THE OFFICIAL REPORTS

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

THE OFFICIAL REPORTS

NEW ATTACK ON THE SCARPE SECTOR

London, August 26. Sir Douglas Haig reports I "The enemy's opposition increased to-day with the arrival of German reinforcements. Jl'any counter-atacks at different points ivero broken with loss under our fire. Our troops, notwithstanding these attacks, fought their way forward with great gallantry, and, overcoming tho resistance, made further progress and took many prisoners.'' Sir Douglas Haig, in a later report, states:—"Our troops at 3 o'clock this morning attacked in the Scarps sector. Good progress is reported. On tho southern battlefront we slightly advanced our lino astrido tho Somme. and by a successful operation carried out on Sunday we made progress in the direction of Jlaricourt. The enemy 011 Sunday evening launched strong coun-ter-attacks south and north of Bapaume, in the neighbourhoods of Eaucourt l'Abhaye, and Favreuil. Tho attacks were repulsed. North of Favreuil we met tho enemy with the bayonet, inflicting heavy casualties and taking prisoners. Another counter-attack later in the evening in the latter neighbourhood was unsuccessful. Favreuil is in our hands, and wo progressed beyond the village. We improved our position south-east of Mary rnd west of Croisillcs. Heavy rain is now falling on the hattlefront."—Ans.N.Z. Cable Assn.-R outer. The High Commissioner reports:— London, August- 26, midnight. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "To-day's advance has been successfully continued. Orange Hill, Wancourt, Monchy-le-Prieux, and the chemical works at Roeux have been captured." I 1 ' > ON THE FRENCH FRONT

| London, August 26. A French communique states"There is reciprocal artillery activity in the region of Lassigny and between the Ailette and the Aisuc. North of Soissons we have made fresh progress east of Bagneux, and repulsed coun-ter-attacks west of. Crccy-au-Mont. We took four hundred prisoners. There is nothing to report from elsewhere." A later communique states:—"There were lively artillery actions at night in the regions of Roye and Beauv'raignes, and between tho Ailette and the Aisne. Enemy raids in the Vosges wero without result."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable' Assn.-Reuter. <

THE ENEMY'S REPORTS

London, August 26. A German official report states' 'Strong English forces, led by tanks, advancing between Neuville and St. Leger, collapsed. Our posts at St. Leger withdrew to the eastward of the village. Strong attacks, initiated by numerous tanks against Bapaume collapsed. We threw back the enemy beyond Pozieres. The enemy six times made stroming attacks against the middle of the front east of Albert to the Somme. We threw him back to La Boisselle, and over the Alberfc-Bny Road. Our projecting lines here were withdrawn during the night." A German evening official report states"Heavy attacks on' both sides of Bapaume Sailed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Bsuteiv

THE WAR IN THE AIR

London, August 2G. Sir Douglas Haig reports"Our hirmen, oft Saturday, carried out varied work, including much low flying and artillery observation. We dropped 43 tons of bombs. The Valenciennes and .Cambrai railway junctions were amongst the targets."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Renter.

RAIDS ON FRANKFORT AND MANNHEIM,

(Re?. August 28, 0.30 a.m.)

London, August 26. The Air Ministry reports: "Oh the night of August 25-26 we successfully attacked the railway junction at Frankfort and the chemical factories at Mannheim with very good results at Frankfort. We dropped two tons of bombs oil the factories at Mannheim, causing fires and explosions. Our machines flew through heavy thunderstorms. Other machines dropped four tons of bombs on a hostile aerodrome with'good results. All our. machines return-ed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter,

WITH THE FRENCII SQUADRONS London, August 26. A French official report states: —"Bad weather hampered the aviators, and bombing was impossible in the daytime, but, the weather improving at right, the bombers dropped nineteen and a half tons in tho rear of the battlefield on stations and bivouaos. Numerous hits were registered, and fires observed at Laon, Guiscard, and Guignicourt."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reu-ter. ' A GERMAN REPORT. London, August 26. A German official report states:—"Our nightflyers on Saturday droppod seventy-five tons of bombs on camps and railway stations."—Aus.-N .Z, Cable Assn.-Reuter. 1 COMMENT ON THE SITUATION

"THE FIRST SHEAVES OF THE HARVEST." Paris, August 26. M. Clomenceau, in thanking the l'rosident and the General Council for its congratulations, said that only feeble; souls could bo surprised by the recent victories. "We are gathering the first sheaves of the, harvest, and others will follow. The greatest of them will bo the deliverance oif the world from the oppression of implacable brutality.".—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. "MOST DRAMATIC ERA OF THE WAR " London, August 26. Router's correspondent at British Headquarters, writing on Sunday evening, says : —"Wo have reached the most dramatic ora of the war, yet, despite our successes, we ought presently to temper our _ optimism with caution. Since yesterday morning tho enemy has been disintegrated over a considerable zone'of tho Sommo battlefield. In some places groups of 'Germans are wandering about seeking an opportunity to surrender, and tho present degree of enemy demoralisation iu ' Crtnin places is the greatest factor in tho present situation. Yesterday the enemy cracked up in tho neighbourhood of Thiepvnl Ridge, but we must prepare for a recovery on a strong line of resistance. The battlefield scene >va s amazing."—Reuter.

A BLEAK PROSPECT FOR VON LUDENDORFF.' (Rec. August 27, 7.30 p.m.) London, August 26. Renter's correspondent at American Headquarters states that tho German papers aro troubled at the knowledge that sooner or lator, somewhere or other, Germany must face half a million of the best troops in tho world in the "virile American Army. Ludendorff knows that though ho is retreating he has not yet had to meet the main blow , which his adversary is still waiting to deliver when tho appropriate moment and vulnerable spot are reached. —Reuter. GERMAN PRESS OPINION BATTLE FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GERMANY. London, August 26. Tho Gorman Press, admitting tho possibility of retiring to the Rhine, also admits that the battle is now one for tho existence of Germany.—Aus.N.Z. Cablo Assn. (Rec. 'August 27,- 7.30 p.m.) Amsterdam, August 26. Tho "Kolnische Zeitung," which is practically a semi-official organ, referring to the great battle, implores tho German peoplo not to despair, adding: "It is no longer a question of. Belgium ami Alsace-Lorraine. \Ve'are fighting for Germany's life. Let us act like men."—Router. The "Vorwaerts," referring to tho German reverse, says':—"The German peoplo are not beaten. What is beaten is tho omnipotence of tho mailed fist and of the jingoes of world dominion."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

GERMAN MAN-POWER A GRAVE PROBLEM (Roc. August 27, 5.5 p.m.) New York, August 2n. Germans captured on the United States front report tlmt the shortage of man-power is gravely concerning the German High Command. Plenty of Germans are, willing to surrender and sink their war aims. Their losses during the Allied advance have beon heavy. One division was reduced to less than a thousand men. Trouhle is also threatening among the workers at the munition plants.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. f