BOMBING THE ENEMY'S ROADS

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 40, 15 August 1918, Page 7

BOMBING THE ENEMY'S ROADS

TERRIBLE SCENE AT LASSIGNY

Ceeuter's telegraw.)

LONDON, 14th August. Reuters correspondent at French Headquarters, writing on the afternoon oE 13th August, states : "The enemy is desperately clinging to the western and southern edge of the Thiescourt hills, between Lassigny and the Oise. The key to the whole position is St. Claude Farm, on a hill six hundred feet high, just east Of Mareuil la Motte, and dominating the whole region. Further north, between Gury and the Bois de Loges, the Germans hold a line of old entrenchments stuffed with machine-guns. The capture of Bois de Loges, on the morning of 12th August, was effected with magnificent dash. The Germans, counterattacking in the afternoon, reoccupied part of the wood. Prior to the great attack on Lassigny one of our air scouts noticed dense columns of men and transport pouring through the village. The French sent 121 aeroplanes to attack them. Twenty-seven tons of bombs were dropped on the Germans in tha -streets of Lassigny. Men and horses were killed, fires were started, and the streets were blocked with the wrcekage of the wagons. The march of the German columns was retarded for hours."

(AUSTRALIAN-NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

NEW YORK, 13th August. Mr. Duranty, the New York Times correspondent at the French front, emphasises the fact that the character of the fighting is undergoing a change, and becoming an affair of manoeuvres rather than the frontal assaults of trench \yarfare. These tactics caused the fall of Montdidier, and are now threatening Roye and Lassigny. Meanwhile the enemy its duplicating the retreat tactics of the Maine, and desperately endeavouring to hold back our advance in order to permit the removal of his guns and munitions. There was a wonderful bombing exploit by British airmen, who demoralised a convoy. The result presented a hellish at a "bottleneck" road, where indescribable confusion seized the panic-stricken men, "stampeding horses, and bomb-shattered vehicles. The British air-men also flew low, overtaking trains, and firing through the windows.