ATTACK ON SIEGFRIED LINE.

Evening Star, Issue 16845, 21 September 1918, Page 5

ATTACK ON SIEGFRIED LINE.

OVER 10,000 PRISONERS AND 60 GUNS. DEFENCE OF CAMBRAI. GERMAN CASUALTIES ENORMOUS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z Cable Association and Renter. LONDON. September 19. Sir Douglas Haig states : Further reports confirm the heavy nature of the enemy s counter-attacks yesterday afternoon north of Trescault and the severity oQ their losses. There was fighting to-day in the sector eastward of Epehy, and also, in the neighborhood of Gouzeauco.irt, where we gained ground northward of Gauche Wood. Local engagements occurred on the remainder of the battle front. _ _ In Flanders we improved our positions slightly west of Wytschaete. Vie repulsed raiders east of Neuve Chappello and north of the Ypree-Comines Canal The prisoners taken during operations commenced yesterday north-west of St. Quentin now exceed 10,000, and over 60 guns were captured. Australian and N.Z. Gable Association. LONDON, September 19. The Linited Press correspondent writes : At 5 o’clock in the evening, south-east of Havrincourt. the enemy, with 40 batteries and six divisions—some of thorn from behind the Hindenburg line—attempted to crush the British, who had advanced here during the day. The assault was repulsed with heavy loss. North-east of Havrincourt, and” beyond tho canal and main defences, where the British recently installed themselves, the Germans attacked, and temporarily gained a sunken road. The British soon ousted them, but they still hold Boine Arons. Latest reports of tho morning fighting show that the British are holding great gains on an 18-mile front, while the Germans’ desperate efforts to beat hack elements of General Byng’s army which were too near to the Hindenburg line in the neighborhood of Havrincourt, were entirely unsuccessful. I’he fighting here on Wednesday afternoon was tho fiercest of the whole" battle. The Germans launched six divisions at one point, gaining a temporary success at the cost of a fearful death roll. Indications are that General Rawlinson’s army is operating in force between Poizicro and Holnon Wood, and part of General Byng's army is .already beyond the Hindenburg line. The Hermans believed that the British were seeking to turn the line. In any event the enemy threw in a greatmass about Havrincourt and as far south as Gauche Wood and south-west of Gouzeaucourt. The result was that General Byng gathered in 52 officers and 1,433 men, which, added to General R.awlinson’s, make more than 6.500 prisoners captured. He also took a complete battery crow and horses and eleven 77-millimetre guns. The enemy’s first counter-attack came at Gauche Wood early in tho afternoon, grey masses emerging from Yillers-Guislnin after an artillery tornado, gaining the wood and holding it briefly; but they were beaten back. They again essayed an attack in the evening, but were again repulsed. Renter’s Telegrams LONDON, September 19. Reuter’s correspondent at the British Headquarters states: Un the front held by tho Fourth Amy alone 11 divisions have been identified. In addition to prisoners and guns, great quantities of stores ■were captured, but the tacit cal value of the gains far exceeds the material gains. One of the main objectives was to gain clear the enemy’s frontal positions covering the Hindenburg lino along the whole face of attack, and this was partially accomplished. By 3 o’clock we had taken. Belle Englise and Bellicourt, and established ourselves along the St. Quentin Canal in places within 50yds of the Ilindonburg outposts. Further north the resistance was more stubborn. There was long and bitter fighting between Gauche Wood and Epehy, but the most determined effort was south of Berthancourt, where our artillery played such havoc that it was a mere strangling remnant which received the final repulse from the infantry. 'The moral effects of the tanks has been immense. They frequently gained their objective without firing a shot. Numerous gulches and sunken roads gave them much opportunity for tactical enterprise, and their -kill and daring were 100 much for the Germans. To sum up :‘ We adv.u;.:. ,T over ■'!.oooyds on a front of 18 miles, engaging 13 divisions between Gou;:e.u:e/.urt and t Ire Somme, and obliging >!•<• enemy to thro tvin two more divisic. from ■ dose reserve At no period of the war has the individual superiority of our soldiers been more pro nouneed. In an order dealing with raiding parties Genera! \ ■ n Below, commanding rh« 17th Army ays: "This shows that the British have, n fighting superiority ever our troops in No Man’s Land.” This morning it is mv.ricd that we nr* holding all our rains, Tho i nemy desperately countor-atrai-ke-i on Wednesday evening south-east of Hernnc-un. Wood, employing six divisions, bur v .eve ,r. n i.' pletely repulsed, as was a similar effort in the vicinity of Tiilers-Guialain. Admiralty per Wire!** Press. LONDON, September ID. German official : Between Havrincourt Wood and the Sornm.j at St. Quentin the British resumed titlarks on our positions before the bieNned front. Attacks against the village failed. Ret ween G,.mzeaucourt- and Havrincourt wo repulsed the British, who stormed Forward several times with strong forces .and armored cars. Epehy snd Ronssoy remained in their hands. Tho enemy, in tho evening, repeated their attacks on the whole oi this front, and were everywhere repulsed. After hard fighting we brought tin* Australians, who advanced by 1 torgiconrt and I’ontruet, to a halt. Westward of Boiliconrt snd Belle Egliso the Anglo-French attempted to break through St. Quentin and northward thereof, but were driven back. FRENCH CAINS. BETWEEN SOMME AND OISE, AND BETWEEN ATLETTE VXD AISNE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. LONDON, September 20. A French communique states: Our troops on Thursday continued their attacks in the region westward of St. Quentin, extending their' gains. Despite stubborn resistance we advanced beyond Contescourt, which is ours, and further southward we reached the outskirts of Benny. On the plateau westwards of Jouy the enemy a"ain counter-attacked unsuccessfully. We inflicted heavy losses upon the enemy, and appreciably increased our advance, I [£ep«y Is five miles south of St. Quentin, arA only three miles west of the Oise, the nearest town to it on the la i ter river being May, «ii mi ! ?s above—i.e.. north of — L* Fen* The nack between the Somme at at. Q,; «tin and the Oise is only six miles across.] [The cable news in this issue accredited to ‘ The Times ’ has appeared in that Journal, but only where expressly stated Is such news the editorial opinion of 'The Times.’]

SUMMARISING THE POSITION. ENEMY PROSPECTS. LONDON, September 19. Tho semi-official weekly review oi operations states: The Germans have constructed a line across the base of tho St. Mihiel salient, to which they have retired, but it is believed to bo* of no great strength. The Germans realise that any further advance in this sector will involve Meta and important lateral communications from Strassburg to Metz via Moutmedy. They therefore are likely to offer , determined resistance. The French are emphatic in their praise of tho American Staff work in carrying out on such a large scale an attack when comparatively new to the game. As the position threatens the whole line of the Meuse northwards, its influence on tho future course of the war may be very great. The enemy probably intend to hold tho Hindenburg line until winter renders further operations impossible. The German strength on the west front is now reduced to 191 divisions. Fifteen divisions have recently been broken up, while In more than 20 divisions battalions have been reduced to the strength of throe companies. Evidence exists showing that the enemy are finding great difficulty in arranging reliefs for divisions in the line. AMERICANS SHELLING METZ. OTTAWA, September 19. The United Press correspondent on tho west front states that American aviators have reported American heavy shells are falling in the centre of Metz. A big factory was hit, and several direct hits on the fortifications were scored. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Renter. LONDON, September 20. President Wilson, replying to King George’s congratulations on the St. Mihiel victory, says the generous rivalry now going on between tho forces of the allied countries against Germany is touched with enthusiasm and heroism which must certainly bring victory with quicker and quicker pace, and it is one of the happiest circumstances of the war that the armies can admire each other's achievements. AMERICAN LOANS. NEW YORK, September 19. The interest paid to the United States Government by the Allies as interest on war loans amounts approximately to 10,000,000d0l monthly, BRITISH AIR SUPREMACY. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. LONDON; September 19. Sir Douglas Haig’s aviation report states: There is slight enemy activity. On Wednesday we brought down four hostile machines and drove down throe uncontrollable. Four British machines are missing. Aeroplanes assisted a.dvancP troops, and bombed and machinoined the enemy. Wo dropped 16 tons bombs during the last 24 hours. Our anti-aircraft guns brought down one hostile machine on Monday, and machine-gun fire from the ground brought down another on Tuesday. THE SERBIAN VICTORY. NEW Y'ORK, September 19. A Serbian * official statement received at the Serbian Legation from the Macedonian front says: Wo have repulsed a number of violent counter-attacks in the Koziac region, N. of Lake Presba, and German troops sent to aid the Bulgarians were put to flight. We continue to advance along the whole front. Our prisoners exceed 4,000, and more than 50 guns were captured. ANOTHER ALLIED OFFENSIVE. OUR SUCCESS IN PALESTINE ALONG COASTAL SECTOR. 5,G00 TURKS CAPTURED. Australian and N.Z Cable Association and Reuter. LQ/TDON, September 20. A report from the Palestine Headquarters .gates: On Thursday General Allenby'o army brilliantly carried a w'-oui series of Turkish fortified positions across tin; Plain of Sharon. Jt was a surprue attack on iho enemy’s strongest entrenchments. The infantry .attacked after 10 inmates’ bombardment, and swiftly carried vhe elaborate systems. This enabled the Yeomanry. Australian Light Horse, and Indian cavalry to pass through. .he horsemen are now in the enemy's rear. Fully 3,000 prisoners were taken. To-day tho position ;s most promising. Australian anti British airmen incessantly bombed and icadiine-gunned enemy ..oops and transport. ENVER IN DISFAVOR. LONDON, September 19. Turkish advices state that Enver Pasha is not in tho new Sultan’s favor; consequently he is seeking an appointment in the German army. ENEMY PEACE MOVES, TRYING TO DETACH ITALY. ‘ The Times.’ AMSTERDAM, September 19. According to tho ’Deutsche Zeitung ’ (German pap g thero is some foundation for the reports that Austria and Italy are negotiating unofficially for pcaco through a Swiss diplomat. AMERICA’S STAND. NEW YORK, September 19. Mr Daniels (Secretary of tho Navy), in a speech at Annapolis, said : “ The German War Lords never understood Mr Wilson’s utterances until he declared last April for force without stint or limit. Even then the German leaders scoffed at tho ability oi a democratic nation to put an army 'in tho field able successfully to meet Gorman divisions. The Germans can have peace whenever they are ready to accept the terms stated by Air Wilson to Congress last January.” ‘NEW YORK TIMES’ REPENTANT. NEW Y T ORK, September 19. Tho ‘ New Y’ork Times,’ commenting on tho Austrian peace offer, says : “ Austria and Germany will only have themselves to blame if, when they confess defeat and propose peace, the proposal is peremptorily rejected as insincere There will be no trading, no bargaining with the criminal Powers which long planned the war, began it, and carried it on like outlaws. At the final peace conference the Central Powers will be forced to stand at the bar and accept the sentence imposed. The terms of that sentence have neon repeatedly announced by President Wilson. This has been the attitude of the ‘ New York Times ’ always. Referring to its recent editorial advocating respectful and serious consideration of the Austrian overtures, the paper says: “ Evidently some of our readers misunderstood our recent editorial. We regarded the Austrian proposal as a confession of defeat and an offer of surrender. Considering it so, we believed the proposal might be considered on the principles laid down by Mr Wilson.”