ENEMY FORCED FURTHER ACROSS OLD SOMME FIELD.

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

ENEMY FORCED FURTHER ACROSS OLD SOMME FIELD.

BRITISH FREQUENTLY BEAT BACK REARGUARDS. HURRIED AND UNWILLING NATURE OF RETREAT PROVED. VAST STOCKS OF COAL AND ROAD MATERIAL TAKEN. Australia and N.Z. and Router. (Heed. 11.10 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 7-11.40 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: On the whole front south of Havrincourt the German retreat continued under our close and constant pressure. We reached a line from Beauvois, seven miles due west of St. Quentin, to Koisel, seven miles further north to Havrincourt, Wood. Our advanced detachments, in frequent encounters with the German rearguards, are taking prisoners and inflicting numerous casualties. The stocks of coal and road metal and quantities of other war material which have fallen into our possession, prove the enemy's intention to remain in occupation of the Somme battlefield during the winter months, and the hurried nature of the retreat forced upon him. We captured north of Havrincourt the strong point called the Spoil Heap, on the west bank of the Canal du Nord, opposite Hermies, taking a number of prisoners and machine-guns.