THE ALLIED ADVANCE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1427, 9 September 1918, Page 9

THE ALLIED ADVANCE.

ENEMY CLOSELY PRESSED. MORE GROUND GAINED. (A. & N.Z. & Rcutor) LONDON, Sept. P.. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—Our progress continues. On the southern portion of the battlefront we arc in close touch with the French army on our right. Southward of Peronne Ave arc already nearly seven miles east of the Somme and are advancing on the general line Monchy-Legachc-Vraigncs-Tincourt, all of which places are in our hands. We rapidly overcame the resistance of the enemy's covering troops, who endeavoured to delay us. We took prisoners south of the Cologne River. On the high ground about Nurlu the enemy contested our advance with great stubbornness, and there was sharp fighting about Nurlu and around Equancourt and in the valley northwards. Wc captured Nurlu and Equancourt. The British, advancing beyond this line, captured Longnvesnes and Lieramont, and arc approaching Metz-en-Con-tui'e and the southern portions of Havrincourt Wood, taking prisoners. PROGRESS IN THE SOUTH. (A. & N.Z. & Router) LONDON, Sopt. 7. A French communique stales: — On the whole front between the Somme and the Aisne the thrust of our troops was not slackened today. Despite the German efforts to stem our advance, we captured Ham and Chauny. East of the Canal du Nord we reached the line Lanchy-Foresic-Vilters-St. Christophe—eastward of Estouilly—eastwai'd of Ham— Brouchy-Villes-Elve-Ugny-le-Gay-Yiry Noureuil. Since yesterday our troops have advanced in places to a depth of over ten kilometres. We occupied the lower forest of Coney as far as Petit Barisis, where the enemy abandoned considerable war material and munition depots. To the right we hold the outskirts of Fre'sncs, Quincy Basse, the outskirts of Vauxaillon, Morsy farm and Lalfaux. We reoccupied our old trenches on the whole front north of the Aisne. The Americans freshly progressed I in the region of Yillers en Prayeres and Revillon. . ON THE AISNE. (A. & N.Z.) NEW YORK. Sept. fi. General Pershing, in an American communique, states: —The Americans, co-operating with the French, crossed the plateau north of the Vesle, and reached the crest of the slopes leading to the Aisne valley. OVER OLD GROUND. (A. & N.Z.) LONDON, Sopt. 7. Mr Phillip Gibbs writes:—Our patrols are creeping forward with surprising speed in front of La Bassee. The enemy is going back faster than he meant to. It is certain that he intended to hold Hill t>3, which threatens Messines, but his defence crumbled so quickly that we won the hill and progressed far down the further side. We are nearly approaching the positions held until the battle of'Messmes. THE NEW LINE. (A. & N.Z.) LONDON, Sept. 7. To-day's progress on practically the whole front from Havrincourt to the Aisne is more rapid than was expected. The British line, starting from Havrincourt Wood, of which we hold the half, runs through Metz en Conlure, Fins, Lieramont and Tincourt to Lanchy, where the French lake it up. Thence it runs to Aubigny and Tergnicr, westward of Amigny, to Bassoles-Aulers, and the western edge of Sancy to Celles, where it joins the old line. The capture of the Tergnier railway June- j lion is of the greatest importance, as the enemy thereby lost the main line of communication between Laon and St. Quentin. In order to get another line to those places the enemy must go back to the single railway line through Ribecourf. The French are now lighting on ground untouched since the autumn of 1014. GREAT ENEMY LOSSES. (Routor) LONDON, Sept. 0. Renter's correspondent at French Headquarters, writing at night, says: The enemy is retiring on the line La Fere, the left bank of the Oise, Barisis, the tower forest of Coney and the forest of St. Gobain. The enemy is preparing to Hood the country. General Mangin has occupied MovenIbric, 1000 yards beyond Coucy, and is advancing on Laffaux and the edge of the valley traversed by the Soissons-Laon railway. The Germans arc retreating on the whole French battlefront. Their immediate objective is the line from St. Quentin j across the valley of the Oise, around the forest of St. Gobain to Lalfaux, and then past Malmaison to .the JChemin-dcs-Daincs, then from Juvin:court across the Aisne at Berry-au-jßae and south-east to Rheirns, I through the bill country, which j hitherto has proved impervious to all assaults. The enemy has jio-day from 30 to ■!() ' divisions in reserve, hut his armies are being consumed at least at the rate of a division per day, and the question is whether the Allies will allow him to reach his old line except in disorder and in such a condition that he cannot stay there. The next few days will decide.