RETREAT ON 40-MILE FRONT IN CHAMPAGNE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 245, 14 October 1918, Page 5

RETREAT ON 40-MILE FRONT IN CHAMPAGNE.

• FRENCH RECAPTURE THE CHEMIN DES DAMES. LONDON. October 13. A French communique state?: —Before our incessant altacks the enemy was eomiFclled to abandon on a front of forty miles all the positions which he had been defending for days north of the Suippe and the Ames Rivers. Preceded by cavalry, which is pressing on the hcele of the enemy rearguards, our infantry, overcoming the resistance of the machine-gunners- charged with the duty of delaying our march, has during the day advanced at some points six miles, taking prisoners and capturing material. We crossed the Suippe and captured Bertricourt, Auinenancourt-le-Grand, Bazaneourt, Isles-sur-Suippe, and St. Etienne-sur-Suippe. The whole of the enemy's first positions north of the Suippe are in our hands. We are advancing in the wooded region west of Mcsnil-le-I'inos, in the direction of lletourne River, which we have reached between Houdilcourt, Sault, and St. Kemy. Farther east we occupied the villages of Aussonce, La Neuville. Cauroy, Machault, Contreuve, St. Morel, and Savigny-sur-Aisue. Continuing our progress we reached the outskirts of Bergnicourt. Ville-sur-Retourne, Mont St. Rcmy, and St. Marie, two miles south-west of Youziers.

On the Chemin dcs Dames, the Italians co-operating with the French brilliantly continued to advance. They occupied Vcndresse-Troyon, Courtccon, and C'crny-cn-Laonnois. We captured Cuissy-et-Geny, Jumigny, and Paissy Wood, and reached the Chemin dcs Dames. Numerous fires kindled by the enemy are reported in villages in the Oisc Valley, in the Guiee region, attesting the systematic intention of the Germans to destroy everythuig before they retreat. CONTACT MAINTAINED WITH RETREATING FOE. An earlier report stated: —We maintained contact everywhere with the enemy, whose retirement continued at different points on the front. North of the Aisne we occupied and ndvanced beyond Moulins. Italian troops reached the south of Courtccon on the Chemin dcs Dames, which we hold aa far as the heights of Ccrny-en-Laonnois. In the Champagne we gained a footing at various points ou the north bank of the Suippe between St. Etiennc and Botilt-sur-Suippe. We also made progress at Warmeriville. Vandetre and St. Vastes. Further ea*,t. pursuing the retreating enemy, we carried Semide, Mont St. Martin and Bricrce.

A later communique states:—We entered Vouziers, eight miles north-west of Grand Pre, this morning. We continued our progress along the whole Champagne fornt. We hold the general line of the River Retourue and the road from fauvres to Vouziers.—(A. and N.Z. and Router.)

News from the west front emphasises tbe difficulties in which the enemy find himself. Our latest advance has turned the Uunding line, which means that the enemy's next line of retreat will be, roughly, behind the switch line from the River Serre to Sissonne. the latter point being ten miles east (if La,in. The British arc now well in the rear of the Uunding line. The enemy will certainly evacuate the St. Gobain massif immediately, and will also be compelled to straighten out his line between Lille and the Scarpe. it is difficult to know exactly how he will join up these two lines. The enemy's day of retirement according to plan is past. The American forces have joined hands north of thp Argonne in the Grand Pre Gap.

A message received yesterday afternoon stated that the Germans were retreating rapidly on three sectors, the most pronounced being on the Champagne. The French advanced considerably beyond Vouziers, eight miles north-west of Grand Pre, prai'tically unopposed. The French have occupied the remainder of the Chemin dcs Dames ridge.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.)

Reutcr's correspondent at French headquarters, writing at midnight on Friday, says:—General Gourand's army, which was checked for days by desperate resistance, made a most important advance across the Suippe almost everywhere on the whole front if 20 miles. The Germans arc making unmistakable preparations for a further retreat. The advance in the Eastern Champagne is even more rapid. STIFF FIGHTING IN LAON SA_CENT. Between the Aisne and the Oisc the retirement has been unexpectedly slow. The position of the Germans in the Laon salient is most precarious, the British and French having cut the main lines. General Mangin's army is nevertheless meeting considerable resistance. The rate of advance has been prudent. General Debeney's army has taken 4000 prisoners in the last ten days, all maele up of small bodies comprising the garrisons of concreted centres of resistance in the Hindcnburg line.-—(Reuter.)

Experts consider the American victory astride the Meuse of the utmost importance, as it threatens the Mezieres-Metz railway, which is the only direct communication between the Germans in the north-west of France aud those cast and south-cast of Verdun. The 250 French and American aeroplanes which participated in the battle, besides bombing the enemy unmercifully, co-operated in regulating the gunfire, supplying ammunition to advanced posts, dropping smoke screens to conceal the movements of infantry, and attacking observation balloons far behind the lines.— ('Times.")

An American communique states:—On both sides of the Meuse violent counter-attacks failed to stem the advance of the French and Americans. We took Molleville Farm, north of Consenvoye Wood, and passed through Foret Wood, and are before the villages of Landreset St. George and t>t. Juvin which is on fire.

The American army corps operating with the British forces fought over ten miles through the enemy's defensive system. To-day this corps took Escaufort, St. Benin, and St. Souplet, south of Le Cateau. The American Army has taken 8000 prisoners since October 8, of whom French units took 2300. .'-...