SUCCESS OF FRENCH THRUST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16950, 9 September 1918, Page 5

SUCCESS OF FRENCH THRUST.

WHOLE LINE MOVES FORWARD HASH AND TERCNIER TAKEN BRITISH ADVANCE CONTINUED HEARING HINDENBURC LINE Rapid allied progress and the shattering of the enemy defence -on practically the whole front from south of the Scarpa to the Aisne are the keynote of both official despatches and correspondents' reports from the west front. The latest advance has brought the Allies within a few miles of the Hindenburg line, The French have driven the enemy back rapidly on prac. tically the whole front between the Somme and the Aisne. The important towns of Ham and Chauny have both fallen into their hands, and they have taken Tergnier, an important railway junction three miles west of La Fere. They have reached points over three miles east of Ham, the advance in places exceeding six miles. North of the Aisne they have occupied practically all the old trenches flanking the Chemin des Dames Ridge, while they have reached the north bank of the river at a point six miles east of Soissons. Substantial progress across the Somme south of Peronne is reported by Sir Douglas Haig. A communique issued at midnight on Friday stated that the line was already seven miles east of the Somme, and further progress is detailed in a later report, the advance having reached the railway junction of Roisel, eight miles east of Peronne. There has been heavy fighting about Havrincourt Wood, the British maintain, ing their grip on the western edge. Progress in the Flanders salient continues both in the La Bassee region and further north. The positions about Langemarck taken by the Belgians on August 27 were violently attacked by the Germans, the Belgian positions being penetrated. An immediate counterattack ejected the enemy with heavy losses from all positions save one post.