WAR CORRESPONDENTS’ EARLIER REPORTS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VIII, Issue 214, 12 August 1918, Page 5

WAR CORRESPONDENTS’ EARLIER REPORTS.

Von Hutier in Serious Plight.

London, Aug. 10. The Allies’ capture of guns totals 400. The new French attack between Montdidier and Lassigny advanced four miles, capturing 2000 troops. General von Hutier’s plight is serious. In the afternoon of the 9th the position of the British and dominion troops north of the Somme was vague, as the poor visibility impedes communications, but they are progressing. It is reported that the British entered Rosieres. Though unconfirmed this is believed to be correct. The total advance is ten miles, but our cavalry is some miles ahead. Details regarding them are lacking in London. It has been reported that the British have captured Lihons, but the latest news suggests that this is incorrect. The importance of Chaulnes cannot be exaggerated, as it is vital to the enemy on this whole section. If we capture Lihons the enemy will be unable to maintain communications with the Montdidier and Roye sectors. We are now able to use Amiens as a railway junction. The airmen are taking a brilliant part in the battle, bombing fugitives and destroying communications with the German positions hitherto overrun. These artl mainly trenches protected with wire. No pill boxes have been encountered. General von Boehm commands the enemy.—(A. and N.Z.) CHAULNES THE CRUCIAL POINT. FOGH CAN STRIKE OTHER BLOWS. London, Aug. 10. Reuter’s correspondent writes: — What the Paris papers enthusiastically style the “British revenge” is progressing in a fashion unprecedented by any British offensive hitherto. The advance is slower north of the Somme than elsewhere as the successsion of ravines there favours defensive tactics, but the. troops are back on the old line south of the Somme. Generally speaking, the salient has been broadened both at the apex and the base by yesterday’s success and there are now no seriously exposed flanks.

The Germans, as at the Marne, are being driven into a great pocket south of the Somme with their backs to the river, and will need most desperate efforts to maintain themselves , there, while a retirement will imperil the flank of the new positions to | which they were driven from the Marne. *. The crucial point is Chaulnes, which is near an important road and railway centre, and where the British advance attained its greatest depth, its capture is bound to precipitate the German withdrawal from the Montdidier salient. Some experts think it possible that he Germans will attempt to escape their difficulties by another drive to the Channel ports, but contrarywise it is pointed out that Marshal Foch’s present thrust has iprecisely anticipated such a move by necessitating further inroads on Prince Rupprecht’s reserves, and as it is expected General Foch can now deal other rapid blows, the prospects of any effective German retaliation is regarded as diminishing. This is practically admitted by the German newspapers, which are now talking of the new defensive strategy designed to spare men. The British and Americans between the Ancre and Somme mentioned by Sir Douglas Haig pushed Home in forty minutes when the vitally important Chipilly spur was carried, and Morlancourt captured after hard fighting. South of the Somme the cavalry and infantry patrols entered Fobes, Beaufort, Warvillers. Rosiers, Vauvillers and front Rouvroy-en-San-*erre by dark. The Australians entered Lihons so Twiftly that they captured the German divisional headquarters. The complete train which the Cavalry captured was a leave train. The'Americans yesterday gave a ‘magnificent account of themselves. — l, li enter). ROUT AND CONFUSION. PANICKED RETREAT TO THE SOMME.

Mr. Percival Phillips says: It is a great victory. The 2nd German Army has suffered a humiliating re-

verse. Much of its organisation Covering the country before Amiens has practically been destroyed. Ido not think the war has yielded such stories of rout and confusion of trained soldiers.

5 The outstanding feature has been the complete success of the tanks, - cavalry and armoured cars. In dei livenng the first shock the tanks and s horsemen did amazing things. The i tanks charged the huts wherein the - headquarters of the 11th German Army Corps was stationed at Frame- ■ ville and pursued the corps staff I down roads and across fields from the forward machinegun nests to ; snug headquarters at Framerville.. Tne fugitives left a trail of debris i and booty, dropped pell-mell in the wild desire to reach the Somme. I traversed eight miles of reclaimed country. Every yard revealed fresh ■ proof of the enemy’s consternation and inability to check the panic of his troops.--(A. and N.Z.) Mr. If. P. Robinson states. The ' relatively great number of German i dead is the most striking feature of the torn battlefield on the Santetre > plateau, and is beyond anything 1 nave ever seen. Their losses in one i fight were ten times greater than ours. ' '> The completeness of the enemy’s rout and the overwhelming power of our artillery is everywhere in evid- ■ once. Enormous masses of scattered - material and arms were found, in- ! eluding whole deserted batteries amid piles of untouched ammunition. —(“The Times.”) A message from the United Press correspondent states: The Germans are burning stores and ammunition in order to present them falling into the hands of the pursuing English, Australians, Canadians and French, but the retreat is so hurried that large stores of supplies were found intact. The Germans mined the roads, ‘ but lacked time to blow up their 5 guns and howitzers, which were ■ found intact, some still in position : j and others overturned on the roadside. ! > The Germans sometimes fought ■ ’ stubbornly. One battery of fiejd- • i guns firing over open sights at point ! blank range caused some damage to 5 1 the tanks, but the cavalry with ! drawn sabres charged the guns and ’ killed or captured the crews. } The stiffest resistance came from ‘ the extreme flanks. The British had U difficulty on the Somme and .the I French met a stubborn opposition ! eastward of Moreiul, but eventually ; overcame the obstacles. 3 We captured Le Quesnel after a ’ daylong resistance. ]l BEFORE THE FALL OF ‘I MORLANCOURT. , The “Daily Chronicle’s” corresl pondent, Mr. H. Nevison, says; The i advance northward of the Somme . continues low. Morlancourt is still > in the enemy’s hands. A strong ; counter-attack on Thursday afternoon resulted in the Germans recapb taring Gressaire Wood, south-east of s Morlancourt, also Chipilly, where- > from he inflicted damage on our J tanks and guns during their advance j over the plain. The evidence of our surprise has ; been startling. Ruined houses and - dug-outs were full of the enemy’s 1 personal belongings, letters, official r papers, photographs, books, clothing - in row upon row. The dug-outs ana - caves had been constructed in chalky - cliffs on the Somme, reminiscent of - I Ansae, procipice caves, but the 3 Somme shelters in the open plains 3 1 were twenty or thirty feet deep. ' BATTLE SPREADING NORTH- ] WARD OF ARRAS. GERMAN HEADQUARTERS ; STAFF CAPTURED. y Tire “Pall Mall Gazette” states that the Picardy batle is spreading . northward to Arras. The Canadians and Austrians captured Bourehoir. Mericourt, Lihona, o Rainecourt and Proyart. General von Hutier’s army is re- ] treating from the Montdidier-Noyon e line. A German divisional headquarters stall was captured.—(A. a and N.Z.) An Ottawa message states that a Canadian correspondent describing i the Canadian and Australian advance praises the staff work. The tanks and cavalry within fifteen minutes of the battle beginning surrounded numerous prisoners. At first the atmosphere was clear and the night starry. Afterwards a i fog filled the valleys, but the Canai dians and Australians never slacked - the vim of their progress.