RAPID RETREAT.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16310, 6 September 1918, Page 7

RAPID RETREAT.

ALLIES* FORCES IN PURSUIT. ADDITIONAL VILLAGES CAPTURED. FIFTH YEAR—37th DAY,

THE ALLIED ADVANCE.

GERMAN RETREAT CONTINUED. further captures of VILLAGES AND PRISONERS. (By Cable. —Press Association.— CopyrighU (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) NEW YORK,* September 4. Lens is still in German hands, though, the British hold tho western oiitsknta. Gas alone prevents British occupation ° f The Germans are retreating east of the Canal du Nord. facing the French, while the northern section is endeavourinr to wrth-stAnd tho Uritish.. The British have captured Drienoourt (north-oast of Peronne) and Rumancourt, and are advancing. In the Lys salient wo captured Nieppe Croix du Bac, and Romarin. British troops havo reached the Canal du Nord. They liavo captured Ecourt St Quentin (north of Rumancourt). It Ist reported that the British have turctl Moouvres (east of. Lagnicourt). Tho Germans are rotreating at a taster of Soissons a battle is ratline. The Germans are vigorously defending the Pont Rouge platoau and the Lnon railway. The Americans are attacking, and several villages are m flames i „ , , ' NEW YORK, September 4. The British have reached a mile east of the Canal du Nord. Prisoners admit that thev were ordered to held the canal at any cost. Neuville-Bourjonval (east, of Rosouigny and Le Transloy) is surrounded . FIGHTING NEAR LENS. PARIS, September 4. Tbe British are fighting fn the suburbs of Lens. It is believed that the enemy is unable to defend the town any longer. LONDON, September 4. We hold the line of the western bank of the Canal du Nord. Wo crossed the canal at Haut Allaines, two miles north of Peronne. We reached Ecourt bt. Quentin this morning, but do not hold the whole town. Since the British and French offensive began on August Bth ninety-seven German divisions have been engaged. The United Press reports: —Von Hmdenburg is attempting to make a temporary stand at tho Canal _ du Nord. Tlie Canadians are advancing on tho western bank. The Germans are about to retire from Wvtschaeto and the Messinos ridges .in Flanders. * FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORTS. (Australian and NX Cable (Reuter's Telegrams.) 1/ONDON, September 4. A French communique states: — "Our infantry crossed the Somme opposite Epenancourt. . "Further south the French gamed a footing in Genvry, north of Noyon and east of the Canal du Nord. East or Noyon we made fresh progress, ancl reached the outskirts of Salency. Artillerying continues heavy in this region. ' _ , . . "Between the Ailette and-tho Aisne yesterday we captured twelve hundred prisoners. . "Aviators are active in co-oporating with the artillery, and aro destroying centres of resistance. Tons of bombs wero dropped on the back areas, and, camps wero machinegunned. "Last evening and at night we continued to push the enemy from the Canal du Ndrd and between the Ailetto iind the Aisne. _ "We captured the Bois du Chapitre, north-east of Chevilly and Bussy. Further south our advanced elements aro pursuing tho enemy and are approaching Crisolles. "North of the Ailetto -we carried our lines to the western outskirts of Coucy* le Chateau and Jumencourt. To tho south wo advanced east of Leuilly and reached the outskirts of Clamecy and Brayo, and penetrated Bury. We took over 1500 prisoners in this region. "On the Vesle front our elements crossed the rivor at several points." (Received September 6th, 1.5 a.m) LONDON, September 4. A French communique states: — "After breaking stubborn resistance by the enemy, our troops to-day compelled him to retreat north of the Oise and Vesle anil from between th© Canal du Nord and the Oise. Our advanced elemonts, following on the heels of ;he enemy rearguards, advanced beyond Libermont, reached the outskirts, Esmoryhallon, and occupied Hopital Wood. "Further east we crossed the Ailette and reached Marizella, north-east of Manicainr. The enemy left numerous guns and a vast quantity of material. The battle continues on tho plate-iu north of Soissons. Threatened on nho right flank, the enemy has retired north of the Vesle. W e captured Bucyelong and Moncol, north of the Aisne. Further "to the right we cross'-d the Vesle on a front of thirty kilometres, passed Chassomy, Breneile, Vauberlin, Vauxcotte, and Blanzy, and gained a footing on the crest north of Baslieux." SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORTS. LONDON, September 4. Sir Douglas Haig reports: — "Two minor actions are reported in different localities. We hnve reached the east side of Vaux Wood, northward of Moislains, and slightly advanced at other points. "Generally we have reached tho line of the Canal du Nord, and have occupied Ecourt St. Quentin, northward of the Arras-Cambrai road. "We progressed astride the Lvs. We are approaching Neuye Chapclle and Laventie. and have gained possession of Nieuue, Sailly-la-Lys, and Romarin." (Received September sth, 10.20 p.m.) LONDON, September 4. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— "The English and Welsh forced the passage of the Tortille river and the Canal du Nord on a wide front northward of Moislans. During the early part of the day the enemy held the east banks of the river and, canal, and

endeavoured to arrest our advance on this line with artillery and machinegun fire. Despite the natural strength of the enemy's positions, v.e advanced and, with great dash and courage, carried the villages of Mannancourt and Etricourt, overcoming obstacles at the canal and the river. We substantially progressed eastwards. "Further north the English and New Zealanders took Ruyaulcourt, and reached the northern outskirts of Havrincourt, eastwards of the canal. Other English divisions gained the west bank of the canal opposite Demicourt and Boursies, beating off a counterattack. "The English entered Mceruvres from the north, and are fighting still among the old Hindenburg line defences. Wo captured further prisoners and material, including two of three German tanks used in the unsuccessful coun-ter-attack on August 31st. "We progressed at different points on the Lys front." AMERICAN OFFICIAL REPORT. (Australian and N.Z. Cable' Association.) (Reuter's TelegTams.) (Received September 6th, 1.65 a.m.) LONDON, September 5. An American official report statos: — "Yielding to tho continued pressure of the Allies forces, the enemy is in retreat northward of the Vesle. Wo are in close pursuit, and have taken Bazouches, Perles, Fismet, and Batlieuk, capturing prisonors and inachine-guns, and havg reachcd the line Vauxcere-Blanzy-Legrand-Hameau. Yesterday our aviators successfully bombed che railroad and yards of Longyon, Dommary, Baroncourt, and Conflans." GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORTS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Router's TelegTams.) Admiralty per "Wireless Press. (Received September sth, 7.25 p.m.) LONDON, September 4 (6 p.m.). A German' official message says:— "Wo withdrew on Monday night our troops from the line Arleux-Mcouvres-Mannncourt. "Wo repulsed four French attacks against the high ground between Campagne and Bussy. « "Wo repulsed, after bitter hand to hand fighting, renewed French, American, and Italian attacks between tho Ailette and the Aisne." (Received September sth, 10.20 p.m.) LONDON, September '4. A German official message states:-— "Xhe enemy has felt his way forward to our new lines betweon the Scarpe and tjie Somme." * IN PURSUIT OF THE ENEMY. (Received Soptembor sth, 7.25 p.m.) LONDON, September 4. Reuter's correspondent at British headquarters, writjn<r on Wednesday morning, Says:—The great pursuit of the retiring Germans continues. Tho German rearguards- quite unable to check our galloping batteries, which frequently fired at the masses .moving eastward at point blank range. The floods caused by the enemy damming the Sensee-Scarpo canal increased yesterday, but have not seriously retarded our progress. The amount of enemy war material to bo cleared, up in tho territory over which we swept is immense. The enemy had no time to destroy all the canal crossings. We rounded up yesterday over 2600 prisoners and '22 field guns. The booty at Ricliebourg-St. Vaapt, in addition to that already cabled, included two 4.2 howitzers. STUBBORN STRUGGLE ENDS IN VICTORY. (Reuter's Telegrams.) (Received September sth, 7.25 p.m.) • LONDON, September 4. Reuter's correspondent at American headquarters states that tho long, stubborn struggle of the past week on the Soissons plateau ,has been crowned with a victory in which some of the best German divisions liavq been put out of action by tho French and American troops. We are now in possession of. the plateau. Tho. enemy incurred the heaviest losses in the endeavour to check our progress, especially the Prussian Guards, whoso dead were piled up after five futile counter-attacks. As a result of yesterday's fighting we have greatly strengthened our position along the Ailette and brought our lines within a few miles of tho line held before the last German advance over Chemun des Dames. What the enemy considered his first line of defence in that region is now entirely in French hands. PRESSING FORWARD. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received September sth. 9.40 p.m.) LONDON, September 4. We have made further progress along tho Canal Du Nord, which we crossed on a three-mil© front, southward of Inchy. We have also reached Neuville Bourjonval, which is a mile eastward of the Canal. Wo are now approaching the old Cambrai battlefield. Our troops are fighting their way through Havricourt Wood, of which we already hold the north-western portion. We have captured Mceuvres, and are pressing towards German positions prepared for the defence of Douai and Cambrai. Large fires well behind the Vesle indicate a further German retreat before the French and Americans. THE BRITISH VICTORY. AMERICAN COMMENT. (Australian ar.d N.Z. Cable Association.) NEW YORK, September 4. The "New York Times," commenting on the British victory, says:—"The importance of General Haig's victory must be estimated by the significance of the breakdown and the shattering

of the Drocourt-Queant defence line defending the railway and the strategic centrcs of Douai and Cambrai. No official sophistry can distort tho character of the defeat suffered by the German army. The condition of the German army now verges on demoralisation. At no time during the war has it suffered such heavy losses and guns." THE FRENCH ADVANCING. (Received September 6th, 12.5 a.m.) LONDON, September 4. Renter's correspondent at French headquarters states: —Tho Germans are falling back between the Somme and tho Oiso before the armies of General Debeney and General Humbert. This morning our advanced cavalry was little more than a mile from Guiscard. Gfneral Mangin's troops are also advancing, and have worked up to tho edge of the ravine adjacent to tho important La {faux platoau. Thcro are numerous signs that the Germans are preparing to withdraw from tho Veslo sector, probably to the old fortified lino crossing tho Aisne from Juvincourt to Rheims. Fires behind the German front on the Vesle are reported in increasing number. GERMANS IN RAPID RETREAT. EXHAUSTED AND HTJNGRT. (Australian N.Z. U&bk Association.) LONDON, September 4. Mr Percival Phillips says: General Home's victory on the Drocourt line, and the capture of 10,000 Germans, had a surprising sequel. "Without even tho semblance of a counter-attack the Germans are retiring, chastened beyond relief, to a new line beyond the wide, dry moat of the great Canal du Nord, six miles and a half west of Cambrai. In places tliwrctreat has become a race between the vanishing Germans and the British patrols. Our infantry advanced eight mile 3 in somo placcs during the day, and are still pushing into emptv hamlets far in advance of the artillery. Eleven German divisions were reported in the sector, and there were many signs of an impending counter-stroke of great magnitude as we broke the Drocourt line. Then the German infantry suddenly slackened their effort. The night was strangely quiet. It is significant that British aeroplanes were not tired upon until they were over tile C&nal du Nord. Many German prisoners taken by the naval units in the Pronville ayea were exhausted to lack of food. They had had no rations for four days owing to t-lio breakdown of communications. Those capturcd further north complained bitterly of hunger. Even stiff-necked cavalry officers, swaggering into tlio rages in their smart grey coats, asked for food and ate it ravenously. The German artillerymen complained of lack of shells, and company commanders blamed the interruption of telephones and the cyclist services for inability to get orders carried out. Jn fact, the story of Gel-man disorganisation yesterday almist suggests tho deliberate abandonment of these broken divisions to their fate. 3Vl!r Philip Gibbs writes: The enemy is in hard retreat from, the wide belt of country north and south of the Arras-Cambrai road, being in a desp«rato hurry lest his transport and troops are encircled by our men. Beyond doubt the enemy is more panicstricken than at any time of tho war, and at his wit's end to gather fresh reserves 'in time to make a stand before much more is lost. Instead of the expected German counter-attack our men made a steady forward movement throughout the night, despite rainstorms, tho enemy yielding everywhere. The country in which we are advancing is desolate and monotonous, without high road, rivers, or valleys. Only rubbish heaps and bricks mark Jie hamlets. Tangles of rusted wire, piles of abandoned shells, rifles, bombs, and other equipment; characterise this plague-stricken land. Cunningly and rapidly naval machine-gunners worked thoir way forward, but when the infantry took the first objective the brigadier-general visited the forward lines and satisfied himself that it was possible for the naval men to continue. The advance was made slowly and, cautiously until dawn, when the turning movement, which captured .Queant, was completed. Tho Germans in Queant fled panic-stricken, knowing we were behind thoir lines. The enemy got away most of his guns, but was forced to blow up some of his howitzers. The work of the British gunners in keeping pace with the infantry was remarkable. They were able to shell tho crossroads outside • Cambrai, making the highway a terror to the crowded German transport iu retreat. A TRIBUTE TO THE BRITISH TROOPS. LONDON, September 4. Major-General Maurice writes' giving tho fullest credit to the magnificent work of the Canadian l and Australian troops, but he eavs we must not overlook what the English. Scottish, and Welsh divisions have done. It was upon the British that tho brunt of the desperate fighting in the spring fell, and it stirs our hearts to see them now coming into their own, advancing over ground where the . British never trod before. Lieutenant-General Ferguson's corps, which captured the fortress of Queant, was composed of English and Scottish troops and a naval division. The capture is one of tho great feats of the war. It was not a matter of hustling a retreating enemy. Most of the ground was won. in the fighting a week ago, but no one expected to recover- Kemmel, Neuve Eglise ridge, Bailleul and Estaires, without many thousands of casualties. The enemy has given them up in order to find troops to meet Sir Douglas Haig's advance towards Douai and Cambrai. Our victories are also freeing the French coalfields. The enemy is now on the down grade. He has been forced to break up eight divisions and appeal to the despised Austrinns for help. The Germans and the Allies have now each about 196 divisions, ours having an average of greater strength, but tho difference is npt sufficient to enable Marshal Foch to give the coup-de-grace. There must be no slackening of our efforts or it will postpone victory. THE GERMANS' FEARS. NEW YORK, September 4. Mr Cyril Brown, the "World's" correspondent, says:—"The German people realise that militarism's super-blow for peace and victory struck in tho West has completely failed, probably marking Germany's last serious attempt to win a decision on the West front. The Germans are beginning to fear that real war may break out again with Russia, and the spectre of two fronts haunts, them liko a nightmare. The people are beginning to realise that Germany has not a friend in the world. They are also losing faith, in the Hin-denburg-Ludendorff combination. The people now understand something of the pace with which America is changing the balance of man-power against Gormany. It is certain that the more democratic, representatives of tho Reichstag will not knuckle ,down to tho dictatorship of militarism much longer. I anticipate that the acutest inter-poli-tical crisis of tho war will occur in Germany in the near future." CROWN PRINCE INTERVIEWED. KIND AND NOBLE GERMANS. AMSTERDAM, September 4. The Crown Prince, interviewed by the Berlin correspondent of a Hungarian newspaper, stated that owing to the elastic system of defence the

> Germans have retired in some places. Germany is carrying on a defensive war. "Wo do not wish to destroy our enemies," ho said. "For. us victory means only the successful defence of the Fatherland." Asked what would be the end of the war, the Crown Princo pointed to tho Allies' losses. He added that the present attack would probably continue, but. ho said, "it cannot rcach its goal. Only the brilliant defence of our troops prevents the enemy's enormous superiority crushing us." Ho concluded by saying that tho French were fighting excellently and unselfishly, but the English wero badly led. and the Americans do not know what they aro fighting for. BRITISH TAKE NEARLY SCOC PRISONERS. LONDON, September 4. The United Press reports that tho British took prisoner another 3000 men. General Byng took 1946 prisoners and 22 field guns on Tuesday. FRENCH APPROACHING LAON. PARIS, September 4. General Mangin's army, after threo days' fighting, reached the plateau dominating the valley of tile Ailette behind Chemin des Dames, whence the citadel of Laon can be seen, also extended views over the Gorman rear and supply roads. GENERAL MAURICE REVIEWS THE SITUATION. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) , (Received September 6th, 1.65 a.m.) LONDON, September 5. ' Major-General Maurice writes: — b "The shortest lino the enemy can c hold in. Flanders runs from Ypree, I Wytschaete, Messines Ridge, Hill t 63, j and Neuve Chapellc, to La Bassee. Ho f is nearly on this lino now, and will pro- ' 3 bably try to hold it, though he may ; prefer to relinquish tho Lys Valley and r take a stand on Aubers Ridge. This J is a shorter front by thirteen miles. . "la the spring of 1917 the enemy had . 160 divisions on the West front, of - which 100 wero in line and 50 in re--1 serve. In March, 1918, he had 150 in 1 tho lino, so it is possible to make con- ' eidorable savings if time is given him 3to re-sort his troops. We havo not - yet turned tho main north and south e sector of tho Hindenburg line, which 3 begins east of Moeuvres. To do this " we must tako Douai. Presumably the J r enemy's immediate t)lan is to hold the 5 Sensee Canal, covering Douai, and go 3 back to tho Hindenburg line in front > of Cambrai and St. Quentin to the " Chemin des Damos. There are still J several Allied armies which have not j yet had their say, so Marshal Foch has j an opportunity of further improving f the situation." 1 THE SOUTH AFRICAN BRIGADE. P —— _ * (Australian and N./. Cable Association.) j (Received September sth, 7.25 p.m.) s CAPETOWN, September 5. It is officially announced that it has r boen docidod to reconstitute the South k African Brigade overseas, sufficient recruits having been obtained. I =======