HURRIED WITHDRAWAL NORTH OF SENSEE

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

HURRIED WITHDRAWAL NORTH OF SENSEE

COUNTER-ATTACKS ROUND LE CATEAU CRUSHED. LONDON, October 13. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—Between Bohain and Solesmes the enemy is strongly resisting on the line of the Selle River. We repulsed attacks against our positions east of the Selle in the neighbourhood of Le Cateau, and took possession of the Briastre, five miles north of Le Cateau. Between the Selle and tbe Scheldt Canal we captured Iwuy, and made progress to the rising ground cast of it, and repulsed strong counter-attacks delivered with the assistance of tanks in this area. West of the Scheldt Canal we captured Presies,

Following our deep advance south of the Sensee the enemy is hastening his withdrawal from strongly-fortified positions north of that river. We have driven the enemy's rearguard from the northern portion of the DrocourtQueant line between the Scarpe and Quiry-la-Motte, and captured Sailly-en-Ostrcvent, Vitry-cn-Artois, Izel-lez-Equerchin, Drocourt, and Fouquieres.

A later report states:—We continued to advance north of the Sensee River. We now hold the villages of Hamel, five and a-half miles south of Douai, Brcbieres, two and a-half miles south-west of Douai, and Cuincy, just outside Douai. We are east of Henin Lietard, five miles east of Lens, and on the western outskirts of Annay, three miles north-east of Lens. There waa local fighting at certain points on the remainder of the front. His Majesty King George has sent the following message to Sir Douglas Haig:— "The magnificent advance of the armies under your command, powerfully supported by our American comrades, and opposed by the retreating but stubborn foe, and against the most formidable defences which human ingenuity and strength could devise, tills mc with admiration, pride, and gratitude. These sentiments will be shared b} r all the people of the Empire. In their name, from my heart I congratulate you and all ranks."'

A Belgian communique states:—There is great activity of hostile artillery against our communications. After violent artillery preparations the enemy attacked our lines before Roulers, but was completely repulsed.— (A. and S.Z. and Reuter.) '"-'..,. -"- -