BRITISH IN BAPAUME

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 290, 27 August 1918, Page 5

BRITISH IN BAPAUME

MORE VILLAGES TAKEN tisiG . STORY OF THE FIRST THREE DAYS ' As yesterday's news led ua to anticipate, the British have captured Bapaume, and are pressing onwards on either side of tho town. The total of prisoners is steadily rising, and there is no appearanoe of a definite check anywhere, .although the enemy's resistance Jβ being strengthened. Old familiar names aro reappearing as the tide of battle rolls Germany-wards—Martinpuich, Mamotz, and so on. On the French front a comparative calm prevails. There is more activity on the American front, with successful raiding in Lorraine. The New Zealand war correspondent (Captain Ross) sends an instructive and very interesting dispatch covering the first three days of the New Zealanders' attack. The- enemy was completely surprised, and lost heavily. ... CONTINUED SUCCESS OF THE ALLIES BAPAUME ONCE MORE IN OUR HANDS HOW THE NEW ZEALANDERS FOUGHT By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright. ■' !J London, August 15, 8 p.m. Bapaume has'been captured.—Aus. T N.Z. Cable Assn. "BRITISH ENTERING BAPAUME. (Rec. August 26,' 8.30 p.m.) New York, August 26. Keports from the West front state that the. British are entering Ba-paume.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BRITISH PATROLS AT BULLECOURT. London, August 25. It is reported that British outposts have reached the fringe of Bulleconrt tseven miles north-east of Bapaume), and have captured High Wood. —■ Renter . / FORTY THOUSAND PRISONERS SINCE AUGUSTS . NEW BRITISH TACTICS PRODUCE RESULTS AT SMALL COST (Rec. August 27, 1.5 a.m.) Paris, August 25. Since August 8, over forty thousand Germans _ have been taken prisoner on the British front. The British method of avoiding direct attack on tho enemy's strong'positions and attacking tho weaker points on the right and left of the strongholds, so forcing their evacuation or surrender, has enabled them to gain their objectives at small cost, though the process has been somewhat slower.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FOURTH ARMY'S GREAT RECORD (Rec. August 26, 9.20 p.m.) London, August 26. The British 4th Army, including the Australians, have, between July 18 and August 21, captured over thirty thousand prisoners and nearly five hundred tuns.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. OFFICIAL REPORTS SEVENIEEN THOUSAND PRISONERS SINCE LAST WEDNESDAY ■ - e London, August 25. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Our attack north of tho Somme continues. "We hold tho road from Albert to Bapaume, a; far as the outskirts of Lβ Sars (three miles south-west of Bapaume). Wo captured Contalmaison, Warloncourt, and Eaucourt. North of Bapaume we have taken Sapignies und Behagnies. Tho number of prisoners taken by tho 3rd and. 4th Armies on the battlefront since AVsdnosdny ; morning now exceeds 17,000. A counto--attaok against our positions which we recently gained north of Bailleul (Flanders) broke down."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. The High Commissioner reports:— London/ August 26, 4.20 p.m, Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Hostile opposition increased with the arrival of German reinforcements, but we mado progress nevertheless, taking many prisoners. North of tho Somme the Au Btralians carried a position on tho high ground east of Bray. Mametz ha.s been captured. In the centre we crossed, the ATbert-Bapaume road, along the whole length south of Bapaume, taking Martinpuich, Lβ Sars, and Lβ Barque. ON THE FRENCH FRONT London, August 25, 5 p.m. A French communique states: ''The enemy attempted a coiip-de-inain north of Rove, but it only resulted in our capturing twenty prisoners. Thsre is a fairly violent bombardment, and in tho region of Boauvraignfis, between the Ailetto and tho Aisne, we. , increased our advance east of Bagnoux. On the right bank of tho Mouso and in the Woevre our patrols brought back prisoners, including Austro-Hungarians."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router. COMMENT ON THE SITUATION PLANS FOR GERMAN RETIREMENT UPSET. London, August 25. Undoubtedly, before our attacks the enemy contemplated a big retirement, but ho intended taking his time. We have hustled him, and prevented him carrying out his plans; this is proved by tho number of guns captured and tho very largo number of prisoners taken. Tho British 3rd and 4th Armies have taken 14,000 prisoners in the last three days. The Fourth Army Las captured a, largo slico of ground on the eastern bank of tho River Ancre, opposite Albert, and the lino now runs right round Albert, just west of Be-cordel-Bccourt, and thenco turns southward to tho western outskirts of Bray. 'Although Chaulnes is not yet in our hands, the railway junction is useless to the enemy, and tbo only lino at his disposal is that from Chaulnes to Ham, which can only be used partially, !\a tho Chaulnes junction is lindor our fire. Tho Allied attacks are extending from tho Champagno to the sea, and aro intended to create a strategic situation equal to all eventualities. The artillery from Royo to Couey in thundering away incessantly, and there aro innumerablo local actions. Numerous prisoners have been brought in in Lorraine. The expenditure of munitions in tho battle is beyond imagination. There is little if any artillery preparation; but once the infantry is on tho go the German rear and communications aro plentifully "watered" with shells.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. "GERMAN TIDE RECEDING" MARSHAL FOCH ON THE OUTLOOK. i London, August 25. Interviewed by the war correspondents, Marshall Focli said. "All rocs well. You have been able to observe'our operations sines .Inly 18. They have developed well, and wo shall continue fhem. It in impossible to speak too highly of the troops; I. cannot orerpraise their bravery and heroism. Despite the terrible heat, fatigue, and all kinds of difficulties, they stick to it, and constantly accomplish superbly whatever they aro asked to do. Tho British troops aro splendid.. Despite the heat, they continuo to progress. Tho Americans are admirable soldiers. Their only fault is that they push forward so far that lam obliged to hold them back." General Foch concluded by comparing the German invasion of prance to a, tido which had passed tho bkh-water mark, and was now receding.—Aub.-N.Z. Cable Assn.