FRENCH AND AMERICAN ADVANCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 5002, 17 October 1918, Page 5

FRENCH AND AMERICAN ADVANCE.

1 PROGRESS ON SOUTHERN FRONT. SHARP RESISTANCE BY HUNS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association LONDON, Oct. 15. A French communique reports: Local operations improved ouj- positions on the left bank of the Oise in the regions of Montorigny. South of th c Serro we occupied Monceau les Loups. We reached ft kilometre south of Assis-sur-Serre. With the co-operation of the Italians we captured and passed Sissone. Farther east, despitg' the sharpest resistance, we made considerable progress. On the north hank of the Aisrie we passed the villages of MaJmaison, Lor, Lithoua, and St. Germainmont. In the region of Asl'eld we crossed the Aisne at several points north of d’Lazny. Aaatralian and N.Z. Cable Aasooiaiion. and iieuter's. (Received October 10, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 15, 4.10 p.m. A French communique states: During the night-time and in the early morning we progressed a> different points from the south of the Serre. We captured Reimes, Baronton, Cel Monceau and Le Yaast. West of Grandpre we progressed beyond the Aisne. We hold Clizy and took over 800 prisoners here. lieuter’s Telegrams. LONDON, October 15, 3.45 a.m. An American communique reports: We resumed the advance northward of Verdun against the strongest and strategically the most valuable position. We passed beyond Cunel and Romagne. Our patrols are in Bois de Banthcville, and our attacking lines penetrated St. Georges Landries. We took prisoner seven hundred and fifty. (Received Oct. 10, 11.25 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 15. Reuter’s cqrrcsponlent at American headquarters says : The Americans yesterday moved their line to St.Georges and Landres St. Georges alter a hitter struggle. Eastward of the Meuse we reached Sivry and Magnenta farm. Av. Itomagnes the Germans fought gallantly to hold hack the Americans, bringing up a new Guards division. The Germans flooded the woods and ravines with mustard and lethal gases. Chatillen Woods, covering the high hill south of Romagnes, was stubbornly defended, the Americans gaining the summit in the evening after being repeatedly thrown back. A thousand prisoners have been sent to the rear. “AUSSfES-’ 55 BRILLIANT RECORD. RESULTS OF SIX MONTHS’ FIGHTING. 251 SQUARE MILES CAPTURED • AND 28,0U0 PRISONERS. Australian and N-> Cable Association. (Received Oct. 16. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON. Oct. 15. There is a feeling amongst tbcAustralian troops in London that the English newspapers and public do not fully realise the part Australians have taken in the recent fighting. It is claimed on' their behalf that: credit can be taken for the successful offensive policy commencing on August 8, which changed the Allied defensive policy into an offensive, paving the way for the big advance which was still progressing. They made the first serious breach in the Ilindcnburg line, and during the six months' fighting from March to October captured 251 square miles of territory, re-captured 116 towns and villages and many other strong points. They took' 25.655 prisoners and 332 guns. They met and defeated the equivalent, to .seventythree German, divisions, including those re-appearing a second time. The Timet, The Australians’ losses are much less than the prisoners captured.