Huns Feeling the Severe Strain

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4965, 4 September 1918, Page 5

Huns Feeling the Severe Strain

Man-Power Problem Grows Serious

British Open a lew lig Attack

Good Progress m 25 Mile

Front

Ho Slackening in Allied Pressure

(United Eifisfl JLss< Australian and N.Z. Oablo Association

iation—Gouy right.)

LONDON, Sept. 2. The Drocourt-Queant switch line has been definitely smashed in two along a six-mile front. There is a heavy haul of prisoneis. Le Transloy and St. Pierre Faust wood have been captured. We have reached Monslaine and Allaines on the Tortill© stream. Heavy fighting is proceeding for the high ground between Drury and Etaing. Possibly the front is pierced for four miles. The advance at Morval and Fillers au Flers means that Le Transloy has been outflanked on both tides and it may he regarded as pravkally ours.

ing capabilities and quality are doubtful.

Obviously the enemy’s man-power situation is not good. It is significant that he had made several changes in his high command. Two army commanders were retired and the Crown Prince was wisely deprived of half His Army Corps, which was transferred to von Boehm. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. AMSTERDAM. Sept. 2. One hundred and fifty senior German officers, ranging from generals to colonels, have been relieved of their commands on the Western front. The Crown Princes of Germany and Bavaria are not likely to return to the Western .front for a long time. Prince Rupert is living in a chateau in Bavaria and Prince Wilhelm at Potsdam.

We are nearing Beugny, but have not yet captured it. The. capture of Sailly Saillisel is most important,for it is on the highest ground of the Sornme and commands the Tortille river. If we can retain it the German position in the Tortille Valley will he critical. The United Press correpondent states:—The latest battle of the Somme has been definitely won. There remains only a little pressure here and there until Hindenburg’s divisions again are all behind the Hindenburg line. The German counter-attacks about Peronne merely show the Germans’ object to check the pace which the Australians are setting, for if they accepted the pace it would mean involving the loss of thousands, instead of hundreds. Nobody here believes in the invulnerability of the Hindenburg line. The New Zealanders, after a marvellous advance to the edge of Bapaume, refused to consider the proposition that they he relieved before the city was actually taken.

LUDENDORFF WORRIED.

RAGGEDNESS OF GERMAN GUNNERY.

United Services (Received Sept. 3, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON. Sept. 2

We captured Neuve Eglise mainly owing to the British working round from the north, compelling the evacuation and allowing the Germans no rest in the region of Peronne. Part of the Fourth Army attacked them to-day. German counter-attacks on Sunday against Mont St. Quentin were intended to stave off a renewed rush. While the Australians brilliantly recaptured the positions on both sides of the mountain, including Feui la Court, others forced their way across the river southwards of" the city, and. despite the marshes, reached the high ground beyond Peronne. Another unit took Anvil Wood, pushed through Peronne and Flamicourt and attacked Bacquets and Flisquets woods. Many Germans were taken prisoner. They also had had an unusual death list. The desperateness of the effort _ to check the avalanche till safe behind the Hindenburg line was shown by the identification of _ some twentythree divisions which had been thrown on the Somme front since the battle had begun, totalling well over thirty divisions used. Ludendorff in a captured order throws light on the raggedness of the German gunnery which has been noticeable throughout. The order speaks of the startling results of the British gunnery, which has destroyed 13 per cent, of the German guns. He orders increased counter battery work.

VAST MESM-WGRK OF DEFENCES. BRITISH MAKE FURTHER VICTORIOUS ADVANCE. THE COCKNEY AS A SO FL lER . Eeuter’s Telegrams. LONDON. Sept 2. Reuter’s correspondent, writing on Sunday evening from British Headquarters, stated: Yesterday I saw the fighting front of the British armies from north of Voormezeele to south of Peronne. On both flanks our troops advanced victoriously. In the centre they bitterly contested a vast mesh-work of defences guarding the Drocourt line.

The battle round Buliecourt, though resulting only in slight territorial changes, has been oarticul.arIv hitter. Early -yesterday morning the attack here, was resumed The formidable station (redoubt, which previously had been taken and lost was recaptured and the Londoners advancing on a front of. 2500 yard*-, supported by tanks, brilliantly em phasised tlie long-accepted truth that as a soldier the Coctney is second to none in the world . The Germans clearly anticipated the attack, for at dawn they, opened the heaviest barrage of cor. ‘ iderable depth.. . On the right another Bri+:*h division was fighting its way valiantly through the honey-combed defences of Ecoast and Longatte.

NEW BRITISH ATTACK THE SCARPE. HEAVY FIGHTING SOUTH OF QUEANT. Australian and N.Z. Cable A&eoclatloB LONDON, Sept. 2. The Canadians to-day broke through the Drocuort-Queant line on a two mile front, and are now m Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. Reuter’s Telegrams. (Received Sept. 3, Rlsp.ni.) V LONDON, Sept. 2. The English and Canadians at five this morning attacked on a 20mile front south of the Scarpe. The Canadians, after breakim, through the switch lme are still advancing. At three this after--noon the enemy was heanlj counter-atacking south of Queant.

Long after the assaulting waves had gained their objectives, mopping up parties would unearth machinegun burrows, containing many dismounted troops of the Fifteenth Dragoons, which were hurriedly thrown in to replace the infantry. This is an indication of the serious iortage of German reserves.

battle progressing favorably.

A RECORD FOR THE WAR.

“AUSSIES” GREAT SUCCESS AT PERONNE.

enemy resistance BROKEN ON WHOLE FRONT.

TEN TIMES MORE PRISONERS THAN CASUALTIES. Eeuter’s Telesro-ms. LONDON. Sept. 2. The story of the Australians’ success around Peronne is a splendid August 29 and 31 the troops covered seven and a hair miles on a front of three miles. . The frontal crossing of the river was abandoned owing to the strength of the enemy and the marshy ground. The Germans fully expected an attack upon Peronne from the river, and all dispositions were made with a view to frontal resistance. A cleverly executed turning movement completely surprised the Germans and threw them into contuSl °Our casualties were amazingly small, working out at one-tenth ot the number of prisoners. Mr Philip Gibbs states: Between August 26 and 31 the Australians have taken ten times more prisoners than the whole of the Australian casualties. This is a record for the present war.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association, and Eeuter s. (Be ceiv«l W2O

by tanks, attacked astride the ArrasCambrai road and carried on i a. wid front that portion of the powerful Droeourt-Queant h» e wluch hes south of the Scarpe. +1 The enemy strongly held tienciies and determinedly resisted our advance. This resistance was broken on the whole front with great enemy The Canadians captured. Dury Villcrs les Oagnicourt and Cagmcourt. Progressing beyond those places on the Canadian left the English fought their way forward north-east or LteiPl The' English and the Scottish on the right advanced! beyond Remcourt les Ca.gnicourt in the direction or Queant and captured many strong y. fortified positions, including Moreuil. Southwards we 'progressed, and. early in the afternoon we repulsed a heavy counter-attack launched in great strength eastward of Vaueux Vraucoyrt. , . . , 'The English reached: the outskirts of Bougny aud captured VillersiauAll day long there Was sharp fighting in the neighborhood of lc Transloy, where we repulsed counter-at-tacks, and the English captured the village. , _ ~ Between Bailluel and 1 eronne the English and Australians drove the enemy from the St. Pierre Vaast Wood, and captured Allames and Haute Allaines. • , The Australians beat _off the enemy with heavy loss in repeated counterattacks east and south-east of Peronne. We prisonered several thousand. During the day patrols progressed in the western outskirts.'-of Irens. We continued to gain ground and are kepeing in close contact with the enemy on the Lys front.

ENEMY’S DECLINING MANPOWER. “LTTTLE WILLIE” ALLOWED A LONG HOLIDAY. AUSTRIA LENDING HUNS AID ON WEST FRONT. Australian and Association LONDON. Sept. 2 Facts ascertained regarding the enemy man-power show that thc are 196 divisions on the battleiront nmv, ’compared with 204 when the offensive began. . , , The enemy has . been break up eight divisions for dratts to replace his. losses, and has .also broken up several assault hattalio and reduced battalions to three companies instead of four,-m at least ei f>nly Cl, two Austrian divisions jare on the West front, and then fight-

THE STRUGGLE FOR JUVIGNY.

A REMARKABLE EXPLOIT BY AMERICANS.

FINE EXAMPLE OF RAPID FIGHTING.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, Sept. 2. Tlio American’ capture of Juvigny was a remarkable exploit. The town lay on the further slope of the bill. Two parties crawled along the shellpits over the crest and got near the town before they were observed. They rushed the town in which were a thousand Germans. A fierce bayonet fighting attack resulted in 250 prisoners. All the rest were killed or wounded. The Times. LONDON, Sept. 2. A correspondent at American Headquarters reports: *A picturesque feature of th e fighting at Juvigny was the galloping up of the large force of American artillery in the nick of time to prevent the Gerrgans from saving their heaviest guns. This fine example of rapid fighting supplemented the pushing of the advance by scores of machine-gunners, who swept fugitives with deadly effect. The artillery laid down a triple barrage, covering wide stretches of field, woods and well-wired trenches, whereon the enemy especially relied. The infantry, following the barrage captured guns and took prisoner a thousand. . . French tanks smartly assisted in clearing up the outlying machine gun IICSbS. The Germans retreated beyond Ternay with the Americans at thenheels. .. . . .. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association

and Eeuter's. (Received Sept. 4, 12.20 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 3

An American communique says: We advanced northward of the Aisne despite strong resistance and took the heights of Ternysorny.

FRENCH MAKE FURTHER PROGRESS. FIGHTING IN WOODS WEST OF CONCHY. VIOLENT ARTILLERYING PROCEEDING. Australian and NZ. Gable Association and Eeuter’e. LONDON, Sept, 2. A French communique states: There is artillery activity in the region of the Somme end Canal du Nord. AVe have gained a footing in the woods west of Conchy le Chateau and captured Crecy-au-Mont. Our daylight bombers, flying at a low altitude, dropped 23 tons of bombs on enemy concentrations and convoys. The aviators also used several tens of thousands of cartridges against the Germans. Eeuter’s Telegrams. A French communique states In the region of the Canal du Nord there was violent artillerying. We repulsed two counter-attacks against the village of Champagne. In the region of Ailettc we made fresh progress in the wood west of Couoy ]e Chateau and cast of Pont St. Hard. Australian and N.Z. Gable Association PARTS, Sept. 2. Between July 16 and August 31 the Allies captured 128.000 prisoners. 2069 guns, 1734 mine-throwers, and 13,700 machine guns. Eeuter’s’ Telegrams. (Received Sept. 3. 8.15 p.m.) PARIS. Sent, 2. Official: Since July 18th the French have captured 75.000 prisoners and 700 guns.

FRENCH PUSHING AHEAD.

FURIOUS RESISTANCE BY THE

ENEMY

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association

and Eeuter’s. (Received Sept. 4. 12.20 a.m.) LONDON. Sept, 2. A French communique states: — The troops which crossed the Canal du Nord yesterday near the Vesle advanced east of the canal and gained a footing on the western slopes of hill 72 between the Ailette and the Aisne. We captnred the plateau east of Cerc.v au Mont and Juvigny. We captured Leuillv and Ternysorny despite furious resistance.. We also advanced north of Courcy.

HUNS ADMIT ALLIED GAINS

Australian and N.Z. Gable

and Eeuter’s. LONDON. Sept. 2, 6 p.m German official:

The enemy northward of Hendecourt, after gaining ground in the direction of Lognicourt, was driven back on Hendeeourt. We repulsed an attack southeastward of Bapaume, mainly directly against Villers- Auenloss. We pulled up the enemy on the line, Sailly, St. Pierre, Vaast Wood and eastward of Bouchavisnes and Mont. St Quentin. The enemy has occupied Peronne.

BRITISH AIRMEN BUSY.

CAUSE HEAVY CASUALTIES AND CONFUSION.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter’s. (Received Sept. 4. 12.20 a.m.) LONDON, Sept, 3. Sir Douglas Haig’s aviation report states that there was improved weather on the first and despite opposition our aeroplanes maintained contact with the advancing troops. Our low fivers all day long bombed and machine gunned the retreating enemy, causing heavy casualties and confusion. We heavily bombed bridges and rail connections in the enemy hack areas. We destroyed eight aeroplanes and drove down four uncontrollable and also set on fire six balloons. Eight British aeroplanes are missing. Our night flyers heavily attacked an aerodrome at St Quentin and direct hits were observed. One night flier has not returned. We dropped over thirty tons of bombs. Anti-aircraft guns on Friday brought down one German night horn >er. The Air Ministry reports: Our aeroplanes on the morning of the 2nd attacked the Buhl aerodrome with very good results. Many dnect hits were observed on hangars and a hostile aerodrome on the ground was destroyed. All the British irwichines returned. __