GAIN OF GROUND OF STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16925, 10 August 1918, Page 8

GAIN OF GROUND OF STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE.

COMPLETE CHANGE IN MILITARY SITUATION. V - ; •: . . • , - - 1 ~ .-7A /,-—,r ; . : ■ , ADVANCE REACHES AVERAGE DEPTH OF FIVE MILES. HUNDRED GUNS AND 7000 PRISONERS TAKEN. V Au«t. ind-N.Z., ' v. ; {Rewired 1.15 a.m.) ; ■ '•; LONDON, Aus. 8. Mr. A. Bonar Law announced in . the House of Commons that by three o'clock in the afternoon all objectives had been taken. One hundred - guns and 7000 . prisoners were captured. The maximum advance was seven miles, the average being five miles; ■ ' • ' \ X i • AvitalUn »ad N.Z. „ (Received 3.15 •*.«».) 1 ' LONDON, Aug. 9. Mr. . Bonar Law, speaking ,in the House of Commons, said the Fourth British Army, which comprised English, Australian, and Canadian troops, attacked on a front of 12 miles, from Morlancourt to Montdidier. Ho had just been informed by telephone from headquarters that all the objectives which were sought when the attack began had been gained before three 'in tho afternoon. The ground gained was of obvious strategic importance. Ho had too desire to exaggerate the importance of the achievement. Possibly the Germans, owing to previous attacks, had intended to retire, but the attack was a complete surprise, upsetting whatever plans the Germans had formed.. The result can be said without exaggeration to indicate a complete change in the military position existing during the last few weeks. . • '