HAIG’S ADVANCE

Evening Star, Issue 16823, 27 August 1918, Page 3

HAIG’S ADVANCE

METHODICAL AMD ECONOMICAL. RETAKING OLD SOMME POSITIONS. PRISONERS NOW TOTAL 40,000. High Commissioner’* Cable. LONDON, August 26. Sir Dnugbwt Haig reports: Hostile oppfis’tiou has increased with the arrival of German reinforcements, but tvo VlO- - nevertheless, laking many prisoners. North of the Komnie the Australians carried a position on the .high giouud ra.it o! Bray. Mametz (four uuics E. of Alberti has been captured. In the ventre v. crossed the Alb-ert-Bcvpaumo road along the v,diode length south of BaEaume. taking Martin pinch, l.c Kars, and c Barque. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Associat'd!. LONDON, August 23. It is reported that the British outpost* have reached tho fringe of Bußecourl itiv u miles E. of Croi.d!tes). and have captured the High Wood (beyond Martinpuich. two miles E. of the Bapamnc-Albert NEW Y'OEK, August 25. Reports from the west front .state that the British are entering Bapaumo. PARIS, August 26. Since August 8 (? IS) over 40,0C0 Germane have boon taken prisoner in the British front. The British method of avoiding direct attack on -enemy strong positions and a.t tacking weaker punts on the right and left of strongholds, forcing their evacuation or surrender, enable them to gain objectives at. small coat, though the process is somewhat slower. LONDON, August 26. The Fourth Army, including the Australians, between August 18-21 in.it.. captured over 50,C00 prisoners and nearly 500 Euns. GERMAN RESERVES. EVIDENCE OF DEPLETION. LONDON, August 26. The United Press correapondent states: Our, of scanty .reserves, badly needed elsewhere, Hindenboxg and Ludendorif are throwing in Prnsßiana, t_axons, Bavarians, and marines in an effort to check the British progress on tho fe'ummo Hold. They have been thrown in, by regiments, not divisions. Kamo elements of tho same divisions are now found its far apart, as Biefviliers iN AY. of Eapaame) and Manietz (E. of Albert). But, notwithstanding the attempts .to repair holes in the lino as fast as they develop, tho Germans continue retreating, only holding desperately at some point#, like Bapoume, in order to prevent tho complete breaking down of the defence and tumir.g .the forced withdrawal into a riotous retreat. As it is, ;he disorganisation in some places is so great that the British armored cars are enabled to harass the tragic.

A tour of the prisoners’ cages on Sunday revealed, that the Fortieth and Twontytinrrl Saxon. Divisions, and the Thirtysixth. Prussian Division were added to the forces in tire northern part of the battlefield. the Saxons being brought from Belputu. The prisoners included largo nusiDrrs of the- Third Marine Corps, caught jMstvcard of Miruumonc-, where they were reinforcing the Bavarians when Mbauniont was pinched off. at noon on Saturday. Alsatian prisoners stated that the Germans were scattering them in groups all through the army. '[’hey declared that punishment for desertion ’ wn» visited onfamilies, and in some cases sisters of desifTters were sent to work in the front line. This-was probably responsible* for stories that- the Germans wore using women to fight on the battle lint'. ENEMY MORALE WEAKER. LONDON. August 26. Mr Nevinson states: Friday night and Saturday morning were one of’the turningpoints of tno present. Straino campaign, and perhaps of tlie. whole war. A high oai.-er, who speaks with knowledge and c*mt>iou, «iys: ** 1 1*0 v to onu’king.” ‘ Mr Nevmsoa’ adds : ‘-Five mouths <tg.» it was thought we were cracking, and therefore it is unsafe to prophesy • but no doubt the German armies opposing tmr fhirfl and Fourth Armies are disconcerted.” Mr Nevinson describes a walking tour over portion of the battlefield, which was full of interesting evidence of the enemy’s disarray. lie reached the summit of the mound on which Thiepral was situated, where he first met- -enemy soldiers. Tbcv were prisoners, a large botch docilely following three British guards. Over tiie whole of the next ridgo and the valley beyond the Germans were scattered. They tarnished evidence ~f a division V. hiji had lost cohesion, and, though I w;ls unarmed, yet none attempted to shoot, borne lurked in hiding places, and if detected they surrendered forthwith, throwing away everything except their clothes auff a sack containing food, soap, and a razor. "Mr Nevinson saw a solitary British cavalryman, armed only with an emptv German revolver, prowling round and collecting small hatches, 'Their talk amongst themselves consisted onlv of complaints against their superiors, who them to_ lose touch with their companies, though aii seemed glad to be taken prisoner. AMERICAN OPERATIONS. WASHINGTON, August 25. General March says the United States »nnv overseas now totals 1,500.000, The American losses in recent attacks w ere not unreasonably heavy. One American division -recently" captured 68 German guns and 5.500 prisoners. Genera! Pershing baa not yet organised Ibe first American field army. American aviators bombed" Confiaiis, not k‘diig a single machine. Minor fighting occurred along the Aisne. LEARNING THE TRUTH. GERMANS DETHRONE IDOL 5 ?. . AMSTET-foAM, Attgud 26. Iho ‘Daily Telegraph’s* Rotterdam correspondent saye: The past week will rank ns one of the most important in -the war. The events on the western front will have ft tremendous offtvt ou the peoplo of Germany, who are only now allowed to know 1-fuit Ludcnd'.-TiFs gamble has failed, and that a defensive policy must be resumed ou the west, while Germany consolidates tier gams ut -the cast. Competent observers declare that the peoplo of Berlin hare completely lost their nerve. A remarkable demonstration in the poor quarters of Berlin followed a report that the mUfl-ary _age limit would shortly be raised. Excited crowds assembled in tha street’, but dissolved on the appearance of the police- Frequenters of a certain cafe revenged themselves by throwing pictures of the Kaiser, Crown Prince, Hindenbtrrg, and Lti-dendorft from the windows, where they were trampled on the ground, and this example was imitated by a, large number of householders. LACK OF TOBACCO. WASHINGTON, August 25. Germany's 6,000 cigar factories will be closed from the New Year, owing to lack of material, and 220,000 workers will be thrown out of employment. [The cable news in this issue accredited 5o ‘ The Times ’ has appeared in that journal, but only where expressly stated is such news the editorial opinion of ‘ The Xmca-’T

BRITISH AIR WORK. Australian and N.Ti Cable Association and j Heater. . LONDON, August 26. j The Air .Ministry reports: Our ae.roj planes to-day successfully attacked an aerodrome and the railway stations of Bettenbourg and Luxc.niburg. with cxocllent results. U.S. AIR PROGRAMME. IV .AS HI NO-TON, August 25. 1 It is expected that tho American airj craft programme will bo complete next j year. 'Die programme, anticipates that ! there- will then be 550 complete squadrons nu the battlcfrout from tho Unitea States, together with a trained personnel. AMERICAN TREATIES. WASHINGTON. August 26. .An Italian- American treaty has been i signed, providing for reciprocal conscripI tion of subjects of military age. 1 Tho Japanesc-American arbitration i treaty has been extended for another five 1 years.