ENEMY'S RETIREMENT CONTINUED.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14891, 14 October 1918, Page 5

ENEMY'S RETIREMENT CONTINUED.

CONQUEST OF THE CHEMIN-DES-DAMES.

FURTHER GAINS IN CHAMPAGNE

GERMAN ABANDONMENT OF SUIPPE-ARNES POSITIONS.

{Australian and N.Z Cable Association

and Reuter.)

■(Received Oct. 13, 5.5 p.m.)

London, Oct.-12. A French communique issued at 4.45 p.m. states:—

We maintained everywhere contact with the enemy, whose retirement continued at different points of the front.

To the north of the Aisne we occupied a ndadvanced beyond Mhisty and Moulins-en-Laonneis.

Italian troops reached south <sf Courtecon and the Chemin-<les-Dam©&', which we hold as far as the heights of Cerny-on-Laonnois.

In-Champagne we gained a footing at various points on the north bank of W Sujppe between St. Etienne and Boult-sur-Suippe.

We also made progress at Wanneriville, Vaudetre, .and St. Masmes.

Further east, -pursuing the retreating enemy, we carried Semide, St. Martin, Cordon, and Breres-

A later French communique states:-

Before our incessant attacks the ene • my were compelled to abandon on & front of sixty kilometres ail the posi tions which they had been defending for days north of the Suippe and tho Ames rivers.

Preceded by cavalry, A\hich is pressing on the heels of tho enemy' a rearguards, our infantry, overcoming, the resistance of machine guns charged with the duty of delaying our march, has during the day advanced at some points ten kilometres, taking prtsonei> and capturing material.

We crossed tho S'uippe and captdreo. BertrifcotOrb, Aumfenancotirt-ie-Graild, Bayancourt, ißles-sar-Suippe, and St>. Citenne-sur-Suippe.

The whole of the enemy's first; post lions north of the Suippe are in our

hands

We advanced beyond Grands Usugpa Wood, and are advancing in the wooded region west of Mesnil-le-Pinon, in the direction of the Retourne river, ■which we reached between St. Ondilcourt andSault St. Remy. Farther east we occupied the villages of Aussance la NeuvUle, Couroy, Machault, Conreuve, St. Morel, and Savig-ny-sur-Aisne. 'Continuing our progress, tve reached the outskirts of Beguicourt, Visle-sur-Retourno, Mont St.Remy:and St. Mane, three kilometres southwest of Vouziers. On the Chemin-des-Dames, the Italians,' co-operating with the- Flinch,; brilliantly continued their advance. They occupied Veudresse-et-Troyon, Courtecon and Cerny-en-Laonnois. We captured Cuissy-el-Geuy, Ji',migny, and Paissy Wood, and reached the Chemin-des-Dames. Numerous fires kindled by the enemy are reported, in the villages in the Oise Valley and the Guise region, attesting to the systematic intention of the Germans to destroy everything before they

retreat. Thirty-five tons of bombs were dropped in the daytime on Thursday in the Vouziers region, and ammunition dumps were exploded. There were numerous air fights, seventeen enemy machines being felled and eight balloons fired. Twenty-four tons of bombs were dropped at night on bivouacs, stations, convoys and trains. In September 211 enemy machines were felled, mostly over the enemy's lines, 62 balloons were fired, and 370 tons of projectiles were drepped. ■An American communique issued at 3 30 on Saturday morning says: On both sides of the Meuse violent counter-attacks failed to stem the advanco of the French and Americans We took Mollevffle Farm, nortoardo^ Bois-de^onsonvoye,' passed though the Bois-de-Foret and are before the villages of Landreset, St. George, and q+, Tiivin which is on fire. French units took 2300.