PROGRESS SLACKENS

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11614, 13 August 1918, Page 8

PROGRESS SLACKENS

OIISS TO EHOUMBEREB ROADS GREAT IMPORTANCE OF ROVE Reuter. Received August 13, 10.-M a. m. Loudon, August 12. A correspondent at tlie French Headquarter?, Writing on Sunday afternoon, states our gains to-day were thoroughly satisfactory. It progress is slackened this is due less to enemy resistance than the fact that the ioads are so encumbered by enemy's abandoned material and numerous trees felled, similarly to the German practice in the spring of 1!)17, that our ammunition supply ■columns find a difficulty to follow the infantry and cavalry. Contrarywise the retreat differs from last ■year's in that the Germans have hurried back quickly to mine the loads and set death'raps in villages. I visited Montdidier and found it completely wiped out, but alieady it is only a small incident in the battle. Our troops at Eaincourt, ten miles beyond Montdidier, are three miles from Koye. There meet railways from Montdidier, Campiegne and Ohaulnes, whereon the enemy depends to toed his whole lino in the salient met. armed by De Breney’s advance Li the region of Thilloy, towards Koye and Humbert’s advance, between Ma v. and the Oise. The Gormans are tin-owing thenwhole available strength into an ■endeavour to make a stand on the Roye-Lusaiguy lino, in order to get time to withdraw vast stores they have accumulated in this region for the June offensive. Our troops are confident tint they •can turn, or drive, the 0110013' from any llue they organise Already' we have bit’on oft’ a of the huge pocket Germans dug in our .line last March.