WESTERN THEATRE

Southland Times, Issue 17876, 4 September 1918, Page 5

WESTERN THEATRE

OFFICIAL BRITISH REPORT. ATTACK EAST OF ARRAS. HINDENBURG LINE BREACHED. PROGRESS ON WIDE FRONT. (By Telegraph—Press Assn. Copyright.) and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, September 3. Received September 4, 122.0 «um. Sir D. Haig reports: The Anglo-Cana-dians, accompanied by tanks, attacked astride the Arras-Cambrai road, and carried on a wide front that portion of the powerful Drocourt-Queant line which lies southward of the Scarpe. The enemy held the trenches strongly, and determinedly resisted our advance. This resistance was broken on the whole front with great enemy loss. The Canadians captured Dury Villers lez Cagnicourt, and Cagnicourt, progressing beyond those places. On the Canadians' left the English fought their way forward north-east of Eterpigny. The English and Scottish on the right advanced beyond Reincourt in the direction of Queant, and captured many strongly fortified positions, including Noreuil. Southwards we progressed, and early in the afternoon we repulsed a heavy coun-ter-attack launched in great strength eastward of Vaulx-Vraucourt. The English reached the outskirts of Beugny, and captured Villers au Flos. There was all day long sharp fighting in the neighbourhood of Le Transloy, where we repulsed counter-attacks. The English captured villages between Saillisei and Peronne. The English and Australians drove the enemy from St. Pierre Vaast Wood, and captured Allaines and Haute Allaines. The Australians beat off the enemy with heavy loss in repeated counter-attacks east and south-east of Peronne. We took prisoner several thousands during the day. Our patrols progressed in the western outskirts of Lens, and we continue to gain ground, keeping in close contact with the enemy on the Lys front. FRENCH PROGRESS. FURIOUS RESISTANCE OVERCOME. LONDON, rieptemher 3. Received, September 4, 12.20 a.m. French communique: The troops who crossed the canal du Nord yesterday near N'esle advanced east of the canal and gained a footing on the western slopes of Hill 72. Between the Ailette and the Aisne we continued on the plateau east of Crecy. We captureii Leuilly and Ternay, despite furious resistance. We also advanced north of Coucy. CAPTURE OF NEUVE EGLISE. PROGRESS BEYOND PERONNE. GETTING BACK TO HINDENBURG LINE. LONDON, September 2. Received Sept. 3, 7.20 p.m. The capture of Neuve Eglise was mainly owing to the British working round from the north, compelling its evacuation. We are allowing the Germans no rest in the region of Peronne, where part of the Fourth Army attacked them to-day. The German counter-attacks on Sunday against Mont St. Quentin were intended to stava off a renewal of the rush. While the Australians brilliantly recaptured positions on both sides of the mountain, including Feuillacourt, others forced their way across the river southwards of the city, despite the marshes, and reached the high ground beyond Peronne. Another unit took Anvil Wood, and pushed through Peronne and Flamicourt, and attacked Bacquets and Flesques woods. Many Germans were taken prisoner, and they also had an unusual death list. Their desperate effort to cneck the avalanche till they are safe behind the Hindenburg line, is shown by the identification of some twenty-three divisions which have been thrown into the Somme front since the battle begun, totalling well over thirty divisions which have keen used. SOUTH OF THE SCARPE. ENGLISH AND CANADIAN ATTACK. SWITCH LINE BROKEN. LONDON, September 2. Received Sept. 3. 9.30 p.m. The English and Canadians at five in the morning attacked on a 25 mile front south of the Scarpe. The Canadians, after breaking through the switch line, wore still advancing at three in the afternoon. The enemy heavily counter-attacked south of Queant.

( THE FLANDERS LINE. I ■* ! ENEMY RETIREMENT CONTINUES. LONDON, September 2. Received Sept. 3, 9.30 p.m. Reuter learns that the line in Flanders runs through Voonnezeele, immediately west of Wulverghem, through Neuve Eglise and Steenwerck to the cast of Estaires and Lacouture. The German retirement is continuing. We penetrated from the western edge of Etaing to the western edge of Lagnicourt, thence approaching Queant. , RAGGED GERMAN GUNFIRE. EFFECTIVE BRITISH GUNNERY. LONDON, September 2. Received Sept. 3, 7.20 p.m. Ludendorff, in a captured order, throws light on the raggedness of the German gunfire which has been noticeable throughout. The order speaks of the startling results of the British gunnery, which destroyed 13* per cent, of the German guns. He orders increased counter-battery work. FRENCH CAPTURES. •75,900 PRISONERS SINCE 18TH JULY. (Reuter’s Telegrams.) PARIS, September 2. Received Sept. 3, 7.20 p.m. Official: Since the 18th July the French have captured 75,900 prisoners and 700 guns. NORTH OF THE AISNE. AMERICANS REPORT ADVANCE. LONDON, September 3. Received September 4, 1.50 a.m. American communique; We advanced northward of the Aisne despite strong resistance and took the heights of Terny. AVIATION REPORT. DESTRUCTIVE RAIDS. LONDON, September 3. Received September 4, 12.20 a.m. Sir D. Haig’s aviation report: There was improved weather on the Ist, and despite opposition our aeroplanes maintained contact with the advancing troops. Our lowfliers all day long bombed and machinegunned the retreating enemy, causing heavy casualties and confusion. We heavily bombed the bridges and railway connections in the enemy back areas. We destroyed eight aeroplanes and drove flown four uncontrollable. Wc also set on fire six balloons. Eight British aeroplanes are missing. Our night fliers heavily attacked an aerodrome at St. Quentin. • Direct hits were observed. One nightflier has not returned. We dropped over 34 tons of bombs, and our anti-aircraft guns on Friday brought down one German nightbomber. GERMAN REPORT. LONDON, September 2 (6 p.m.). Received Sept. 3, 9.30 p.m. Wireless German official; The enemy northward of Hendecourt, after gaining ground in the direction of Lagnicourt, were driven back to Hendecourt. Wc repulsed an attack south-eastward of Bapaume, mainly directed against Villers Quenloss, and pulled up the enemy on the line of Sailly-St. Pierre Vaast Wood, ami eastward of Bouchavesnes-Mont St. Quentin. The enemy has occupied Peronne. LONDON, September 3. Received September 4, 1.50 a.m. Wireless German official: The English pained ground south-east of Arras and north of Peronne. The French attacked in the afternoon between the Oise and the Aisne.