ENEMY DISASTER

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16289, 13 August 1918, Page 7

ENEMY DISASTER

CHAULNES AND MOSLAIMST CAPTURED.

NEARLY 60,000 PRISONERS TAKEN.

GERMANS STILL RETREATING.

FIFTH YEAR—J3th DAY,

THE ALLIED ADVANCE.

BRILLIANT VICTORY

CHAULNES AND MORLANCOURT CAPTURED. 36,000 PRISONERS TAKEN. Uiy Cable.—Press Association.— CopynshO (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.' LONDON, August 11The result of the two days' aUadcon a twenty-mile front is. thattncAlhc have taken SI,] 000 prisoners andJUO guns. The maximum advance is twelve ""The French resumed the attack a-> dawn on Saturday, fiPJßetratmg four miles in six hours, and surrounding Montdidier on four s " le ?- , . j, nl Field guns commanded the important railway ju-utiou at OJutuinea, compelling the Germans to abandon its use, and depend on roads and light ra lwjivs, which were inadequate to their needs. Canadian cavalry, operating near Chaulnes reported that strong enemy rearguards covered the evacuation of St Tho'whole situation offers great possibilities. It is expected that the enemy will be compelled to. retire to tlie Somme line, seven distant. Thirty-six thousand prisoners and five hundred guns have already been captured. The Canadians and Australians have taken Chaulnes.

A GERMAN DISASTER. NEW YORK. August 11. Mr Frank H. Simonds, the leading American military expert,, writes that the Gorman defeat between the Somme and the Oise has already attained tho proportions of a great disaster. • Within three days Marshal Foch s second blow dislocated more than a hundred miles of tho German front. Thoro is reason to believe that the German withdrawal will reach the old ''Hindenburg line." The occupation of Chaulnes paralyses tho railway lines within the oollapsing salient.

The Germans cast of the line from Chaulnes to Noyon are in a desperate situation. They may escape, but they will bo forced to leave behind guns and munitions.

A ereat victory has been won, the consequences of which may not yet be measured.

FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORTS

(Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) pouter's Telegrams.)

LONDON August 11. A French communique states: — "Yesterday ovening and night wo further progressed on tho whole front between the Avre and the Oise. "Wo carried Boulogne* la Grasse Massif, and advanced east of Bus (east of Montdidier). "Further south wo penetrated tho wooded region between tho Matz and the Oise, and roached the outskirts of Laberliero and Gury. "We took Mareuil-la-Motte, and advanced about three kilometres north of Chevjncourt." (Received August 12th, 7.40 p.m.) LONDON, August 11. The French communiquo states:— "To-day we continued the advance between the Avre and the Oise, notwithstanding enemy resistance. "South of. the Avre we occupied Marquivillers and Orvillers, and reached the line Armancourt-Tilloloy. "We progressed two kilometres north of Roye-sur-Matz to the outskirts of Canny-sur-Matz. "Further south we conquered and passed Laberliere. "Our advance between the Matz ana the Oise was accentuated. "North of Chevincourt we hold Machemont and Cambronne."

SIR DOUGLAS HAIGS REPORTS,

(Australian and N.Z. Chbla Association.) (Router's Telegrams.)

LONDON, August 11

>Sir Douglas Haig reports: — "By a buecesstul operation at night we aninced our lino noitiinard ol uie Bommo on the high, ground between Ktinoham anit Deinacouit. l'iglitiug southward of the river is reported at different points. "The Fiencn progressed .along the south bank of the Avre and reached the outskirts of I'fJclielle St. Aurin.

"We repulsed a local attack fhh morain;r on positions northward of Kenimcl, taking prisoners, and s.ightly improved, positions eastward of R-obecq."

(Received August 12th, 11.33 p.m.) LONDON, August 11.

Sir Douglas Haig reports: —

"Fresh enemy divisions from the reservo strongly attacked positions at Lihons and south and north thereof. All the attacks were repulsed after severe fighting, in which we inflicted great loss upon the advancing lines. At one point, immediately north of Lihons, assault troops broke into our positions, and penetrated the western side of the village. We counter-at-tacked with determination, and in the course of fierca fighting over difficult ground drove back the enemy to the eastward and northward of the village. The line was completely restored.

"On our right the French, co-oper-ating with us, continued the attack, and progiessed south-west and south of Royc. Our patrols took prisoners on the remainder of the British front."

ALLIES MAKE EXCELLENT

PROGRESS.

GERMAN CLAIMS. ! (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) iKeuter's Telegrams.) (Received August 12th, 7.40 p.m.) LONDON, August 11. A German official message states:— "Saturday's attacks were mainly against tho front between Lihons and the Avre. "We repulsed repeated attacks eastward of Rozieres and astride the Amiens road and Roye, despite the enemy's superiority and massed employment of armoured cars. Over forty of these were destroyed fronting one division eastward of Mont* didier. • "We withdrew fighting beyond the line Laboissiere, Lainvillers, Ricaubourg, and Mareuil." A VIGOROUS ASSAULT. (Retiter's Telegrams.) (Received August 12th, 7.40 p.m.)

LONDON, August 11. The battle in which the British and Americans cleaned up the Chipilly triangle was a remarkable feat. Tho Americans arrived by forced march, and without halting a moment, fixed bayonets, followed the barrage, cleared the ground for a further advance, and took over 500 prisoners. The English, who captured Chipilly had some of the hardest fighting in this offensive, carrying their objectives in less than three-quarters of an hour. Prisoners state that tho Seventh Bavarian Division, whioh arrived at Lihons in time to receive tho full weight of the Australian assault, is incapable of further fighting at present.

"We are pushing forward to Procal along the Fanoort road, and in more than one place are back to the old 'Somme positions at Fransart. Beyond theso points the retreatin z enemy is continuing to set firo to tho villages and blow up dumps a long way back.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.* (Received August 12th, 7.40 p.m.) LONDON, August 11. Tho Allies are progressing splendidly on tho whole front between the south of Arras and the Oise. There was a fierce struggle at Chaulnes, with strong en-omy forces covorinj tho retreat. The enemy made a great effort during tho procoding forty-eight houre to remove vast quantities of stoics from Chaulnes with only moderate success. The British are encountering fierce opposition north of tho Somme. They are advancing down a long slope towards Bray, which has now probably beeil reached.

The Germans aro contesting every inch of ground on the Vesle with the Americans, who aro fighting with superb heroism. A German retreat to the Aisne or beyond is clearly imminent. Tlnj enemy is showing signs of anxiety between Arras and Albert, where no material ndvance has been made. South of the Somme there was a slight retirement. In some pld/ces there was desperate fighting, the enemy throwing in reserves and fiercely coun-ter-attacking. Large and long transport columns in the enemy's rear indicate that he is. counter-attacking in order to gain time to save huge quantities of material that have accumulated in this area. Our casualties were extremely light on tho first two days while over-running the enemy positions. They arc now heavier, owing to tho severe fighting. The enemy's available reserves cannot exceed twenty divisions. There is no apprehension that we shall be unable to hold our gains, and resume the advance when the opportunity offers. The immediate interest centres in tho French troops' fight for Lasigny Massif, which commands a considerable extent of country. If this is capturcd, the enemy's hold round Roye and Nesle will bo difficult.

The Third French Army hra advanced in this neighbourhood front three to five miles since yesterday morning over difficult, undulating country, intersected by valleys. Interesting developments are here expected.

FRENCH / VD BRITISH CAI RES. (Received August 12th, 7.40 p.m.) PARIS, Aujust 11. The French and British, up to last night, took 33,000 prisoners, including several thousand officers. The number of captured guns exceeds 500. GERMANS BACK AT THEIR OLD DEFENCES. (Received August 12th, 11.40 p.m.) LONDON, August 12. The Post's" correspondent at British Headouarters states:—The region front'ng Roye ha? become the scene of heavy and most stubborn fighting. It was expected that the Germans here would make a determined effort to stem the advance. When they reached their old defences these were found to be largely derelict, but masses of rusted wire encuniber the ground. The trenches are in fairly good condition, and the vast underground galleries aro etill serviceable. Several concrete redoubts remain intact. The fighting on Sunday centred on this old battlefield. Many reserve division® were concentrated, and every available, man was employed, including non-combatants, who were Impressed for the defence.

THE GERMANS' PROBABLE

THE ADVANCE CONTINUED.

rearguard

THE PALL OF MONTDIDIER.

PROGRESS OF THE ALLIES.

BRILLIANT CAVALRY AND TANK ACTION. (Received August- 13th, 12.5 a.m.) The "Morning Post" correspondent, continuing his narrative, says: — The Germans brought up guns of all calibres from Peronne, putting up a hasty barrage on Saturday afternoon. One of the most thrilling sights of the campaign was witnessed at four o'clock, when large masses of British cavalry rode out against Damery village, north-east of Roye. They rodo superbly through a hail of bullets, while the infantry cheered them. On nearing the village the cavalry encountered many machine-gun nests, while shell-holes, overgrown with weeds, increased their difficulties, and the cavalry were obliged to leave the task to the tanks. Meanwhile other units began to outflank Damery from the north. The fighting proceeded . J .ll night long, English, Australian, anil Canadian patrols continuing the outflanking movements. Despite the fog the battle was renewed with redoubled vigour at daybreak. The tanks took up the task of attacking Damery, wliich was abandoned by the cavalrv. A long line of tanks emerged from their hiding places, crawling .p the slope which hid them from tho enemy, while at least a hundred aeroplanes established an impassable barrier overhead. Thus the tanks completely surprised the machine-gunners lining the woods surmounting the slope. Observers clearly saw some 500 Germans trying to bolt to the rear, but staggering under the weight of machineguns. Tho infantry following the tanks, skirted Damery, moving eastward in the direction of Moyencourt.

The battle for Roye has become desperate. The enemy has filled every village and every house with troops and machine-guns. Evidently it has ordered that Roye shall bo defended at all costs. Elsewhere on the front, though progress since Friday has been slower, it has been sure. The advance has been continued methodically, and almost .by timetable.

Later accounts of Chipilly's resistance state that the Germans allowed an Australian patrol to traverse the village unmolested. The patrol reported that tho village was deserted, but the enemy was merely hiding, hoping to ambush the main body, which encountered heavy fire, but a determined attack later demolished the'defence.

INTENTIONS. (Received August 12th, 10.80 p.m.) LONDON, August 12. Mr Sidebotham thinks that the Germans are preparing to resume a strategical defence on the West front. The movement resembles the retreat in the spring of 1917. They are probacy making for St. Quentin, Peronne, Noyo, Lafere, and the Aisne, the keys of the defensive system, confining themselves to local offensives, while prosecuting a peace offensive and military operations through Turkey in the East.

. (United Servioo.) (Received August 13th, 1.55 a.m.) LONDON, August 12. Mr Phillips writes: — Although the pace has somewhat slackoned we continue to advance without any widely organised resistance. The Second and Eighteenth Annies, broken and* bewildered, continue to retire in disorder in an endeavour to reach a line to reorganise and recover from the staggering blow they have received. They attemptod to do bo on the line covering Peronne and Noye, but the cavalry and infantry smashed the attempt. They are now retiring across the wildnerness they themselves created. Prince liupprecht is playing a desperate game to gain time, leaving the local garrisons to fight to the lost against the gallant English, Australians and Canadians. Prince Rupprecht meanwhile is endeavouring to create a new line behind his ragged

PARIS V August 11. A semi-official message says: Montdidicr fell owing to a combined more> ment on tlxe right wing by the Third French Army, commanded by General Humbert.

"Le Journal" Btateß that strong enemy columns are advancing in forced marches from Cambrai, Peronne, aarl St. Quentin. Apparently the enemy is contemplating a violent counteroffensive, in order to save Roye, the full of which is unconfirmed.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

PARIS, August 11. The Allies are steadily progressing. Marshal Foch's hatchet blows are reducing salient after salient. The French entered Montdidier towards noon, before the enemy had time to get away. Meanwhile the Allies' . centre, between Lihonß and Faverolles, pushed on, with further great hauls of prisoners, until we gained possession of Fresnoy les Roye, three miles northward of Roye. The Americans co-operated with the British on Friday night, recapturing the Chipilly Spur. r lliey were preceded by tanks and a well-timed barrage. They swiftly gained their objective, while a terrific struggle at close quarters enabled the Allies to take Morlancourt. 60,000 PRISONERS AND 900 GUNS CAPTURED. LONDON, August 11. Mr Lloyd George, speaking at Newport, said that the Allied victory of tho Maine and Somme had resulted :n the capture of nearly sixty thousand prisoners atid nine hundred guns. One of the greatest factors in these victories had been the combined command. He specially appealed to the miners to produce more coal, which was one of the greatest munitions of war. He also urged the coal miners and shippers to hasten the despatch of coal for France and Italy. GENERAL MAURICE EXPECTS A FURTHER RETREAT. LONDON, August 11. General Maurice writes: The British near Chaulnes should now be able to strangle the enemy's communications in the Montdidier salient, in the same way as Marshal Foch's blow on tho Somme upset arrangements for supplying troops in the Marne salient, and thereby eventually forced a retreat. Our rapid advance southward of the Somme has begun to have that effect. The French have extended their attack south as far as the Marne, and are steadily pushing the enemy back from his position on the Avre. " It is in this quarter that we may expect tee crentest progress in the immediate future, becausc the enemy is certain to strive desperately to check the centre of the attack in the neighbourhood of Chaulnes, where our men arti fighting, until he extricates his left flank to prevent its getting into a dangerous position.

CERTAIN.

STOCK EXCHANGE STIMULATED.

GERMAN PROPAGANDA IN

AUSTRALIA.

PATROLS DO GOOD WORK

(Special from the Official War Correspondent.)

Some effects of the victory are already apparent. The main line from Amiens,to Clermont Creil is in working order, and possibly within a day or two we shall be using the lino *? om Amiens along the Avre Valley to Contpiegne, thus improving our chances «<i developing the victory. Tho Germans are now pressed everywhere along a forty-five mile front, and wo fairly hope, working from such a wiue base, to force the enemy back as tar as the Somme from Peronno to Vorennes, and thence along the canal to Noyon, implying the recapture or the bulk of tho ground lost in the groat battle last March. The guns captured are variously estimated at from fifty to 400, including the 15-incli piece previously used <n bombarding Amiens. The British, turning it round, bombarded Ham. It is reported that both Roye ana Chaulnes have been taken. CORRESPONDENTS' DESPA^HES.

(Australian and N.Z. Cabl« Association.) LONDON, August 11. Mr Gordon Gilmour, correspondent of the Australian Tress Association, writing on Friday evening, says:—Since Marshal l'oeh countered tne Crown l>riuee at ltheims, the moral ot all the Entento troops has received such a stimulus that it became certain the initiative in other parts of the front would not be allowed to remain with tho enemy. The troops are now fighting with much impetuosity. Referring to the Australian attack, he says: —They went over in two waves, one wave going through tho otlior thus expediting tho unusually deep advance. The tanks accompanied tho troops, who, after four minutes' bombardment quickly broko the piecrust of the first German dofence. \Ve had it all our own way. Behind tho Australians were tho advance armoured motor-cars, whoso officers had a field day. Bowling along eastward, they found trees down across tho road, and requisitioned a tank to haul them off. The armoured cars, on reaching a certain village, founa an enemy transpqrt ready to move back, and they firod throe thousand rounds into the transport, causing complete confusion. The cars had some lively moments in other villages, whero a tank led a collection of steam waggons, causing an impassable block. They oncountered a German gun, which blew the -wheels off one car, and damaged three others, which, however, escapod. Two cars penetrated into the main street of a small town, firing into billets where German troops were lunching. The cars had qnito a battle with the Germans in rest billots and in the old trenches, and feillod many. One car penetrated beyond La Plaque, where it secured many prisoners round a big dump. (United Service.) LONDON, August 11. Mr Keith Murdoch, writing from Australian Headquarters, says tiiat the surprise of the Germans was so complete that the fighting of the Australians so far hus been comparatively easy. Thousands of 'men have not used their weapons, but have simply walked forward through the Bhattored crust of tho defences to the objectives eight miles away, carrying their iron rations and sufficient ammunition, for several days. They secured village after village, and passed deep into German territory. The Canadians, whose overflowing battalions were at tho top of their form, broke through the enemy crust like thin ice, and then swept forward. Large bodies of cavalry secured the furthermost objecI tives. ■

An examination of the prisoners and dead show thut the Australians alone wiped out three divisions—the Westplialians' reserve, Prussian Guards, and mixed East Prussian and Saxon divisions. The booty is unlimited, and the prisoners include battalion "'nT regimental commanders.

MB, MASSEY BELIEVES VICTORY

(Australian and N.Z. Oable Association.) LONDON, August 11. Mr Masses, speaking at ' the Y.iYI.C.A., said he believed that victory was no\y certain, and would result in a permanent peace. It would oe the Allies' duty to see that the powers of evil were removed from Germany, and such peace terms made aB were worthy of our Bacrilices.

Mr jVlassey visited the New Zealand Oliicers' Training Corps at Oxford. Hp will also visit, with (Sir Joseph Ward and Sir Thomas Mackenzie, the New Zealand camps at Sling and Codiord on Monday.

LONDON, August 11. The war newß stimulated the Stock Exchange, all gilt-edged securities hardening..

SYDNEY, August 12. Mr G. W. Puller, Chief Secretary, announced that the German prop'sf;anda in Australia had been instituted or the purpose of fomenting revolt against the Government. The only object was to prevent eligibles from ■enlisting.

AUSTRALIAN CASUALTIES. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) MELBOURNE, August 12. The total casualties amount to 270,234, including 50,735 dead, 142,037 wounded, and 73,742 sick.

THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

August 10. While we listen to the thunder of the ECuna further south, our own line remains quiot, and the other day not a single casualty was reported in the whole division—a rather remarkable occurrence. Our patrols continue to do good work and to bring in from time to time some prisoners. The oneniy is constantly harried by our artillery, trench mortars, and machine-guns. A diary recently found on a dead officer shows clearly that the German troops have been having a trying time in this sector. He refers to several being killed and others wounded, and states that in Rossingol Wood on one occasion 'twenty-five men of ono company were poisoned by a delilyed-action shell, which burst on tho catacombs in which they were sheltering. The company had to shift to reserve dug-outs. He refers to one action as "a bloody day the men tired with constant duty/' Tho weather has been very changej i e of the mon is good, and the division was never stronger than at the present moment.