HAIG’S FORWARD MARCH

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11611, 10 August 1918, Page 5

HAIG’S FORWARD MARCH

t’-. • - ' ALL OBJECTIVES TAKEN

SEVEN THOUSAND PRISONERS AN ADVANCE OF FIVE WILES Aas.t aud N.Z. Cable Association. Loudon, August 8. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Operations were begun this morning on the Amiens front by the French First Army under General De Deny and the British Fourth Army, under General Rawiinson. They are proceeding satisfactorily. The Allied troops assembled under cover of night unnoticed by the enemy. At the hour of assault French, Canadian, English and Australian divisions, assisted by large numbers of tanks, stormed a front of over twenty miles from the Avre at branches in the neighbourhood of Morlancourt. The enemy progressed at all points and at an early hour our first objective was reached on the whole front. During the morning the infantry’s advance continued, actively assisted by British cavalry, light tanks, and motor machine gun batteries. German resistance was overcome at certain points affer sharp fighting. The French gallantly attacked aud crossed the Avre despite opposition and carried tile defences. The greater part of our final. objectives northward of the Somme were "gained before noon, but in the neighbourhood of Chipilly and southward of Morlaucourt the enemy carried out_ prolougedjresistance until|it was finally broken by our troops, who gained their objectives gallantly. Allied infantry southward of the Somme gained during the afternoon their final objectives on the whole front, assisted by light tanks and armoured cars. Cavalry passed through the infantry and beyond the objectives, riding down German transport limbers jdn retreat. They surrounded ana captured villages, taking many prisoners. We reached the general line of Plessier - Rozain - Yillers-Beaufort-Caix-Framervilie-Chipilly and westward of Morlancourt. It is impossible to estimate prisoners or guns and material, hut several thousand prisoners and many guns were captured.

ATTACK CONTINUES.

UNDER GOOD CONDITIONS London, August 4. n A French communique says: The attack we began south-east of Amiens, in conjunction with the British, has continued under good conditions.

GERMAN REPORT,

London, August 9.

Wireless German official (evening). —Between the Ancre and the Avre the enemy forced_bis way into our positions.

STATEMENT IN THE HOUSE,

London, August, 9,

In the House of Commons, Mr Bouar Law said that hy 3 o’clock in the afternoon all our objectives were taken and 100 guns and 7000 prisoners captured. The maximum advance is seven miles and the average five miles. Mr Bonar Law said the ground gained was of obvious strategic importance. He had no desire to exaggerate ' the importance of the achievement. Possibly the Germans, owing to previous attacks, had intended to retire, but the attack was a complete surprise, upsetting whatever plans the Germans had formed. The result could be said, without exaggeration, to indicate a com plete change in the'military position of the last few weeks.

EVACUATION OF MONTDIDIE R

POSSIBLE

New York, August 9.

French military opinion is satis: tied that the Germans must evacuate Montdidier.

BEAUFORT CAPTURED,

Received August 10, 10.45 a.m, London, August 9.

Tne Australians are fighting north of the Somme. The Canadians have captured Beaufort.

THE SLAVIC LEGION

Washington, August 9.

The War Department announces the completion of plana for the organisation of the Slavic Legion for the battle front, comprised of Czecbo-Slovaks, Jugoslavs, Ruthenians and other Slavs living in Amen ca.

MEAT COMBINE SCANDAL.

Main Service

Washington, August S,

The Meat Combine Comissionera complained £of deliberate falsification of the returns submitted to them, and deliberate lying om part of witnesses.