THREE BATTLES ON WEST FRONT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16968, 30 September 1918, Page 4

THREE BATTLES ON WEST FRONT

J|p f NEW OFFENSIVE IN MERS BRITISH THRUST AT GAMBRAI BKEACH IN HINBENBDSG LINE — _____ FRENCH AND AMERICAN GAINS TOTAL OF PMSONERS 33,000 BULGARIA ASKS FOR PEACE The general offensive on the western front has developed rapidly. The attack by French and American iorces in tie Champagne and the Argonne 011 Thursday, was foilowed by a British attack on the Hindenburg line west of Cambrai on Friday and by an attack by British and Belgian forces between pres and Dixmude on Saturday. Important progress has been made on all three fronts, and a total of 33,000 prisoners has already been reported. An attack on a wide front in the general direction of r; Cambrai has been commenced by the British First and Third Annies. Progress was made all along the line, a large number of important positions, including Flesquieres, Bouklon, and Bouklon Wood, were captured, while north of the Scarpe ' Arleux«en«Gohelle was completely won. The Canal du Nord was crossed at a number of points, and bridged to such effect that transport across it was possible within a few hours. In s; these operations 10,000 prisoners and 200 guns have been -aptnred. ,; f / British and Belgian forces, attacking in Flanders, between 2 Ypres and Dixmude, are reported to have captured Poelcapelle iS : and to have taken 5000 prisoners. ' The French in the Champagne and the Amerlcans in the t{. .rgonne together have taken over 18,000 prisoners. The {"'V. ■ «idvance continues on both fronts in the face of strong resist* ance. At certain points the French progress bas reached a depth ol flve miles. The German defences, consisting of elaborate trenches and barbed wire entanglements three miles ■y-Y- in depth, which have been continuously strengthened since 1915, were brilliantly captured and passed at certain points over a front of 22 miles. This was the frult of the first day's > ;/ ' operations. On Friday the advance was further pressed. Bulgaria has addressed a formal definite request to all the allied Governments for an armistice preparatory to peace. Britain is consulting the Allies regarding the offer, to which 4. an answer will be given in due course. General Franchet f£ d'£sperey, the ailied Commander«in«Chief, refused either an armistice or any cessation of activity, but agreed to receive plenipotentiaries and to transmit their proposals to his Gov« |'l emment.