THE WESTERN FRONT.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16359, 2 November 1918, Page 10

THE WESTERN FRONT.

AN ATTACK TOWARDS GHENT. SATISFACTORY PROGRESS. FRENCH OFFICIAL. REPORTS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable As&i»ciati®n.) (Beuter'a Telegrams.) LONDON, October 31. A FTench communique states: — South of Guiso we captured several enemy trenches, and approached the road from Guiso to Le Herie la -Vleville. We continued the offensive between Bannogne and Herpy. Very lively fighting is in progress west of St.'lergeux. (Received November Ist, 8.50 p.m.) LONDON, October 31 (5.20 p.m.). A French communiquo states: — The enemy yesterday evening violently countcr-attacked west of &t. Fergeux. Wo maintained our positions. In two days our Fifth Army took 1453 . prisoners. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Renter's Telegrams.) LONDON, October 31. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— There is nothing except outpost and •artillery activity. We raided in the neighbourhood of : Le Quesnoy. Patrols progressed at cer- ! tain points northward of Raismes Forest. BRITISH AND FRENCH ATTACK. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) , LONDON, October 31. The United Press reports: — Tho French and British attacked in the morning towards Ghent. The attack is reported to be going well. , AMERICAN OFFICIAL MESSAGE. (By Cable.—Fmi Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cabl© A&sociatioa.) .Router's Telegrams.) (Received November Ist, 7.46 p.m.) LONDON, October 31. An American official message 'States: — "We have advanced over lines northward of Grandpre, and occupied Beliejoyeuse Farm."

GERMANS' REDUCED FIGHTING STRENGTH. SERIOUS EFFECT ON ENEMY MORAL. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received November Ist, 8.20 p.m.) LONDON, October 31. Whereas in March last th© enomy possessed eighty fresh reserve divisions, the number is n6w reduced to fifty, of which only seven have had a fort- ! night's rest and none has had a month's i rest. Therefore the Germans have not i a single division which can be called i fresh.. Cases have actually occurred in S the last fortnight of enemy divisions rei appearing in the line unable to muster ' a thousand rifles, out of an establish- ' ment of 6750 rifles, excluding machine- ' gunners. In one instance a division was reduced to 1 roughly one battalion. During the last six months twenty-five divisions have been disbanded, while in the last, four weeks five have been disbanded. Third-rate, ill-equipped divisions have been transferred from Russia to the West front. The enemy's total shortage in rifles on the,, establishment may safely be taken as over 550,000. It is estimated that since January Ist tho enemy's casualties have amounted to 2,500,000, of which a million are permanent, while the total reserves in German depots at present are estimated not V to exceed 340,000, including the greater portion of the 1920 class. Hitherto every effort lias been made to postpone tho employment of the latter class. As it is the sole remaining reserve of enemy man power its consumption involves serious economic consequences to Germany after the war. It is estimated that of 18,000 German guns of all calibres on tlie Western front in July 33 per cent, has been lost in battle casualties alone. Divisions from Russia havo been thrown into battle unprovided with artillery or machine guns, while tho decreasing aircraft activity is< a further sign of deficiency in material resources, causing a* increasingly serious effect on the enemy's moral. Though nothing like general demoralii sation has occurred, it remains to bo seen whether the.Entente armies' pres-

sure can. be continued with sufficient vigour to cause a general collapse of tho enemy's resistance.

I AUSTRIA WITHDRAWING HER TROOPS. (Australian and N.Z. .Cable Association.) i (Received November Ist, 8.60 p.m.) LONDON, October 31. Austria is withdrawing her divisions from the West front. Threo havo already gone. GERMAN ORDERS. HIGH COMMAND IN DESPERATE STRAITS. (Rcuter's Telegrams.) (Received November Ist, 8.50 p.m.) LONDON. October 31. A captured order, signed by General von Larisch, commanding an army corps in the Busigny sector, dated October 19th, says:—"We will accept a decisive battle on the Lys-Hermann line, which must be held at any price." Tho Hermann line is the Scheldt line, which we subsequently captured along von Larisch's sector. Another divisional order says the l High Command has ordered that troops must be made to understand clearly that tho BGermann-Stelling line must be hold at all costs for the reason that if this is held there are good prospects of carrying out peac© negotiations or arranging an armistice. If this line is not held peace in .the near future is out of the question. To make this point perfectly clear another order says:—"Tho main obstacle to a peace of justice is the unbridled will of the onomy commanders to annihilate the German Army. They hope to achieve this by renewed attacks. Only by standing firm can the scheme of the enemy commanders be frustrated, and an honourable peace secured. The enemy infantry is inferior in quality and without capacity of resistance. If we turn our backs on them we are lost, and with us the whole Germany Army. If only everyone stands firm our task is easy, and we shall be able to settle accounts with the enemy, but every man must stand. That is a • question of honour."