OFFICIAL STORY OF THE SCARPE ATTACK.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 205, 28 August 1918, Page 5

OFFICIAL STORY OF THE SCARPE ATTACK.

MANY PRISONERS TAKEN IN FIRST RUSH. (Received 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, August 27. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—At three o'clock this morning the Canadians, Scottish, and Londoners attacked both sides of the Scarpe from Croisillcs to the neighbourhood of Gavrclle. On the south bank the Canadians attacked gallantly, passed through the enemy's foremost defences, and captured Orange Hill in their first rush. The Canadians, despite rainstorms, soon reaohed Wancourt and Monchy 1c Preux, capturing both and progressing beyond tlicni. North of the Scarpe the Scots captured the first German defences south of (lavrelle and reached the outskirts of Roeux. They also captured the chemical works north of Roeux. The Scolb and Londoners completed the capture of the high ground between ("roisilles and Heninel, taking many prisoners. Southward our advance continued on both hanks of the Somme. The Australians took Cappy and made progress eastward and northward of the Somme River. They captured Suzanne. Further north the English advanced in the direction of Montauban. The Welsh captured Bazentin le (Jrand. Our pressure everywhere lias been maintained and the line advanced in certain sectors. Sir Douglas Hnig's aviation report states:—Our low fliers continued to harass the enemy by bombs and machine-gun fire. We dropped 32 tons of bombs on railway junctions, including Cambrai, Valenciennes, dumps, and Bruges docks. We also successfully bombed aerodromes.—(A. and N.Z. and Renter.)