THE WESTERN OFFENSIVE.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14891, 14 October 1918, Page 4

THE WESTERN OFFENSIVE.

BBSTSS** ADVANCE RESUME.}.

CAPTURE OF LE CATEAU

MANY VILLAGES, LIBERATED.

SELLE-SOLESMES LINE REACHED

(Australian and N.Z.Otiblo Association

and Keuter's.)

London, Oct. 11. Sir Douglas Haig reports :~ We resumed tho advance at dawn on the whole battlefront, and are rapidly progressing at all points, despite the efforts of the enemy rearguards to hold us up.

We are approaching a large wood eastward of Bohain, and havev entered Vaux Andigny . Northward of that place we have reached the general line of the Selle river from St. Souplet to the neighbourhood of Solesmes, and have captured Le Cateau.

Westward of Solesmes we captured Ayesnes, Rieux, Thun, and St. Martin.

Westward of the Canal de l'Escaut we have taken Etrun.

In towns and villages captured to-day a number of civilians were found, including 2500 in Caudry.

South-eastward of Lens we made further progress, and captured Rouvroy. . .■

Low fliers with bombs and machineguns caused destruction and confusion in the columns of the retreating

enemy.

We bombed the railway junctions at Mon&', Valenciennes, and Lille, securing direct hits.

Nine British machines are missing, Night flying was impossible.