DEEP PENETRATION ON SOMME FRONT BY FRENCH.

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

DEEP PENETRATION ON SOMME FRONT BY FRENCH.

CROSSINGS OF ST. QUENTIN CANAL MADE AT TWO POINTS

STRONG ENEMY RESISTANCE PROVES OF NO AVAIL. Australian aid N.Z. and Reuter. (Reed. 11.40 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 8—3.30 ft.m, A French communique states: Yesterdav's advance reached from 4$ to five miles in depth on the Sommo front. The enemy, whose resistance had greatly increased, failed, despite all Lis efforts to prevent the passage of the St. Quentin Canal, which we crossed at Pont de Tugny, four miles east of Ham, and St. Simon, a mile further south, after heavy 'fighting. We possess these places. We hold the lino running from the western outskirts of Vaux, six miles west of St. Quentin, to Fluquieres to Happencourt, east of Pont de Tugny, and St. Simon to Avesne, to the western outskirts of the Jussy, to the Ham-Tergnier railway, Amigny-Rouy to Braissis. The enemy everywhere left vast quantities of war material. There L \ctle change on the Ailette and Aisne lines. We advanced north of Vauxaillon. We carried Celles-sur-Aisne, and repulsed two violent counter-attacks south of Laffaux mill. The enemy's artillery is violently countering our efforts.