EARLIER-MESSAGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17425, 20 September 1918, Page 5

EARLIER-MESSAGES

ADVANCING TOWARDS ST. QTJENTIN. ENEMY ATTACK AT MCEUVRES REPULSED. Australian nnd N.Z. Cable Association and ReuUff. LONDON, September 18. Sir D. Haig reports: As a result of yesterday's- operations -vre possession of Holnon village. This morning we again attacked north-west of St. Quentin. Yesterday evening the enemy attacked us at Moeuvres, under cover of a heavy barrage, and pressed us back to the western. outskirts of the village. By a successful local operation in the night-time we slightly advanced our line immediately south of the La Bassee Canal. SOUTH OF THE AISNE. CHIEFLY LOCAL FIGHTING. LONDON, September 18 (4.35 p.m.). French communique: South of the Aisne the artillery duel during the night was violent.' Enemy counter-attacks in the plateau region north of Sancy proved resultless, and we maintained our gains. On the Champagne and Lorraine' fronts we carried out coups-de-main and took 6ome prisoners. PRESSURE STEADILY MAINTAINED. FRENCH GAINS ENLARGED. LONDON, September 18. French communique: West of St. Quentin we progressed in the Holnon and Savy district. We continued to enlarge our gains between the Ailette and the Aisne. We progressed by local attacks on the plateau east and north of ACemant. We captured this morning, after a sharp fight, a strongly-held point east of Sancy. The number of bodies found north of Laffaux proves the heaviness of the enemy losses in the recent fighting. The Germans on the Yesle front thrice counter-attacked our positions in the Cleunes region, but were repulsed with heavy losses. Six enemy aeroplanes were felled on September 16. Our bombing squadrons dropped 10 tons at night on enemy stations, bivouacs, and aerodromes, despite a raging tempest. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association. NEW YORK, September 18. The Germans are violently counter-at-tacking at Sancy, six miles north-east of Soissons (Aisne-Ailette sector), but the French maintain their gains. THE HINDENBURG LINE. SUCCESSFUL BRITISH ATTACK. SEVERAL POSITIONS CAPTURED. LONDON, September 18. Ok Wednesday evening the British attack covered a 15-mile front from Holnon to Gouzeaucourt, and the average advance was between two and three miles. The Australians participated. The captures include Ronssoy, Villeret, and Le Yerguier. We passed the Siegfried line in two places. Later messages state that practically all our objectives were gained. Three thousand prisoners and a- number of guns were captured. The United Press correspondent reports: The British attacked the German positions this side of the Hindenburg line from Pozieres-Alost to St. Quentin. Progress was so good that it may bring the British into actual contact with the enemy's main defences. The attack was launched spiritedly with three minutes' heavy bombardment, then the usual barrage. Fighting was reported at Fresnoy, with stiff German resistance at Epehy and Ronssoy. There was heavy shelling at Vermand and Holnon Wood during the fight, _ which gave evidence of German suspicion. The German artillery was inactive elsewhere. The attack caught the Germans in the midst of their new trench system, the building of which was begun a few days ago along a tunnel in "the middle portion. We attacked the line at a few points. T!ho British were com- ! pelled to engage new strong divisions, which the enemy originally intended to use exclusively for the defence of the Hindenburg line itself, and then to use them outside. This shows, perhaps, that the enemy are not ready yet to take their final etand behind the line. The enemy, supported by a gas ban-age, retook Mceuvres. ADDITIONAL BRITISH CAPTURES. The Timea LONDON; September 18. The British captures include Berthaucourt. Lempire, and Fresnoy. The French are simultaneously attacking below Holnon. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, September 18. The United Press correspondent reports that the British attacked along a considerable front from Peiziore to Savy Wood at 5.20 a.m. The French from Savv southward advanced simultaneously, supporting the British flank. Despite the heavy rain, the attack is progressing successfully. HINDENBURG LINE CROSSED. FIFTEEN HUNDRED PRISONERS. NEW YORK, September 18. The British have advanced three miles towards St. Quentin, and have captured 1500 prisoners. The British havo surrounded Epehy, and crossed the Hindenburg line at Yi'.feret and Gouzeaucourt. The British have captured Hargiconrt (four miles south-west of Le Catelet). TThe cable news in this issue accreditor to The Times has appeared in that journal, hut only where flxprcssly stated is such the editorial opinion o 1 The Timcs-1

AMERICANS REPEL ATTACKS. LONDON, September 18. German attacks on the American lines west of Moselle on Tuesday were beaten off by American artillery. COLON'S!, REPINGTON'S . WARNING. INFANTRY MUST NOT BE NEGLECTED. LONDON, September 18. Colonel Rep in g ton, after visiting the British front, warns the War Cabinet against relying on artillery, aviators, and tanks. These auxiliary services are, lie admits, wonderful, but urges that it is the infantry which storms and holds positions. It is essential that drafts should be received to enable the infantry to be properly rested and trained. It was not the tanks that won the battle of August 8 j it was the grand dominions' infantry, which attacked with the firm intention of succeeding. No tanks shone in the supremely wonderful adventure of the Australians in the night surprise of Mont St. Quentin. The way to ruin infantry is to teach them to wait for someone else to do their job, and the way to ruin the army is for a badly-advised Government not to keep the infantry units up to their full strength. ; AUSTRIAN'S AND GERMANS IN BELGIUM. SOME FIERCE ENCOUNTERS. AMSTERDAM, September 17. Thirty thousand Austrian troops are employed ori garrison duty in Belgium. .Several bloody encounters have occurred between the Austrians and Gel-mans because the Germans alone are being ordered to the front. THE GENERAL WHO RAN AWAY. DECRYING ALLIED TROOPS. Reuter'fl Telegram*. , LONDON, September 18. lteuter s British Headquarters correspondent states that a captured document, signed by General von Morgen, dated September 10, addressed to the 14 th ReCorps near St. Quentin, says: Hitherto, owing to military reasons, we have allowed the British to occupv the desolate country. Now, however," vou take up a strong defensive position, and not a foot more ground must be given up. He exhorts his men to defend their homes, their families, and the Fatherland He adds: "You are more than a match tor the enemy, who only attacks with dash when accompanied by tank's. These we will destroy. I expect every man from the General to the youngest private' to do his duty in the imminent decisive battles. Von Morgen is the general who streaked c!" , a ? lotor early in, our attack 8, adds Reuter's correspond-