FIGHTING ON WEST FRONT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10085, 25 September 1918, Page 5

FIGHTING ON WEST FRONT

CIVIL EVACUATION OF SI. QUENTIN PROCEEDING THE WILDEST RUMOURS AFLOAT. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. (Received September 24, 7.20 p.m.; 1 BARIS, September 23. The “Echo do Paris” states that the civil evacuation or St. Quentin, Cambrai, and Douai is proceeding steadily.-” Repeated air "raids in South German towns have shattered the nerves of the population. The wildest rumours are afloat about tho immense number ot/yigtims and the .enormous damage done. , SUCCESSFUL BRITISH MINOR OPERATIONS GROUP OF STRONGLY-HELD TRENCHES CAPTURED. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. LONDON, September |23. Sir Douglas Haig .reports: —Thera were successful minor operations on Sunday at several points. English troops captured a strong point in the neighbourhood or the Kousseyboug road, where a counter-attack was repulsed with heavy enemy loss. Wo also made progress in the direction of Tomboise Farm, and captured a group of strongly held trenches and strung points north-west fo Vendhuille. English troops east of Gavrelle-advanced on three-quarters of a mile of front. The enemy, under a heavy barrage, penetrated our line at Berthaucourt at one point, but a counter-attack reestablished the positions. ENEMY ENTERS PART OF BRITISH POSITIONS , (Received September 24, 11 p.m.) LONDON, September 23. Sir Douglas Haig report©:—By a successful operation in the morning north-east of Epehy we captured a strong point which the enemy had stubbornly defended for the past three days. Northwards of this locality a hostile counter-attack entered our positions at one point, where a party of tho enemy is still holding out. Elsewhere the attack was repulsed. In his aviation report Sir Douglas Haig states:—'Overcast and showery weather prevails. We dropped eleven tons of bombs and destroyed eight hostile machines. Four of ours are missing. Night-flyers dropped four tons of bombs on an enemy aerodrome near Valenciennes. All our machines returned. .. FRENCH CONTINUE TO ADVANCE SOUTH OF ST. QUENTIN LONDON, September 23, 4 p.m. A French communique states:-—ln the region of St. Quentin we continued to advance last night. We penetrated the woods north of La Fontaine and carried the fort and village'of Vendueil, and pushed on to the Oise. Our reconnaissance parties took prisoners north of the Aisne and in the Champagne towards the Butt© du Mesnil. We repulsed enemy raidse north of the IVesle and in the Voges. Australian and Nqw Zealand Cable Association and Reuijer. (Received September 24, 11.50 p.m.) LONDON, September 24. A French communique states:—Southwards of St. Quqntin we reached the Oise between Vendueil and Travecy. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT (Received September 24, 7.20 p.m.) LONDON, September 23, 6 p.m. A wireless German official message states: —Wo repulsed'British attacks' south-east of Epehy. The enemy at night time obtained, a footing in isolated trench sections east of Epehy. KAISER MAKES TOUR OF WEST FRONT ENDEAVOURS TO IMPROVE SOLDIERS’ MORAL. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. (Received September 24, 7.20 p.m.) i . AMSTERDAM, September 23. The “Lokal Anzeiger” says the Kaiser toured the West front, especially Alsace-Lorraine, with a view to improving the moral of the tr00p5.,,,..-The Kaiser mingles with the men,- showing himself to he a “kamerad,’’ and inviting them to fight wholeheartedly. A correspondent admits that the “hurrah” mood of the first year of the war has entirely disappeared. '

ADMIRALTY'S AIR REPORT

Am. and N.Z. Cable Assn, and Eeuter. (Received September 24, 11 p.m.) - LONDON, September 23. The Admiralty reports: Between the 17th and 21st air fore© contingents attached to the Navy made four raids on the Bruges docks, dropping eight tons of bombs. They also successfully bombed five aerodromes. Iu air fighting we destroyed six enemy machines and drove down five uncontrollable. Three of ours are missing. A hostile balloon, shot down, foil in flames on a balloon camp, setting on fire three hangars, all ot which were burnt out. 00-operating with Greek naval aircraft, we bombed Constantinople on tho, night s of the 20th and 21st. Bombs burst on th© Haidra station and also on buildings northward ol the Admiralty and in Stamboul, where many thousand propaganda leaflets wore dropped. One Greek aud one British machine have not returned. CLYDE SHIpWgHTS’ STRIKE WANT MINIMUM WAGE OF £5 WEKKL2. Aua, and N.Z. Cable Assn, and Eeuter. (Received September 24,11.15 p.m.) LONDON, September 23. The Press Bureau states that tho shipwrights at the Clyde, contrary to the union’s advice, have ceased work owing to the , refusal of a minimum wage of £5 weekly. 3RITISH PRISONERS IN TURKEY NON-DELIVERY OF PARCELS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received September 24,11.15 p.m.) LONDON, September 23. In consequence of British representations, tho Netherlands Minister at Constantinople is sending inspectors to Turkish prison camps to investigate complaint s of non-dehvery of parcels. Tho inspectors are taking three thousand parcels which hitherto have been detained at Constantinople by tho Red Orescent. PAID IN THEIR OWN COIN THRILLING ADVENTURE WITH A U-BOAT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received Sentember 24. 7.20 p.m.) LONDON, September 23. Tho “Whitbv Gazette” tells a thrilling story of adventure. A submarine attacked a small merchantman. Tho crow served the steamer’s gun until all except the steamer’s gunner wore hors de combat. Tho submarine then ranged alongside, when the gunner hurled a bomb at her and sank the submarine. The crew of the U-boat entered a collapsible boat and attempted to board the steamer, but the gunner with a second bomb killed all but throe, who swam to tho steamer and were allowed on board, but wore secured below deck. The vessel was towed to port.