WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

THE NEW OFFENSIVE. GOOD PROGRESS MADE. CONDITIONS VERY DIFFICULT. New York, Oct. 23. The United Press London correspondent reports that the Anglo-Americans have launched an offensive between Les Cateau and Solesmes and are making considerable progress.—Argus. London, Oct. 22.„ Sir Douglas Haig reports: We entered the western suburbs of Valenciennes and penetrated deeply northward of the town into the Kaismse forest, towards the angle of the Scheldt at Conde.

We made progress eastward of St. Amand and reached the Scheldt at Holain and Bruyelle, southward of Tournai. We took possession of both places.

Northward of Tournai we captured Froyennes. Further north there was sharp fighting for the Scheldt crossings at Pontacin.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Eeuter.

Mr. Gibbs writes: The troops are fighting in the foulest weather and on «°ggy ground. _ On the front from Tournai to Valenciennes we have reached a stage where the Germans will undoubtedly make a stand. Between October 1 and 20 the 4th Army has taken 18,000 prisoners and the 3rd Army 10,000. The Germans cannot afford this drain. The year is waning, the weather breaking, and our men slogging through water pools and mud splashing them to their necks; horses are plastered to the ears. This makes war difficult and slow. The speed with which we are following up the German retreat is amazing. We are bringing heavy guns, aerodromes, hospitals, and telegraphs across battlefields whidhi resemble the craters of the moon. —Aus, N.Z. Cable Assoc.

CONSIDERABLE RESISTANCE. FRANCO-BELGIANS IMPROVE THEIR POSITIONS. Received Oct. 24, 2.25 p.m. London, Oct. 23. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Early this morning we attacked on the Le Cateau — Solesmes front, making good progress. Between Valenciennes and Tournai we took Bruay and reached the west bank of the Scheldt at Bleharies and Espain. Considerable resistance was met with on this front.

A British-Belgian official message states: The enemy throughout the day endeavored to maintain his position along the Lys-Derwaten canal, and made several counter-attacks with a view to retaking our bridge-head, but was repulsed. The Belgians crossed the canal at several points. The retreating Germans threw a hundred vehicles into the Bruges-Ghent canal. The French improved their bridgehead south of l)eyorze and advanced three kilometres. Other French forces further south crossed the Lys. The French have taken 1100 prisoners. The 2nd British Army advanced a mile between the Lys and the Scheldt, and established a bridge-head on the right bank of the Scheldt, east of Pecq. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. AERIAL ACTIVITY. • LOST IN A CLOUD. London, Oct. 22. The Press Bureau states that the Independent Air Force on October 21, consisting of two squadrons, successfully attacked the barracks and railways at Metz. Another squadron set out to attack the Rhine factories, but, when near the objective, encountered dense clouds and became separated. Seven machines have pot been located. On the night of October 21 we heavily and successfully attacked the factories at Kaiserslautern, and also heavily bombed the stations at Mezieres. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. GERMAN BRUTALITIES. TO BELGIAN PRISONERS. London, Oct. 23. The 23rd report of the Belgian Commission details many atrocities on Belgian prisoners in Germany, including flie torture pit, in which they were sometimes put for 24 hours, and beatings with rifle-butts. At Munster, in September, 1914, 17 Belgians were shot because they did not obey quickly enough the sentry's order to line up.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. ON THE SERRE FRONT. i ENEMY COMPELLED TO RETREAT. London, Oct. 23. A French communique states: We forced the enemy on the Serre front to retreat afresh. We captured Chalandry and Grandlys, despite obstinate resistance. Our line skirts the Serre to Mortiers past the outskirts of Froidmont and Cohardille, thence along the Buze canal. The Germans twice renewed attacks east of Vouziers, but were everywhere repulsed.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. TWENTY GERMAN DIVISIONS. BROKEN BY AMERICANS. New York, Oct;-23. Mr. James cables that one-fourth qf' the German military strength on the; west front is facing the Ist American* and 4th French Armies in the Champagne and Meuse region. Since General Pershing opened attackson September 29 north of Verdun, the American troops have fought and broken up 20 divisions composed of the Kaisera soldier*—Aus* N.Z. Cable Assoc.

THE BRITISH ATTACK.

SEVERAL VILLAGES CAPTURED. ENEMY'S STUBBORN RESISTANCE. THE FRENCH ADVANCING, Received Oct. 24, 11.50 p.m. London, Oct. 23. The British attack to-day, between Le Cateau and Solesmes, on a six-inile front progressed for a mile alon* the whole front. Several villages were captured, the enemy resisting stiffly. We occupied two-thirds of Eaismes forest, north of the Scheldt, and also reached the western edge oE Valenciennes, occupying the suburbs of Anzin and Blehaires. The enemy is resisting stubbornly behind the Courtrai canal, also at the Derwaten cajnal, which the Belgians claim to have crossed at several points, probably only by small parties occupying the bridgeheads. The French reached the line of the Serre and Sissone canal.

The enemy will probably attempt to hold the present line, and we may expect the operations on both winga to steady down for a few days. The most interesting point is the centre of the line.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

1 TENURE OF THE SCHELDT. A DEADLY CLOSE DUEL. BRITISH CAPTURE GUNS. Received Oct. 24, 10.50 p.m. London, Oct. 23. Mr. Beach Thomas asks the question: Will the enemy strive to hold the Scheldt? He says that a large portion of the British army is now facing the river and canals, which are strongly defended, being heavily wired and bristling with guns.

Already there has been sharp preliminary fighting, mostly gunnery actions. Field guns are firing at each other, in full view and at absurdly short range. It is a deadly close duel. Our gunners have the better nerve and are more numerous.

The division fighting between the Lys and the Scheldt captured a big naval and twenty other guns.—United Service.

RAPID BRITISH ADVANCE. VALENCIENNES LINE MAY BE TURNED. PATROLS CROSS THE SCHELDT. Received Oct. 24, 7.30 p.m. London, Oct. 23, The United Press states that the British) advance southward of Valenciennes tc-day was so rapid that the result of the drive may possibly be a complete turning of the Valenciennes line. Enemy resistance elsewhere, as far as Holland, is stiffening, but patrols crossed the Scheldt northward of Tournai.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. , MORE HUN BRUTALITY. TO RUSSIAN PRISONERS. Received Oct. 24, 7.30 p.m. Amsterdam, Oct. 23. A fresh and striking instance of the inhumanity of the German authorities has been discovered in Belgium. Soldiers belonging to German labor companies, Russians captured three years ago, were treated with the utmost brutality and forced to labor behind the firing line. They were utterly ignorant of the Russian revolution, the Tsar's death, or the Brest Litovsk peace Reuter. FRENCH CAPTURES. ON THE OISE FRONT. Received Oct. 25, 12.10 a.m. London, Oct. 23. A French communique states: On the Oise front both ours and the enemy's artillery has been active. The Ist Army captured, during the fighting on October 17 and 18, 81 guns, 100 trench mortars, a number of 37-millimetre guns, and over 700 machine-guns.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. < Wireless German official: We evacuated a bridgehead on the Serre and Souche, southward of the Marie.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. ' GERMAN DEVASTATION.

ACTION BY THE POPE. Received Oct. 24, 7.30 p.m. Rome, Oct. 23. Evidently the Pope does not accept the German protestations of innocence as regards outrages and devastations. The official organ of the Holy See, I>he Osservatore Romano, declares that the German armies which destroyed and bumcd Franco-Belgian cities and towns must be compelled to evacuate France and Belgium. The paper announces flhat tlia Pope has addressed a direct appeal to Chancellor Max of Baden to prevent further unnecessary devastations. The Holy See has made a similar appeal to ithe*iPtepal Nuncio ittßavaria.—Renter. AN AMNESTY GRANmSD-TO BELGIANS. AmstiMsda-jn;-OcE: ? '23. •Ehe-German Governor-General of Belgium has granted an amnesty to all Belgians and neutrals sentenced by the German jnilitary,u;onrto,.€Sspyng.crimiaals.

A WEEK'S FIGHTING.

YIELDS THE AMERICANS A FOREST. I Received Oct. 24, 0.20 p.m. New York, Oct. 23. After a week of fighting, the Americans conquered the forest in the neighborhood of Brieulles, from which the Germans retreated.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. ! BRITISH ADVANCE. TWO MILES GAINED. Received Oct. 24, 9.50 p.m. London, Oct. 23. The British, during an attack this morning, advanced two miles, taking 2000 prisoners and capturing some guns. -—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

OFFICIAL REPORTS. GREAT ACTIVITY. Received Oct. 25, 1.50 a.m. London, Oct. 24, 21 a-m. A French communique states:—There ia great activity on the Oise front. Between the Oise and the Serre, we advanced north of Cataillon Dutemble and carried the line to the outskirts of Chevresiol les Dames. Further east, we captured a stronglydefended wood north-east of Fesbrecourt and Richecourt.

Desperate struggles occurred on the front Serre-Souche. W* reached and held tha eastern Dank of the Souche, opposita Brazicourt Farm, and. despite counter-attacks, gained ground southeast of Nizy le Comte. East of the Aisne, sharp fighting continues in the region of Vouziers. German attacks on the villages of Terron anil eastward of Vaudy were heavily repulsed- We carried Beaurepaire Mill, between Oligy and Grand Pre—Aus.-N.Z, Cahle Assoc, and Reuter. Received Oct. 25, 1.50 a.m. London, Oct. 24.

A Belgian communique states: There is great artillery and machine-gun activity along the whole Belgian front. —Aus. and N.Z. Cabje Assoc, and Renter. Received Oct. 25, 1.50 a.m. London, Oct. 24. An American communique states: North of Verdun we progressed at several points in the face of determined resistance, and captured Bellen wood. East of tho Meuse we penetrated Detrayes and Wavrille Woods, taking prisoners. We completely occupied Bantheville.

West of the Meuse there is bitter fighting north of Grand Pre. Artillerying is violent along the whole front. Fifteen enemy aeroplanes were shot down. Six American machines are missing.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Renter. Received Oct. 25, 1.50 a.m. London, Oct. 24, 2 a.m.

A British and Belgian communique states that there is nothing doing in Flanders except that the French captured Werghem.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter.

LIBERATION OF DEPORTEES

I AGREED TO BY GERMANY. Received Oct. 24, 7.30 p.m. Rome, Oct. 23. Cardinal Merrier has informed the Pope that Germany agreed to liberate the Belgian deportees and political prisoners.—Times Service. THE GERMAN LEVIES. FULL REPARATION MUST BE MADE. Received Oct. 24, 7.30 p.m. London, Oct. 23. In the House of Commons, Lord Robert Cecil (Foreign Secretary) said he was unable to specify the total amount levied on the cities and towns of Belgium, but full reparation formed part of the war aims of the Allies.— Reuter. THE POSITION OF HOLLAND. STRATEGY OF ALLIES VITALLY AFFECtm The positioji of Holland vitally, affects the strategy of the Allies, and had the, Allied code of international morality been similar to that of the Germans, the latter would have had good reason to fear that we should make a short cut anross Dutch territory in the direction of the Rhine and Berlin. To understand the position, it is necessary to , bear m mind that the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg and the Belgian province of Luxemburg, lying to the westward, are very mountainous. But to the north' wot the land slopes away until it Teaches flat country north and west of the Meuse. At present the Allied advance in Belgium is avoiding the difficult hill country of the two Luxemburg. Our left is swinging round through tne flat country north oE the Meuse. But as we continue to push forward, crossing the Scheldt, and passing through Brussels and Antwerp, we shall strike th» Meuso-where it enters Holland, and where it forms the frontier line between Belgium and a tongue of Dutch territory which is thrust down in a curious fashion between Germany and the Belgian province of Limburg. This tongue of territory is 30 miles long, and it forms a rather awkward obstacle for the AlUes, since it reaches southward to the mountainous country of the Luxemburg ■ Province, and blocks the way into Gerimany across the flat country. The enemy are bound to make their ■.principal stand along this line; but they will not by any means be free from anxiety. There is no strong natural frontier line between the Belgian provinces of Antwerp and Limburg and the Dutch province of North Brabant. The frontier is quite artificial. By outing.

across Dutch territory, the Allies could advance over perfectly flat country, and turn the lines of both the'Meuse and the Rhine, the latter being by far the most formidable natural barrier which they will have to face. They could march almost in a beelinc for Berlin, enter German territory almost immediately, and crumple up the enemy's front completely, bo lengthening it that it would be practically impossible for the Germans to find another suitable defensive line. It is not likely, however, that the Dutch will abandon their neutrality or that the Allies will violate it. But if we mass considerable bodies of troops in Northern Belgium, the Germans are bound to suspect us of the intention of marching through Holland, and this may compel them to employ considerable bodips of troops in watching the Dutch frontier further north.

Although we are now in practical possession of all the Belgian coast, the Germans still have access to the sea from Antwerp through the mouth of the Scheldt, and it. becomes a question whether they are lilcelv to use that port for the nurposes of their submarine campaign. It is not at all probable that they will. Both riides of th"e Scheldt astuary are Dutch territory. This prevents H 9 from guarding the exit effectually from the southern shore, though we have a- footing on the Belsrian coast quite near to the mouth o? the river from which we can watch it very closely But the fact that the river runs through Dutch territory Tenders it impossible for te Germans to use it for the purposes of their submarine campaign without vioIntinrr Dntch neutrality. Throughout the war GeTmanv anpeaTs to have thiw for cnrefnlly avoided doinsr this, and has bosptl her submarine campaign from this Belgian coast mainly upon Zerbrugffe and Ostend. There need be little fear that fhe will commence to violate "Dutch neutrality now. She dare not offend Holland at this juncture, since a breach with that country would bring immediate and complete disaster upon herself On the other hand, the Dutch, having the whip-hand of the Germans for the time, will not hesitate to promptlv stop any attempt to violate their neutrality; nor dare thev offend the Allies by permitting It. If they did, we should be justified in stopping it immediatplv by seizing the mouth of the Scheldt, which we are in a position to do,—"Criticus" in Dunedin 'Star.