THE ADVANCE IN THE WEST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 305, 13 September 1918, Page 5

THE ADVANCE IN THE WEST

CAMPAIGNING IN BAD WEATHER THE TASK AHEAD IN BELGIUM By Telograph-Preei A»sooifltfon-.Oopyright,' / ' ■-■'~■ ' Washington, September 11. The Germans are.evacuating Douai.—Aus.-N.Z- Cable Assn. .New York, September 11. The British have entered Peiziere and Epeliy. The Australians have reached the outskirts of Attilly (five miles west of St. Quentin), on the edge of Holnon Wood, from where the spires of St. Quentin are visible.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. '■ 20,270 PRISONERS SINCE SEPTEMBER 1 .-,■■■ . ■ London, September 11. ■ # . It is reported that Ihe British to-day captured the' ridges north-west of Peiziere. We have occupied the old Hindenburg lino, east of Havrincourt Wood (north of Gouzeancourt). The number 1 of prisoners taken since September 1 totals 20,270,-Aus.-N.Z. Cab lo Assn. " ENEMY ADOPTING DELAYING TACTICS • .-.... London, September 11. Reuter's correspondent at British Headquarters, writing on Wednesday - (4.55 p.m.), says: ''Our screening troops on Tuesday morning gained appreciable ground between Gouzsaucourt and Epehy, and entered Peiziero and advanced our line. The enemy is clearly employing delaying tactics between the present'outpost zone and the Hindenburg line. 'Considerable booty is still coming in. This morning the Germans attacked west of Gouzeaucourt, but were everywhere beaten oIF, except in one .small pocket which remains to be dealt with. ■ . ■ "The Germans are using a novel kind of mortar grenade, emitting an acrid gas which burns the grass. Several were fired at the advancing New Zealanders without checking their progress."—Renter. AN INDICATION OF THE ENEMY'S STATE OF MIND ' .. (Rec. September 12, 7.35 p.m.)' . ' London, September 11. Router's correspondent at British Headquarters, writing on the evening of September 11, savs: "The state of the m the German Army is indicated by the demeanour of the prisoners taken from the Second Guard Division, a corps d'elite, which was withdrawn-from the fighting less than a. thousand etrong. The prisoners were heartily glad to surrender, and urged our men to continue attacking, assuring them that swarms of Germans were only too anxious to surrender. Letters found on prisoners nearly all are couched in terms of hopelessness or resentment. Rainstorms continue, to swell the streams, and inundations are causing damage. The spread of .country now under water extends from the Sensee to the La Bassee Canal."—Reuter. CONTINUOUS RAIN HAMPERS THE ADVANCE SUCCESSFUL HUMBERT'S ARMY. (Rec. September 12, 9.20 p.m.)' - \ Paris, September 11. The rain continues, and the roads in,many places are impassable for guns and tractors. The left wing of General Humbert's army had lively fighting on the La Fere-St' Quentin road near Vandeuil. Though the enemy made persistent counter-attacks: with large effectives, General Humbert finally Toadied the hills lining the Oise north of La Fere. The French have reached Trarecy, on, the Hindenburg line, thus outflanking La Fere on the north bank of the Somme. The French troops have crossed to the right bank of the Oise north-east of Travecy. There,aro indications of a new enemy withdrawal.—Ans.:N.Z. Cable Assn. A RESPITE FOR THE ENEMY ; (Rec. September 13, 0.10 a.m.) . London, September 12. Air. Philip Gibbs writes:—"lt is probablo that tha main Hindenburg line is now held in strength by the best available troops, whilq the broken divisions fall back through them; The onemy for .the timo being gains a respite which his commanders doubtless will utilise in an endeavour to repair •the moral of the troops. It is, however, certain that large numbers of Germans are irreparably disillusionised. They know now, if never before, that victory will never bo theirs on the field. Some of the Kaiser's proudest soldiers openly expressed pleasure at being taken prisoner, notably the Second Gunrds Division. Some even hoped that our victories would multiply iii order to end the war."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. REGIMENTS MUTINY AT COLOGNE (Rec. September 13, 0.10 a.m.) • < Amsterdam, September 12. The Dutch journal "Telegraaf" states that tho 25th Regiment, from Cologne, refused to entrain for the front on August 31. Another regiment refused to coerce thoir comrades. The authorities thereupon summoned the local Cadets, who attacked the mutineers with swords, but wero severely bandh'd, losing cloven killed,—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Aesn.

THE OFFICIAL REPORTS ,

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S DISPATCHES (Bee. Soptomber 12, 7.35 p.m.) London, September 11, 31 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "13y a suoccssful local operation curly this morning northward of Epehy we advanced our line. We niado progress on the southern portion of the battlefront in the neighbourhood of Vermaiid. Wβ repulsed an attempted attack on ouo of our posts westward of Go.uzeaiicourt and established posts in the. enomy's forward positions as tlio result of local fighting north-west ■of Hulliich and southward of tlm Ln, Bassoo Canal: There was considerable hostile artillery activity in the evening on the Havrincourfc Wood sector. Heavy rainstorms hindered our air work."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assu.-Reuter.

. (Rcc. September 12, 11.55 p.m.) London, September 12. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "We advanced our line yesterday in tho direction of Attily and Vcrmand. Tho onemy, during the night, reattached our positions on the ridge westward of Goiir.c'aucourt. After sharp fighting he was completely beaten oft, except at o-io point where the post remained in his possession. During local fighting a strong party entered our trenplies in tho neighbourhood, of Moouvres, but a counter-attack repulsed them. The enemy also was repulsed at Ercourt St. Quentin, after stiff fighting. We advanced our line slightly westward of Erquinghem. ,, —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reutor. LULL ON THE FRENCH FRONT - London, September 11. A French communique -states: "There is nothing to report except artillery action at various points.on the Aisne and the Vesle and iu the Cham-pagne."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-B-euter. (R«c. September 12, 11.55 p.m.) London, September 12. A French communique states: "The enemy counter-attacked south-east of Roupy, but was repulsed. Some prisoners and machine-guns were captured. During the past twenty-four hours the.enemy mado six attempts to rush our new positions in the region of Laffaux and Celles-sur-Aisne. All were repulsed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asen.-Router. SUCCESSFUL ATTACK BY THE BELGIANS (Bee. September 12, 7.35 p.m.) .' • London, September 11. A Belgian communique states: "With a view to onlarging our successes of August 26 and Septembe- 9 we attacked on a front of two miles. After a violent struggle- the enemy's positions were carried and maintained, comprising an advance of four hundred yards. Our losses were light."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-R-euter. THE ENEMY'S REPORTS London, September 11. A German official message states: "Fresh English attacks in the neighbourhood of Gouzeaucpurt and Epehy led to violent fighting, and the enemy reached our first lines at a few points. Our counter-attack drove him back. We captured 3000 prisoners.' Strong enemy attacks along the Ailette lino failed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Bouter. • A GERMAN REPORT DISSECTED.' (Rec. September 12, 7.35 p.m.) i London, September 11. The Press Bureau announces that tho German claim of three thousand prisoners is probably a mistake in transmission for three hundred. "Even this is in excess of tho number reported missing."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Asen.Reuter. (Rec. September 12, 9.20 p.m.) London, September 11. A wireless German official correction statos: "We took prisoner three hundred British, not three thousand, as previously reported."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. THE ENEMY'S LOSSES FOR TWO MONTHS 500,000 Paris, September 11. The German losses in the past two months total 500,000, including 300,000 dead. Von Ludendorff proposes to disband one company per battalion to bring up tho strength of the remainder. Von Boehm nas issued an order to his troops to persovere in the fighting, regardless of the heaviness of the losses. The 1920 class is momentarily expected to appear at the front.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. COMMENT ON THE SITUATION THE ENEMY'S DEFENSIVE LINES FORMIDABLE TASK BEFORE THE ALLIES. (Rec. September 12, 10.55 p.m.) i • London, September 12. General Maurice, in the "Daily Chronicle," describing the German defences, says: "It is well known that the enemy has several lines between his existing , front and the Rhine. He was enabled to construct these with the help of Russian prisoners and enforced Belgian and French civilian labour. The main German lino may be regarded as the portion, between Lille and Metis, which pivots on various defensive systems. Tho defences of Lille were elaborated four years ago, and are now extremely formidable, covering Belgium as Metz covers Lorraine. Tho Germans do not' intend to surrender Belgium unless they are compelled. They would rather yield French territory. The shortest line the enemy is able to hold without yislding Belgium runs through Lille, ' Valenciennes, Hirsen, Mezieres, and Mete. • This lino was begun long ago, nnd covers the onemy's main railway communications from 'north'to south. It is reported that other lines have been laid farther eastward. It is highly probable that tho enemy is working hard on these. He certainly won't lack defensive lines if forced to abandon the Hindenburg line. This presents tho Entente forces with a formidable task, but wo have 6hqwn, especially at the Drocourt switch, that we are able to penetrate his lines without undue loss. It is as clear as daylight that lack of numbers alone prevented Sir Douglas Haig following up his victories of August 8 and September 2."'' General Maurice again deprecated Eastern enterprises, and adds: "Yet this is the moment chosen to advocate an extension of these I' General Maurice adds , .—"All wo require to ensure victory is weight of numbers. We will certainly have the necessary numerical superiority eventually, but time will be lost unless our man-power policy is reviewed in the light of our military, coal mining, and shipbuilding requirements, and our utmost efforts concentrated on the West 'front."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. - TWO SIGNIFICANT FACTS. (Rec. September 18, 0.10 a.m.) London, September 12. The "Daily Telegraph's".Rotterdam correspondent states: "Whatever Germany's future plans may bo, two significant facts stand out—preparations are being made to remove military stor-,? behind tho front, and everything is ready to create a new wilderness, as during the 1917 retreat."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. LUDENDORFF DICTATOR OF GERMANY REMARKABLE QUESTION IN THE REICHSTAG. (Rec. September 12, 11.55 p.m.) • . . Berne, September 12. Herr Haase, on behalf of the Independent Socialists, is raising the remarkable question in the Reichstag: "Why has the seat of the Government of the German Empire been transferred from Berlin to Spa, whero von Ludendorff exercises his powers as military dictation? Also, Why is the Great General Staff, political, diplomatic, economic, financial, and commercial sections,' exercising supreme authority over Count von Hertling (tho Chancellor),'who occupies a subordinate position in the political department of the General'Stnff with tho rank of major, nnd there takes his orders from von Ludendorff and von Ludendorff , s staff? "—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.