ENEMY USES 70 DIVISIONS FROM SCARPE TO AISNE.

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

ENEMY USES 70 DIVISIONS FROM SCARPE TO AISNE.

SUFFER RESISTANCE IN DEFENSIVE COUNTRY. (Received n.40 a.m.) LONDON. August 27. Reuters correspondent at British headquarters states that up to Sunday jaght it is estimated that the enemy bad been forced to use at least seventy divisions between the Sc&rpe and the Aisne since August 8. Two thousand pri•oners and some guns were captured as a result of yesterday's extension of the battlefront to the northward by the attack behind Arras. Our progress was excellent, considering the difficulties of the ground, and the casualties vrere very light. A few tanks co-operated, but perhaps it partook more of the character of an infantry battle than any in the recent fighting. Northward of the Scarpe we merely adjusted our (lank. In tlie course of this operation Ilie Highlanders occupied the famous Roeux chemical works. The Rnnmy has withdrawn into the wooded contours eastward of Monrliv. where they are stiffening their resistance in favourable defensive country, especially In Bois au Sart and .Tigsaw Wood. Meanwhile they are now well eastward of the Kiizanne-Cappy line, on the. Bomine. while northward of the river they entered Vaux Wood. The enemy is ■till in Thilloy, and is reported in considerable strength east of Hapaume and along the Camlirai Road. It is understood that 404."> prisoners came in this Jnorning. Some Britishers attacked near the Somme, but details at present •re not available.— (Eeuter.)