HUNS' METHODICAL ADVANCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4827, 26 March 1918, Page 5

HUNS ' METHODICAL ADVANCE.

MOUNTAIN CUNS FROM THE BALKANS.

BRITISH DEFENCE AT MORY.

GALLANT DEFENDERS RESCUED BY COUNTER-ATTACK.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received March 25, 8.40 p.m.) LONDON, March 25 Mr Perciva.l Phillips writes: Tlie enemy between La Fere and St. Quentin had one assault division opposed to each British battalion throughout Thursday's battle, which raged unceasingly on the downs beside the Oise.

The Germans, in their lofty observation towers on the crest of the hill of St.> Gobain could follow every movement of their men.

Having occupied/ all the high ground, the Germans were able to search the valleys beyond, which were still in our possession. T!he. open country south of St Quentin contained a number of strong redoubts, equipped with machine guns, food and water. All these held out until afternoon and some until evening, but one after another were taken by storm. , The Buffs and Londoners, who were holding the old Vaudan keeps near La Fere and Vendeuil kept up a steady fire long after the Germans were a great distance past them. The Germans poured men through the patches of woodland dotting the rolling country between the Oise and the St Quentin Canal. We withdrew behind the canal on Thursday night. The enemy renewed the attack on Friday with fresh troops and - we fought a severe rearguard action throughout "Friday. By Saturday morning the Germans held bridgeheads on the St Quentin Canal and had thrown large masses across.

Wo fell back behind the line of railway which runs parallel to the canal with hilly, wooded country tin our rear. The canal is dry near Ham and the enemy crossed readily. German prisoners state that they suffered heavily owing to our machine gun fire and the attacking divisions lost 40 per cent, of their strength. Meanwhile two days of the fiercest fighting were raging between Arras and Bapaume for the high ground between the rivers Cojeul and Sensee and a series of villages round Beaumet. Our men. outnumbered by eignt to one clung to the battered trenches with traditional tenacity and offered a most dogged resistance m the Scarpe marshes. ■ One report received read: ‘ twelve machine guns are still sticking it on the ridge although the infantry on both sides have been forced back. These'twelve guns remained firing into the advancing waves long after the infantry retired, the gunner? heroism rendering invaluable service Wherever possible, the Germans used the ordinary roads, which are fairly whole, and showed an utter disregard for the British artillery. The Germans made no attempt at concealment and I could not help being impressed with the celerity with which troops followed troops with rapid blows at our fluctuating line They came with trench mortars while field guns pressed up behind into- villages just evacuated. Heavy mountain guns from the Balkans were sent forward slung on horses. . Mory, where we fought throughout Friday night among the cellars was a cockpit of sanguinary fighting. Some of the English were cut oil and refused to surrender. Then' comrades counter-attacked continually. and bayoneted the Germans, releasing the defenders with comparatively few casualties. Our line here formed a sharp sal' lent and we were obliged to fall back on Saturday morning. No troops had a harder time than the weary men of Mory, but the spirit of or men was in nowise shaken by the necessity to give ground. Everywhere was tlie greatest activity, "but orderly. Stores, equipment’, hospitals and ammunition were safely taken back and the transport columns rolled back in perfect order. ■ The staffs carried on their operations as methodically as ever, sometimes grouped round a table in an orchard. GERMANS’ LOUD VOICE. A CHARACTERISTIC REPORT. ABSURD VICTORIES CLAIMED. HAM FALLS AFTER BIG BATTLE. Admiralty—Per Wireless Press. (Received March 25, 7.50 p.m.) LONDON, March 24. A German official report says:— In our victory near the Monchy-Caihbrai-St. Quentin-La Fere line, the English third and fourth armies and portions of the Franco-American reserves were beaten, and between Peronne and Ham and at Chauny were repulsed with heaviest losses. General von Bulow stormed the Monchy height and advanced beyond Wancourt and Henin, and is now engaged in a fight north-westward of Bapaume for the third enemy position. Strong English counter-attacks were repulsed. General von der Marwitz, following on the heels of the vanquished enemy, advanced on Friday, night as far as the third enemy position in the Equancourt-Nur 1 u-Templeux la FosseBernes line, and renewedly attacked the enemy yesterday morning, defeating him, despite a desperate defence and continual counter-attacks and functioned with General von Billow’s left wing. He crossed the Tortille sector and is now fighting around Bouchavesnes. General von Hutier, having pierced the third enemy position on Friday, some of his divisions traversed Peronne and advanced southward to the Somme. Ham fell after a desperate fight, in which English reserves thrown in against us sustained sanguinary losses. We crossed the Crozat Canal, and Anglo-French and American regiments brought up • to counter-attack were thrown hack on Chauney and south-westward; A gigantic struggle is proceeding for Bapaume, the battle being in progress on the LeTransloy-Combles-Maurepas line. We crossed the Somme at many points between Peronne and Ham. We are making progress between the Somme and the Oise. We captured Oliauny. . . Our booty is enormous. The English, in retiring, are burning towns and villages. . _ We bombarded Paris with longdistance guns. FALL•OF PERONNE. Australian and N.Z. Gable Association. LONDON. March '24. A wireless German official claims the capture of Peronne, also that the number of prisoners has increased to 30,000, and the captured guns to 600. THE AUSTRALASIANS. NOT YET: IN ACTION. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association LONDON; Mrch 24. The Australians and New Zealanders 'are not yet participating in the titanic struggle at Cambrai and ; St Quentin. Together with every other fighting unit on the West front they am . ready to go at any moment into the thiclc of the conflict if necessary.