ON ALL WESTERN FRONT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10089, 1 October 1918, Page 5

ON ALL WESTERN FRONT

■ ALLIES WINNING EVERYWHERE GERMANS ADMIT SERIES OF DEFEATS NEW ZEALANDERS M ACTION ENORMOUS ENEMY LOSSES By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. Reuters Telegrams. LONDON, September 2S. Reuter’s correspondent at French Headquarters writes;I—“W'e 1 —“W'e have now arrived at the enemy’s main line of resistance, which is hardest around Sonune-Py, on the river Py. The arrival of the infantry on the'river marks the successful termination of the first phase of the attack, which is being pressed with unremitting vigour. The advance was made over five or six miles of extraordinarily difficult ground. The loss of the series of hills in the vicinity cost the Germans most heavy losses in killed, besides nearly eight thousand prisoners. 1 ' The chain of positions captured is exceedingly strong, the French having to storm a' naked wall 'of bluffs which the enemy had been fortifying for years, and of which every inch had been trenched. By noon the French had crossed thirty lines of -trenches. The hardest fighting was round Tahure. The French “75’s” and 6-inoh guns played a most important part in the battle, being brought to within a few thousand yards of the .front in astonishing numbers, unperceived by the enemy., . ..... THE SAULE ON THE CAMBRAI FRONT REMARKABLE PROGRESS OF THE BRITISH. (Received September 30, 9.45 p.m.) - LONDON, September 29. Reuter’s correspondent at British Headquarters,.:. writing on Saturday morning, says:—ln yesterday’s battle on the-Uambrai front the whole of our objectives were won to the extreme depth of five miles through the most'formidable and intricate network of defences the war has yet produced. So remarkable was our progress that we brought up not only field batteries, but heavy sixty-pounders to the ,edge of Bourlon Wood, raking it before the Germans completed their withdrawal. Our covering tactics- were so admirable that large bodies of the, enemy were taken in the rear. The tanks ivere most useful in clearing ’machine-gun nests and quelling street fighting in Bourlon Village. . ' j . Cambrai" now- lies at our feet, dominated by field guns. Prisoners report’the greatest confusion in the enemy reserves, who are hopelessly scattered and mixed with other units. There is a continuous stream of enemy transports eastward, and fires behind the German lines. Our troops rested at night, time in .the capacious ■belters of the Hin-denburg system. DETAILS OF SUNDAY’S ATTACK . NBW -ZEALANDEDS DRIVE ’WEDGE IN Es’EMY LINE. (Received September 30, 7.35 p.m.) LONDON, September 29. Reuter’s correspondent at British Headquarters, writing this evening, gays:—This morning’s attack .by the Fourth Army did not surprise the enemy, being preceded by forty-eight hours’ bombardment. A large force of Americans advanced in the first waves. ' A big concourse of tanks' moved forward mainly on a 6000 yards front south of Vendhuille. , The weather was fine, with a light mist. The Americans, using the Vandhuille gap as a bridge, stormed forward, deploying fanwise. A British division crossed the Waterway in magnificent stylo, many of the men swimming under machine-gun fire, and entered the village ox Belle-Eglise. The first phase of the battle ended at nine- o’clock. After a pause a dramatic incident marked the resumption of the attack. Americans opened their ranks while the Australians, who had been moving up to the support, swept through, formed the first wave and renewed the attack amid a storm of cheering. Hard fighting occurred in many places where the Germans had established redoubts of great strength. Strong positions south-west of Cambrai were attacked dashingly by the New Zealanders, who drove a wedge into the enemy line and took 1000 prisoners. The Canadians early in the morning were approaching Ramilles and were due north of the town and astride important communications. As the morning advanced it became clear that the battle was developing into a fine victory. Le Catelet, the key to the position- of the whole sector Bellicourt to Baiidux, was captured by twelve o’clock. -We are astride the St. Quentin-Oambrai railway in many places, seriously restricting the enemy’s communications. Important fortified villages wore carried in- rapid succession. (La Vacquerie, Nanroy, Bony, and Villers-Guislain were taken early in the battle. The Belgians further north enterel Staden, recaptured Holthonst village, and now .hold- the entire west of the Roosebeke-Passchendable Ridge system. From thence the line of the Second Army this morning ran near Zonneheke, Kqrsccware and Zr.nyoorde and possibly through Houthem to Wytschaote and the JVlessines Ridge. The Belgians hitherto took over 5000 prisoners and we over 4000. FALL OF CAMBRAI AND ST. QUENTIN IMMINENT Australian apd New Zealand Cable Association. (Received September 30, 7.35 p.m.) LONDON, September 29. The Australian Press Association learns that the fall of Cambrai is only a matter of time owing to the capture of several important points. _ There is every likelihood of St. Quentin falling, as the Allies have gained an important footing on the eastern side of the underground-canal-near Bellicourt. The advance between Ypres and Dixmude -reached u depth of four miles and yielded 6000 prisoners. FRENCH STEADILY CAPTURING NEW GROUND 'f-'.VHiVi V FIGHTING VVTi.ii Tail ENERGY OF DitjaPAiß. ~ Reuter's telegram. (Received September 00, 9.45 p.m.) . , LUnduN, September 29. Reuter’s correspondent at French Headquarters states: —jluo ju'ciicu are steadily advancing ana capturing new ground. there are numerous urea behind the German dues. , the Angio-Beigian attack in the north, coupled with the Fraaco-Amen-can attaca in the Champagne, Argonne and tuo Meuse has compelled tac enemy to depend on a. muen vaster scale'on,s ppejeet as.tnoso whieu brought the Hun disaster on the ivlurno and the -lucre. a later message says:—The whole enemy front from the St. Quentin to Reims has become a salient, tho bases of which are being vigorously attacKca on both sides. On both wings the enemy is fighting withe tho energy oi despair as he retreats. . As the result of General Mangms advance yesterday the whole of the Malmaison Plateau and the western end of Chomiu-des-Dames is in our possession. The enemy is abandoning the approaches to the massif of St. Gobain and tho Laon Plateau group of heights which fox four years formed the central pillar of his line in France. Marshal Fooh’a strategy has compelled him as -he did at tho Marne to withdraw his centre before the Allies’ attack north and east has forced him to withdraw his . \yings, This retreat is the first fruits of the Bntish-Franoo-American offensive of the last three days. german press pessimistic admission of alleid superiority in men and gun-power. United Service Telegram. (Received September 30, 9.45 p.m.) - ■ LONDON, September 29. The “Cologne Gazette,” commentng on tro 'situation, pessimistically points out that the Allies with enviable secrecy secured a numerical superiority of tanks, man-power and gun-power. Germany can no longer hope to A correspondent comments There is ample evidence that overwhelming fear grips the enemy cobimanders. Their man-power and gun-power has dwindled since July as never before. Still more important, tho moral has sunk low and their only hope of averting a major catastrophe is in finding a large number of fresh good troops. Tho long campaign has tried and tired everyone except tho Americans, who overshadow the scene as an unknown quantity. The Franco-British and Gormans mutually admit weariness.

BRITISH-AMERICAN ATTACK FROM ST. QUENTIN TO THE SCARPE* Auttralian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. LONDON, September 29, 2.10 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The British and Americans attacked at o-oO.this morning, north-west of St. Quentin. The battle is proceeding fiercely on the ! wholo iron! frost St. Quentin to the Scarpe. There was heavy fighting yos- ' tcrday . about Gonnblieu and Welsh, ridge. We made progress on the high' ground south-west of Gonnelieu, but were pressed back slightly at Welsh tidge. ' • I I We attacked this morning, and made progress at Marcoing. We enlarged, [our bridgehoad position eastward of the Canal de I'Escaut, and drove oif-a hostile counter-attack. More to the northward, English naval units established themselves east o$ the Escaut river, opposite Cantaing. Northward of the Bapaume-Cambrai, road tho Canadians took possession of the defence system known as the lla-i coing-Masnieres line, as far north as Sailly. The English completed the cap-. ture of Aubencheul-au-Bac and Paileul, and are fighting in Arleux. We crossed the Trinquis river, in the neighbourhood of Sailly-en-Ostrevent. BRITISH CAPTURES SINCE FRIDAY Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Router. LONDON, September 29. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—The British and Americans attacked north-} west of St. Quentin this morning. The British have taken 16,000 prisoners ! since Friday morning. TWENTY TOWNS RELEASED BY AMERICANS Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, September 28. An American communique states: Our attack continues successfully. Today we advanced despite heavy infantry, artillery, and machine-gun fire, and reached the outskirts of Breulles and h-xermont. We have captured over twenty towns, and enormous quantities or material. The number of our prisoners increases. The American aviators command the air. They brought down twelve balloons and more than sixty aeroplanes. American aeroplanes missing number under twenty. Despite the unfavourable weather, our aviators successfully executed their missions. THE ATTACK ON HINDENBURG LINE MORE DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS THAN LAST NOVEMBER. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, September 28. Mr Percival Philips writes:—"To-day the attack on the Hindenburg line is more difficult and dangerous than it was last November. The plan was to strike eastward across the canal, and then northwards. The front lay parallel to the canal, the crossing of whioh was one of the most remarkable feats of our offensive. The canal is sixteen feet deep and seventy feet wide at the top, and the deep mud rendered it passable only at oeftain points. Surface bridges were impossible, and the sides were too steep in many places for dropping or climbing. The enemy had every yard under range, and the Bourlon Wood gave the most complete observation of our movements. Everytliing depended on our first rush. Ah officer said on Thursday night: 'Give us fifteen minutes and all will be all right.' The men had to be assembled at night. Scaling-ladders were brought up and flung down and over-at the precise moment. The first handful of intrepid soldiers which descended the yawning chasm bore -more ladders with which to. scale the face of the canal, and also their heavv packs and loads of bombs to face; iiiQ enemy'a machinegunners. It seemed certain death to the men assembling on the eve of the attack. Everything depended on those fifteen minutes in which the attackers must descend the dark pit and reach the other side after a breathless' rush, and yet they must have breath enough to begin their .fight for life on the other side. Here was an ordeal far more exacting and dangerous than merely going over the top, but the men went on to victory without a mishap and without a pause. The Canadians, after the passage of the canal at Inohy,' had two miles before them. They strode in an almost leisurely.way up the slopes in the direction of the Bourlon Wood. It was open country, with several systems ,of fragmentary trenches. These were emergency lines, inferior to the Siegfried fortress line. The Canadians went through them, easily enough, and reached the edge of the wood to schedule time. "Meanwhile the Britisn battalions on the Canadians' right crossed the bottleneck of the canal near Moeuvres with the greatest swiftness, and before the enemy was able to put down a barrage had passed the Hindenburg support line. Then some wheeled to the south behind it, towards Graincourt, -and had swept the area clear before 10* o'clock, reaching the Ba-paume-Cambrai road."Other British troops whioh crossed the canal between the Moeuvrea and the Cambrai-Bapaume road met with considerable resistance from thje machine-gun nests. These garrisons were not aware that they were already surrounded from the north, but they surrendered when they found they were between two fires. : . ' "Germans at Flesquieres Ridge had faced south, expecting at attack froan the south as in November, but before we came to close quarters they found that the Bourlon Wood behind them was full of Canadians. _ « "The enemy artillery was active until 10. o'clock, but practically ceased after that, and had evidently withdrawn. The enemy aeroplanes were unusually energetic, the low flyers attempting to machine-gun the'infantry. Comparatively few prisoners wore taken in the morning. It seems certain that the enemy had withdrawn some troops during the night." HINDENBURG LINE ATTACKED FRON LE CATALET Australian and New Zealand Cable. Association. (Received September 30, 7.35 p.m.) ' NEW YORK, September 29*. The Paris correspondent of tho United Press states: that the Americans attacked the Hindenburg line from the Le Catalet to the north of Gricourt. ' OFFICIAL REPORT OF CAMBRAI OPERATIONS Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. LONDON, September 28. Sir Douglas Haig reports: The operations on the Cambrai battlefront have progressed favourably. On the right the Fifth and Forty-Second Divisions had heavy fighting last night about Beaucamp ridge, where tho enemy counter-attacked strongly in the morning. They overcame the enemy resist, anco in this locality, and pressed forward two miles beyond, capturipg' the highly-organised defences called the Highlands, and the Welsh ridges. IJater the success extended south, and we captured Gouzeaucourt. The Sixty-Socond Yorkshire Division captured Marcoing, and progressed south-east of "that place. The Fifth Battalion (Duke of Wellington's) forced the crossings of the Canal do l'Escault, at Marcoing, and established itself in the German defences on tho east bank north of Marcoing. The Second and Fifty-seventh. Lancashire Division cleared tho west bank of the canal as far north as La Folje Wood, and captured Noyelle-sur-Escault, Cantoing, and Fontaine Xfptre Dame. The Lancashires are progressing east of Fontaine Notre Dame, co-ope-rating with the Canadians north of the Bapaume-Cambrai road. Here the enemy resisted strongly, and lost heavily in lulled and prisoners. North of the Arras-Cambrai road the Canadians and English troops are steadily advancing on the east and north. Strong hostile counter-attacks at Raillencourt yesterday evening -were beaten back with loss. To-day the Canadians. took possession of Raillencourt and Sailly, and also the trench system running through these villages, and more to the north. The Fifty-sixth London division entered Polleul. The prisoners and guns captured continue to increase. .. ■ >. Our aeroplanes heavily machine-gunned enemy troops and transport at the canal crossings and on the roads. We destroyed eight balloons, shot down twenty-three aeroplanes, and drove down twenty out of control. Nineteen of our machines are missing. DESPERATE FIGHTING IN BOUCONVILLE REGION LONDON, September, 29. A French communique states: Our repeated attacks on the plateaux north of the Aisne finally forced the enemy to retire towards, the. Ailetfee, and we are nursuing the German rearguards. East of the Aisne, at ADemant and Joify, we occupied the village and the southern outskirts of the Forest of Pinon, and captured Vaudesson, Ohavignon, and Fort Malmaison. Further south wo made considerable progress on the platoau north of Vailly. . The Germans in the Champagne furiously counter-attacked on our right, and desperate fighting is proceeding in the Bouconvillo region, and on tho heights south of Gratouil our troops in the centre and on the left coaitinued to progress, particularly north of the Challerange railway, and captured Manre. We rcachod the eastern outskirts of Ste. Marie-a-Py. Our losses were slight. FRENCH PURSUIT NORTH OF THE AISNE CONTINUES Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. LONDON, September 29. A French communique states: North of the Aisne the pursuit vras continued. We occupied the Forest of Pinon, and also east of Chavigiion. On the Ostel-Chavonne front, the enemy is strongly Tosisting our advance. In the Champagne, violent attacks launched by the enemy yesterday were broken, and wo resumed our progress, particularly north of Gratouil, where we gained possession of the Bellevue heights. VALUABLE OPERATIONS OF AMERICAN AVIATORS Australian and New Zealand Cablo Association. NEW YORK, September 28.... The "New York Times" correspondent .it Washington states that*, according to figures received by the War Department, American aviators with the British forces on the West front brought down fifty enomy airplanes and sev.en .balloons from July Ist to August 25th,

THE NEW OFFENSIVE IN FLANDERS BELGIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. LONDON, September 29. A Belgian communique states: At dawn on Saturday, the Belgian wing at tacked 'the' German nositions between Dixmude and north of Ypres. Ihe attack began with a violent artillery preparation, lasting some hours, in which, in co-operation with the Belgiar/ batteries, numerous French - and British batteries took part, as well as British warships, which bombarded the coast defences of the enemy and vulnerable points- in his communications After this preparation bur infantry "moved forward to attack the strongly-organised German- positions, vying with each other in courage. Our troops earned all the organisations of the defensive lines in the. enemy's front position, and passed on without a stop to attack the second strongly organised position. In spite of the enemy's resistance and -a vain counterattack, which was launched, particularly astride the railway to Staden, our infantry captured practically the whole of the Houlthulst Forest zone, which the Germans have strongly fortified during the last four years, and all the ground extending to the line marked by the localities of Woumen, Dierkenshoek, Shaap Baiie, and Broodseynde:The'advance made is about six kilome tres (four miles). ' Numerous prisoners have been brought in, the total for the Belgians being four thousand. The guns have not yet been counted; they include a complete battery and its crew, as well as some guns of very large calibre. Considerable material has been captured, and the number of German dead lying on the field of battle gives evidence of the enemy's, losses. CAPTURE OF PASSCHENDAELE RIDGE AND MESSINES Australian and Nev/ Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, September 29. The Belgians have captured the Passchendaele" iiid'g'e and Messines. There are indications that .the enemy is retiring from the Ohemin-des-Dames. The French havo captured the highest point of the ridge. There is sever© fighting on the Cambrai sector. The St. Quentin push is gong well, and the troops have crossed the canal at Bellicourt. KING ALBERT PERSONALLY COMMANDS THE BELGIANS Australian and New Zealand Oablo Association and Reuter. (Received September 30, 7.35 p.m.) ' Jr-ARIS, September £9. King Albert personally commanded the Belgians. Prior to the attack ■fie issued the following Order:—'<Soldiers, it is tor you to hurl back the invaders wno liave opp-resseu your biochers for over four years. Xhe hour is decisive. Germany everywnere is falling back.' Forward for right and liberty for glorious, immortal Belgium!" - BRITISH AIRCRAFT AIDS BELGIAN OFFENSIVE . Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. (Received September SO/9.45 p.m.) ■ LONDON, September 29. The Press Bureau reports:—Aerpplanes attached to the Navy co-operat-ing in the Belgian offensive dropped-thirteen tons of bomb's oh Saturday, set on lire two trains, destroyed two ammunition 'clumps, and • attacked massed motor transports and a battery. Our low-livers inflicted casualties on infantry concentrations, horse other" formations. ' Our aeroplanes successfully carried "out the spotting of four British monitors shelling the coast defences. They encountered; during the latter part of the-day large formations' of aircraft well" on ffie enemy side of the lines. They destroyed four and drove down four uncontrollable. Thirteen British machines are missing, the .majority of which have not returned from the enemy lines after a sudden violent raia storm. :■ WHOLESALE GERMAN OFFICIAL ADMISSIONS OF DEFEAT Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. (Received September 30, 7.35 , LONDON, September 29. A wireless German official message, dated 7.15 o'clock this evening, states: The Anglo-Belgians attacked from the southward of Dixmude as ~- far as Wulverghem. They captured our crater positions and in places advanced into our artillery lines. We held Wytschaete Heights against repeated attions astride the Marquion. "We: withdraw westward of Cambrai owing to the loss of the canal .positions astride the Marquion. . , We withdrew - behind the Oise-Aisrie Canal, between Anizy le Chateau and Bourg. The French captured- Spmme-Py. We withdrew "in the Argohne as fur as the region south-east of Binarville, south-west of Apermont.. . The.. American's pressed us back as far as Cunel Wood and Fays'. ''"'.. OVER 200,000 PRISONERS TAKEN BY THE ALLIES SINCEJfIID-dULY Reuter's Telegrams. /Received September 30, .9.45 p.m.) PARIS, September 29. Since July 18th the Allies have taken over 200,000 prisoners, 300 Q guns, 20,000 machine-guns, and huge quantities of material. These figures do not include the Palestine, Macedonia or Mesopotamia fronts.. ' Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.' (Received September 30, 11.25 p.m.) ; . NEW YORK, September 29. Reports from France states that the French, British, Americans, and Belgians have taken over 40,000 prisoners in the past three days. CANAL ASTRIDE BELLICOURT STORMED (Received September 30, 9.45 p.m.) i LONDON, September 30. Mr PJiilip Gibbs says:—The Australians and Americafls stormed the canal astride Beilicourt and established bridges. Despite the heavy barrage they went ahead with the tanks towards the next organised line., of German resistance known as the Masnieres-Beaurevoir line.

CLYDE SHIPYARD STRIKE EXECUTIVE ORDERS IMMEDIATE RESUMPTION. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received' September 30)' 9.45 p.m.) LONDON, September 29. The Clyde strikers' ballot gaye_ 1025 votes for and 1014 again§fc.,the..resumption of work; but the executive ordered immediate resumption. NEW ZEALAND REGATTA AUCKLAND SOLDIER WINS MILE SCULLING EVENT. Auitrallan and N.Z. Cablo Association. (Received September 30, 9.45 p.m.) LONDON, September 29. At the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces' regatta at Putney, Private D. Hadfield, Auckland, won hy two lengths the sculling mile event from W. Kin' near, winner of the Olympic championship in 1912. LOSS OF GERMAN TONNAGE Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received September 30, 9.45 p.m.) LONDON, September 29.. It is estimated that Germany's available merchant tonnage, inclusive of new. construction, is little more than two and a half millions compared with fivo and a half millions before the war. ITALIAN CAMPAIGN ENEMY RESISTANCE BROKEN NEAR KRUSEVO. Ana. and N.Z. Cable Assn. and Router. (Received September 80; 7.35 p.m.) LONDON. September 29. An Italian official message states: Wo advanced across the rugged massif of Mt. Baba and broke strong resistance by enemy rearguards in tho region westward, of -Krus«v©, • We continued our forward march astride the -Krusevoccr road and occupied Priblichi and "■" Troublesome coutrhs in old and young aro quickly stopped by NAZOL. Tnko some drops on sugar. Acts like a charm. 60 doses Is 6d.

A GERMAN ULTIMATUM AND AN AMERICAN. REPLY. Australian and N.Z. ' Cable Atsoctatioa (Received September 30, "11.25 pvm.)~ NEW YORK. September 29'. The "New York Times'' Washington correspondent "states'that Germany has sent an ultimatum to the United States, objecting to the use by American-sol-diers of sawed-off shpteunsJ The" United Statee officials sav the Hague Convention does not forbid their use. If Germany starts reprisals "two can play at that game. Germany threatens to Bhoot anv American soldiers captured vvjth sawed-off shotguns or ammunition if a satisfactory'reply is not received by October Ist. HOLLAND THANKSGIVING FOR "dELIVER- • ANCE. ■ _ Beuter'e Telegrams. (Received September 30, 7.35 p.m.) LONDON, September 29. Special Thanksgiving Services for the delivery of the Holy Land were held in the London churches. ROUMANIAN MOWN PRINCE BARRED FROM SUCCESSION. Australian and N.Z. CabJo Aseooiatlon. (Received September 30, 7-33 p.m.; LONDON, September 29. Owing to the Roumanian Crown Prince's clandestine marriage with a Roumanian girl-the- King called a. Council of Generals at Bucharest, which decided that-the Prince cannot succeed to the throno. SERIOUS iIQTMN BERLIN PEOPLE FEVERISHLY DEMAND " '/'"PEACE. ,4ii«trallan and N.K. CnMo Association. TRecelved' September- 30, 7.35 p.m.) " ' AMSTERDAM? September '29.Travellers from" Berlin report that serious riots took place thero on Friday. The people are feverishly demanding pence. Tho police and military quelled the outbreak.