MANY VILLAGES RECAPTURED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 291, 28 August 1918, Page 5

MANY VILLAGES RECAPTURED

INDESCRIBABLE CONFUSION IN ENEMY'S'LINES

To-day's budget from the Western front brings news of I still 'another surprise attack by the British, this time east of Arras, in the Scarpe valley. There is not mucli detail so far, but generally speaking, the, battle is going very well, and several villages lost during the Germans' early offensive have been reconquered. A , Paris message states that "every hour brings news that the British have taken another village," while the French on the Ailette "are eating into the enemy's defences east of Noyon, preparatory to » joint Anglo-French rush towards the Somme." . Bapaume has not yet fallen, but the British are working round on either side, and its evacuation is only a matter of time. In Siberia a strong attack by the enemy has been repulsed by the Allied forces. There are indications of reviving activity in the Balkans.

SURPRISE ATTACK EAST OF ARRAS ANOTHER OFFENSIVE SWIFTLY DEVELOPED ; BACK ON THE HINDENBURG LINE / 1 ■ ' By Telegraph-PresH Association-CopyrigHt,

London, August 26. _ The Australian Press Association representative learns that the attack is proceeding very favourably, and brings the fighting within a mile of,the Hindenburg line. The enemy's resistance north of Bapaume is stiffening. The British Third Army captured the high ground between Fampoux and Neu'r ville Vitasse. Fighting is proceeding on the Henin Hill, and the line then continues to ■ the western outskirts of Croisilles. After taking Mory wo made progress to the south-east and capturcd_ Favreuil, Avesnes-lcs-Ba-paume, arid tho Butte de Warlencourt. The line then runs south and east of Martinpuich. There is little alteration south of tho Somme. The French Army has taken Fresnoy-les-Roye. General Mangin's Army has made a slight advanco between tho Ailette and the Aisnc, taking 400 prisoners. ( The British took 20,000 prisoners between Wednesday and Sunday.—Aus.- ' N.Z. Cable Assn. ' ; " TWO MILES GAINED ON FOUR-MILE FRONT London, August 26. To-day's attack on the Scarpc from Fampoux to tho heights north-cast of Neuville Vitasse advanced two miles on a four-mile front., Monchy-le-Preux, Wancourt, Guemappe, and Favreuille were captured.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ANOTHER SURPRISE FOR THE ENEMY / . \ BRITISH MOONLIGHT ATTACK EAST OF ARMS. (Rec. August 27, 8.35 p.m.) London, August 20. Router's _ correspondent, telegraphing at noon from British Headquarters, 'states"This morning's attack eastward of Arras carried our battle flank to tho Scarps at tho moment when tho oyes of tho .Germans were nervously turnod elsewhore! Consequently the enemy was rudely surprised when in squally, clouded moonlight dense British waves swept forward after only tho briefest artillery preparation', j Heavy wastage has been caused during tho last few days by tho transfer of jeservos in this region towards tho Bapaumo sector. Tho-morning's attack progressed most favourably, and at the moment of telegraphing is going well._ Comparatively few prisoners have hitherto como back, but this conveys no indication regarding the character of tho fighting. _ _/ _In an evening dispatch ho says: —- Tho pace of the advanco is slackening > owing to tho increasing rcsistanco by tho enemy, especially towards Bapaume, : where counter-attacks are becoming heavier along tho main points. ! 'Tho weather is boisterous, with heavy rniii squalls, which militates against our progress in country which is rapidly being transformed into mud and pools." —Router. ' ' SPLENDID PROGRESS OF THE ALLIES \ "EVERY HOUR ANOTHER VILLAGE." . (Rec. August 28, 0.30 a.m.) Paris, August 26. Evory hour brings news that the British have taken another village, whilo the French, on tho Ailetto sector, are eating into tho enemy's defences cast of Noyon preparatory to a joint Anglo-French rush towards the Somme. Bapaume continues to form tho centre of tho British front, the German de-, fences boing concentrated on tho northern outskirts. Tho fighting is ferocious in character. The Germans have been compelled to rush men from Douai and Cambrai to fill up tho gaps, but the British attack is unshaken. Tho Londoners and the. Welsh troops have advanced seven miles between Thiepval and Contalmaison. Throughout the operations the co-opcration between all tho services is perfect. The wounded arc succoured with wonderful celerity, the Red Cross stretcher-bearers and motor-cars being in the closest touch with tho front lino.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. CLOSING IN ON BAPAUME ONLY ONE EXIT LEFT FOR THE HUNS. (Rec. August 23, 0.30 a.m.} London, August 26. Renter's correspondent at British Headquarters writes i "Southward of the Somme movement during the past twenty-four hours has been more restricted, but intensely active, especially on tho part of tho Germans, who havo failed in numerous counter-attacks.. They aro unable to arrest our progress where wo are determined to push it. By the storming of Favreuil last evening we have drawn a half-circle round Bapaumo, the exit from which is now closed savo towards tho Cambrai road. Our airmen report that the town is deserted, but undetected machine-guns may be concealed in the ruins. At least, the Germans aro denied the use of this important centre of communication. This morning the Australia is had apparently captured Suzanne and Cappy, and approached within ten miles of Peronne. The Welsh troops, who penetrated Mametz Wood yesterday, belonged to the same division who took this place after fierce fighting in July, 1916, while tho capture ot tho Miraumont redoubts was the finest feat to the credit of the East Lancashire troops."—Reuter. WITH MANGIN'S ARMY A COSTLY ATTACK BY THE GERMANS. (Rcc. August 28, 0.30 a.m.) _ : London, August 26. Renter s correspondent at French Headquarters says: "A feature of Sunday's fighting with General Mangin's army was a German attempt to thrust the French from the heights between Juvigny and Crecy-au-Mont. The French at first yielded a little ground, but recovered it in a brilliant counterattack. The Germans later made other futile attacks and lost heavily as the result of French machine-gun fire and the artillery barrage. The battlefield is covered with German corpses."—Reuter. AUSTRALIA'S "BAG" SINCE AUGUST 8 London, August 26. The Australians have captured 12,000 Germans since August 8, which is a larger number than the Australian casualties.—Aus.-N,Z. Cable Assn.