GERMANS FIGHTING A REARGUARD ACTION.

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

GERMANS FIGHTING A REARGUARD ACTION.

NO LONGER ATTEMPTING TO STABILISE LINE. AUSTRALIANS' Dl__'lCP_T TASK AT SO____ (Received 10.30 ajn.) I.ONDON, August 27. Mr. Percival rhillips says that the German? are. clearly fighting a rearguard action, and no longer wildly attempting to stabilise the line, thongli they are counter-attacking at some points in order to gain thne. The enemy's withdrawal south of Bapaume was difficult because we cut the roads. The Albert-Bapauine road was cut on Saturday, and tbe Mametz-Pcronne road was cut yesterday. Combles is constantly under the fire of our heavy guns, while Longucval, Ginchy, Guillemont, and other places are also accurately shelled. Ihe Bapaume-Peronne road is practically untenable. There is no wild forward rush on our part. The infantry keeps in close touch, and our supports are well forward. The Australians captured Cappy and Sujyirnte, on either side of the Somme, during the night-time. Prisoners declare that they had expected to be left in peace. The principal obstacle was a solitary field gun, which fired industriously until the Australians, tiring of it, stalked it nnd disposed of the crew. Then the "moppers up" chased the machine-gunnerß through cellars, and the place was cleared. Resistance at Sur.anne was slight, and most of the garrison was made prisoner. The Australian progress apparently continues, and the latest news is that they are approaching the strop Vaux Ridge on the north bank, within seven miles of Peronne bridgehead, and Biachcs, on the south bank. The intervening country is rolling, mostly covered with old trenches. Apparently the guns and -tores have been nearly evacuated, and only detachments of infantry remain. A Prussian division advanced from Bcagnatrc, north of Sapaurac, in the direction of Favreuil. It was spotted by our airmen aud mercilessly cut up. Only a remnant reached Favreuil, where it fell victims to the Nortlt Country troops, mostly by bayonet work. Many German dead lay in the village. We then pushed towards Beagnatre. where the British are reported to he on the outskirts. The Australians' progress towards Peronne is difficult, owing to the erratic course of the Somme and the outlying marshes, but the Australians are showing remarkable speed over the higher ground, which is rough and hilly, offering plenty of cover for machine-gun nests.— (A. and N_. Cable.) COUNTER-ATTACKS AT HIGH WOOD BROKEN. CANADIAN PROGRESS ON SCARPE BATTLEFIELD. (Received 10_0 a-m.) LOXDON, August 27. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—There was severe fighting on Monday afternoon between Maricourt, north of the Somme, and Bapaume, and also north of that town. The enemy counter-attacked repeatedly in strength, suffering great losses from our lire, but he was unable to arrest the progress of the English and Welsh, who rushed through Montauban and along the crest of the ridge, capturing High Wood, -ij miles east of Pozicres, and reaching Longueval. Here a heavy counter-attack at 6-10 in the evening forced us back towards Bazentin le Grand and High Wood. On his line we broke up the enemy's attack, and again advancing established ourselves well eastward of High "Wood. Early in the night the enemy counter-attacked for the second time, and was driven off by rifle fire before reaching our positions. Northward of High "Wood the enemy twice counter-attacked in the neighbourhood of Ligny Thilloy, pressing back our advanced troops four hundred or five hundred yards. His infantry were then stopped and driven back. The New Zealanders, after fierce fighting, established themselves on the northern outskirts of Bapaume. Tlie Kngiish further north made progress towards Bcugnatrc after hard fighting about Croisilleß. On the right of the battlefront the Australians continued to advance astride the Somme and made substantial progress towards Bompierre and eastward of Suzanne. On the left of the battlefront the Canadians in the afternoon captured the ridge eastward of Wancourt and established themselves eastward of Guemappe, northward ol the Scarpe. The Scottish, renewing the attack at night, made substantial progress towards llouvain. The prisoners since the morning of the 21st August exceed 21,000. A wireless German official message states:—Tbe enemy penetrated our line running west of Mory and Bapaume to Martinpuich. We threw him back on the Thilloy-Martinpuich line, recapturing both placee. The enemy took Cappy. Southward of the Ailette we captured a height south-eastward of Pont St. Mard, taking prisoner 400. The German evening official message states:—We regained Longueval and Montauban.—(A. and N.Z. and Reuter.) WEAKENED ENEMY SURPRISED ON SCARPE. PACE SLACKENS OWING TO INCREASED RESISTANCE. LONDON, AugUßt 27. Renter's correspondent telegraphing at noon from British headquarters states: This morning's attack east of Arrae was carried out from the flank of the Somme battle to the Scarpe., at a moment when the eyes of the Germans were nervously turned elsewhere. Consequently the eucmy was rudely surprised when in squally weather and in clouded moon light, dense British waves swept forward after only tbe briefest artillery preparation. The heavy wastage during the la6t few days had caused the transfer of reserves from this region towards the Bapaume sector. This morning's attack progressed most favourably, and at the moment of telegraphing is going well. Comparatively few prisoners have come back so far, but this conveys no indication regarding the character of the fighting. Tlie correspondent In a later message writes:—South of tbe Somme movement during the past 24 hours has been more and more restricted, but intensclv active, especially on the part of the Germans, who have failed in numerous counter-attacks. They were unable to arrest our progress where we were determined to push it. By storming Favreuil last evening we have drawn a half-eirelc round Bapaume, the exit from which is now closed, save towards the Cambrai road. Our airmen report that the town is deserted, but undetected machine-guns may be concealed in the ruins. At least the Germans are denied the use of this important centre of communication. This/norning the Australians apparently captured Suzanne and Gappy, on the banks of the Somme, and approached within ten miles of PeTonne. The Welsh troops who penetrated Mametz Wood yesterday belonged to the same division which took this place after fierce lighting in July, 1910, while the capture of Miraumont redounds as the finest feat to the credit of the East Lancashires. The pace, of the advance is slackening owing to increasing resistance, especially towards Bapaume, where the counter-attack has become heavier along tbe main points. The weather is boisterous, with heavy rain squalls, which militate against progress, the country being so rapidly transformable into mud and pools. The ''Cologne Gazette."' practically a. semi-official organ, referring to the great battle implores the German people not to despair, adding:—"lt is no longer a question of Belgium or Alsace-Lorraine. We arc lighting for Germany's life. Let us act like men."' The German Socialist paper "Vorwaerts," referring to tbe German reverse, says German people are not beaten. What is beaten is the omnipotence of the mailed fist and the dream of the .lingos of world dominion. Pouter's correspondent at French headquarters states that the feature of Sunday's fighting was the German attempt to thrust the French from tho heights between Juvigny and Crecy-au-Mont, north of Soissons. The French at first yielded a little ground, but recovered it in a brilliant counter-attack. The Germans later made other futile attacks and lost heavily as a result of French machine-gun fire and artillery barrage. The battlefield is covered with German corpses.—(Reuter.) Reuters correspondent at American headquarters states:—The German papers are troubled at the knowledge that sooner or later somewhere or other th.v must face half-a-million of the best troops in the world in the virile American army. LudendorfT knows that though in retreat be has not yet had to meet the main blow, which the adversary is still waiting to deliver when the appropriate moment and the vulnerable spot are reached.—{Reuter.)