FRENCH CROSS CROZAT CANAL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10073, 11 September 1918, Page 5

FRENCH CROSS CROZAT CANAL

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association,. (Received September 10, 9.35 p.m.) LONDON, September 10. Air Philip Gibbs writes:—As wo approach tlio Hmdonburg line the enemy is drawing thence strong reinforcements. Fresh troops replace tired and retreating divisions, which largely accounts for the stiffened resistance. Ino enemy is strongly holding commanding spurs before the Hindonburg lino as long as possible. He holds Epehy, but our patrols are creeping round north and south. BRITISH ATTACKING NEAR GOUZEAUCOURT RAPIDLY GAINING GROUND ON NORTH OP ARRAS-OAMBRAI ROAD. NEW YORK, September 9. The British have occupied Vermand and Vendelles. and are now attacking Gouzeaucourt. • . ' The British are rapidly gaining ground north of Arras-Cambrai road. ) LONDON, September 9. The attack in the neighbourhood of Gouzeaucourt is progressing satisfactorily. Prisoners report that it is the intention of the enemy to hold the line Gonnelieu-Hargioourt-Villaret. Fires were observed at Douai. The British have captured Gouzeaucourt Wood, i LONDON, September 9. Reuter’s correspondent at British Headquarters, writing on Monday evening, says;— In the south we have reached a'lino east of tlio villages of Trefcon, Poeuilly, Eleckin, and Bernes. Wo arc in Koisel, and thence the line runs along the Koisel-Viller-Fauoon railway. Wo occupy Villers-Faucon and also Haulcourt and Guycncourt. Further north wo have carried the spur south-east of, ana jaave gained useful ground north of the village. Wo are in Dessart Wood, between Fins and Gouzeaucourt. The Germans are reported to bo trailing out of Hendicourt, near which we captured the “Spoil Heap,” which figured prominently in the Battle of Cambrai in November. STRONG ENEMY RESISTANCE BETWEEN THE AILETTE AND THE AISNE ' SANGUINARY FIGHTING IN LAFFAUX RAVINES. Reuter’s Telegrams. (Received September 10, 7.53 p.m.) ‘ LONDON, September 9. Reuter’s correspondent p,t American .Headquarters., writing this morning,. states: —Setween ins Arietta and the Aisne enemy resistance has become stronger, indicating the arrival oU fresh troops., Mffanx ravines were yesterday the scene of sanguinary fighting. These give access along the ridge to Chemin-des-Dames at Celles on the Aisne. At the south-eastern angle of the same group of hills the Germans attacked furiously, revealing that abundance of artillery of all calibres is now concentrated on this danger spot in the defences of the St. Gobain massif. In view of the difficulty of progress in this region more success is likely to attend our outflanking movement towards La Fere, hut in any caso this counter-attacking is all to our advantage. ENEMY’S COUNTER-ARTILLERY WORK BECOMING v . I PUERILE LONDON, September 9. Reuter’s correspondent, writing from American Headquarters, says:— Repeatedly during the past week, even when the German infantry was most hotly pressed, the German artillery did not provide anything like the assistance which might have been anticipated. For example, the German counter-, battery work on the occasion of the sanguinary defeat of three Gorman divisions at Ceoy-au-Mont was puerile. One is forced to conclude that perhaps this is partly owing to the loss of millions of rounds of shells in the retreat. The enemy in certain sectors is short of ammunition. SLOWER PROGRESS BY ALLIES ANTICIPATED ENEMY OPPOSITION BECOMING GREATER. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, September 9. While there is no intention to allow the enemy to rest, continuance of the rapid movement of the last few weeks is now improbable, and the advance is likely to bo somewhat slower ns the Allies approach the. Siegfried line arid meet the opposition of the heavy guns. . ~, ■ viore movement is norsiblo south of the Scarpe, near the Wotan lino, but hero the Gormans have a good defensive lino behind the canal, which they are improving. Wo are attacking Gouzeaucourt this morning, but the extent of our progress is unknown. We hold the northern edge of Epehy, and our patrols are reported to be through the Village. Patrols have also occupied Vendelles and entered Vermand, which is probably the largest town in the neighbourhood. ' RECIPROCAL ARTILLERY ACTIVITY AT VARIOUS POINTS Australian arid Now Zealand Cable Association and Router. LONDON, September .9. ’ Sir Douglas • Haig reports:—We successfully repulsed raiders north of 1 Arleux-en-OoheJle. There is reciprocal artillery’activity, chiefly in the neigh-. •bourHoods of the Arras-Cambrai road, the La Bassco Canal, and the Vpros sectors.. . __ GERMAN POSITIONS CARRIED NEAR HAVRINCOURT WOOD . NEfW ZEALANDERS TAKE PART IN OPERATIONS. ' (Received September 10, 7.55 p.m.) LONDON, September 9, 11 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—Early this morning English and Now Zealand detachments attacked and carried Gorman positions on the high ground be, tween Peiziero and Havrincourt Wood after sharp, fighting, in which wo repulsed a hoavv counter-attack with enemy loss. 1 Wo-gained the old British trench lines on the ridge overlooking Gouzeau- ’ court, capturing ’Gouzeaucourt Wood. f ,. ' ~ ' • On- the left the attack of other English troops successfully advanced tlio line on the eastern .portions of Havrincourt Wood. We captured a number °* B Jn°thoso operations wo repulsed attacks against posts recently established westward of La -Bassets. . , . f ~ .. In the wot, stormy weather our. aeroplanes earned out their function*, •nth difficulty. Wo dropped five tons of bombs in tho daytime. There' was no night flying. Tho enemy’s -activity was slight. We brought down five enemy machines and drove down two uncontrollable. No Bnh-di aeropianos aro missing. - FRENCH ELEMENTS CROSS THE CROZAT CANAL OPPOSITE LIEZ ■- ■■ ■ ■ LONDON. September, 9; .4.10 p.m. A French- communique states;— -Our- elements crossed the Crozat Canal' OP^Betwecj| 7 ’+lio Oise and the Aisnpthere has been violent artillery activity, and enemy-..infantry attacks wore made' during the night. Two strong German counter-attacks in the region of Laffaux were repulsed.

C&OZAT C'fl P 3 A C F OitC ED,.,' Aid NG, WPS OLE ’FROST FRENCH CAVALRY CLOSE TO LA FERE. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. .LONDON, September 9. The French in the vicinity of the Crozat Canal have progressed, and are now within four miles of St. Quentin at the nearest .poilit., i-h.ey have ioiced tho canal along practically the whole front, and are advancing towards Clastros and the Fort of Lies. Their cavalry patrols are close to na Fere. - ■ e-VAX’ ■ ADVANCES MAP,£: : 'AT 'VARIOUS;.'POINTS ; Australian and New Zealand Cable , Association and Reuter. (Received September 10, 10.35 p.m.) LONDON, September 10. A French communique states:—Our troops to-day ipade fresh advances at different points. Eastward of St. Quentin we' captured Etreillers and Roupy. Beyond the Crozat Oanal wc captured Grand Seraucourt, Clasteres, Mont Esoourt, Lizerolles, and Reigmy. Wo occupied-Hill 103 southward of the Contescourt-Essiguy lo Grand station, and Mill 117, -north of tho Oise Fordolies and the woods north-west of Canalers Farm and'llo3 Farm. \\ e captured south of tho Oisa a bride works and station. Servms was carried. Wo advanced in the region north of Laffaux and the region Glcnnes, between the Aisno and the Vesle. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT . LONDON, September 9. A German official 'report states:—Strong enemy attacks against" • the Gonzoauconrt-Epehy lino failed, with heavy losses Between the Ailette and tho Aisne an enemy attack in- close-formation was repulsed .on the whole trout with sanguinary losses. ; ; : ■ • AMERICAN CASUALTIES EXCEED. 50,000 , Australian and New' Zealand Cable Association, ■ ; NEW YORK, September 9. Tho “New York Times’’ correspondent at Washington-states, that, ns reported by General Pershing, the American casualties now? exceed thirty thousand, not including twenty thousand. 1 ightfy 'wounded.