WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 October 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

CULMINATION OF COLOSSAL BATTLE. CROP OF BRILLIANT SUCCESSES. SPLENDID WORK OF AMERICANS. INTERESTING- SITUATION AT COURTRAI; Received Oct. 19, 5.5 p.m. London. o< , v. IS. The French headquarters correspondent wrote on Thursday evening: The AngloFrench attacks which began this morning between Le Catcau and the Oise are the culmination of the colossal battle which began ou August 8. Generals Rawlinson and Debeney are advancing along the railway connection with the enemy front between the Boi» Rethel, with the great junction of Hirson, and thereby with Germany. General Debeney's First Army attacked on a front of twelve miles between the forest of Oneissy, crowning the Oise and Sambre watershed and the Oise. In the region of Rikemont, General Rikemont's left, by the afternoon, was within two miles of Vaaencourt station, ou the La-n-Wassigny-Hirson railway The German were m strong force on the whole front, resisting tenaciously. Tha American headquarters correspondent, writing on Thursday, says the capture of Grand Pre yesterday was accomplished without artillery preparation. The Germans, with a view to rendeiing the pursuit more difficult, destroyed the bridges over the Aire, and, instead of, bridging "ie river, the Americans forded the shallow stream at four points, under a murderous fire, and, aftet bitter hand-to-hand fighting, drove the Germans out of Grand Pre and took possession of the important railhead.

Reuters British headquarters correspondent, writing on Thursday evening says: This has been a black day for Germ fin arms. Whilst between Lille and the sea a wonderful crop of nost brilliant successes was being garnered by the Allies, the Fourth British Army struck- hard between Lo Cateau and Boham, aiming in the direction across which the enemy was trvirg to effect Ms r-ain retreat. The lighting has been heavy, but the progress is satisfactory, the principal tactical objectives being reached at an early hour The heaviest resistance was encountered around Le Cateau.

Our prisoners at mid-day numbered ISOO from six different divisions. The British landing party, under Admiral Keycs, which occupied Ostend, was given an entuusiastic reception. The fillies are advancing along the Bruges-Tjourout road and are within five mil's of Bruees.

The situation at Courtrai is interesting. We hold one-third of the town, wherein are 5000 inhabitants,' the Germams retaining the remainder containing 30,000 civilians. We are virtually all round the place, and the enemy's tenure is decidedly precarious. He attempted on Monday night to evacuate the civilian mates from the age of 17 to 55. . 'if 6 " le3 " a d pri3onered over 13 000 in Flanders up to last night.—Reuter.

THE HUN CRACKING UP.

SWEEPING MOVEMENT IN BELGIUM

CROWDED WITH DRAMATIC EVENTS RE-ENTRY INTO CSTEND. THE SCENE DESCRIBED. Received Oct. 19, 5.5 p.m. T7 London, Oct. 18. i.113 great sweeping movement that is progressing in Belgium 19 crowded wiih dramatic events, particularly the reentry of Ostend on the anniversary of its surrender four years ago. Admiral Keyes was the first man asaore.

The peoplo were wild with delight and shouldered the French hirmen who landed as the German rearguard hastened irom the town.

The British! marines met with a stirring reception. They witnessed extraordinarily pathetic scenes when the* inhabitants later welcomed the Belgian infantry, who were flushed with pride in their mission of liberation. Meanwhile the Belgian cavalry, who were pressing on to Bruges, saw the Gennanj (hurrying towards Eecloo. The whole Flemish coast may be regarded as in the Allies' hands.

Mr. Peroral spates that the women, children, and old men were called from their beds itiid assembled in the principal squares. German officers said: "<"!o! You may leave the direction to your friends and ouv enemies." Thereupon little processions moved westward in the dariiiess. Simultaneously the German garrison apparently prepared to inarch the opposite way. Shortly after daybreak, in consequence of tho inhabitants' signals to the airmen, our patrols rapidly pushed through Haubourdin into the city.

It is impossible to give an adequate summary of to-day's stirring events. Hun is cracking up. His retreatirj? armies from the Channel to Valenciennes show greater signs of .demoralisation. <)n!y t.ho machine-gunners arc holding one.

Coi.ttrai town has not been bombarded. Ths enemy's high explosives search tlie roads in the British held quarter, but display almost ail ostentatious care to avoid the destruction of buildings in the town. Women and children, so far, are safe, tUose within the British lines having evaensfed, b".t nthers are causht in the screen ot the Genmra rearguard covering the retreat from Lille—a novel position almost unparallelel in war. They remain in the cellars and move .behind t'be shattered windows listening with feverish impatience to the sound of British voiced—Alls. N.Z. Cable Association. KEFORTKD EVACUATION OF BRUSSELS. Received Oct. 20, 5.5 p.m. New York, Oct. IS. It is reported that the Germans arc evaluating Brussels. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

LILLE INHABITANTS REMAIN.

GERMANS DEPORT ALL BOYS.

CAPTURES AT OSTEND.

Received Oct. 20. 5.5 p.m. . Paris, Oct. 18. One hundred and twenty thousand inhabitants remained at Lille. The Germans deported all boys over 15 to an unknown destination. Captures at Ostend included a Til-pits battery with an enormous quantity of material, which the Germans could not withdraw. Tremendous explosions have been heard. It is believed the Germans are destroying tho big batteries.—Press Assoc.

THE TOWN BEFLAGGED,

CAPTURED GERMAN GUNS Received Oct. 20. 5.5 p.m. Paris, Oct. .19. Tlte capture of Lille was the occasion of universal rejoicing. The capital was beflagged for the first time in the war period. Captured German guns were massed round the statue of Lille in the Place de la Concorde.—Australian Cable Assoc.

HIDEOUS OUTRAGES.

■ COMMITTED AT LILLE. Received Oct. 20. 5.5 p.m. Paris. Oct. 10. Tlia Haras Agency's correspondent at Lille says the enemy yesterday bombarded the town with long range guns. Prior to leaving they destroyed the municipal m uterworks and gas flnd electric installations, and carried off all electric appliances. They perpetrated hideous outrages on the female population, forcing the women and young girls to undergo "medical inspection," on the pretext of safeguarding the health of the array.

They carried oft all securities in the banks at Lille, and robbed and pillaged in every direction, destroying furniture and breaking open doors of buildings.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter.

BREAKING HINDENBURG LINE.

WAY OPEN TO GHENT. Reeeived Oct. 20. 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 19. The Manchester Guardian says that Marshal Foch recently told Sir Douglas JTaig personally that- the British break through of the Hindenbr.rg line caused Germany to offer peace. 'Marcel Hutin states Iliat Prince Ruppreeht's retreat is opening the way to an Allied advance on Ghent. The, enemy will ihave a hard task to escape difficulty between the Oise and T.e Catoau.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

SUCCESS I.M OISE REGION,

FORCED ENEMY TO WITHDRAW. BITTER FIGHTING AT GRAND PRE. Received Oct. 20, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. IS. A French communique reports: On the right bank of the Oise there was violent enemy artillery action. Between the Oise and the Serre our pressure during the past few day 3 has obliged the enemy to begin a fresh withdrawal. We pursued the German rearguards and occupied Anguilcourt. West of Grand Pre extremely bitter fighting continues, and extended this morning as far as the height of Vouziers. Wo crossed the Aisno at this point.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter.

THE GREAT NORTHERN DRIVE.

GERMAN FLANK EXPOSED. POSSIBILITIES OF A ROUT. Received Oct. 20, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. lfl. Router's correspondent at British headquarters, writing on the evening of the lStli, states that the great northern drive ill as become mainly a question of keeping contact. Appreciable progress by the AngloFrench, pivoting on Le Gateau, would leave tlio Germans' exposed flank fraught with possibilities of a rout, hence the, strenuous resistance encountered by the Anglo-Americans under General Rawliuson. The enemy's counter-attacks at Larderi and Mokn, west of Ribeauville and La Vallee Mulatre, led to the fiercest fighting. This morning, with lessened resistance showing, the enemy's defence was broken and we progressed satisfactorily. The infantry gained the line of railway west of Quesnoy. Patrols are reported to have gone- through Quesnoy itself. We are also on the west bank of the Deule and made a good advance in the Le Catcau region, being well beyond the Selle. —Reuter.

BRITISH ADVANCE CONTINUED

SENSES CANAL GROSSED. 4000 PRISONERS TAKEN. Received Oct. 1!),- 5.3 p.m. Jjondon, Oct. IS. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The prisoners in the operations on the Bohain-Le Cateau front exceed 4000. We also took a number of guns. Wo continue to advance on the whole front between the Pensee canal and the Lys. We crossed the canal on a wide front northward of Cambrai, and are now astride the Douai-Denain road, four miles south-westward pf Douai. We have captured a number of villages.— Aus. U& Cafele-'Assoc. and Beuter. -

OPERATIONS IN FLANDERS.

'CLEARING OUT ENEMY- REARGUARDS. ENEMY CUTTING LOSSES RATHER THAN i-IOLD LINE. MOUSCRON REACHED. Received Oct. 20, 5-5 p.m. Ltradca, Oct. 19. The British in Flanders continue to clear out strong rearguards, ana are advancing steadily. The British have known for a fortnight that the retreat was in progress, the Germans going out of their own volition.

They still have half a million reserves, apart from tho 1020 clajg, but prefer to cut their losses and use the lialf-jiillion to defend the new line rather tifcin bolster an untenable longer line. Tho enemy, apparently, has not quite evacuated the Xeebrngge area, as Ostend has been shelled from there. Although Bruges is not yet occupied, our troops have reached its western and southern outskirtsBritish patrols, after traversing -Roubaix and Turcoing, reached the outskirts of Mouscron.—Aust. Cable Assoc.

THE BELGIAN LINE.

FURTHER PROGRESS MADE, AFTER HAND-TO-IMTD FIGHTING. ..Received Oct- 20, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 19. A Belgian communique says:—The .Anglo-French, in the morning, resumed their advance. The Belgians mched the general line Ostend, Oudenlnirg, Ettethaim, Varssenaerc, Standre, St. Michel. Towards the east the resistance was strong. As the result of hand-to-hand Agisting, wo reached the eastern outskirts of Oost* camp and Reingbeelc, capturing Mozkroosebeeke. We progressed one and a-half kilometres beyond.

The Belgians and French, in ihe morning, resumed their advance.—Aua.-N.Z. Cable Assec. and Renter.

BELGIAN COAST EVACUATED,

NO SHELLING OF LILLE. BRITISH PASS ON BOTH SIDES. Reeeived Oct. 20. 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 18. The Germans have evacuated the entire Belgian coast. The United Press correspondent states that, instead of entering. Lille on Thursday, the British passed beyond on both sides, as part of an apparent unwritten agreement that Lille is not to be used for military purposes, thereby remaining exempt from German shelling in the future as from the British shelling in the past four years. The only soldier seen there after the Germans withdrew was, Captain Charles Dosolle, an aviator, who flew from Dunkirk in the afternoon to visit his father, the Mayor of Lille, whom he had not seen since the cutbreak of the Avar. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Association.

LITTLE DAMAGE AT OSTEND.

ROYAL FLIGHT OVER TOWN. BRITISH SUPERIORITY ADMITTED. Received Oct. 20, 5.5 p.m. ' London, Oct, 19. There is no confirmation of the report that the King and Queen of the Belgians had entered Bruges. It is reported that there is comparatively little damage at Ostend. King Albert flew over the town before it 3 evacuation. A striking feature of the situation is the enemy's inability to replace the last three months' losses. The Germans do not attempt to dispute the British general superiority, but are content to concentrate their strength in particular sectors. General vou Below, in a recent army order, said that the numbers of the German air scouts could rever equal the enemy's strength. In fighting these machine? troops in quiet sectors must rely on ground defences. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Renter.

STUBBORN ENEMY RESISTANCE.

BELGIANS PROGRESS CONSIDERABLY. APPROACHES OF BRUGES REACHEDROUBAIX AND TOURCOING OCCUPIED. Received Oct. 20, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 9, 5 a m. Sir Douglas Haig reports that the day was marked by stubborn resistance on the line, Bruges, Moostcarap, Wyrighene, Thielt, and Oostreosebeke. We overcame resistance cist of Oostcamp and OostropsebekeThe Belgians, south-west of Bruges, are progressing considerably, crossing the Brage-Ostend canal at several points and advancing nortliwards, they occupied Coostcainp and reached the approaches of Bruges. ' The Second British Army have improved their line. South of the Lyfl, thev crossed the G'ourtrai-Mouscron railway at a numbqr of points. The British, 'in the afternoon, occupied Roub&ix and Turcoing.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable As3oc. and Rcuter. GERMANS REPORT EVACUATING TOWNS. Received Oct. 20, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 19. A wireless German official report states: We evacuated Ostend, Tufcoing, Roubaix, Lille, and Douai.—Aus. N.Z. UWet Assoc. -and 1 Keutar. ■

ALLIES' SUCCESSFUL ADVANCE.

OISE CANAL REACHED. MANY VILLAGES AND PRISONERS TAKEN. Received Oct. 21, 12.35 a.m. London, Oct. 20, 12.30 a.m. Sir Doi'glas Haig reports: AngloAmerican forces this morning, operating in conjunction with J jhc French between the Oise and Le Cateou, successfully renewed the advance. We reached the west bank of the Ssimbre and the Oise Canal, northward of Oisyt, and took possession of the high ground westward of Catillon.

In our operations during the past three days m this sector General Rawlinson's l'ourth Army completed an advance of from five to eight miles, across difficult country, which the enemy defended with tenacity. Hawing driven the enemy on the first day of their attack from strong positions on the right bank of the Selle River, l>y determined and persistant fighting, they successfully cleared the whole of the high ground eastward of the river line, capturing nuny villages in the course of their advance, with over 5000 prisoners and a number of guns Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Renter.

Received Oct. 21', 12.35 a.m. London, Oct. 20, 1'2.35 a.m. A French communique states: During the night the First Army, continuing its victorious advance, completed its task of throwing back tile enemy, who endeavored to maintain, at all costs, his position on the west bank of the Oise We presently reached the canal from east of the Forest d'Andigny to north of Hauteville.

POSITION AT ZEEBRUGGE.

GERMANS HOLD OUTSKIRTS. BRITISH NEARING SAMBRE CANAL. GERMANS IN RISKY POSITION Received Oct. 20, 11.5 p.m. London, Oct. 19. So far Zeebrugge has not completely fallen. The Germans are holding the outskirts, also the southern and western outskirts of Bruges. The Belgians have reached some points of the Zeebrugge—Bruges Canal. We reached the Oise on a wide front west of Guise. We are also approaching the Sambre Canal. This ij an important line, because it gives the enemy a waterline through Maubeuge to Nainur, and we may be sure the enemy will hold it with all the strength at his disposal. In the region east of Vouziers the French made a big dent in the German line, and captured Vandy. A general view of the situation is that in Flanders, as far as che Scarpe, the enemy's retreat is continuing under cover of strong rearguards, Further south the Germans are executing a small local retirement under extreme pressure. They cannot relinquish much ground south of the Sambre and the Oise without risking vital point 3 seriously affecting their strategy. It might mean the cutting of their armies in two, and materially altering the whole situation if the Allies advance from twenty to twenty-five ittiles.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc.

We hold Hannapes, Lupigny, Noyales, and the majority of places bordering- on the canal.

Since the opening of the battle in this region on October 17 we prisonered 3000 , and captured 20 guns and a considerable number of machine guns; also important war material, including an entire munition train.

On the Aisne front we cleared the enemy between the canal and the Aisne to we3t of Attigny. We captured Le Haut, taking prisoners.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Eeuter.

ANGLO-AMERICAN PROGRESS,

ENEMY DRIVEN FOR POSITIONS. AN ADVANCE OP FIVE MILES. Received Oct. 20, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 19, 1 a m. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—The British and Americans continued their at* tack between Bohain and Le Cateau. and made good progress. In co-operation with the French, on their right,, despite lieavv resistance, we once more have driven the enemy from positions he took up. We captured Wassigny and Ribeauville, and entered Bazual, where fighting continues. **Wi» prisonered over 1200 in these onerations. Between the isensoe Canal and the Lys, the enemy was forced to retreat, and our progress continues- We further advanced five miles, despite considerable opposition.

General Homo's First Army completed tlie capture of Douai and progressed eastward. On tliis front we reached the general line—Marquett Nostra Vant, 'Masnr, Bersee, Fretin, Sainghin, and Aseq. Northward of Ascq, General Humor's second army are eastward of Roubaix and Tourcoing.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc- and Reuter.

FRENCH AT GHENT. h

WARSHIPS SHELL RETREATING ENEMY. COOO GERMANS SURROUNDED, Received Oct. 20, 5.5 p.m. New York, Oct. 18. The British are six miles east of Donai. Maziliglioini, south-east of Le has been captured, It is reported that the French cavalry has reached the outskirts of Ghent, and that the British have captured Wassigny. British warships off the Belgian coast are shelling the retreating Germans. The British entered Eecloo, surrounding (1000 Germans against the Dutch frontier. —Aits. N.Z. Cable Assoc. BRITISH APPROACHING HOLLAND. Received Oct. 20, 5.5 p.m. New York, Oct. 18. General Marsh states that the British are approaching Sluis, in Holland,—Aus.

AMERICAN SUCCESSES,

advance west of the meuse.

PROGRESS WEST OF THE OISE,

TEX VILLAGES OCCUPIED.

Received Oct. 20, 5.5 p.m.

Loudon, Oct. 1-6. An American communique reports:— Westward of the Mouse, the advance continued. We took Bantheville and entered the northern edge of Bois dc Loges and captured Talma Farm, westward of Grand Pre, after severe fighting- Eastward of the , Meuse, we repulsed fresh attempts to drive us out from new positions at the Bois Grande Montague.

The Americans, participatng in tile British attack on Thursday southward of Le Cateau, penetrated two miles and stormed Molain, St. Martin, Riviere i'Arbie de Guise-

West of the Oise, we first re-attacked the villages of Mcnnevret, in the forest of Audigny, where we hold the eastern outskirts. We have advanced five kilometres in this region under most -difficult conditions, and reached the outskiers of Hannapes, Verly-le-Grand' Doyales, and captured the villages of Grougis, AisonviUe, and Bernoville, despite furious resistance.

Further south, our advance guards continue the pursuit between the Oise and the Serrc and advanced nortli of Sery-les-Mezieres, on the outskirts of Sur Fontaine, north of Nouvion-et-Capillon, nine kilometres beyond the confluence of the two rivers. We occupied ten villages.

Fifteen hundred prisoners have so far teen counted. We crossed the Aisne on' ii front of five kilbmetres, on both sides of Zouziere, and obtained a lodgment in the hills eaSt of the village of Vaxidy, ami captured several fortified farms, taking several hundred prisoners.

Further east we advanced in the wooded region between Olizy and Grand Pre. —Ans.-Is.X. Cable Assoc. and Reuter,

MISLEADING THE GERMAN

A T rEEESTING JX'CTJMENTS. Received <},% 21, .i.tf a.m. New York, Get. 19. Mr. James, with the American Army, cables that prisoners say that the Gftrluan Notes, with President. Wilson's replies have been posted at all German headquarters. Captured orders tell the German soldiers that they must fight, their hardest now for the purpose of getting better peace terms and guard the Fatherland from invasion.

Mr. James continues: I saw,a document which was circulated among the German soldiers, saying, "France, America, and Italy wanted peacp," also a leaflet saying that when the German armies were withdrawn from France and Belgium, the American and British armies would' withdrawn from France.— Aus.-X.Z. Cable Assoc.

FURTHER BRITISH SUCCESSES

GERMANS DRIVEN FROM POSITIONS. Received Oct. 20, 11.30 p.m. London, Oct. 19, 11.25 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—'We further progressed north-east of 80-hain, capturing the village of Mazingheim and completing the* capture of Bazual. The advance continues. Northward of the Sensee Canal we drove out the Germans from Emerchicourt and court, and are in contact with the enemy eastward of Yred and Cattelet. Further north we crossed the Marcquc river, between Sainghin and Chereng, x 7 a PP ChercLg.— Aus.i\x. Cable Assoc. and Reuter.

THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

ON' THE SEL2.I3 FRONT.

WAREFARE WAS QUITE OPEN.

(I'i'om Captain Malcolm Ross, Official vvar Correspondent with the New Zealand Forces in the Field.) . By Cable, October 12. ■n the area where the New Zealanders are fighting the German retreat has slowed down. Beyond the Selle tne Wellington troops aro still in line, ■liiey improved their position slightly morning, and captured t» few prisoner. Yesterday they held, in addition to their front, a flank of 3000 yard? aud on this sector 500 enemy troops were seen j n two lines, as if.ready to attack. Our men got their Vickers guns on to them, and then the forward section hred steadily at them. Nothing cam* of the supposed attack. To-day this flank was reduced by half,' and the position was made more secure, but the enemy is holding the ridge ahead, and was shelling the positions we had won from the direction of Solesmes- Last night'lie shelled one'of our regimental aid posts out of a farm north of This morning we passed thorn digging in under the hank of a road leading to"°the front. The warfare Is now' quite open. You can walk for miles and see no sign of any trendies or barbed wire—a unique experience in this' war, Great craters have been blown in the roads and rail ways, and these holes our engineers wero filling in. For many miles the enemy had destroyed his telegraph lines by sawing down the posts and brealdng the wrcs. The civilians liberated from bondage in the forward villages are still unrestrained in their joy. Strange to say, they knew some days ago that the New Zeaianders were coming. They had heard the German soldiers talking of their advance.

Everywhere tlio Hun ha 3 looted freely, and liaa left behind a trail of destruction.. The inhabitants had continued to cultivate some of the fields, and flowers and vegetables riro growing in their gardens, so our men are enjoying abundance of vegetables, which for vreekß have been very scarce with .us. There are fields of sugar beet and turnips, and the winter wheat is pushing up it's leaves above the soil. Our men are tiled, but tsill cheerful They are due