GERMANS STILL RETREAT

Evening Star, Issue 16824, 28 August 1918, Page 6

GERMANS STILL RETREAT

' BETWEEN SCARPE AND SOMME. BAPAUME'S CAPTURE DOUBTFUL ■ mini .1 .i HEAVIEST FIGHTING IN CENTRE. 6 ' AUSTRALIANS PUSH FOS: PERONNE i. |DEBENY BIDS FOR KOYE. •prffloi AraocWnoa—By MegTaph—Oopyrlght. Australian and N~Z. Cable- Association.

' [HAIG'S OFFENSIVE.

The Germans hare evacuated Bapaume. The British are nearing Beaugnatre, two miles north-east of Bapaume. There is hard fighting around Croisilles (five miles due north of Beaugnatre). The Hindenburg line has been smashed in the Heninel neighborhood (three miles N. of Croisilles). [The "Hindenburg line" follows the low hills that run from east of Arras in a south-easterly direction through Bulle■court (east of Croisilles) in front of Cambrai and St. Quentin towards La Fere. Heninel is towards the northern end of this line. Behind the northern end of the Hindenburg line is a switch line, sometimes called tho Wotan line, running N. and S. from near Bullecourt midway between Arras and Douai to a point S.E. of Lene.] BAPAUME-PERONNE SEGTOR ENEMY IN RETREAT. FIGHTING REARGUARD ACTION. COMMUNICATIONS MERCSLESSLY SHELLED. LONDON, August 27. (Received August 28, at 10.50 a.m.) Mr Percival Phillips says : The Germans are clearly fighting a rearguard action, and are no longer wildly attempting to stabilise their line, though they are counter-attacking at some points in order to gain time. The enemy's withdrawal south of Bapaume was difficult, because we out the roads. The Albert-Bapaume road was cut on Saturday, and the Mametz-Peronne road (or Albert-Peronne road) was cut yesterday. Combles (10 miles east of Albert I and three miles north of this road) is constantly under the tire of our heavy guns, i and Longuevale, Ginchy, Guillemont (all northward of Combles)," and other places are also being accurately shelled. The Bapaume-Peronne road (running two miles i eastward of Combles) is practically untenable. There is no wild forward rush on our part. Out- infantry keeps in toucih, and our supports are well iorward. North-east of Bapaume a Prussian division advanced from Beaugnaire in the direction of Favreuil, but it was spotted by our airmen and mercilessly cut up, and only a remnant reached Favreuil, where the survivors fell victims of the North Country troops, mostly by bayonet work. Many German dead lie in the village. We then" pushed towards Beaugnatre, where the British are reported to be on the outskirts of the village. The Australians' progress on Peronne is difficult, owing to the orratic course of the Somme and to the outlying marshes j but the Australians are showing remarkable speed over the higher ground, which is rough and hilly, offering plenty of cover for machine-gun nests.

PRESSURE KEPT UP. SUCCESS ON NEW NORTHERN FLANK. GROUND GAINED BETWEEN THE SCARPE AND BAPAUME. aad K.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. LONDON, August 27. (I&csfved August 28, at 9-15 a.m.) Sir Douglas Haig reports : . At 3 o'clock on Sunday morning the Canadians, Scottish, and Londoner attacked on both sides of the Scarpe, irom Croiasiles to the neighborhood of Gavrelle. On the south bank of the .Scarpe the Canadians attacked gallantly, passed through the- enemy's foremost defences. and. captured Orange Hill in their first rush. The Canadians, despite rainstorms, soon reached Wancourt and ilonchy-le-Prenx, capturing both places and progressing beyond them. North of the Scarpe the Scots captured the first German defences south of Gavrelle, and reached the outskirts of Koetcc (on the Scarpe). They also captured tho chemical works north of Eoeux. The Scots and the Londoners completed the capture of the high, ground between. Croisilles and Heninel, taking many prisoners. In the battlefield further south our advance continued cm both banks of the Somme. The Australians took Cappy (on the Somme, south bank) and progressed eastward. Northward of the Somme River they captured Sozanne (opposite Gappy). Further north the English advanced in fie direction of Montenban (sis miles east of Albert), and the Welsh captured Baaaafcia-le-Grarai (two miles further north). Oar pressure everywhere has been maintained, and onr lino has been advanced in certain sectors. [The three first paragraphs of the above *eport deal with the latest extension of the battlefield northwards, first reported yesterday- Tie additional battle-front, from GtavreUe on the north, to Croisdllee on ihe sooth, measures nine miles. GavreHs ia three miles north of the Scarpe, on the Arrss-Donai road. Roeux 33 on the Scarpe, six indies east of Arras. 3Honohy-le-Pretrx and Wancourt lie respeetrvery north and south of the ArrasCambrsi road, the latter being on the Cojeol stream, as also is Heninel, one imffe from Wancourt. A road runs from Seninel three miles south to the fairly Important road junction Oroisilles, which is eight miles south-east of Arras and seven, miles 3ST.N.E. of Bapaume. The effect of these operationa has been to push the Germans back at least a mile further from Arras, to which they are now nowhere nearer than six miles, also to straighten the front between tho ArrasDwuad road and the Bapaame-Oam-bxad toad.]

GERMAN CLAIMS INCLUDE COUP EAST OF THE 01SE. Auttralian and N-Z. Cabla Association, and Beuter. LONDON, August 27. German official : The enemy penetrated our line running west of Morv and Bajjaume to Martrnpuich. We threw them back on the Thilloy-Martinpuich line, recapturing both places. The enemy took Cappy {on tie Somme), and we capturedi the "heighta south-eastward of Ponfcframard., taking prisoner 400 French troops. The German evening official message states : We regained Longueval and MantaTLban. J?OYE*S CAPTURE REPORTED NEW YORK, August 27. (Received August 28, at 10.50 a.m.) The French, advanced two miles on a ifront of eight miles, capturing Roy© and Crapeaumesnil (four miles couth, of Roye, between, it and Lassigny). DEBENY'S ATTACK^ ROYE'S CAPTURE DOUBTFUL. FRENCH CLOSE ROUND IT. Heutar*s Telegrams. LONDON, August 27. (Received August 28, at IL3O a.m.) Heater's correspondent at French Headquarters writes : General Debeny attacked at 5.45 this morttlaff at Freanoy le Roye (three miles north of. Roye), .the capture of which village {Fresnoy) ia announced in a French communique. The attack on fhe village, •which covers Roye from the north, was preceded by a heavy French artillery lire. The village was strongly defended, and the Germans desperately resisted, furious street fighting with bayonets and 1 5and-grenades ensued. The French repulsed several violent counter-attacks. zsia capture of St. Mard (one mile west pf Roye) was apparently the result of a little operation, the nett result «U which is & considerable improvement in our position round Eoye. ENEMY EVACUATE BAPAUME. ITS ENVELOPMENT COMPLETED. NEW ZEALANDERS' SHARE. NEW YORK, August 27. (Received August 28, at 8.50 a.m.) The New Zealandera during the night dntflanked Bapaume and-xeached the rail- . way north of the Bapaume-Cambrai road. There is street lighting in the outskirts of Bapaume.

AUSTRALIAN ADVANCE ASTRIDE THE SOMME. MAKING FOR PERONNE, LONDON, August 27. {Received August 28, at 11.20 a.m.) Percival Phillips writes : The Australians captured Cappy and Suzanne during the night time. Prisoners declare that they had expected! to be left in peace. The principal obstacle at Cappy was a solitary field gun, which fired industriously until the Australian?, tiring of it, stalked it and disposed of the gun crew. Then, they mopped up and chased the machine-gunners through cellars, and the. place was cleared. The resistance at Suzanne was slight, and most of the garrison were taken prisoner. The Australian progress apparently continues. The latest news is that they aro approaching the sleep Vaux ridge, on the north bank of the Somme, within seven miles of the Peronno bridgehead, and Biaches, on the south bank. The intervening country is undulating, mostly covered with "old trenches. Apparently the German gu:B and stores have been nearly ftji evacuated, and only detachment* of infantry remain. HEAVY FIGHTING EAST OF ALBERT-BAPAUME ROAD. BRITISH NEVERTHELESS ADVANCE. PROGRESS ASTRIDE SCARPE AND SOMME. and N.Z. Cable Aesoctation and Ken tor. LONDON, August 27. (Received 1 August 28, at 10.50 o-m.) Sir Douglas Haig reports: There was severe fighting on Monday afternoon between Maricourt {six. and a-half miles east of Albert) and Bapaume, also north of that town. The enemy counter-attacked repeatedly in strength, incurring great losses from our ftro, but he was unable to arrest our progress. English and Welsh troops pushed through Montauban and along the crest of tha ridge, captrring the high ground aaid reaching Longueval. Here a heavy oountejrattack at 6.30 in the evening forced us back towards Baaentln-10-Grand arid High Wood. On this line we broke up the enemy's attack, and, again .advancing, established ourselves well eastward of High Wood. Early in the night the enemy counter-attacked for the second time, and was driven off by our riflo fire before Peaching" our position*. Northward of High Wood the enemy twice counter-attacked in the neighborhood of Ligny-Thilby (two miles south of JJapaume), pressing back our advanced troops some 400 or 500 yards. His infantry were then stopped, and driven back. The New Zsalander3, after fierce fighting, established themselves on the northern outskirts of Bapaume, and the English further north made progress towards Beugnatro. We had hard fightiug about CroisUlfis.

On the right of the battlefront the Australians continued to advance astride tho Sommo, and substantially progressed towards Dompierre (south of the Sonimo fit Prise, and six miles from Peronne), ax-d eastward of Buzaime. On the left of the battle&wmt tho Can*, diana in tho afternoon captured a ridge eastward of WancoHi't, and established themselves eastward of Guemappe. Northward of tho Scarpe the Scottish, renewing their attack at night, substantially progressed towards Plouvain. Our. prisoners since the morning of August 21 exceed 21,000. THE TWO FLANKS. 2,000 PRISONERS ON THE SCARPE. FRESH PUSH ON THE SOMME. Renter's Telegrams. LONDON, August 27. (Received August 28, at 11.40 a.m.) Router's correspondent at British Headquarters, writing on Sunday night, states : It is estimated that the enemy has been fcrccd to use at least 70 divisions between tho Scarpe and tho Aisno since August 8. Two thousand prisoners and some guns were captured as a result of yesterday's extension of the battle front to 'tho northward by the _ attack eastward of Arras. Our progress is excellent, considering the difficulties of tho ground, and our casualties wore of the lightest. A few tanks cooperated, but perhaps it partook more of the character of an infantry battle than any of the recent fighting. Northward of the Scarpe we merely adjusted our flank. In the course of this operation the Highlanders occupied the famous Roeux chemical works. The enemy has withdrawn into the wooded contours eastward of Monchy-le-Preux, where they are stiffening their resistance in favorable defensive country, especially in I3ois Du Sart and Gigjaw (?) Wood. Meanwhile, on the Somme flank they are now well eastward of tho Suzanne and Gappy line, while northward of tho river Somme they have entered Vaux Wood. The enemy is still in Thilloy (ono mile S. of Bapaume), and is reported to be-in considerable strength east of Bapaumo and along the Cambrai road. It is understood that at 4.45 this morning some British troops attacked near the Somme, but details at present are unavailable.

RUSSIA.

REORGANISATION FROM WITHIN. AN EAST FRONT NEXT SUMMER. NEW YORK, August 27. (Received August 23, at 10.15 a.m.) Mr Joseph Shaplin (former United Press correspondent in Petrograd), in tha course of an interview on his return, was asked : " What will be the future of Russia ? " Mr Shaplin replied : " In my opinion, Russia, will reorganise the oast front next summer. Meanwhile tli3 Revolutionary Democratic party are preparing to make up a powerful Government, and are quietly reorganising Russia's economic resources. Germany will supply the Bolsheviks' requirements as long as she is able to make use of them to keep Russia disorganised and disunited. Tho restoration of Russia will be ha-stened in proportion to tho speed with which the Allies send military aid to strengthen the hands of the opponents of the Bolsheviks. "Iwo names are mentioned as possible leaders of the new party which will oust the -Bolsheviks. They are Victor Tchernoff, leader of the Socialist-Revolution-aries, and M. Martoff, leader of the Mensheviki. The two leaders of the Russian Northern Republic, Zuboff and Dedushenko, are strong men, but Tchcrnoff is the most likely leader of tho new National party. " The Russians will endeavor to reestablish a line in Poland, with subsidiary fronts in the Murman and Archangel regions. It is established that 600,000 German 3 are engaged in maintaining order ill Russia. The reorganisation of tho Russian front will mean detaching a million mora men from Germany's Western front, thus ensuring early victory for the. Allies.

" The reorganisation of a stable Government in Russia is slowly but surely coming, and I regard the future with optimism and complete confidence."

LUSITANIA MURDER. LIEUTENANT SCIVBEGER A PRISONER. PARIS, August 27. (Received August 23, at 8.50 a.m.) 'Le Journal' reports that Lieutenant Scivieger, commander of the submarine which torpedoed tho Lusitania, has been captured in the Meditarranean. THE ORIGINAL ANZACS. FURLOUGH TO AUSTRALIA. MELBOURNE, August 28. (Received August 28, at 10.50 a.m.) The Minister of Defence (Senator Pearoe) announces that the Government have decided to use all discharged returned soldiers who re-enlist, and any enlistments in excess of the monthly quota of 5,400, for the relief of the original Anzacs, who will be allowed to return on furlough to Australia. BRITISH AIR WORK. Australian and N.Z Cable Association and He liter. LONDON, August 27. (Received August 23, at 9.15 a.m.) Sir Douglas HaJg's aviation report states :—Our low fliers continued to harrass the enemy by bombs and niachinogun fire. We dropped 32 tons of bombs on various railway junctions, including Cambrai and Valenciennes, on ammunition dumps, and on the Bruges docks. We also successfully bombed an aerodrome. FRENCH SUCCESS NEAR ROYE. NEW YORK, August 27. (Received August 28, at 8.30 a.m.) The French have advanced south-west of Roye (on the Avre, north-west of Noyon), capturing- 1,100 prisoners. GOING TO THE FRONT. Members of the first fifteen of the Al•hambra Ohtb and friends gaiheved in the olub'a pavilion on Saturday night to farcwell their du.bma.te, Mr W. Coombes, who loaves with the next draft, and to present him with a smoker's outfit. A very enjoyable evening was spent. Songs and recitations were contributed._ Mr J. M'Cleary tho popular old-time skipper of the club, presided.