WESTERN FRONT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17936, 1 November 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

THE BRITISH LINES. SUCCESSFUL RAIL. A, and N.Z. Cable Aoaooiation and Iteutei. LONDON, October 30. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—We successfully raided north-eastward of Englefontaine, and repulsed an attempted attack northward of Faraars. THE FLANDERS THRUST. PRISONERS AND GUNS. A. and N.Z. Cable Association and Rcutw. LONDON, October 30. i A British and Belgian communique states: —Between October 14 and 27 ‘18,493 prisoners have been taken in Flanders, of whom the Belgians took 7962, the 'British Second Army 3459, and the French 5177. Sinco September 28 over 30,000 have been taken prisoner. Five hundred guns and 1200 machine-guns were captured between October 14 and 27. THE FRENCH ADVANCE. BETWEEN OISE AND SERRE. A. and N.Z. Cable Association and Router. LONDON, October 30 (1.30 p.tn.). A French communique reports:—Between the Oise and the. Serre ihero was lively artillery fife, notably in the region of Crccy ,-sur Serre. The Fifth Army attacked westward of Chateau Porcien, on a front of twelve kilometres, between St Qmeritin' le Petit and Herpy. The cncniy was ordered to hold at all costs, and ; resisted withgreat desperation. On the left we debouched from St Quentin ; le Petit and carried the lines to tho approaches of Hill 137. Westward of BanogCs we progresso'd in the centre, overcoming all resistance. We drove the enemy over the Recouvrance Road. On the right we carried Hill 156 and advanced eastwards. The prisoners counted exceed 758. WITH THE AMERICANS. AERIAL'ACTIVITY. A. and N.Z. Cablo Association and Reuter LONDON,. October 30, An American communique reports: — There, is heavy artillery fire on the west of tho Mouse, especially north of St Justie.* Aerial activity is increasing,

AINCREVILLE CAPTURED. A. K.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. * LONDON. October I'O. An American official message says: Northward of Verdun we occupied Aincreville and established our lines northward of the village. DETAILS OF THE FIGHT. RESISTANCE AT VALENCIENNES. LONDON, October 30. Mr Percival Phillips states that the chief enemy resistance is in the northern outskirts of Valenciennes, and in a mile wide strip between the Scheldt and the Rhpnelle River. The Germans art holding on firmly to the village of Aultoy, which our advanced troops reached temporarily yesterday. Tho fighting has been severe and continuous since Saturday. THE ENEMY’S DISAPPOINTMENT. Router's Telegrams. (Received November 1, 1.15 a.m.) LONDON, October 31. Router’s correspondent at British headuarters, writing on October 30, states:—Copies of German orders and battle objective maps recently fallen into our hands show how complete has been the miscarriage of tho enemy schemes. Great efforts were made to bolster the flagging spirits of the men by impressing them with the idea that the more strenuously they would fight the hotter would bo tho prospect of favourable peace tdrms. Thus under dote October 12 a document was issued by the high command which states: “The possibi.ity of an armistice depends on tho battle coming to a standstill. Every gunner must carry out his duty night and day. Tho English must mot cross the Selle. Tho artillery must prevent them.” WAR IN THE AIR, EXTENSIVE OPERATIONS. A. and Jf.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. •v; LONDON, October 30. The Press Bureau states:—The Independent Air Force heavily attacked tho Morgange aerodromes. Eighteen hits were observed and a fire resulted. Wo also bombed the Frescaty aerodromes, and attacked the Badischer soda factory. also'tho railways at Treves and Saarbrucken, and the railway junctions of Longuyon, Ecouviea and Thionville with excellent results. A total of ten tons was dropped. No British machines are missing. Wo also attacked the aerodromes 'at Jamez with good results.

BED CROSS WAGGONS. ' USED FOR AMMUNITION. NEW YORK, October 30. The Germans are continuing to violate The Hague Convention. This was revealed by an announcement from the British Official Bureau in New York that when the British troops of the Fifth Army, under General Birdwood, captured German Red Cross waggons, it was found that they wero loaded with ammunition. THE CAILLATJX CASE. MINOTTO’S STATEMENT. NEW YORK, October 30. Tho United States Attorney, in a statement, says that Minotto made his statement regarding tho Caillaux-Lux-burg affair voluntarily, in order to help the French and American Governments. The Attorney does not believe

is,:.' '. y; -'■■ ,-,■■.' ~ ,-' \-i :•: .■■;. that Minotto was the conscious ageh* of the German GqVerhment.