sec and the heights on the-rwesK&anfcof near Saulzoir and Hanßay, Between the Oise . and. the reached the wooded districts of St, Gobain, and the heights taorth of the Ailette and Amifontaine.— Aus. and N.Z. Cable Asaoo and Ru,ter.