GERMANS EVERYWHERE GIVE GROUND

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14703, 7 September 1918, Page 3

GERMANS EVERYWHERE GIVE GROUND

BRTITSH ACROSS TORTILLE AND CANAL. *<> ENEMY FIGHTING DESPERATELY IN VITAL SECTOR. S AN ASTONISHING PAGEANT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) ■ (Received September 7, 12.5 p.m.) LONDON^Sept. 6. Mi* Philip Gibbs. states : The enemy is fighting batter rearguard actions at machine-gun range, but has been forced to give ground everywhere. The vital sector is still tlie country south of the Sensec river bolow Douai and west of Oambrai, where we havo follom-ed up the breach m the Drocourt line. Tlie Germans were ordered to hold the line of the Tortille river and. the crossing, of the Canal dv Nord at a-U costs, but English and Welsh battalions, with the greatest gallantry, threw 'bridges across under heavy fire and gained the other side. , .In all the villages north of Peronne the Germaal garrisons are fighting desperately to gain time for the retreat of the main forces. They receive stronger support from the artillery than hitherto, spine guns coming close to our lines m opder to destroy the approaching tanks which are having a demoralising effect upon the Germain troops. The poor devils of German infantry are having a tragic time. They are left Week after week m the lino until only thin remnants remain. They are never free of the fear of our tanks. Their chief hope is. that they will' be captured. Letters from home found on prisoners show the general horror at further fighting, and stating : "Our war has been too long." The enormous failure of the oflens- : ve breaks the spirit of many units, but we are not fighting cowards or whimperers. Tlie machine-gunners especially take a lot of beating. Our men.- however, are going forward with gladness and exu.tation'. It' is an astonishing pageant to see hundreds of thousands of English, Scottish, Welsh, Canadians, Australians, and New Zeaflahders moving forward, never stopping.