In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 44, 17 September 1918, Page 5

In the West

SATISFACTORY NEWS. GERMANS ON THE RETREAT. METZ UNDER FIRE. London, September 15. The news to-day. from the American front is highly satisfactory. Since yesterday they advanced from two to three miles on the whole front of 33 miles. Patrols penetrated a further two miles. It appears that the Germans are retreating to a line protecting the railways before Metz. Metz is under long-range gunfire. There were six enemy divisons operating at the St. Millie! salient, with a total strength of 60,000, and with a reflex strength of 36,000. The booty includes masses of material, over a hundred guns of all calibres, and hundreds of machine guns and.trench mortars. The bridges in the reconquered territory are undamaged. The line at noon ran: court—Haumont-—Auxtempliers—Ah-aucourt,. thence to the old line. . The Metz guns are in action.

NOTIES ON THE ADVANCE.

Press Assn.—Copyright.—Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn, and Renter. London, September 1(3.

. . -An American official message states In the St Mi hid sector there was increased artillery and aviation activity The enemy counter-attack near St. Afihiel was easily repulsed. A number of prisoners were taken on the left bank of the Moselle. Our lines are being advanced from one to two miles, and. now include the towns of Vilcey and Norroy. The normal extension of our lines beyond Jaulriy resulted in our bringing in 72 additional guns, which were abandoned by the enemy, in his hasty retreat. ,This brings the total guns captured to over two hundred.

''General March explains that the salient captured means quick blows on both- .flanks of difficult terrain... The Germans claimed to have voluntarily retired, but General March points out the total captured prisoners exceeded 15,000. Propaganda has been active, suggesting that the United States did not intend to proceed vigorously with the Avar. General March says that such a‘suggestion is utterly unfounded and preposterous. Instead, the War Department is about to ask for an increased appropriation totalling Cl. 100,000,000 for military purposes. St. M.ibiel aajis not destroyed owing to the Germans’ hurried retreat. Mr Frank Simmouds, the war correspondent, commenting on the offensive in the St. Miiiiel sector; says:—. '‘General Foch’s success is a. maguificieut example of the advantages of unified command and a revolution of General Koch’s genius. It is hopeful evidence that there will not be a let-up in the general Allied offensive. General Foch is now free to launch an offensive in the direction of Bricy and the iron mines without danger to his southern flank at Nancy, between Metz and Strassburg. which would he the beginning of the real invasion of Germany, which is certain to come in 1919, compelling the Germans to evacuate- northern France and Avestern Belgium.”

VAILLY CAPTURED,

FURTHER FRENCH SUCCESS.

Press Association—Copyright, Australian ami N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 9.55 a.m.) London, September 16. The French captured Vailly.

ALLIED REPORTS.

SUCCESSFUL MINOR WORK,

Press Ai sociatiou—Copyright, Austra Han and N.Z. Cable Association. (Deceived 9.55 a.m.)

London, September 16

Sir Douglas Haig reports: Successful minor operation at night astride the Ypres-Comines Canal advanced our line on a front of over two miles. "We captured a number of prisoners and machine-guns. Raiding and patrol encounters occurred in the neighbourhood of Moeuvres and Gavrelle.

We established new positions in the vicinity of Sauchy, Canghy and Oppy.