PROGRESS ON WHOLE FRONT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16926, 12 August 1918, Page 5

PROGRESS ON WHOLE FRONT

CAPTURE OF MONTDIDIER 1 FIELD OF BATTLE EXTENDED FRENCH ATTACK FROM SOUTH I PRISONERS EXCEED 25,000

The latest reports of the allied offensive in Plcardy state that on Saturday the advance was continued on the whole front. Montdidier was outflanked and captured In the forenoon, with many prisoners. The French extended the offensive east of Montdidier and made progress on a wide front. Over 25,000 prisoners have already been counted, and Sir Douglas Haig gives the total of guns taken as between 200 and 300. The capture of booty is described as immense. The aliied casualties have been exceptionally light. Between the Somme and the Ancre the British, with American co-operation, carried Morlancourt and high ground to the south-east of it, and defeated a number of counter-attacks. The furthest point claimed in Sir Douglas Ifaig's report is Lihons, about 11 miles from the front of Thursday morning. Unofficial reports state that French patrols have entered Chaulnes, a railway junction, the Importance of which is especially emphasised. The British air service has played a distinguished part in the great advance. In addition to the usual work of bombing troops, transport, and communications, and making machinegun attacks, the airmen delivered ammunition to advanced troops and threw out smoke screens before tanks. Sixty-five enemy aeroplanes were disposed of, and 51 British machines are missing, most of the latter having been shot down by fire from the ground.