IN GREAT FORCE

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 3628, 7 November 1918, Page 2

IN GREAT FORCE

SAMMY OVER THE PdEUSE

RAPIDLY ADVANCING ALLIES

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Aus.-N.Z. Cable Association.) York, Nov. 5. The Allies have captured Bavay and are advancing rapidly. The Americans have crossed the Mouse in great force. The Germans are retreating on the'Sehcldt-Aisnc front, The Allies have begun to seize Ghent. . Progress this morning was accentuated in the Mormal Forest. The Americans reached the outskirts of Stenay and also occupied Grand Strattoiscs. They arc now within eight miles of the railways through Mozieres. The weather conditions are very bad.

IT HAS BEGUN

HUN RETREAT ON LARGE SCALE

Paris, Nov. 5

The French astride Lo Chesnc crossed the Ardennes Canal, and advanced a mile northwards.

The Americans, co-operating, hold the whole road from Stcnay to Lo Chosne, and have occupied Beaumont and reached Enor in the loop of the Mouse. They have formed a bridgehead southward of Dun, but apparently have not yet occupied Dun.

We here .again lost touch with the (rerman forces, although' less than six miles from the main lateral line of communication.

It appears that the large scale retreat foreshadowed for some time past has really begun. A 70-MILE RETREAT Tjondon, Nov. 5. The enemy is retreating on a 70----mile front, between the Scheldt and the Aisne.

DRAMATIC FEATURE

NEW ZEALANDERS , FEAT

The New Zealanders' capture of Le Quesnoy was the most dramatic feature of Monday's battle. They brotce into gun positions eastward of tlie fortress, capturing 100 guns, many being limbered up in readiness to retreat.

The New Zealanders also penetrated the waggon lines, ro\inding up the transport.

The garrison refused three aero plane invitations to surrender.

The New Zealanders by the evening had forced the ramparts, and wiped out the machine-gun nests. The remainder of the garrison then threw down their arms.

SOME DETAILS OF FIGHT Describing the taking of Le Quesnoy by the New Zealanders, Iveuter's correspondent says: The town crowns a knoll 100 metres high. It is a fortress of the "Vaubon type. Immensely strong ramparts are surrounded by deep moats. Such was the obstacle that confronted the gallant infantry as they converged upon the place, and it- was evident that a tough job lay before them. The airmen reported that,the town was well garrisoned.

As a storming attack seemed out of the question, the New Zealanders deployed by way of Champs dcs Manservres and along the railway north-east of the town, closing in at Potelle, and thus surrounding the fortress. The airmen joined in the attack, wheeling over the town and machine-gunning the defenders incessantly.

Under cover of smoke screens, the New Zealanders crept to the gateway, which the Germans were keeping open as a lino of retreat. Then followed a spell of confused and desperate fighting, an entrance was secured, and the town captured.

The skill and valour with which the stronghold was carried are beyond praise.