SWEEPING ADVANCE AND CAPTURE OF 25,000 PRISONERS

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

SWEEPING ADVANCE AND CAPTURE OF 25,000 PRISONERS

PROGRESS OF ELEVEN MILES OFFICIALLY REPORTED.

ATTACKS BETWEEN THE SOMME AND ANCRE SUCCEED.

IMMENSE BOOTY, INCLUDING TRAIN, SECURED.

Australian and N.Z. and Ke'utcr. (Bocd. 6.6 D.m.) LONDON, Aug. 10-2.15 p.m.

Sir Douglas Haig reports: Yesterday afternoon the advance of the allied armies continued on the whole front, from south of Montdidier to the Ancre. The fre:K:i, attacking south of Montdidier during the afternoon, captured T.o Tronquoy, Le Freloy, and Assamvillers, threatening Montdidier from the south. We took over 2000 prisoners on this sector. Be'\\?e:>. Montdidier and the Somme Canadian and Australian divisions have taken Bouchoir, Meharicourt, and Lihons, and entered Eainecourt and Proyart. Last evening British and American forces attacked in the angle between the Somme and the Ancre. They met with immediate success, and by nightfall all their objectives had been taken, including the village of Morlancourt and the high ground to the south-east. Enemy counter-attacks in this sector were beaten off after sharp fighting.

The prisoners captured by the Allies since Thursday exceed 25,000.

The previous evening's report stated: The Allies renewed their attack on the wholo battlcfront Bouth of the Somme, and made progress everywhere, despite increasing resistance. The French, extending their front southwards, captured Pierrepont, between Montdidier and Morcuil, and the wood north and north-east of the village. The Canadians and Australians, with admirable dash, advanced two miles after severe fighting, before evening. The French and British have reached the line from Pierrepont, to Arvillers to Rosieres, 11 miles east of the Avre, to Rainecourt to Moricourt, where fighting continues. Local fighting is reported north of tho Somme. Between 200 and 300 guns have been taken, including a heavy railway gun, and large numbers, of trench mortars and machine-guns. Immense stores and material, including a train, were secured. Our casualties were exceptionally light.

The enemy is vigorously resisting northward of the Somme, and heavy lighting is proceeding between Chipilly and Morlancourt. The enemy continued to ovacuate his forward positions in the Lys Valley. Our line advanced between the Lawe and the Bourre Rivers, northwest of Merville, a maximum depth of 2000 yds. We hold Locon le Cornetmalo, Quentin le Petit, Pacaut, and Lesart. We advanced our line a short distance on upwards of a thousand yards on the front north of Kemmcl.