THE GERMAN RETREAT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VIII, Issue 215, 13 August 1918, Page 5

THE GERMAN RETREAT.

Critical Stage Reached.

Enemy Ranks Strengthened.

Stubborn Resistance Near Roye.

The Town Reported Evacuated. Foe’s Losses Estimated at 100,000. [rUN ASSOCIATION COfTBISKk.I (Received 13, 11.20 a.m.) Zurich, August 12. A Stuttgart message says the “ Heus Tageblatt” has published an official note preparing the German public for considerable evacuation of territory between the Avre and the Somme. (A. & N.Z.) (Received 13, 11.20 a.m.) Amsterdam, August 12. Three German generals commanding at Montdidier were cashiered for neglect of duty. A large number of soldiers were courtmartialled at St. Quentin for high treason. The Germans in Belgium are showing signs of uneasiness. The Kaiser is now staying at Brussels. — (A. & N.Z.) (Received 13,11 a.m.) New York, August 12. The “ New York Times,” in an editorial, says: The critical stage for the Germans is reached on the West front, because they are utterly unable to throw in fresh divisions and check the Allied advance. The whole Franco-British line is moving forward with few checks. The enemy, however, has strengthened its ranks and has the. defence well in hand for the present. The next forty-eight hours will disclose whether the enemy is able to hold the line. If he fails, he faces disaster.—(A. & N.Z.) (Received 13, 11.40 a.m.) London, August 12. The promise of further surprise blows by General Foch was fulfilled more speedily than was anticipated by the entry of General Humbert, whose swift, successful rush, equalled by his magnificent advance on the opening day of the battle, showed the great strength of General Foch, who was able to embark on a third attack when two offensives are already in progress. Some experts anticipate that he may soon change the whole face of the war. Correspondents describe the confusion in the Montdidier pocket as exceeding even the scenes on the Marne. The roads are full of exhausted fugitives mingling with a disorderly procession of wagons, limbers and ambulances. There are fires and explosions everywhere. General Humbert's stroke will probably force the Germans to send south some of their reserves, whose counter-attacks had slowed down the rate of advance on the northern battle-front. — (Reuter.) Reaction is very marked in front of Rove, but southward the enemy does not seem to have so many guns, though he is plentifully supplied with machine-guns, which are preventing the French moving rapidly. Thirty-one divisions have been identified, including eight from von Marwitz's army. These were completely over-run. We secured prisoners not only from the front lines, but from the rear services, such as divisional staffs and trained detachments. Their losses are very heavy, and we may consider these divisions out of action for the time being.—(A. it N.Z.) (Received 13, 5.50 a.m.) New York. August 12. The British have captured the western edge of Eray-sur-Somme. (A. & N.Z.) (Received 13, 8.50 a.m.) . London, August 12. It is reported that Roye has bean evacuated. The Paris press estimates place the total prisoners at 40,C00, and guns captured at 700.—(A. Ac N.Z.) (Received 13, 11.20 a.m.) London, August 12. Enemy casualties are reliably estimated ?.t 100,000. The report of the capture of Chaulnes junction is unconfirmed, and the reported fall of Roye is probably due to confusion of names. Up to yesterday afternoon the enemy has thrown in twenty reserve divisions south of the Somme.—(A. N.Z.) FRENCH PROGRESS ON SUNDAY. NEARING THE ROYE RAILWAY JUNCTION. . (Received 13, 10.45 a.m.) London, August 12. Reuter’s correspondent at French headquarters, writing on Sunday afternoon, states: Our gains to-day are thoroughly satisfactory. If progress slackened, this was due less to enemy resistance than to the fact that the roads are so encumbered with the enemy’s abandoned material and numerous trees felled (similarly to the German practice in the spring of 1917), that our ammunition supply columns find it difficult to follow the infantry and cavalry. On the other hand, the retreat differs from last year’s in that the Germans hurried back too quickly to mine the roads and set death-traps in the villages. I visited Montdidier and found it completely wiped out, but already it is only a small incident in the battle. Our troops at Dancourt are ten miles beyond Montdidier, and are three miles from Roye. Near Roye is the junction of the railways from Montdidier, Compiegne and Chaulnes, whereon the enemy depends to feed his whole line in the salient menaced by General Debeney’s advance in the region of Tilloloy towards Roy and General Humbert’s advance between the Matz and the Oise. The Germans are throwing the whole of their available strength into the endeavour to make a stand on the RoyeLassigny line in order to get time to withdraw the vast stores they accumulated in this region for the June offensive. Our troops are confident they can turn or drive the enemy on any line they organise. Already we have bitten off a third of the huge pocket the Germans dug 111 our line last March.— (Reuter.) THE IMPORTANCE OF LASSICNY MASSIF. (Received 13, 11 a.m.) London, Augus t 12. The British have reached the western edge of Bray, and have also captured Ramecourt and Lihons. The French advanced roughly over the whole sector, involving a front of about eighteen mdes between the Avre and the Oise. The attack apparently continue.-. The French are very close to the Lassigny massif. The whole position of the German southern mic depends on their holding this massif. If we secure it, we may expect a con.-idcrable advance, otherwise our progress will be more or less stopped. Our position further north, between the Roye road and the Somme, is more or less established. The enemy is re-acting very heavilv with considerable fresh divisions and a lot of artiluerv, and is constantly counter-attacking.—'A. & N.Z.'' (Received 13, li a.m.') New York, August 12. The Allies Fme captured Oury ' ? Gury, south-west of Lasgigny).—(A. & N.Z.)

WITH THE AUSTRALIANS. (Received 13, 1.20 p.m.) London, August 12. Mr. Gilmour, writing from Australian headquarters on Saturday regarding the Australian advance, says: Hie first day was not a rout, tne enemy retiring steadily, 'but all semblance of order had vanished by Friday evening. lhe latest prisoners declare that they did not expect a further advance after the first day. They thought themselves fairly secure 111 their little cubby holes dug over-night. I saw scores of German dead round a machine-gun post. Many wounded Germans are struggling painfully back to our lines. Our casualties were nothing like so many as in previous battles. Little knots of wounded came straggling back across the vast battlefield, mostly suffering from machine-gun bullet wounds. Among our captures was the headquarters of a unit, fitted in truly German style, with carpets on the floors, electric light, an elaborate scheme of telephones, and deep, comfortable dugouts, where an enormous quantity of documents and gear had been abandoned. Here we found' a packet of 250 iron crosses ready for distribution. The captures included gramophones, beds, bedding and libraries, and many’ personal belongings, proving the hastiness of the retreat. It was amazing to see the Australians swaggering round in German officers’ tunics.—(A. & N.Z.) ORGANISED RESISTANCE DEVELOPED. (Received 13, 2,10 p.m.) London, August 12. Mr. Keith Murdock, writing from Australian headquarters on Saturday evening, says: “ I doubt if more than 200 Germans were killed on the Australian sector during the first two days, so weak has been their resistance and so complete their surrender when our bayonets became threatening. Everywhere there are evidences of the Bodies’ flight. Booty is scattered in all directions. Helmets, packs and rifles were thrown aside. Hundreds of minenwerfers and big stocks of ammunition were hidden in the corn crops. By noon yesterday we had taken new encampments replete with bomb-proof huts, elaborate kitchens, and even a bandstand and beirgarten. The first shock of battle is now over, and organised resistance by fresli troops has developed, so that whatever tactics may be adopted further large numbers of prisoners are not to be expected at the moment. —(United Service.) CANADIANS SOUTH OF VILLERS BRETONNEUX. (Received 13, 2.5 p.m.) Ottawa, August 12. A Canadian correspondent explains that the Canadians took over secretly a section on the Australian front south of the railway in the Villers Bretonneux neighbourhood, to the left of the Australians and English troops, and fought a bitter battle between the Somme and the Ancre. The Australians and Canadians made what is bcli-wcd to be the record advance of the war in a single day.— <A. & N.Z.) SIR DOUGLAS HAIC’S OFFICIAL DESPATCHES. ENEMY’S VAIN ATTACKS AT LIHONS. London, August 11, it. 3o p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Fresh enemy divisions from reserve during the night strongly attacked our positions at Lihons and south and north thereof. All attacks were repulsed after severe fighting, 111 which we inflicted great loss upon the advancing lines. At one point immediately north of Lihons the assault troops broke into our positions and penetrated to the western side of the village. We counter-attacked with determination, and in the course of fierce fighting over difficult ground drove back the enemy to the eastward and northward of the village, our hue being completely restored. On our right the French co-operating with us continued the attack, and progressed south-west and south of Roye. , Our patrols took prisoners on the remainder of the British front. During intense air fighting on the TOth 1:1st. we destroyed 41 enemy machines and <Lo\e down 20 uncontrollable. fwclve of ours are missing. Wc dropped 23 tons of bombs' in the day-time and 31 tons, principally 0:1 bridges and stations in the Somme valley, nt night-time. The amount <>f small arms rmmunition fired from trie air upon the retreating enemy broke all recent records. We brought down two night bombers, one being a. giant German machme with fixe engines and a heavy load of bombs. Our anti-aircraft guns brought down two others recently. ANGLO-FRENCH PROGRESS TOWARDS ROYE. Received 13, 9.0 a.m.) . Loudon, August 12. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The enemy in the evening again attacked our positions southward of Lihons, but was repulsed. As the result of a successful operation immediately southward of the .Somme, we linked up positions eastward of Mericourt with the line eastward of Etmchea. on the northern bank of the river. On our right the Fourth British Army, with the French, on the afternoon of August iith, progressed towards Rove, capturing Armancourt and Tilloloy. On the northern front we effected local improvements on the line eastward of Robecq and between Vieux Berquin and Merris.—(A. & N.Z. and Reuter.; FRENCH official reports. ADVANCE BETWEEN THE A\ RE AND 'HIE OISE. Loudon, August 1 I . A French communique states: 10-day we continued our advance between the Avre and Oise notwithstanding the enemy resistance. South of the Avre we occupied Marquivillers and Grivillers, and reached the line of Armancourt and Tilloloy. We progressed two kilometres north of Roye-sur-Matz to the outskirts of Canny-sur-Matz. Further south we conquered and passed La Berliere. Our advance between the Matz and Oise was accentuated north of Chevincourt. We hold Machemont and Cambroime. —(A. & N.Z.) (Received 13, 1 1.40 a.m.) London, August 12. A French communique states: Between the Avre and the Oise the situation is unchanged. There were bombardments in the night-time in the region of Marquivillers and Grivillers (on the Royc-Montdidier railway line.) —(A. & N.Z. and Reuter.) REVIEW OF THE ADVANCE UP TO SUNDAY. London, August 11 (9.20 p.m.) The Allies are progressing splendidly on the whole front between south of Arras and the Oise. There was a fierce struggle at Chaulnes with strong enemy forces covering the retreat. The enemy made a great effort during the preceding fortyeight hours to remove vast stores from Chaulnes with onlv moderate success.

The British are suffering fierce opposition north of the Somme. '1 hey are advancing down the long slope towards Braj - , which lias now probably been reached. The Germans are contesting every meh of the ground on the Vcsle with the Americans, who are fighting with superb heroism. 'lhe: German retreat to the Aisne or beyond is dearly imminent. The enemy is showing signs of anxiety between Arras and Aloert, where no material advance has been macle.

South oi the Somme there was a slight retirement in some places, and desperate lighting, the enemy throwing in reserves and fiercely cotmter-attaeking. Large fires and long transport columns in the enemy’s rear indicate that lie is counter attacking m order to gain time to save huge quantities <:-f accumulated stores in this area. Our casualties were extremely [i<rht m the first two days while overrunning the enemy’s positions, but are now heavier owing to the severe lighting. 'I lie enemy’s available reserves cannot exceed twenty divisions. There is no apprehension that we will be unable to hold our gains and resume the advance when opportunity offers.

The immediate interest centres in the French troops' fight for the Lassignv massif, commanding a considerable extent of country. If tins >s captured the enemy’s hold round Roye and Nesle will be difficult.

The Third French Army has advanced in this neighbourhood three to five miles since yesterday morning over difficult undulating country, intersected by valleys. Interesting developments here are expected. A Paris message states that the French and British up to last night (Friday) had taken prisoner 35,000, including several thousand officers, while the captured guns exceed 500. — (A. & N.Z.), WAR CORRESPONDENTS’ EARLIER REPORTS. CHTPILLY AND LIHONS. London, August 11 (11 p.m.) Reuter’s correspondent writes: The battle in which the Anglo-Americans cleared up the Chilippy triangle was a remarkable feat. * The Americans arrived by forced marches and without halting a moment, fixed bayonets, followed the barrage, and cleared the ground for a further advance, taking prisoner over 500. The English who captured Chipilly had some of the hardest fighting in this offensive, carrying their objectives in less than three-quarters of an hour. Prisoners state that the Seventh Bavarian Division, which arrived at Lihons in time to receive the full weight of the Australian assault, is incapable of further fighting at present., We are pushing forward at Proyart along the Foucaucourt road, and in more than one place are back to the old Somme positions. At Fransart we are beyond these points. . The retreating enemy is continuing to fire villages and blow up dumps a long way back.—(Reuter.) . ... , . - .—s—■ THE FIGHTING ON SUNDAY ON TFIE OLD BATTLEFIELD NEAR ROYE. London, August 12. The “ Morning Post’s ” correspondent at British headquarters states: The region fronting Roye has become the scene of heavy and most stubborn fighting. It was expected that the Germans here would make a determined effort to stem the advance when they reached their old defences. These were largely derelict, but masses of rusted wire encumber the ground, the trenches are in fairly good condition, and the vast underground galleries are still serviceable. Several concrete redoubts remain intact. The fighting on Sunday centred on this old battlefield. Many reserve divisions concentrated every available man, including non-combatants, who were impressed for the defence. The Germans brought up guns of all calibres from Peronne, putting up a hast}' barrage in the middle of Saturday afternoon. One of the most thrilling sights of the campaign was witnessed at four o’clock, when large masses of British cavalry rode out against Damery village, north-west of Roye. They rode superbly through a hail of bullets while the infantry cheered them. Nearing the village the cavalry encountered many machine-gun nests, while shell-holes overgrown with weeds increased the difficulties, and they were finally obliged to leave the task to the tanks. Meanwhile other units began to outflank Damery from the north. The fighting proceeded all night long. English, Australian and Canadian patrols continued the outflanking movement, despite the fog. The battle was resumed with redoubled vigour at daybreak. The tanks took up the task of attacking Damcry, which was abandoned by the cavalry. A long line of tanks emerged from their hiding places, crawling up the slope which hid them from the enemy while at least a hundred aeroplanes established an impassable barrier overhead. Thus the tanks completely surprised the machine-gunners lining the woods surrounding the slope. The observers clearly saw some 500 Germans trving to bolt to the rear, but staggering under the weight of their machine-guns. The infantry following the tanks skirted Damcry, moving eastward in the direction of Goyencourt. The battle for Roye has become dcFpcratc. The enemy filled every village and every house with troops and machine-guns. Evidently Roye has been ordered to be defended at all costs. Elsewhere 011 the trout, though the progress since Friday is slower, it has been sure. The advance continued methodically, almost by time-table. Later accounts of Chipilly’s resistance state that the Germans allowed an Australian patrol to traverse the village unmolested. The patrol reported the village deserted, but the enemy were merely hiding hoping to ambush the main body, which encountered a heavy fire, but a determined attack later demolished the defence.—(A. & N.Z.) RUPPRECHT PLAYING A DESPERATE CAME TO GAIN TIME TO ORGANISE DEFENCE. London, August 12. Mr. Phillips writes: Although somewhat slackened, we have continued to advance without any widely organised resistance. The Second and Eighteenth German Armies, broken and bewildered, continue to retire in disorder in the endeavour to reach the line on which to re-organise and recover from the staggering blow. 1 hev attempted to do so on the line covering Peronne and Rove,- but our artillery smashed the attemnt. they are now’ retiring across the wilderness they themselves created. Prince Rupprecht is plavum a desperate game to gam time, leaving local garrisons to fight to the last against the gallant English, Australians and Canadians. Prince Rupprecht is meanwhile endeavouring to create a new line behind the ragged rearguard.—(United Service.) lhe Times’ ” military' critic, Mr. Sidebotham (late of the “Manchester Guardian”), thinks that the Germans are preparing to resume a strategical defence on the West front. The movement resembles the retreat in the spring of 191/, probably making St. Quentin, Peronne, Noyon, La Fere and the Aisne the keys of the defensive system. They will probably confine themselves to local offensives while prosecuting a peace offensive and militaiy operations through lurkey in the East.—(“limes.”) WITH THE NEW ZEALANDERS. QUIET ON THE ARRAS-ALBERT FRONT. (Special from the Official War Correspondent.) — , August 10. While we listen to the thunder of the guns further south, our own line remains quiet, and the other day not a single casualty was reported in the w'hole division—a rather remarkable occurrence. Our patrols continue to do good work and to bring in from time to time some prisoners. lhe enemy is constantly harried by our artillery, trench mortars add machine-guns. A diary recently found on a dead officer shows clearly that the German troops have been having a trving time in this sector. He refers to several being killed and wounded, and states that in Rossignol Wood on one occasion twenty-five men of one company were poisoned by a delay-action shell, which burst on the catacombs in which they were sheltering. The company had to shift to reserve dugouts. He refers to the “ Sturm Trupp ” put into action as a'“bloody dav.” The men are tired with constant duty. Hie weather has been very changeable. The health of the men is good, and the division was never stronger than at the present moment. ° SUPER-CUN BOMBARDED BY ALLIED ARTILLERY. '.Received 13, 11.20 a.m.) .... _ . Paris, August 12. l he German long-range gun bombarding Pans is now under Allied artillery fire.— "A. N N.Z.) FROM GERMAN SOURCES. . .... London, .August 11. A German official^ mtssage 3tatc>,: Saturday's attacks wore mainly against tne front between Lihons and the Avre. We repulsed repeated attacks eastward of Rnsieres and iistude ot the Amiens road towards Rove, despite the enemy’s superiority and massed employment of armoured car.-.’ "Over lorty of these were destroyed fronting one division. Eastward of Montdidier we withdrew fighting bevond the fine of Laooissiere, Hainvilleis, Ricquebourg and Marest-sur-x-.latz. — ,A. & N.Z., Admiralty per Wireless.)