SUCCESS DUE TO SURPRISE

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

SUCCESS DUE TO SURPRISE

ENEMY 'ON DEFENSIVE.

IN AN 'UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION

Received August 10, 9.20 a.m. London, August 9,

General Maurice pays tributes to the newest tanks’ work southward of the Somme, where they recently had a dress rehearsal. The enemy were alert northward of the Somme and in the neighbourhood of Moreuil.® Consequently the progress was lessjihera than in the centre but the "centre progress was most important. S|The enemy J!in Montdidier are already in a pronounced salient The advance eastward of Yillers-Bretouneux has made the position very uncomfortable. Already Amiens is out of range of all except the longest range guns, and more important still is giving him no respite, keeping him on the defensive, whilejigetting the “heaviest on the Vesle. It is premature to say definitely that ”we have won |back the initiative but should if the battle develops as it promises. Sir D. Haig’s success is duetto surprise, consisting of a secret concentration, a short intense bombardment, ; and the launch of formidable tank attacks.