GUNS AND STORES ABANDONED IN HURRIED FLIGHT.

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

GUNS AND STORES ABANDONED IN HURRIED FLIGHT.

ONE BATTERY CONTINUES FIRING OVER OPEN SIGHTS.

CREW CAPTURED OR KILLED IN CAVALRY CHARGE. Australian and N.Z. (Received 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 9.

The headquarters correspondent of the United Press states: The Germans are burning stores and ammunition in order to prevent them from falling into the hands of the pursuing English, Australians, Canadians, and French, but the retreat has been so hurried that large stores of supplies have been found intact. The Germans had mined the roads, but did not have time to blow them up. Guns and howitzers were found intact, some still in position, and others overturned by the roadside. The Germans sometimes fought stubbornly. One battery of field guns, firing over open sights point blank, caused some damage to the tanks, but the cavalry, with drawn sabres, charged the guns and killed or captured the crew. ■

The stiffest resistance came from the extreme flanks. The British had difficulty on the Somme, and tho French met stubborn opposition east of Moreuil, but eventually overcame the obstacles. We captured Le Quesnel, 6i miles east of Moreuil, after resistance lasting all day.