NO CESSATION IN THE DOGGED FIGHTING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 10, 7 October 1918, Page 5

NO CESSATION IN THE DOGGED FIGHTING

FRANCO-AMERICAN ADVANCE IN CHAMPAGNE CAMBRAI AND DOUAI IN FLAMES Bt 'Tolcßraph-Presa A«sooia,Uoii.-Oo»yrl[tliii •' London, October 4. The Germans.have sent five new divisions to Belgium to endeavour to iold up General Plumer's advance upon Courtrai. , The Germans aro evacuating material fiom the depots in-the rear of Cimbrei. Airmen report that preparations have been made to evacuate Le Cateau; and the evacuation of the dug-outs in tho sand dunes on the Belgian coast foreshadows the abandonment of the coast.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Awn!, THE BRITISH ADVANCE ON LE CATELET (Roo. Ootober 6, 5:5 p.m.) ) New York, October 4. The British advance north of lo Catclot continues. Eight hundred pri:Honors havo been taken. The Germans have set fire, to Douai and Cambrai. The Franco-American troops attached between tho Meuse and tho 'Argonne. Many villages have been taken. General Pershing's communique states that tho.Americans have advanced from Is' miles to over 3 miles west of the Meuse and captured Gosnos, Sleville, Ohehery, and Le Farge. A United Press message states that the Franco-Amerioan troops aro less than five miles from Vouzieres. A London message states authoritatively that it has been learned that the Americans havo captured Cunel. Washington, October 5. ■The Franco-American attacks in Champagne havo forced the Germans to retreat on the loft flank towards the river Arne. The French have reached the heights south-east of Morenvillerß, north-west of Reims. In five days the .French have captured 2500 (?) prisoners and 31 guns.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable A3sn. '- '■' -~ ~. - ' "■•'■( •>

A DAY OF TERRIFIC FIGHTING. (Rec. October 6, 5.5/ p.m.) , New YOrH, October 4. Air. James states: "Tho American troops are astride the Kreimhilde line, after a day of terrific fighting."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AMERICANS ON THE KREIMHILDE LINE Washington, October 3. The Americans have reaohed the Kroimhilde line south of Briculles. Tho Kreimhilde_ lino is a prolongation of the general defensive system- from -Laori. :"It is believed to bo heavily fortified. General Pershing reports that the Frenoh and Americans jiavo 'captured Mont Blanc and other positions in tho Champagne.—Aus.-N.Z!, Cable Ass n. 1 ■','■'.''•'■ - ; ■ , Paris, October 4. v The Americans, iin conjunction with the French, havo advanced three miles east of Reims.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. : V '_",, BUOYANT STOCKS ON 'CHANGE /( (Rec. October 6, 5.5 p.m.) • ■ London, October 5.' The London Stock Exchange is buoyant. Consols'closed at £62 10s., after touching £63 ss.—Aus. T N.Z. Cable Assn. ' ( ..'■'''' : / '■ ■ ■ ■• ~~~ ■'■''' "\ \ 1,840,000 AMERICANS IN THE WAR ZONE ■■„.'■. ' Washington, October 4. The .number of Americans sent overseas is 1,810,000.—Au5.-N.Z. Cable [Assn.. ' ' ■ . 100,000 ILL IN CAMP FROM SPANISH "GRIPPE." . (Rec. October 6, 5.5 p.m.) ~ : ..,,;,,. . ~ Washington, October 4. It is likely that owing to the prevalence of Spanish "grippe" the number of United States troops dispatched every week will be curtailed in the immediate future. The rate of dispatch to Europe ib 250,000' monthly. There are one hundred thousand cases of. .influenza in the home camps.—Aus;-N.Z. Cable Assn, ■ "< . THE LENS COAL MINES ■:■■ ■'■! ■. ! '■.'■'■■■. FLOODED BY THE GERMANS. '~ J (Rec. October 6, 5.5 p.m.) • '* . • Paris, October 5. : Tho Mayor of Lons states that' the Germans havo flooded all the mines. It will take years to fully re-establish the industry. Restoration work will begin shortly. Tho Government has advanced two million francs for tho purpose.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ■ (Rec. Ostobcr 6, 5.5 p.m.) < \ New York, October 4.' The New York "Times" Washington correspondent learns on excellent authority that American engineers and experts have been preparing for months past for tho recovery of the Lens coalfields. American units equipped with modern mining equipment aro in readiness.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. EVACUATING CIVILIANS FROM ALSACE (Rec. October 0, 5.5 p.m.) 1 Berne, October 5. The Germans the oivilians from forty villages iii Alsaco, and ordered the inhabitants at Nuthouse, Colmar, and Altkirch and other towns to prepare to leave, immediately.—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn.

THE OFFICIAL REPORTS FURTHER ADVANCE IN FLANDERS London, October 4. A Belgian communique states: "Tho French and Belgians on Thursday attacked strong enemy positions east'of Staden, and broke down the enemy's resistance. Our troops advanced on a lino of 2000 yards, and reached tho outskirts of Hoog, and-also the Hooglede-lloulers Road. A violent enemy counter-attack west of ltoulors was smashed before it reached our lines. During Wednesday a Belgian armoured car daringly crossed the German linos arid.entered Roulers, despite heavy enemy fire from all sides. Tho car subsequently returned through tho Gorman positions .and reached ,our lines.—Aus.-iN.Z. Oablo Assn. ' FLANDERS OPERATIONS REVIEWED , \ i. (Rcc. October 6, 5.5 p.m.) London, Ostoher 5. Sir Douglas Haig, in a supplementary report, states: "in th"§ operations by the British Second Army in Flanders on September 29 and subsequent days, the 9th, 29th, and 35th Divisions rendered distinguished! service. In most jnfavourable weather they advanced to a depth of. oyer nine miles across difficult country, clearing the whole range east and south-eaßt cf ' Ypres, talcing a prominent part in the capture by the. British troops of over 4000 prisoners and 100 guns. The 9th Division on tho first day attack took Becelaere, five miles eastward cf its starting point, and three days later reached Lodeghem. On the first day the 29th Division passed beyond Gneluvelt arid captured Kruiseecke, having advanced five miles along the Menin Road. On it's.right tho 35th Division also passed far beyond our old positions of 1917 and! took Zandvoor'de."—-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. THE NEW BRITjSH ATTACK , ■ ' London, October 4. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "At dawn the 'British infantry and tanks , attacked on an eighUmile front, from Sequehart to the canal northward of Bony. The attack" was successful at all points. On the .right an attack by English and Scottish troops of the 82nd Division retook Sequehart, taking prisoners, and later beat off a counter-attack with loss. In the centre, tho English stormed Raraicourt and Wiancourt, taking prisoner several hundreds, 1 while the 2nd Australian Division broke through the Fonsomme-Beaurevoir / line, west and south-west of Beaurevoir. Pressing forward, tho troops of thoso ; two divisions, accompanied by tanks, readied the western outskirts of Montbrohain, and secured the high ground south and south-west of Boaurevoir. On the left, an attack by English and Irish troops forced the passages of the Scheldt Canal at Gouy and le Catelet,' capturing both villages and the high ground to the east. The enemy counter-attacked strongly in this locality in the afternoon, and heavy fighting continues. We>took a large number of prisoners in these successful operations.. On the remainder of the St. Quentin-Cambrai battlefront thero were, only patrol encounters, in which we secured prisoners. In the area of the enemy's withdrawal north of theScarpe we progressed steadily all day, maintaining constant pressure on the German rearguards. Lens has been cleared of the enemy. Our advanced detachments have reached tho gerioral line of Avion, Vendin-le-Vieil, Hantay, Wicres, Herlios, and are east of the Bois Grenier. We have -occupied Armentieres."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. . ' / ■ ' • • ' . . Later. Sir Douglas Haig reports: If On the oonolnsion of yesterday's fighting wo held tho high ground a milo north-east of Sequehart, and had successfully beaten off counter-attacks at Gouy, le Catelet, aud Sequehart. Wo took oyor 4000 prisoners'in yesterday's operations. Northward of St. Quentin during tho night local fighting to our advantage occurred south-west of Beaurevoir and on the southern'outskirts of Cambrai. Wo slightly advanced our posts north-east of Bpiricy, and repulsed a hostile attack on a post southward of Vaast. Northward of tho Scarpa wp progressed between, Oppyand Merincourt, and more-to the north our advanced troops reached the railway east of-Lens and the gonoral line of Vendin-le-Vieil, Wingles, Berclau, Four-nos-en-Bppes, and Houplines."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. : ' (Keo. October 6, 5.5 p.m.) , _ ' London, October 5. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "In local fighting we made progress in tho neighbourhood of Beaurevoir,-northward of Gouy, and southward of Cambrai; The enemy's withdrawal continues in the Lens and Armentieres sectors. Our advanced troops have reached Wavrin and Erquinhem. Intense air activity was maintained' 5 on all possible oocasions. Our counter-attaok patrols successfully forestalled the enemy's intentions by warning'our Headquarters. Our advanced infantry were soreened by smoke curtains caused by smoke bombs dropped from the air, while the forward machine-gunners were supplied with ammunition dropped by the airmen. In' successful minor (operations on Friday north of St. Quentin we made substantial progress south-east of Bassureroir, north of Gouy and le Catelet, taking 800 prisoners'. We again slightly advanced our line at night northward ■• of le Catelet."— Cable Assn.-Renter. '" • :' ' / ■•'.'.'. THE FRENCH SUCCESSES '>.'■■■ . • London, October 4. . A'French communique, states:,"ln the region of St. Quentin, violont fighting occurred: in the Hindenburg positions between Lesdins and Sequehart, where the enemy very strongly resisted. Further south wo gained' a footing on-the railway east of St/ Quentin. Wo made progress in tho fighting east of Lislo and south-west of Reims wo oarreid Corniichy, and reached' the canal between Concovreux and La Nouvillette. The battle in tho Champagne continues with sustained We enlarged our gains in the region north of Sommo Py- Our troops,, breaking down the resistance of the enemy, carried the orest of Mont Blanc aud Midah Farm (threo miles northwest of Sbnime Py). The prisoners already counted to-day total 2800."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. .- • ; i .. . (Rec. October 6, 5.5 p.ni.) London, October 5, 2 a.m. ; A French communique states: "North of St. Quentin wo actively participated in a hard battle in the Hindenburg position. We captured Chardouvert, south, of Sequehart, and several fortified woodt further south. We gained a footing at' Lesdins and captured Morcourt. The enemy furiously and repeatedly' counter-attacked. AH his efforts were shattered with heavy loss. We captured prisoners and four heavy guns. "•The Franco-Americans in Champagne gained an important-advantago ' and completed yesterday's successes. On )tho left we. pushed over 2J miles north of Aubenve and 5 miles north-west of Somme-Py to the river Arne, and captured tho villages of Vaudcsincourt, Deoutrion, St. Souplet, and tho Grand Belois Woods, in spite of resistance Further east we reached the outskirts of St. Etienne Arnesy and gained a footing on the plateau of Orfeuil, capturing the village of Orfeuil. We evacuated Challerange, which neither side at present.holds. It is being shelled intensely by the artillery, of both sides."—-Aus.-NvZ. Cable Assn.-Reuter.

(Rec. .October 6, 5.5 p.m.) ~. _~ , . .' ' , London, October 5. _ 'A French communique issued at. 4.10 p.m. states: ''We advanced ft night east ofLesdm and in the region 0 f St. Quentin. North-west of Reims minor operations gabled us w widen our bridgeheads east of the canal and improve our positions 111 the region of Betheny. In Champagne the FrancoAmerican troops have extended thoir gains north-west of Mont Blanc and Medeah Farm."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec.October 7,1.30 a.m.) , „ , .'. . . London, Ootober 5, 5.10 p.m. A French communique states ;-"North of St. Quentin fighting continued with .undiminished violence. We have thrown back the enemy, who is defending himself foot by foot, from a height situated 1200 yards south-east 01 Uardonvcrt and the neighbouring woods. North-west o'f'Reims we are again exercising vigorous pressure along the whole front of the Aisne Canal, s&ve l &l V^ oeß >- n,ld advanced as far as the outskirts of «SKSi "■w™? DUI^ er °l n P"6o.icrs counted in the past five days oxfi™ I wh Y" 3I g ulls !>< 3ludin 6 20 heavy guns, of which hve are 200-metre guns. _ There were lively attacks by the Franco-Americans in Champagne, and^ their advance yesterday in the direotion of the Arne Um tho enemy-threatened with having his lelffe tumed-to evacuate preoipitate v th c ° e L ast e rn P nrt °f &e mountain region. Our troops on tho western sector of the Suippe are on the heels of tho onomy's rearguards, and have reached the heights 800 yards 'south-east of Moronvillers. South of OS THE UEBICM FROM ' ~ . • London. October 4. aiiiJ^'aiffl-M 001 ? w niq ™° i ta u e3: tllo Fra,oh ' ,TO drove tho j l mlt BhjX ? and °, thcr positions ta the Champagne. Between (Rec. Ootober 6, 5.5 p.m.) . . . ' • ■ , , , m ,. London, October 5. An American communique states: "This morning we resumed the attack westward of tho Meuso and overcame stubborn resistance,- advancing onr lines w* I+i •n Ver I _«"!«• nwrying Hill 240, north of Krmon. Wo took the villages of Gesnes, Sleville, Chohery, and La Forge. Despite heavy artillery and machine-gun, fire w 0 forced the oneiny back to tho Kreimhilde positions south of Bqis de Foret."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable .Assn.-Reuter. THE ENEMY'S REPORT (Rec. October 6, 5.5 p.m.) A-wireless German official report states: "Tho cnomTcapture^tcitoSequehart. Wedrovo back the enemy 0 n both sides .of le Oatelet beyond bis starting positions recapturing Beaurevoir and Mo it Bresain. SequXrt SIS/cS S-LX. 60mme - Py - W ° *»*»* "range."- \ THE WAR IN THE AIR r,. t, 1 tt • , • • ' 1 London, October 4. fen- Douglas Haig's aviation report states: "Wo dropped 43 tons of bombs on selected targets, and a concentrated attack was mado on tho railway junction at Auluoy. Wo blew up an ammunition train and sot fire to rolling stock. I'hotographs show great damage and much disorganisation at this centre of enemy communication. Wo heavily bombed Lille and Valenciennes stations, and many targets in tho battle area."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.Rquter. . ' ■' , (Rec. October 6, 0.0 p.m.) „. „ , TT . L ■ , London, October 5. Sir Douglas rkig roports: "Wo destroyed twenty-seven hostile aircraft and drove dofrn five out of control. Twelvo British machines are missing. We dropped twenty-six tons of bomb a by day and thirty tons by night, doing considerable damage to tho encm y ' s junctions and communications?'— Auß.-N.ZI. Cable Assn.-Router. ■ • :

RAIDS IN LORRAINE. (Rec. October 6, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 4, 10.S0 p.m. Tlio Press Bureau states:. "The Independent Air Forco on the night of October 3 bombed the railways at Metz-Sablons, and tbo aerodromes at Morhange and Frescaty. Observation was difficult, but fires and explosions wore observed frequently. All the machines returned."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Renter. \ WITH THE FRENCH SQUADRONS.' (Rec. Ootober 6, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 5. A French-communique states: "Favourable weather facilitated aviation on Thursday. Nineteen enomy aeroplanes were brought down and tbree balloons sot on fire. Our scouts pushed far'into the enemy's lines. Fiftyone tons of bombs were dropped on the enemy's reserves, which were massed with a view to, a counter-attack. On one sector our aeroplanes F.gain fed the advanced troop* with five tons of food. Cartridges were thus supplied. Twenty-nine tons of projeotiles were dropped at night on the enemy's bivouacs and cantonments' ou a wide front."—Aus.-N.Z. Gable Assu.-Router. COMMENT ON THE SITUATION PRACTICALLY UNINTERRUPTED GAINS (Rec. Ootober 6, 5.5 p.m.) New.York, October 4. General March, United States Oliief of Staff, in an interview, says that the news from the front is excellent. The offensives conducted in the thvco major Bectors had resulted practically in uninterrupted gains. The British at St. Quentin had entirely broken the Hindenburg defences. "The Germans are finding the greatest difficulty in closing the breaches the British are making. A few American regiments are assisting the British at the St. Quentin operations. The-American advance north-west of Verdun thieatens tho leading German line of communication with the southern portion of the front. In spite of additional German reserves, tho Americans continue their forward movement. In the Flanders salient tho British have recovered 1 75 ' square miles of Belgium and formed a semi-circular talient ten miles deep. The British are within five miles of Lille.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE SITUATWTO DATE (Roc. October 6, 11.25 p.m.) ' London, October 5. Our line on.tho Lys lies roughly along the railway from Armentierie6 ! to Marquillie's, then on to the Haute Dulle ' Canal. The enemy is certain to make a stand on the canal to cover Lille, Roubaix, and Tourcoing, to' give time for the necessary destruction of material. Our breach in tho St. Quentin area is being gradually widened northward, but the enemy,is fighting Very hard and iour progress is slow. JVo however are gaining ground daily, capturing farms and other points of local advantage. This ,sort of fighting costs the enemy heavy losses, which he can afford less than us. South p* tho Aisne the enemy's retirement seem s to be ended. Ho is standing on feS lino of the Aisne and the Aisne-Marne Canal.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. VALUE OF THE FRENCH SUCCESS IN CHAMPAGNE (Rec. October 6, 11.25 p.m.) London, October' ft- ( Renter's correspondent at French Headquarters, writing at 10 p.m. on FVi/day, states that tho advance of Gourand's left wing yesterday is most important, It ocoupies a lino "outflanking the Moronyillers heights, which are the main bastion of tho German front in Champagne. The enemy.'s second main lino of resistance was breached at Orfeuil. His whole front beReims and the Suippe is endangered.—Renter. '■ GERMAN PRESS PREPARING PUBLIC FOR BIG RETREAT "'"/' ' ■ -i . ' (Rec. October 6, 5.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, October 5. The German newspapers are preparing the public for a coming retreat. ■ Tho "Kreuz Zeituiig" says: 'We must prepare to defend ourselves on the line from Antwerp to Motz and the Adriatic This defence will last a long time, but we will need all .our _ strength." The Dutch newspapers are receiving, confirmation of the reports'that the Germans are bridging the Meuse. It i s reported that there is muc'i demoralisation belund the German lines in Belgium. Largo numbers have deserted and crossed the frontier in the last fe^v- days. It was an open secret in Berlin on Wednesday that the Grown Council approved of an early and considerable, shortening of the lino, by which' Flanders and part of the Hainault and Namur districts would J>p abandoned. It is stated tbattho German evacuation of Alsaoe has begun. Tho inhabitants of twenty villages have been sent to Bavaria. Somo escaped to Switz eiland. ' The German newspapers warn tbel r readers that the real battle has rot yet begun,, Genoral Focn, they say> has been occupied in attracting tho German reserves, in the hope of forcing a decision before the whiter. His main attack will be directed.against the Metz-Sedan railway and the Briey basin. -The newspapers anticipate an immediato new Austro-Hungariaiipeace.move. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable. Assn. •-. ■