THE WEST FRONT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17402, 24 August 1918, Page 7

THE WEST FRONT.

RAPID NEW ZEALAND SUCCESS. TWO HUNDRED PRISONERS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, August* 22. (Received Aug. 23, at 11.10 p.m.) Mr Percival Phillips states: The New ZeaLanders scored a rapid success on Wednesday, wheat they took 200 prisoners, the number of prisoners being much greater than their own casualties. LYING GERMAN REPORT. CAUSTIC FRENCH COMMENT. Router's Telegrams. PARIS, August 22. (Received Aug. 23, at 11.10 p.m.) Referring to yesterday's German communique, a semi-official statement says: The German command is no longer able to plead the elastic " falling back," or " victory for rearguards," or " desire to secure more freedom of movement," to explain his retreat. He simply denies it. This method is too simple to take anyone in. The facts speak for themselves.

BATTLEFIELD SPREADING.

STRONGLY-HELD ENEMY POSITIONS,

ALLIES PROGRESSING SATISFAC-

TORILY.

Reuter's Telegrams. LONDON, August 23. (Received Aug. 24, at 0.10 a.m.) Reuter's correspondent at the British Headquarters, writing on Thursday, says: Bitter fighting has been in progress since yesterday morning in blazing hot weather. The battle has spread over wide areas. The enemy is holding Thiepval Ridge very strongly, and is strongly entrenched between Hamlinoourt and St. Leo-er. A steady stream of reinforcements" is coming up from Bapaume and Peronne. The most bitter fighting yesterday was around Achiet-le-Grand, where we" crossed the railway, despite skillfully-camouflaged machine-gun nests. Under weight of numbers thrown in by von Below we were unable to maintain all our gains everywhere, but it must not be inferred that the battle is not progressing satisfactorily. Developments between the Somme and the Ancre are _ progressing favourably, which may tactically affect the situation) to our advantage A considerable force crossed the Ancre, and attacked on a not very wide front. . We are progressing between Bray and Albert. °

THE NEW ZE ALANDERS' ATTACK.

THRILLED AT PROSPECT OF

ADVANCE,

FIGHTING IN KNOWN COUNTRY,

OBJECTIVES GAINED WITH EASE

Australian and N.Z. Cablo Ageocintloa. LONDON, August 22. (Received Aug. 24, at 1.30 a.m.) Mr Gilmour states: With splendid vigour the New Zealanders participated in the general British attack at daylight on Wednesday eastward of Hebuterne and Commecourt, where for the past four months the New Zealanders have been in close touch ■with an uneasy enemy, unable to learn the actual results on the battlefield, but the New Zealand commander by evening had gained all the objectives. Two units were engaged, and the casualties were very slight—eight in one and 30 in the other, rhey had taken prisoner over 200 before the evening. The conditions were ideal for the thrust, which was designed to accelerate the enemy's retreat. An officer, who was well forward, reported early that the advance might continue probably for some miles. Early in the morning the ground was covered with mist, which was only dispersed by the sun. After the operation was completed, the New Zealanders jumped off from the ruins of Puisieus, which our patrols had penetrated during the past few days. The Germans offered little resistance. They could not see the attackers until they were within a few yards. I walked a considerable distance during the heat of the day towards Achiet-le-Petit, where English troops were strongly consolidated. I saw only one New Zealander killed by shell fire. I spoke to an officer from Nelson., whose men were digging in to a strong post, and he explained the ease with which the advance was made.

Large batches of prisoners are constantly marching back, and the total will be many hundreds. The New Zealanders are thrilled at the prospect of getting ahead of the old Somme country. To-day Loupart Wood appears outlined in the foreground, and it is possible to see Bapaume on the horizon, where probably the Germans are already establishing their main line of defence.

There is every indication that the enemy, consequent on the Allied gigantic offensive, is taking precautions to reach a defensive line without disaster. The New Zealanders are almost within sight of Piers. Although to-day the Now Zealanders took a comparatively small share in the main battle, their entire units are Teady for any offensive.

THE GERMAN MORALE.

EVIDENCES OF DETERIORATION. The Times. LONDON, August 23. (Received Aug. 24, at 1.30 a.m.) Mr Robinson says: Additional captured documents forbid men to write home pessimistic letters. Better, it is said, to colour them a rosy hue than to paint black. Another draws attention to the men's increasing reluctance to attack. must compel cowards to go, and shoot if necessary. Documents also reveal that tho Germain's are now making machine gun ammunition baits from ppper.

ALLIES GAINING GROUND,

COMPARATIVELY LIGHT ' CASUALTIES.

BEAUREGARD CAPTURED,

Renter's Telegrams. . LONDON, August 23. (Received Aug. 24, at 1.30 a.m.) Reuter's correspondent at British Headquarters, writing on the evening of August r' L : '' n%ht ire were established along nearly the whole railway between Moyanneville and Beaucourt, except the Miraucouirt sector. We fell back the vicinity of Achiet-le-Grand, wiiere tne enemy had concentrated. Sharp fighting occurred at Beauregard, between Miraumont and Puiaeux, which finally fell into our possession. None of the enemy counter-attacks was pushed with great strength or determination nor caused us to give ground. ' The operation launched on the high ground between Albert and Bray -was eminently satisfactory. More than 1000 prisoners were taken, totalling with yesterday s 4000. In Flanders we are steadily advancing towards Bailleul. Our success yesterday and to-day entailed quite light casualties.

FRENCH OFFENSIVE,

THE AILETTE REACHED.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Router.

LONDON, August 22 (4.40 p.m.). French communique: During last night our troops maintained contact with the enemy between the Matz and the Oise, and east of the Oise. We occupied La Plemont, Ihiescourt, Cannectancourt, and Vine, and reached the Divette. We ar e on the edge of the Oise east of Noyon, from Sempigny to Bretigny. Further east we captured Bourgignon and ®' j Jand are pushing north- + n*? Vlll^ es - We reached the Ajiette at Qu;ncy Basse. Between the Ailette and the Aisne there has been no change, except in the region 1 Si" of Soissons), of which ■sve hold the western outskirts.

THE MATZ-OIS'E DRIVE.

TWENTY VILLAGES "RELEASED."

-rn T_ LONDON, August 22. 1 communique; Between the Matz and the Oise the enemy, despite their resisuance, bent under our vigorous pressure Lassigny has fallen to us, and further /t°W We •f cnred J- footing in Le Plemont fci w .!? ° f Orval.Wood,- and reached the outskirts °Lf (three miles southwest of Noyon). 0;«I S C w tUlUe f east of the We captured Carlepont Woods, and are now on the bank of the Oise east of between Sempigny and Pont Oise Farther east we passed the Noyon-Coucy-le-Chateau road, and captured Camelin, Le Fresne, Blerancourt, and reached the outskirts of St. Aubm (all on that road) bmce yesterday in this sector we have a S ?° re of viJla ges and advanced eight kilometres at certain points.

WHAT THE OPERATION MEANS

WEDGE BETWEEN GERMAN FORCES,

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. m, _ , LONDON, August 22. The French have forced the Germans back to the bank of the Ailette. mi , E WYORK, Au g" ust 22. The capture of the line of the Ailette means that Foch has successfully driven a wedge between von Boehm's and the Crown Prince's armies.

The French have now crossed the Ailette River.

GENERALS MANGIN AND HUMBERT.

CONTINUE VICTORIOUS COURSE-

n . , PARIS, August 22. beneral Mangm s thrust continues to j leld magnificent results. Some thousands more prisoners and a considerable quantity of material have been captured. The pressure he is exerting on his left which is forcing the Germans out of Carlepont Woods and compelling their retirement towards Sempigny (opposite Noyon) along the Oise Valley, has created a new' sinaJl, and dangerous pocket, while it flanks Noyon from across the river. The enemy's retirement from the narrow salient along the north bank of the Oise will be a difficult operation. Meanwhile, General Humbert has seized Lassigny, and is further tightening his hold on Noyon from the west. °

THE BRITISH OFFENSIVE.

ANCRE AND LYS PUSHES.

SUCCESSES ON BOTH BANKS.

LONDON, August 22. Sir D. Haig reports: At 4.45 this morning we attacked the enemy's position between the Somme and the Ancre. Bv nightfall on Wednesday our patrols had progressed on the left '(east) bank of the Ancre southward and south-eastward of Benucourt (five miles north of Albert). We maintained the positions we gained yesterday northward of tho Ancre against strong counter-attacks in the afternoon and evening. On the Miraumont-Achiet-le-Grand front (facing Bapaume) fresh counter-attacks developed this morning opposite Miraumont and Irles (west of Bapaume). We raptured between 2000 and 3000 prisoners and a few guns on Wednesday. In the Lys salient we made further progress on Wednesday eastward and north-eastward of Merville, and reached the outskirts of Neuf Berquin (three miles north-east of Merville). We captured a strong point northward of Bailleul and repulsed, .after sharp fighting, strong local counterattacks against Locrehof Farm, north-westward of Dranoutre. Further fighting occurred last night in this seraoE.

SIX ARMIES DAMAGED. NOW ATTACKING THE SEVENTH. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, August 22. A new British minor enterprise has been launched. An attack on the high ground between Albert (on the Ancre) to Bray (on the Somme] is progressing well, and a first batch of 150 prisoners has come in.

REPORTED CAPTURE OF ALBERT.

NOT CONFIRMED.

NEW YORK. Axigust 22. It is unofficially reported that Albert has been captured" by the British. The British captured 1000 prisoners around Albert.

BRITISH BAG OF PRISONERS.

THREE THOUSAND ON ONE DAY.

LONDON, August 22. A Paris message reports that the British have captured Achiet-le-Grand (three miles north-west of Bapaume, on the ATras-Albert railway), after encountering fierce resistance, and British posts have been established east of the Arras-Albert railroad.

The British on Wednesday took 3000 prisoners.

GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORTS.

ENTIRELY MISLEADING.

Admiralty per Wireless Press. LONDON, August 22. German official: Between the Ancre and the Avre since August 8 our troops report that more than 500 tanks have been destroyed. The French attack between the Oise and the Aisne penetrated our front lines, but was broken on a line from Cailepont, running southward of Blerancourt, Vezaponin, and Pommiers. Our counterattacks drove back the enemy advancing on Juvigny Ridge to Biemy (north-west of Soissons). French attacks late in the evening collapsed along the whole front. German official: Northward of the Ancre strong British attacks on a wide front broke down with heavy losses.