FIGHTING ON THE SCARPE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10063, 30 August 1918, Page 6

FIGHTING ON THE SCARPE

POSITION FULL OF DRAMATIC POSSIBILITIES. Published in "The Times.” (Received August 30, 1.40 a.m.) LONDON, August 29. Mr Perry Robinson states : The position on tiie Scarpo on Tuesday morning almost exactly reproduced tho situation in May, 1917. In the afternoon I saw troops advancing over the rolling country and valleys of ttto Coieul and Sonsee, well beyond the furthest east of 1917, holding positions north of Pelves with the same Scots as battered their way to Roeux ; n 1917. Below the river tho Canachtins reached tho edge of Boiry Kotre Dame Tile Canadians and Scots are now fighting on ground which had not boon reached since 1911, within two miles of Drocourt and Queant. tins extension, despite the High Command’s desperate efforts to make tho Gormans light, they are holding. at every point with a -considerable number of‘troops. It is believed our troops are now in Rullccourt, which is only two miles from Queant, tho mam hinge ot the Hindonburg lino, and the so-called switch extension. Therefore wo arc now against the very face of tlie chief bulwark of the defence. I do not pretend to know- whether it is intended to break the great defence line, but the Germans are distinctly uneasy at our rapid advance. ’The position is full of possibilities as dramatic as anything in the war. During the fighting at CToisiiles a body of our troops was cut olf, and escape seemed impossible, but our artillery put down a skilful smoke barrage, under cover of which tho soldiers regained tho line.