LATE NEWS

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

LATE NEWS

0 THE GREAT BATTLE

ENEMY'S PLIGHT GROWS

WORSE

BRITISH ARMOURED CARS

HARASS RETREAT

(Roc. August 27, 1.35 a.m.)

London, August 125,

The United Press correspondent states: "Out of scanty reserves badly needed elsewhere, ilindenburg and LudendorlT arc throwing in Prussians, Saxons, Bavarians, and marines in an effort to check the- British progress on the Sommc field. They are- thrown in by regiments, not by divisions. Some elements of the. same divisions are now found far apart., as at, Biefvillers and Maniotz. but notwithstanding the enemy's attempts to repair the holes in the line us fast as they develop, the Germans continue- to retreat, only holding desperately some points like Bapaume in order to prevent.the complete, break-down of the. defence '-nnd the turning of this forced withdrawal into a riotous retreat. Aβ it- isytbe disorganisation in some places is so groat that the British armoured cara are enabled to harass the traffic.

"A tour of the cases on Sunday revealed the fact that the 40th and 23rd Saxon Divisions 'and the 36th Prussian Division had been added to the forces on the northern part of the battlefield, tho Saxons being; brought from-' Belgium. The prisoners included large numbers of the Third Marines, who were caught eastward of Mirauraont, where they had been reinforcing the Bavarians when Miraumont was pinched off at noon on Saturday. Alsatian prisoners stated that the Germans are scattering them in groups all through the- army. They declared that punishment for desertion is visited on their families. In soma cases sisters have boen sent to work in the front line. This is prohably responsible for the stories that the Germans are using women to fieht on the battle-line."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

HIGH OFFICER'S VIEW

ENEMY SEEMS TO BE CRACKING

(Rec. August 27, 2.S a.m.)

London, Auguet 25,

Mr. Nevinson ("Daily Chronicle") j states:—"Friday night and Saturday ! morning constituted one of the turn- ] ing points of the present Somme cam- i paigu, uerhaps of the whole war. A' j high ofucer, who speaks with know- ; ■ledge and caution, says: 'The enemy j seems to be cracking.' Five months ! ago wo thought, we wore cranking, ' ! therefore it is unsafe to prophesy, but thero is no doubt that the Geriunn. armies opposing our 3rd and 4th i Armies are disconcerted." Mr. Neviu- j son describes a walking tour,over a ] portion of the battlefield, which is full j of interesting evidence of the enemy's ! disarray. Ho reached the summit of ! tho mound on "wliich Thiepval was '] cituated, and where he first met the ' enemy's soldiers. They were prison- { ors, a large batch of them, docilely fol- | lowing three British guards. j "Over the wholo of the next ridge j and the valley beyond tho Germans [ were scattered. They gave evidence of i a division which had lost its cohesion and hope. I was unarmed, yet none attempted to shoot. Somo lurked in hiding-places, a.nd, if .detected, they surrendered forthwith, throwing away everything except their clothes and a' sf.ck containing food,'soap, and razor." 1 Mr; Nevinson saw a solitary British i cavalry man, armed only with an j empty Gorman revolver, prowling i round collecting small batches. Their j talk amongst themselves consisted of complaints against their superiors, j who had caused them to lose touch j with their companios, though all seem- < ed glad to be made prisoner.—Aus.N.Z. ; Cable Assn. . j ANGRY CROWDS~IN BERLIN \ ONCE POPULAR IDOLS INSULTED } j (Rec. August 27, 2 a.m.) ! Amstordam, August 26. | A remarkable demonstration in the i poor quarters of Berlin followed a re- j port that tho military ago limit ehort- j ly would ho raised. Excited crowds j assembled in tho streets, but dissolved ' on tho appearance of tho police. Fro- . quonters of certain cafes revenged; < themselves by throwing pictures of tho \ Kaiser, tho Crown Prince, Hiudwi- j burg, and Ludcndorff from the win- j dows, whore they were trampled on j tho ground. This example was imitate ; ed by a large number of householders.-—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. | BERLIN HAS LOST ITS NERVE. s (Roc. July 27, 2 a.m.) '< London, August 26. The "Daily Telograph's" Rotterdam , ; correspondent says': —"The past week i will rank as one of tho most impor- ! tant of tlie war. The events en tho i Western 'front will have a tremendous ! effect on the peoplo of Germany, who ■ have only now been allowed to leant ; that Lnd'endorff's_ gamble has failed, '• j and that a defensive policy must be re- . i sumod on tho West while Germany, ; consolidates , her gains in the East- ; Competent observers declare that the , people of Berlin have complotolv losi) : their norve."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. 1