BATTLE EXTENDS OVER A THIRTY-MILE FRONT

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 80, 1 October 1918, Page 7

BATTLE EXTENDS OVER A THIRTY-MILE FRONT

HOW THE HINDENBURG DEFENCES WERE STORMED

(Received October 1, 11 a.m.)

, , LONDON, 30th September, 3.30 a.m. ! Sir Douglas Haig ' reports:—At dawn, the battle successfully developed southward to St. Quentin, and now extends over the thirty mile front between St.; Quentin and the Sensee River.' .. ' . '. . ..

On the right we attacked across the Scheldt (or Escaut) Canal from Bellen■glise. northward. ■ The 46th. Division, provided with lifebelts, mats, portable bridging materials and rafts, and covered by concentrated artillery and ma-chine-gun, fire, stormed the main Hindenburg defences along the eastern bank of the canal In spite of the depth and breadth of:.th^ canal and the strength of the enemy defences, which include Belknglise and numerous tunnels and concrete works, we captured the" whole German position, opposing us. The troops pressed forward with great bravery and determination up the slopes of the hills beyond the canal; .taking many prisoners. .We captured Bellenglise, Le Haucourt, and Magny-la-Fosse. : ' Further north, at the same hour^ the New York, Tennessee, and North and South Carolina troops, under Major-General Read, attacked the Hindenburg lines on a front of 5000 yards where the canal passes through a tunnel. The Americans pressed forward dashingly, and captured Bellicourt and Nauroy on the left bank. Fighting proceeds in the neighbourhood of Bony. In the centre the British captured Villers-Guislain, and the New Zealanders cleared the Welsh Ridge, breaking up a hostile counter-attack, and captured La Vacquerie and the spur between Boriavis and Mastiefes. Meanwhile the 62nd Division secured the canal crossings and continuing their advance captured Masnieres, Les-Rues-Vertes, and the' defensive'system covering Rumilly. \ v On their left, the 2nd Division crossed the canal about Noyelles, and advanced a mile and a half vp 1 the rising ground east of the canal line. ' The 63rd Naval Division forced the passage east of Cantaing and reached the southern outskirts of Cambrai. On their left the Canadians fought forward through the defensive sy.stem;covering Cambrai, into the outskirts of the town, and further north they captured Sancourt, beating off heavy couner-attacks, while English troops'cleared the slopes south of the Sensee canal.! We have captured 22,000 prisoners and 300 guns during the past three days. . . v ■ ■ .-.■.■'•..: '. . .V ■'....