WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

A RECORD ADVANCE. STATE OF FLUX ON WHOLE FRONT. ENEMY'S FLIGHT IN DARKNESS. TO AVOID DISASTER. Received Nov. 7, 5.30 p.m. London, Nov. C. The advance of the Allies yesterday was the greatest since the opening of t'he offensive, and the whole front is now in a state of flux. Tho Allies at many points lost touch with the main German forces, which, after the drubbing received in the great Allies' assault, had not lost a moment in beginning a fresh retirement to avoid disaster, but retreated immediately darkness fell on the battlefield on Monday. A few hours start was sufficient for the main body to break contact with the assailants, who, when they resumed the advance yesterday morning, were hampered by bad weather. The question now is how far fJhe enemy means to go before attempting another stand. It is believed he may temporarily hold tho Mezieres-Maubeuge line, preliminary to an eventual move, if posto the Meuse-Namur-Bl'ussels-Antwenp line.—-Reuter.

THREE MONTHS' FIGHTING. NEW ZEALANDBR3 IN HIGH SPIRITS. Received Nov. 7, 750. p.m. • . London, Nov. G. Mr. Philip Gibbs states that, though the New Zealanders have "been fighting •without a break for three monfcfcs, their spirits are still high. Yesterday's achievement will rank as one of their most heroic feats. They stormed the outer ramparts of LeQuesnoy in the old-fash'moed style with scal-ing-ladders, and mads, .breaches in the walls, and only the new-fashioned ma-chine-guns prevented them storming the keep of file fortress. The first invitation to surrender said: 'jTfou are completely surrounded. Enemy troops are far eascward of you- If you surrender, yon will be treated as hoTioratA) prisoners of war." Later, invitations were given by entering through a breach in the wall, shouting; "Wo promise honorable treat-ment-"—Aus. Cable Assoc. CAPTURES IN GREAT BATTLE. 15,000 PRISONERS, 200 GUNS. London, Nov. 6: The British in Monday's battle on the west front prisonered 15,000 and took at least 200 guns.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. AMERICANS NEARLNG SEDAN. Received Nov. 7, 7.20 p.m. The Americans have reached Chenery, seven miles south-west of Sedan.— I Reuter. FRENCH PROGRESS'RESUMED A SERIES OF SUCCESSES. USEFUL ITALIAN CO-OPERATION. Received Nov. 7. 9.25 p.m. London, Nov. G. 5.25 p.m. A French communique states that contact was maintained during the night wilA the rearguards of the enemy, who continued to retire on the whole front. This morning we resumed our progress. East of the Sambre canal we occupied Barzy, north of Marie. We passed -beyond Marfontaine and Voharies. The Italian troops fighting with us captured Thuel and reached the rivulet Hurtaut, south-east of Monteornet. West of Rethel we occupied Barby, on the north; bank of the Aisne. Fronch detachments crossed the Aisne at several points between Rethel and Attigny. Farther to the right we reached the outskirts of Lametz and pushed forward as far as the approaches to La Cassine, north-east of Le Chesne. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter.

OFFICIAL REPORTS, AMERICAN ADVANCE CONTINUED. Received Nov. 7. 10 p.m. London, Nov. (5. American official: We continue to advance between the Bar-Meuse line, extending from Dufond de Limon Wood, through Flabas, Maisoncelle, Chemery, on the line of the Meuse, which we hold from Hospice Wood (inclusive) to Casey, on the heights eastward of Milly, thence to Dun-sur-Meuse. . Wireless German official: We Ibave withdrawn between the Scheldt and the Oise.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Renter. NEARING MONS. RETREATING ENEMY BOMBARDED. Received Nov. 7 3 10 p.m. Paris, Nov. C. The Allies aru now within six miles of Mons and three miles, from Mau-fceuge-AvesneS. The Cermac retreat is being effected; nnder an intense bombardment by our: g-.uis, inflicting terrible losses.—Ans.-N-Z/ CaiWa Assoc.

STORMING OF LE QUESNOY. ! MORE PRAISE FOR NEW ZEALANDERS. Received Nov. 7, S.'3o p.m. London, Nov. 0. Accounts agree that the storming of Le Quesnoy was the most dramatic event of yesterday's battle. Mr. Thomas says that tine New Zealanders fought with resistless spend and achieved one of the outstanding single feats of the war.—United Service. MORE ABOUT LE QUESNOY. COMPPLETE GERMAN DEFEAT. S.EW ZEALANDERS CAPTURE 10Q GUNS. (Received Nov. 7. 6.30 p.m. , London, Nov- 6. Mr. Phillips writes that yesterday's victory was sweeping, and the German defeat could not Ihe more complete. The result was seen to-day. The booty taken yesterday shows the steady disintegration of the German armies. One corps captured a complete road-making unit, a derelict train aud water supply column, with waggons and plant. The New Zealanders crowned their splendid achievement at Le Quesnoy by breaking through the Gemian gun line eastward of the 'ortress, taking 109 guns. Our men witnessed an extraordinary spectacle, the Germans being driven by their own teams into the prisoners' cage. The New Zealanders penetrated the waggon lines, rormded up the transport :md other batteries taken in the forest. The German infantry fought determinedly wherever an officer was present to enforce discipline. Lo Quesnoy held Gut J all day long, at the bidding of a stubborn eommaDder, who met three invitations to surrender with a point-blank refusal. Landrecies resisted in the same way, while other villages remained strong points until surrounded. The Mormal Forest gave ample coyer An abundanco of wire pits enabled the defenders to delay our troops, but in some places where the opportunity offered they surrendered apathetically, their conversation in the cages being a never-ending chorus of defeat. Tho storming of Le Quesnoy was the most dramatic episode. Th-3 old town, with ancient ramparts, was often besieged, but never saw harder fighting than the New ZeaSander.* madi! yesterday. The New Zealanders were just westward of the fortification. A diviu"B on the righi was i»W «p by machine-gun* in the chapel imtil five tanks reduced them- A bombardment .against the garrison failed to d : slouga them. The New Zealanders tried to take Le Qnesnoy by a frontal attack and reached ■the outer ramparts, but were then held up by machine-guns. The old fortifications wore full of Germans, and a further advance by that method was impossible. The New Zealanders worked northward and southward of the picketed town and went ahead towards Herebiginies and Jolimetz, forming the German artillery line, where many batteries grouped under the cover of buildings and hedges were -firing furiously in order to protect Le Quesnoy. Before any could be withdrawn the New Zealanders were swarming among the guns, demanding their surrender. Without stopping to count their trophies, the New Zealanders rushed try waggon lines, cutting off the transport o> tho point of galloping away. The Le Quesnoy garrison was fitst aware of the catastrophe when the protective barrage suddenly ceased, leavin» them perplexed and defiant. British aeroplanes flew overhead, dropped a messagedemaiiding surrender. The only answer was anoxic? outbreak of ma chine-gun fire. ' The New Zealand commander, after an interval, sent in two parties, each -with a German officer, pointing o-at tfte fn : tility of further bloodshed, but the garrison's commander still declined to surrender. The New Zealanders, late in the afternoon, attacked again and pushed through the ramparts, wiped out the machine-guns, penetrated the street 3, and were obliged to fight their way from barricade to barricade before tho remainder of the garrison threw down their arms. Over 1000 prisoners were collected from the cellars and improvised hidingplaces. The capture of La Quesnoy will be remembered as one of tho most thrilling episodes in this campaign. It is believed that it is tho first time a besieged town lias ibeen formally summoned to submit by British troops.

HUNS RUTHLESSLY PLUNDERING. BRUSSELS RANSACKED. FACTORIES TO BE BLOWN 'UP. Received Nov. 7, 7.50 p.m. x London, Nov. fiReports from the frontier show that teh Germans continue their ruthless, wholesale plundering of Belgian towns, despite recent assurances of self-imposed restraint. They even deprive destitute women of the clothes and stockings they are wearing. Tiie ransacking of Brussels is proceeding. The whole contents of houses occupied by officers have been pillaged, including pianos and works of art. Preparations have been made to Wow up the factories. The officers say that they will destroy them all unless the Allies guarantee not to use them before peace is declared.—Times Service.

ENEMY'S DESPERATE HASTE. CONGESTION 'ON RAILWAYS. ' HIS SITUATION MORE DANGEROUS.' THE ROADS INTO GERMANY. DEFENCE OF BAVARIA. Received Nov. 7, 10 p.m. London, Nov. 0. The desperate hasto with which the enemy is' evacuating his material is shown by the congested state of the railways and the reduction of troop transport to the uiinimum. The enemy's situation is more dangerous than a week ago. If the Allied pressure can be maintained great results may ensue, but in view of the uncertain weather conditions, it would Le unsafe to rely on the enemy's military collapse. We have three railways available through the Trentinc to concentrate on Germany's southern frontier, and with other lines from Trieste, Saxony, and Bavaria now in iraminemi danger, the enemy has no adequate forces to defend them. Some 40 German divisions are still in Russia and Austria, all of inferior* value, comparatively ill-equipped. It will take a long time tn concentrate tb«n ta most the new danger. If the Germans immediately retire to the Mouse line, they might economise sufficient troops to delay for a time the Allied advance into Bavaria and Saxony. It remains to lie seen whether the army and people will be willing to continue the hopeless struggle with the certainty of total disaster. Th 6 enemy's supply of food and oil from the Ukraine, Roumania, and Austria are now unobtainable.—Renter. ENEMY RETREAT CONTINUES. UNDER HARD PRESSURE. MEN KEPT IN HAND. Received Nov. 7, W. 55 p.m. London, Nov. 0. Renter's correspondent at British Headquarters, telegraphing to-day, says the retreat continues, b:ut there is no question of a rout We are simply pressing the Germans" hard, and they are covering thei? withdrawal with a screen of mobile inachhie»gnn defences. We know that confusion and demoralisation exist* among the foe, but so strong is the ingrained training'and dweiplme that tlio leaders manage to keep the men in hand. The heavy rains, while impeding us, are preventing the enemy from getting away his guns and other material.—Reuter.