AUSTRALIANS WITHIN FOUR MILES OF PERONNE

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 207, 30 August 1918, Page 5

AUSTRALIANS WITHIN FOUR MILES OF PERONNE

'ENEMY FIGHTING HARD TO HOLD THE CROSSINGS. LONDON, August 20. Sir Douglas llaig reports: The Australians n:a<> a vigorous advance yesterday, and reached a general line from l-'refsnes, three miles north-east of Chaulnes, to Herhecourt, four miles west of l'ermine. The enemy is stubbornly resisting before the passages of flu- Somme at Uric ami l'eronne. On the north bank ol the Somme we captured Curlu and llardecourt after hard fighting, advancing in the direction of Maurepas. Between Bapaume and the .-carnc we attacked all day. and made progress at all point*, the Londoner- gradually outflanking the enemy, who obstinately resisted. We captured Croisilles. 7J miles south east of Arras. Knglish troops fought their way towards Vraucourt and south east of Fontaine Icz Croisilles. After Vevere all-day lighting the Canadians drove the enemy out of several defended localities and important trench systems. They captured Boiry Notre Dame, 7i mile?, and I'lcvcs, six miles, east of Aras. We took prisoners in these operations. We also advanced our line north of Locon. in the Flanders salient.—(A. and N.Z. and Hcuter.) The battlcfront is now Bβ miles in length. It has been extended several miles by the entry of (ieneral I lonic's army into the conflict. Tlie British are fighting over three-fourtlis uf tlie front, from Vimy Ridge to Chaulnes, where they join (ieneral Dcbcney's army, (ieneral Home, commander of the First Army, was an artillery brigadier at tlie commencement of the war. He is the inventor of the creeping barrage, and is now lighting between General Byng'is Third and Cicneral PlumerV Scvond Army. The capture of Hatlcourt, on the Arras-Cambrai road, eight miles from Arras, means a breach i>f two miles in the Hindenburg line. The British arcwithin two miles of Oombles.— (A. and X.Z. Cable.)