Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

BATTLE OF THE SCARPE.

' TWO DIVISIONS DEKEROXM). FOOTS WONDKETDL ACTEOTY. London, August 27. The French correspondents on General Byng's front describes an epic fight 'by night, when there was a great clash of Germans and British with bayonets and hand grenades, in the light of some /laming tanks, whoso petrol was burning as the result of shell-lire, says Renter's correspondent. Spurts of flame (Ktft high lit up the scene, and hundreds of airmen, despite the torrential rain, maniline-gunned the enemy, while thousands of men were engaged in a deadly and bloody grapple. Two German divisions were here positively annihilated, and the ground was strewn with thousands upon thousands of bodies. It was, says the correspondent, "a gigantic tragedy," ending finally in the utter defeat of tho enemy. Up till Sunday night it is estimated that the enemy had been forced to use between the Scaipc and the Aisae &t least 70 division? einco August 8. I AN INFANTRY BATTLE. | Two thousand prisoners and some guns were captured as the result of yesterday's extension of the battlefront northward by the attack behind Arras. Our progress was excellent considering the difficulties of the ground, and our casualties were very light A few tanks cooperated in the fight, but perhaps it was aioro of an infantry tattle than any recent fighting. Northward of the Scarpe we merely adjusted our flank, in the course of which the Highlanders occupied the famous Itoenx chemical works. Tho enemy withdrew into the wooded contours eastward of MoDchy, where he stiffened his resistance in country favorable for defence, especially ia Boia da Sari and Gigjaw Wood.

"Wonderful" is the adjective applied to the successes of the week-end, which have evoked the most enthusiastic comments of experts in Paris and London. Marshal Foch'a activity now that his chance has come is described as so incessant and tremendous that it is difficult to observe and keep pace with him. At the same time great admiration is expressed for the tactics of Generals Byng and Rawlinson, who skilfully avoided frontal attack whenever they encountered powerful positions and by attacking less formidable positions cm. either side changed dangerous centres of resistance into fresh salients, to be Utsr reduced by envelopment. MOST BEAMATIC EKA OF THE WAR. It is pointed out that the extreme wings, commanded respectively by General Sir Henry Home, and General Oouraud, have not yet been engaged, and the opinion is expressed that theital* offensive is probably still to come. In an earlier message the correspondent said: We 'have reached the most dramatic era of the war, yet, despite our successes, we ought at present to temper our optimism with caution. Since Saturday morning the enemy has dudntegrated over a considerable zone of the Somme battlefield. In eome places groups of Germans are wandering about seeking an opportunity to surrender, and the degree of enemy demoralisatien in certain plaees is the greatest factor of the present situation. On Saturday the enemy cracked up near Thieprol Bidge. The Australians and British troops resumed the advance this morning, and reached the line from Pozieres to Contalmaison. The New Zealandera, with tanks helping them, had a stiff fight in clearing out the enemy from Lonpart Wood, dominating Bapaume, but eventually they succeeded »nd took over 4000 prisonrs.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19181114.2.4

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1918, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
544

BATTLE OF THE SCARPE. Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1918, Page 2

BATTLE OF THE SCARPE. Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1918, Page 2

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert