BRITISH ADVANCE REACHES OUTSKIRTS OF DOUAI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16980, 14 October 1918, Page 5

BRITISH ADVANCE REACHES OUTSKIRTS OF DOUAI.

EXTENSIVE ENEMY WITHDRAWAL NORTH OF QKNSEE,

GRIP ON NORTHERN DROCOURT LINE LOOSENED.

COUNTER-ATTACKS IN LE CATEAU REGION BROKEN.

Australian and N.Z. and Keuter. (Reed. 5.5 p.m.)

LONDON, Oct. 11.

Sir Douglas Haig reports: Between Bohain and Solesmes the enemy is strongly resisting on the line of the Selle River. We repulsed attacks against our positions east of the Selle in the neighbourhood of Le Cateau, and took possession of the Briastre. Between the Selle and the Scheldt Canal we captured Iwuy, and made progress to the rising ground east of it, and repulsed strong counter-attacks delivered with the assistance of tanks in this area. West of the Scheldt Canal we captured Presies.

Following our deep advance south of the Senseo the enemy is hastening his withdrawal from strongly-fortified positions north of that river. We have driven the enemy's rearguard from the northern portion of the Drocourt-Queanfc line between the Scarpe and Quiry-la-Motte, and captured Sailly-en-Ostrevent, Vitry-en-Artois, Izel-lez-Equerchin, Drocourt and Fouquieres.

A later report states: We continued to advance north of the Sensed River. We now hold the vSlages of Hamel, Brebieres, and Ciiincy, just outside Douai. We are east of Heninlietard, five miles east of Lens, and on the western outskirts of Annay, three miles north-east of Lens. There was local fighting at certain joints on the remaindeC of the front.