CLOSE PURSUIT OF ENEMY ON CANAL DUNORD SECTOR.

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

CLOSE PURSUIT OF ENEMY ON CANAL DUNORD SECTOR.

GROUND GIVEN RAPIDLY ON WHOLE AILETTE LINE. 30 V'LLAGES TAKEN IN A DAY BETWEEN OISE AND AISNE. Australian and N.Z. and Eeuter. LONDON, Sept. 6. A French communique reports During the day the French continued to pursue the retreating enemy on the Canal du Nord. On the Vesle front we made an important advance despite local resistance. We hold Falvy, seven miles south of Peronne, Offoy, four miles east of Nesle, on the north bank of the Bomme Canal. To the south our lines approach the Ham Road, between the Plessis Platte d'Oie, four miles south of Ham, and Berlancourt, a mile further south. South-east of the latter our front passes through the outskirts of Guivry, five miles north-west of Chaur.y, Caillouel, two miles further south, Crepigny, on the outskirts of Caillouel, Marest, two miles -south-west of Ohauny, Dampcourt, near Marest, and the southern outskirts of Abbecourt, a mile south-west of Chauny. On the whole Ailette front the enemy, exhausted by hard fighting since August 20, to-day began to give ground. Our units, pursuing the German rearguard rapidly, progressed north of the Ailetto. Pierreraande and Autreville, in the Oise Valley, are in our hands, as well as the greater part of the lower forest of Ooucy. Further east we occupy Folembray, Couoy le Chateau, and Ooucy la, Ville, 10 miles north of Soissons. We advanced nearly a mile south of Fresnes, 10 miles west of Laon. On the right our front passes east of Landricourt, three miles south of Fre'jncs. South of the Ailette we hold the line Neuville-sur-Margivai, seven miles north-east of Soissonß, Vregny, two miles to the south, and the western slopes of Oonde Fort, on the Aisne, six miles east of Soissons. Over 30 villages- were recaptured to-day on this part of the front. North of the Vesle wo border the Aisne between Conde and Viel Arcy.

Eastward the line passes north of Dhuziel, four miles north of Bazoches, to Barbonval, three miles further east, and over the Beauregard Plateau. Our airmen were prominent in the battle, flying at very low elevations, and machine-gunning the retreating enemy troops, transport, and bivouacs. Thousands of rounds were fired. Six tons of bombs were dropped on stations, causing the utmost confusion.

A later report states: North of the Ailette we reached the outskirts of Sinceny and the plateau north of Landricourt. South of the Aiiette we reached Vauxillon Ravine. On the Vesle fronn. the Americans reached the outskirts of Villiers-en-Prayeres, due noirth of Fismes.