LATER REPORTS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 5 August 1918, Page 5

LATER REPORTS.

THE ENEMY'S PROBABLE INTENTTONS. STAND ON THEvisLE UNLIKELY SMALL BUT SIGNIFICANT RETIREMENT NEAR ALBERT (Received Aug. 5, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 3 (evening). lhe advance continues. Fismes has been set on fire, as have aJso two villages to the north-west and fourteen others in the area between the Muze and St. Thierry, indicating that the enemy does not intend standing on the Vesle, but behind the Aisne, possibly even on the Chemin dcs Dames. He will probably fight a delaying action on the plateau between the Vesle and the Aisne. The French are apparently occupying the whole of Soissons, and have adadvanced troops on the northern edge of the plateau. French cavalry are on the \ esle between Champigny and Jonchery, but all bridges over the river are broken, and no French troops are across the river. The enemy retired rapidly, and there has not been a great deal of fighting, so large captures of prisoners are unlikely. The enemy in the neighborhood of Albert and Aveluy wood have retired to the east bank of the Ancre. This was only a small retirement on a front of five miles, but it is significant, as their former position was good for an offensive, but no good for defence Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.