SWEEPING ADVANCE FROM BRAY TO BAPAUME

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 204, 27 August 1918, Page 5

SWEEPING ADVANCE FROM BRAY TO BAPAUME

NEW ZEALANDERS' DIFFICULT TASK AT LOUPART WOOD. ,i (Received 11.55 a.m.) LONDON, August~2fT" Renter's correspondent at British headquarters states that the degree of confusion behind the retreating enemy is incredible. Reinforcements are hurrying up on the stopgap principle, indicating that the Germans are desperately pressed, or they would not thus break up their reserves. To-day's advance has been in the nature of a great sweep from. Bray to the north of Bapaume. It is estimated that since August 21 twenty thousand prisoners have been taken by the British, and since July 15 the Allied total has reached a hundred thousand. It, is reported that outposts have reached the fringe of Bullecourt, and we captured High Wood and Eancourt l'Abbaye and are advancing upon Longueval. The New Zealanders with tanks helping, had a stiff fight iv clearing out the enemy from Loupart Wood dominating Bapaume, but eventually they took prisoner over four hundred. A significant fact in the present disorganisation of the enemy is that there was practically no counter-attacking to-day. Stubborn resistance occurred at various pointß, but when this was broken it nowhere recurred with increase of strength.— (Reuter.)