WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 November 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

BRITISH OPERATIONS. WHOLE FRONT BREACHED. 10,000 PRISONERS TAKEN. Received Nov- G, 12.10 a.m. London, Nov. ~>, 0.10. a.m. The British have deeply 'breached the whole front, taking 10,000 prisoners Times ServiceTHE VALENCIENNES OPERATIONS. STRIKE ENEMY'S WEAKEST POINT. VITAL MOVEMENT BY AMERICANS. TO CUT RAILWAY LINES. AND DIVIDE GERMAN ARMIES, Received Nov. 5, 7.45 p.m. Louden, Nov, IThis morning's attack was delivered in the weakest part of the German defence, south of Valenciennes, between the Scheldt and the Sambre, from Valenciennes roughly to Oisy, probably by the Third and Fourth Armies- ' The French are also attacking ou both sides of Guise. Passages of the Sambre and the Oise have been forced. The British have reached the lino, of the small river Aunelle, on the Franco-Bel-gian frontier, east of Valenciennes. The Americans, between the Aisne and the Meuse, attempting to'cut the railway from Thionville to Tontmedy-Meziere-Hirson, are now within twelve miles of the line. If they succeed, it will have an almost disastrous effect upon the enemy communications and thrust the greater part of their supply work upon tiie lines running through the bottle neck from Leige-Namur-Charleroi, and the enemy's position in 'the centre would beccme extremely bad. The success of the manoeuvre would divide the German forces into two strong wings, one in Belgium and the other operating in the Lorraine. It would mean an extensive enemy retirement from Belgium to the Meuse in the north. We are just west of Ghent, on the left bank of the Terneuzen Canal, whiclTTs a big obstacle, bridged with swing-bridges, easily removed. Direct assault is almost out of the question, but we may turn the position by operations elsewhere.— Aus-N.Z. Cable Assoc.

LUDENDORFF'S FAILURE. DUE TO BRITISH TENACITY. SHOCK TACTICS FUTILE. Received Nov. 5, 9.15 p.m Amsterdam, Nov. 4. The Rotterdam Coumrft's Berlin correspondent attributes the failure oi von Ludendorlfs great offensive to tlie tenacity of the British soldiera. who refused to bo panicked by any defeat, and the sangfroid of Marshal Foclr's reserves to the utmost. The correspondent adds that he is able, for special reasons, to confirm that the resistance of the British on March 2f, near Arrras, caused the failure of the German campaign-—Seuter. ANGLO-FRENCH ADVANCE. AMERICAN'S PROGRESS 14 MILES. Received Nov. 5, 9.1 a p.mLondon, Nov. 4, 9.20 p.m. The Anglo-French itvanced between a mile and two miles on practically the whole thirty-mile front. 'They prisoners! 4000 and captured Landrecies. The Americans, since Saturday, advanced 14 milcs.-r-Aus.-N.55. Cable Assoc. FRENCH ADVANCE. GUI 33 MENACED. Received Nov. C, 1.45 a.m. London, Nov. 5. Renter's correspondent at French headquarters states that General Debene) 's army attacked this morning on the line, lof the Saaibre-Oise canal. The troops J crossed the canal on a front of eight (miles, from Grand Verly northwards, and secured the eastern bank by widI day, despite desperate resistance, adI vancing the line to nort/li of Guise, which is now menaced. Fifteen hundred prisoners have been taken up to the present, including some | from the best German divisions, proving that the enemy is desperately endeavor- | ing to hold his ground.—Reuter Service.

ENEMY DRIVEN BACK. GHENT REACHED Received Nov. 0, 1.45 a.m. London, Nov. 5. A Belgian communique states:—Our troops completed their task of driving the enemy beyond the Ghent-Ternenzen ('anal. The Germans now hold only a feu- machine-gun nests on the west ba.uk of the canal. We have reached the western and northern and southern outskirts of Ghent. Our line follows the-western bank of the .Scheldt from Zurgnaerde northwards.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Renter, BRITISH ENTER OISY. Received Nov. <O, 12.10 a.m. London. Nov. 5. The British have entered Oisy.—&eu-