CANADIANS PENETRATE DEEPLY ENEMY’S FRONT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10062, 29 August 1918, Page 5

CANADIANS PENETRATE DEEPLY ENEMY’S FRONT

Australian -and New Zealand Cable Association. Reuter’s Telegrams. LONDON, August 27. Reuter’s correspondent at British Headquarters, writing on Sunday night, states that it is estimated the- enemy has been forced to use between the Scarpo and the Aisno at least seventy divisions since August Bth. Iwo thousand prisoners and some guns were captured as the result of yesterday s extension of the battlefront northward by the attack behind Arras. Our progress was excellent considering the difficulties of tho ground, and the casualties were of the lightest. A few tanks co-opera-ted, but the battle was perhaps more of an infantry battle than any of the recent fighting. North of the Scarpe wo merely adjusted our flank. In the course of this the Highlanders occupied the famous chemical works of Roeux. The enemy has -withdrawn into the wooded slopes east of Alonchy, where he is offering a stiffening resistance in favourable defensive country, especially in the Sart Wood and tho Jigsaw Wood. Alcanwhile our troops arc now well to the eastward of tho Suzanne and Gappy lino across the Somme while north of the river they have entered Yaux Wood. The enemy is still in Thilloy, and is reported to bo in considerable strength on the eastern edge qt Bapaume and along the Cambrai road. It is understood that at 4.45 this morning some of tho-British troops attacked near tho Somme, but details are not at present available. A RECORD OF SPLENDID BRITISH PROGRESS Router’s Telegrams. ' (Received August 28, 8.25 p.ra.) LONDON, August 27. Reuter’s correspondent at British Headquarters, writing on Tuesday evening, states: A concerted attack this morning by Australians and other British troops began at 4.45 o’clock on a front of 8000 yards northward of the Somme, and was completely successful. By 10 o’clock we apparently overran Moulin de Fragny, Alarieourt, Bernafray, and Trones Wood. AVe captured hundreds of prisoners. Not the least important of the day’s successes is the clearing of Vaux AVood. It is becoming increasingly clear that qnr pressure is forcing the enemy to expedite his retreat far beyond his original intention. . ~ The talk of prisoners suggests that rearguard fighting began on the night of August 24th, and all enemy attacks since have been in the nature of delaying actions to cover withdrawals. About 6 o’clock last evening a determined counter-attack was launched by the remains of the Seventeenth German Division, which is known to have lost 2600 prisoners since August Bth, irrespective of other casualties. The Welshmen fell hack a short distance beforer weight of numbers, and took up a position between High AVood and Bazentin-la-Grand, southward of the Somme. . ..... The Australians are carrying out what they call “peaceful penetration,” consisting of patrol-stalking—most demoralising to the harassed enemy. Yesterday the Australians advanced to Fontaine-les-Oappy, which only a few days ago was a German divisional headquarters. This morning some Australians were reported six miles from Peronne. Eastward of Arras, the battle which began yesterday morning reached great intensity by night, when the enemy attempted to oust us from the Wancourt spur. He failed, and has since steadily lost ground. AVe gained valuable ground at Boisduvert. There is an unconfirmed report that we captured Boisdusart. In any case, we have over-reached the point attained after long and bitter fighting last year. This morning our troops worked towards Plouvain. . The enemy’s artillery retaliation was comparatively weak. Croisilles still remains in German hands, and tho sunken roads north and west thereof are strongly held by enemy infantry. AVe are following the policy of not forcing the pace by the .sacrifice of lives. The weather is gloomy and aircraft visibility had. THE CAPTURE OF ROYE A THREE-MILE ADVANCE ON AN EIGHT-MILE FRONT. (Received August 28, 7.40 p.m.) LONDON, August 27, evening. General Debcney’s Third French Army to-day advanced on a front of eight miles a depth of three miles, capturing Roye, and Orapeau-Mesnil, while between Herlevillo and tho Somme the British reached the-outskirts of Dompiorre and tho outskirts of Bapaumo. Their advance is about three miles at its maximum depth. We captured Cresey and Gavrelle. The entire AngloFrench advance is between two and three miles on practically the whole front. General Deheney’s advance -was between Crapeau-Mesnil and Hallu, south of the Ohaulnes line, which now runs east of Liancourt, Hallu oast, and Herlevillo to the Sommo and the outskirts of Dompierro. AVe captured Maricourt. Thence the lino runs to Flers. North of Bapaume we reached the outskirts of Vaulxvraucourt. Thence the line goes to the outskirts of Ecoust and St. Mein, whence it bends hack to Croisilles, which is still in German hands. From Cherisy the line runs to the outskirts of Boeux Heavy. Fighting occurred in Delvillo AVood, also at Lougueval. Military critics attach the greatest importance to the Somme offensive, because it affects tho Hindenburg lino. FURIOUS STREET FIGHTING WITH BAYONETS AND GRENADES LONDON, August 27. Reuter’s correspondent at the French Headquarters reports:—General Debenoy attacked at 5.45 this morning at Fresnoy les Roye, tho capture of which is announced in a French communique. The attack on tho village, which covers Roye from the north, was preceded by a heavy artillery preparation. Tho village was strongly defended, and tho Germans resisted desperately. Furious street-fighting ensued with bayonets and grenades. The French repulsed several violent counter-attacks. The capture of St. Mard was apparently the result of a brilliant littlo operation, and the net result is a considerable improvement of our positions around Royo. FIGHTING ALONG SCARPE IS OF FIERCEST ORDER BRITISH FOURTH ARMY CAPTURE OVER 200 GUNS. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. (Received August 28, 7.40 p.ra.) LONDON, August 27. The British Fourth Army has captured over 200 guns, a very mixed lot, several being five-point naval guns and others twenty years old. Tho fighting at Bapaume and along tho Scarpe is of the fiercest character. There have been hand-to-hand encounters with bayonets and grenades in the glare of the fires due to explosions of oil reservoirs caused by British aviators, who continually harass the enemy. The prisoners include a number of Austrians. GERMANS EVACUATE BAPAUME NEW ZEALANDERS REACH BAPAUME-OAMBRAI ROAD. NEW YORK, August 27. The Now Zealanders during tho night outflanked Bapaume, and reached tho railway north of the Bapaume-Oambrai road. There is street fighting on the outskirts of Bapaume. Tho British are near to Bougnatre, north-east of Bapaume. There is Jliard fighting around Croisilles. The Germans have evacuated Bapaume,