WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1918, Page 7

WESTERN FRONT.

f GERMAN EMISSARIES (: DESPATCH 1 !"}, i , ■AN OFFICIAL MESSAGE. New York, Nov. 6. An official dispatch from Berlin states that the German armistice delegation has .gone to the West front. German Socialists have requested the Kaiser to abdicate. SPLENDID FRENCH ADVANCE. ENEMY RETREAT ON A WIDE FRONT. London, Nov. 6. A French cofmunique says: On the whole French front, from the Sambre canal to the Argonne the German retreat continued in the day time and we attained in certain places a depth ol ten kilometres. Tiie Ist Army is gathering the fruit of the severe battle yesterday for the crossing of the Sambre canal. It completely defeated six German divisions, and captured 401)0 prisoners and 60 guns. We captured C-uise in the first hour. The advance continued and could not be resisted, and we reached at the end of the day the line Barzy, Esqueheries, La Vaqueresse, Crupilly, Malzy, Ilomery, Housset, liberating numerous civilians. Farther on the right we hold the line Laneuville, Marie, Bosmont, Ebouleau, Bucy les Pierrepont, Dizy le Gros. There was heavy fighting north-west of Chateau Poreicn, which also caused a general retreat of the Germans. Our line passes north of Walepne and Hannogne, and west of Chaudion and St. Fergeux. Wo captured Hcrpy, Conie les Herpy. and Chateau Porcien, We crossed the Aisne at Nanteuil. In the Argonne, by a brilliant surprise, wo crossed the Ardennes canal and the Aisne, passing far beyond Montgon and Le Chesne, and reaching the villages of Pouvergny and SauviUe.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter, A BRILLIANT SUCCESS. ENEMY DEFENCES BROKEN ON THIRTY MILE FRONT,

London, Nov. 0 Sir Douglas Haig reports: In the great battle which opened yesterday between the Sombre and the Scheldt, our third and first armies heavily defeated, with severe losses in killed, wounded, prisoners, guns and material. No fewer than 25 German Divisions, thus breaking the German defence on a thirty, mile front. Owing to this brilliant success, the enemy to-day is retreating along the whole battle front. Despite the rain, we are pressing him closely, and have taken prisoners. The enemy abandoned complete batteries and quantities of material. We passed through the Morraal forest and reached the general line Barzy, Grandfayt, Eerlaimont, westward of Bavay, Rosin, Freanes. The aviation report states: We successfully attacked important railway junctions and aerodromes, setting fire to three hangars. We dropped a total of 33 tons of explosives. The enemy showed great activity, there being heavy fighting in w"aieh we brought down fifteen out of control. Thirty-five British machines are missing. Our night flyers dropped fourteen tons. Four did not return.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. RAPID RETREAT OF ENEML'. London, Nov. 6. The Germans are retreating <io faßt that the pursuers have lo9t touch, and speculation is rife as to where t'hey will make the next stand, whether they will attempt to hold the Mezieres-Maubeuge line or go back to the Namur-Brussekv Antwerp line. AMERICANS APPROACH VITAL RAILWAY. London, Nov. fi. An American communique states: The Ist Army crossed the Meuse, south of Dun. under a heavy cannonade, frequently wrecked the bridges. We fought our way up the slopes of the east bank, breaking the enemy's strong resistance, and captured two hills in Chattilibn Wood. We captured Dun in the afternoon and pushed a mile beyond. Another Corps reached the river at Cesse and Luzy, seized the Forest of Jauhrny, captured Beaumont, and advanced two miles beyond. We are now five miles from the SedanMetz railway. The 3rd Corps, on the left, advanced through ragged forests beyond Stonne. Fifty-one more guns hare been captured west of the Meuse. Seventeen enemy aeroplanes were shot down in air fights, and seven Americans are missing.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. BRITISH LINE ADVANCING. London, Nov. C. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Northwards of the Satnbre river our advanced troops pressed forward beyond the Mormal Forest and reached 'the main Avesnes-Bavay road, south-eastward of Bavay. They also made progress westward of Bavay and on other 'parts of the battle-front. TRIBUTE- TO NEW ZEALANDERS.

London, Not. 6. War correspondents utrite'ta. praising the Kew Zealanders' capture of Le Qnesnoy. They term it; "A splendid, achievement"; "An extraordinary spectacle"; "Most heroic"; "A most dramatic episode 1 "-*-, "One of the most outstanding single feats of the -war"; "The first time a besieged town has been formally summoned to surrender by British troops" A GERMAN REPORT London, Nov.- 8. German official: We evacuated Le Quesney northward of the Normal -forest. We stemmed the thrust. Eastward of Jolimetes) and southward of the for<>*t w? alio stemmed thrust on two canal. We withdrew to ilie east bark of the Meuse, nortd-; ward of Stenay.—Aus.-jS.Z. Cable-Asaoa and Renter,