STILL GAINING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17446, 15 October 1918, Page 5

STILL GAINING

CONTINUES TO RETIRE

LITTLE EVIDENCE OF DEMOBILISATION ARMIES IN DIFFICULT POSITION BRITISH IN SUBURBS OF DOUAI

FRENCH CAPTURE LAON AND LA FERE

PROGRESS IN OTHER QUARTERS

EETEEAT TO THE RHINE

A SWEDISH PAPER'S VIEW.

Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. STOCKHOLM, October 13. (Received October 14, at 7.20 p.m.) According to the Aftontidningen, the Centre Paity considers that the Germans will rather gain than lose from a retreat to the- Rhine. The shorter front will be easier defended, and the morale of the army be strengthened if the soldiers are defending the Fatherland on their own soil. The Socialists are of the same; opinion. DR SOLF DROPS THE MASK. Renter's Teletrrams AMSTERDAM, October 13. (Received October 14, at 7.20 p.m.) Dr Solf justified the devastation of France during the German retreat as a military necessity as long as the straggle continues. He says: Much as we regret the loss of_ irreparable art treasures, even consideration for tlje most venerable shrines of civilisation must give place to consideration for the lives of the defenders of the Fatherland. , FRENCH CAPTURE LA FERE.

PROGRESS TOWARDS LAON

Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Renter. LONDON, October 13 (5 p m ) (Received October 14, at 7.20 p.m.) A French communique states: We have captured La Fere, and crossed the railway from La Fere towards Laon, in the neighbourhood of Danizy and Versignv to the north-east. The villages of the Serre are aflame. In St. Gobain massif we occupied St. Nicholas anx Bois and Suzy. Italian troops progressed north of the Ailette. Further east we hold the line of Aizclle, Borneux, Amifontaine. We have cleared the last points of resistance in the bend of the Aisne. ADDITIONAL GERMAN WITHDRAWALS. Admiralty, per Wireless Press. LONDON, October 15 (6 p.m.). German official: We withdrew somewhat north-east of Cambrai, but the enemy did not follow. We have reached near Avesnes le Sec and the heights on the west bank of the Selle near Saulzoir-Hausay, between the Oise and the Aisne. The enemy has reached the wooded districts of St. Gobain and the heights north of the Ailette and tho Amifontaine. THE POSITION REVIEWED. GERMANS RETIRE IN GOOD ORDER. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, October 13. (Received October 14, at 10.10 p.m.) Our troops aro at the gates of Douai. They have captured the suburbs on the west bank of the Sensee Canal. The Allies occupy practically the whole of the St Gobain massif. ~ The French have reached the outskirts of Laon, which is expected to fall at any moment. We advanced another six or seven miles to-day in this region. The enemy has practically evacuated the Oise salient, 'and the Allies have emerged into the open country in the neighbourhood of the source of the Louchey The enemy is carrying out his retreat towards the frontier in good order, according to a well-thought-out plan. The retreat is no debacle. The morale of the army has deteriorated m one or two sectors, but there is no widespread deterioration When the pvesent retreat is.carried out the enemy will be in an extremely difficult position, with a number of salients and a prospect of open warfare. The peace negotiations have not affceted the enemy's morale. Political considerations rather than military necessity, are responsible for the peace overtures. ' FIERCE FIGHTING NEAR LE CATEATJ. Renter's Telegrams. LONDON, October 13. (Received October 14, at 10.10 p.m.) Reuter's correspondent at the British Headquarters, writin" on Sunda-v evenin-r says : Between Le Cateau and St. Vaast the Germans, in strength, are fightino- hard' We renewed our attack here yesterday. The severest fightin" occurred along the railway embankment from Montay to Neuvilly, large new enemy forces fiercely counter-attacking, supported by tank s> the whole morning. By the afternoon British tenacity triumphed, and we are pursuing the Germans eastward. BRITISH PROGRESS AROUND DOUAI. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Renter. LONDON, October 13 (11.20 p.m.). (Received October 14. at 10.45 p.m.) Sir D. Haig reports: Local engagements continued on the line of the Selle inver. Vve enlarged our bridgehead position in the neighbourhood of Solesmes and progressed west of the nver about Haussy-Saulzoir. We took prisoners in local lighting in the neighbourhood of Lieu-St. Aniaud. Early in the morning our troops crossed the Sensee Canal at Aubigny-au-Bac, but were unable to maintain their position in face of a strong counter-attack. We continued to advance north-west of Douai. We hold Courcelles-les-Lens and NoyeUe-Godault, and are approaching the ,ino of uie Haute Deule Canal on the whole front, between Douai and Vendin-le Vail. We took a number of prisoners in this sector. . . / FRENCH ENTRY INTO LAON. WITHOUT A FIGHT. Reuter's Telegrams. m . , n , LONDON, October 13. (Received October 14, at 10.45 p.m.) Reuter's correspondent at the French Headquarters, writing on Sunday even ing says: Further French progress is recorded from the Oise to the Aisne: and in the Champagne. South-east of Laon we reached a line running straight from Orteevale( .' Orgeval) to Amifontaine. In the centre we occupied a strong 'position north ot the Aisne. We are bridging the nvor under occasional heavy artillery fire luirther east ,in the great northward bend of the Aisne. we hold the southern bank of the river to Vouzicrs. North of this line numerous firrs indicate that the enemy does not intend to hold for long this new natural line alon" the Serre River lhe Freflch entered Laon without a fight, thus reconquering the great croup France" obstaclcs which for .> car 3 formed the keystone of' the German defence in GUNS REMOVED FROM. OSTEND. POPULATION WILDLY EXCITED. , The Times. THE HAGUE, October 14 (Eeceiven October 14, at 11.10 p.ni.) It is reported that all the Ostoml S uns have been, removed.- The coastal popula tion are wildly excited. They are evacuating districts within artillerv and flocking to the interior, causing a congestion of traffic and interference with the lines of communication. All news, including Mr Wilson's replv to Germinv's Peace Note, is stopped at the frontier. " ' wtmuuij s FORCING THE RIVER RELLE. NEW ZEALANDERS' MtfLLIANT EXPLOIT. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. /T , . , t LONDON. October 14. (Received October 15. at 1.20 a.m.) ~ Ir r l liU F r ;' Kbs r ives a vivifl account of the fnroii !K of the river Selle in which •the New Zcalandcrs by a brilliant exploit, captured the river front at Cohere The (.ermans held out for two days, when ordered to hold out to the death.

FLANDERS COAST.

towards the Soile Valley. We drove out tne enemy rearguards from St Vaast St Aiihort, Villers-cn-Cauehics, and Avesne*' le-Sec. More to the northwards ire cleared tho west bank of the Sensee Canal, between Arloiix and Corbehem. both of which are in our possession We are now cWlv approaclimrr il lo ] ine of this canal wards of T)ot:ni. Eastwards of Lens we captured Montiguv. Rarnes. and Annay. We inflicted numerous casualties on the Ofinnan rearguards, and took prisoners in sharp local hght,n 3 along tho whole of ini , ; tront. Eastward of the Scheldt, Canal we t™k H?fo S ,Tf-r ; M T Ol . and reached the outskirts of Lieu St. Amand In the Douai sector we are now within a few hundred yards of the town, and haye captured Faubourg. D'Esquerchm. IJonai prison, and the greats part of

A PRACTICAL ABANDONMENT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON. October 12. The Germans have practically abandoned the Flanders const. Thev have removed a large nnniber of guns, find have sunk more ships at the entrance to Zeebruggc and Ostend to hinder Allied sea operations. RELENTLESS BR.TTTSH PRESSURE. Australian and N.Z. O.'nlc Association and Router. LONDON. October 15. Sir D. Haig repnr'us : Local fighting occurred along the line of the Sello River, between Le Catean and fiolesmes. Wo steadily progressed north-west of Solesm.es

Eastward of Annay we made progress along the south bank of the Haute Devie Canal towards Courrieres.

The British are fighting in the streets of Douai. FRENCH MARCHING ON. SUBURBS OF LAON REACHED. TelegTams. LONDON, October 13. This evening the French advanced six and to-day occupied the whole of the St. Gobain Forest, and reached the suburbs of Laon. FRENCH PROGRESS IN THE CHAMPAGNE. LA FERE CAPTURED. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association and Router. LONDON, October 13. French communique: The battle which began in the Champagne on September 26 has ended, after 17 days' fighting, in the complete defeat of the enemy's Fourth Army. We completed the liberation of the bend of the Aisne by reoccunying to-dav 36 localities, freeing several hundred civilians who have been subjected to the German yoke since 1914. • This. French army alone since the beginning of the Champagne offensive has taken 21,567 prisoners, including 499 officers, also 600 guns and much materia]. Onr Fifth Army on its left is relentlessly pursuing the enemy, has crossed the Retoume, and advanced 10 kilometres. We hold Yieux-les-Aefeld, Asfeld-la-ViUe, and the southern outskirts of Blanzy. We crossed the Aisne further west, after fighting at Guignicourt and Neuf-chat-el, and are advancing towards Mont Pronvais. Between the Aisne and the Oise our vigorous pressure forced the enemy to a fresh retreat, Pressing their rearguards, we reached the Ailette north of Craonne. I'urther west our line is marked by Chivy-le-Estouvilles, which is four kilometres (two miles and a-half) south-south-west of t liaon, Bonrguigon, Fancoucourt, and pmnta .east of Premonfcre, east of St. Gobain, and west of Bertancourt and Denillet. LONDON.. October 12 (4 p.m.). The High Commissioner cables: French official: We have captured La Fere and the heights of Danizy. CONSIDERABLE FRENCH ADVANCE. ENEMY STILL FALLING BACK. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association, LONDON, October 13. The Germans in the Champagne have abandoned the line of the Retoume River and are undoubtedly going behind the Aisne. The rapidity of the retirement may be gauged from the factsthat the French, this morning advanced four or five miles on the whole of this front. • Their advance is so rapid that it is difficult to follow their exact line, but there is nothing for a considerable distance to impede the French advance.

The British north of the Scarpe have reached a line about two miles west of Douai. The enemy are obviously retiring behind the Sensee Canal, • and ire shall probably.be on the edge of the canal and in the outskirts of Douai by Snndav morning. ' J

On the Chemin des Dames the French i have progressed east. The enemy are fall- [ mg back beyond from' the eastern end to-. ' f wards Rheims-Laon to north of Berry- £ aii-Bac. It is expected that the enemy .: ; will shortly evacuate the whole of the ft Chemin des -Dames and retire behind the •' Ailette. . v THE AMERICAN THRUST. EAST OF THE METJSE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. ■ . LONDON, October 13. American communique: Eastwards of the Meuse there has been heavy fightin* •- in Bois des Caures. We attained our objectives on both sides of the river. We have taken 17.659 prisoners since September 26 on this sector. THE GERMAN RETREAT. ALLIES OX THEIR HEELS. ROADS SURGING WITH TRAFFIC., LONDON. October 12. Mr Philip Gibbs states: Our airmen report that the roads south-eastward of Lβ Cateau are surging with traffic and trans- , port struggling to get clear of the British S advance, amid streams of deported French civilians, and frequently the cross-roads are so blocked that confusion and disorder reign. Some of our aviators axe doing their best to increase the confusion and fears of the retreating army. The Germans, for the first time in this war, know the terrors of a retreat with the enemy hard on their heels. That terror will be with them to the end. The tanks have gone after them, to the amazement of the villagers. The enemy hoped '■ to make the roads impassable, 'but we : were too quick, and the enemy were unable to mine the cross-roads, according to plan. a It must not be forgotten that we- are paying tho price of victory. Our patrols still face machine-guns and field i*nns and the same deadly risks and "frightful fatigues. We must not forget the splendid, sacrifices of officers and men, trudging' through shells and bnllets towards victory. $* Yet the Germans have the spirit of defeat. They think only of peace. The Kaiser's offer has thrown them off their mental balance, and demoralisation has grown. , THE LINE OF RETREAT. MARKED BY BURNING VILLAGES. ■ Router's TelcgTams. LONDON, October 13. Reuters British Headquarters correspondent says: Everywhere on the line of , retreat fires light the horizon. The enemy are concentrating efforts upon destroying all places of commercial value, and" all household effects. The Germans mean to rain the prospects of tho future prosperity of this prt of France. They apparently still believe that■ fright-fulness will stimulate anxiety, and lead to the granting of an armistice. Renter's French Headquarters correspondent, writing ou Saturday afternoon, says: The Germans continue" their rapid retreat along the whole Champagne front of 60 • miles. The horizon is a sea of smoke and flames, as every town and village for miles f behind the enemy's lines is burning. The meaning of this" is that, if terms acceptable to Germany are- not offered. France recover her invaded territories because that cannot be prevented, but they will be deserts littered with dead cities. POSSIBLE GERMAN ROUT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, October 12. Mr George H. Parris eays: It is inaccurate to say that the Germans on the French front arc dislocated, but their position is dangerous, and we mav see the retreat become a rout in "some sectors. The German persistence in holding Laon is mo?t adventurous, but undoubtedly much, war material has been removed. The enemy have crowded half a million men, with their impedimenta, on a fewmain roads between the Sambre River and the Argonne- district. GERMAN HIGH COMMAND. LONDON, October 12. A report from Amsterdam states that it is currently reported that Ludendorff has tendered his resignation. Renter's Telegrams. IX>NDON, October 12. The Havas Agency reports that General von de Mariyitz has been deprived of his command owing to his defeat at Ca-mbrai, V