GENERAL SUMMARY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16218, 24 August 1918, Page 3

GENERAL SUMMARY.

OF THE MILITARY SITUATION. THREAT TO GERMAN POSITIONS. (Received August 24, 9 a.m.) LONDON, August 22. The Australian Press Association learns that it is too early yet to say what the effect of the advance between the Aisne and the Oise will have upon the situation, but it evidently constitutes a serious threat to the enemy positions north of ihe Aisne, and, if continued further, will outflank the whole German line on the Aisne and Vesle. It also threatens his line west of the Oise. The total number of prisoners taken between the Oise and the Aisne from August 18 to 20 was over 10,000, while the French losses are reported as small. Our forces in the Ancre section have now advanced practically to the line of tho Albert-Arras railway, and the enemy’s right flank on the Ancre and Thiepval ridge is already threatened. The enemy’s retirement may be preliminary to a withdrawal on a more extended scale, such as he undertook early in 1917 to the Hindenburg line. It is noteworthy that the attacks by the 10th French Army on the Oise and Aisne and the 3fd British Army sputh of Arras completely surprised the enemy, saying much for the efficiency of our present tactical methods, and the i harmonious working of a French army [ Tinder Sir Douglas Haig’s orders is a tribute to the value of the unified command and the confidence the French place in Sir Douglas Haig. Nothing of importance is happening in Italy, but it is interesting to note that the Austrian losses on the British front from June 15 to August 15 are estimated at 20,200; ours total 2544. There is no confirmation of the alleged Bolshevik success over tho Czechoslovaks at various points, or that the Czechs have fallen back east of the Volga. The only change in Persia and the Caucasus is the defeat of the Jelns by the Turks west of Lake Urumiab. The Turks have taken the town of Urumiah. This caused a wholesale emigration of the Join population closely pursed by the Turks until a British cavalry force dispersed the enemy enabling the fugitives to escape.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AMERICAN REPORTS. OF VERY SEVERE BATTLE. (Received August 24, 9.33 a.m.) NEW YORK, August 23. The British have reached Gonneeourt, Boyelles and Mercatel. The battle is described as the greatest on the western front.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMAN MILITARY AUTHORITIES ADMIT EXISTENCE OF AMERICANS. (Received August 24, 9.30 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, August 23. German military authorities officially admit the accuracy of Mr. Baker’s figures stating that 1,200,000 Americans are in France and that 700,000 of those are fighting troops, and that 400,000 are already at the front.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMAN RETREAT PROBABLE. ON 30-MILE FRONT. (Received August 24, 11.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, August 23. The British hold Miraumont, after five changes of possession. Indications are appearing that tho Germans will be compelled to retreat alqng a line of 30 miles. The British have captured Belleville and reached a point south of Aveluy.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

BRITISH HEAVILY ENCAGED.

ON 25-MILE FRONT. SOUTH OF ARRAS. GOOD PROGRESS MADE. (Received August 24, 9.45 a.m.) NEW YORK, August 23. General Mangin’s army has captured 5000 additional prisoners. The British, between Lihons and the Cojeul River, are fighting a heavy battle on a 25-mile front. The Germans are reported to be flinging masses of men against the British in file endeavour to stave off disaster. The British 3rd Army gained a mile on a front of seven miles. The British 4th Army gained two miles on a front of seven miles, and has taken 2000 prisoners. Already the French troops are across the Oise eight miles east of Noyon, and the British are nearing Bapaume.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. THE PUSH TOWARDS BAPAUME. FROM THE NORTH-WEST. (Received August 24, 9.46 a.m.) LONDON, August 23. The United Press correspondent reports that the British to-day took 1000 prisoners and reached Boiry-Becquer-elles, Hamelincourt and Gonnecourt, while Bray is practically surrounded. — United Service. 100,000 PRISONERS. TAKEN IN A MONTH. (Received August 23, 11.30 a.m.) PARIS, August 22. The Echo de Paris estimates that over 100,000 German prisoners have been taken since July 18. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FIGHTING ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. MIST AIDS THE BRITISH. STRUGGLE FOR RAILWAY LINE. (Received August 24, 10 a.m.) LONDON, August 23. Mr. Nevinson, cabling at noon on Thursday, says that the prisoners taken in to-day’s advance already total 2600. We captured three guns and the number would have been larger, hut the Germans withdrew their guns immediately the attack began. Miraumont was not occupied, hut is becoming encircled; it is full of gas. Some of our tanks were reported to have crossed the railway, and were seen along the Bapaumo Road. Their fate is unknown. There was very heavy fighting at Courcelles and Beauregard Dovecote, which are north-westward of Miraumont. The casualties were light, and the prisoners taken by most of the divisions outnumbered their casualties. Fuller details of yesterday’s fighting show that the mist saved many hundreds of British lives, because the German infantry and machine-gunners could not see the assaulting troops until they were close upon them. Very ■naturally, however, our tanks and battalions lost direction and became confused during the attack. We took Moyonneville without difficulty and proceeded towards the raihvay. It is stated that tanks crossed the railway line, hut were lost in the fog beyond. The struggle for the railway lasted till six in the evening, when it was gained. We are now holding a ridge a mile beyond. Some of our troops on the left were badly gassed by shells during the assembly, showing that the enemy at this part of the line were less surprised than elsewhere,—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Prisoners taken in Logeast Wood declare that their part of the German army is in good condition and well fed, hut there is a great shortage of first lieutenants, which gives an indication of the drainage of Germany’s best young blood. There was some opposition at Ablainzeville, Bucquoy and Achiet-le-Petit, but hardly any at Puisieuse. The division attacking Achiet-le-Grand did not quite succeed in taking it. Tile enemy still this afternoon hold the railway cutting southward of tho town. This is unfortunate, because tho line curves westward and threatens to expose our right flank. We put down barrage here at midday preparatory to an assault. We filled tho ruins of Lies, across the railway, and Miraumont with gas. The latter was not directly attacked. No one would now' wish to enter that once admired place. There was very heavy fighting on Wednesday and Wednesday night and Thursday in the neighbourhood of Serrc and the Dovecote. Our forward battery at Scrre was heavily gassed. To-day the counter-attacks, including one by fresh divisions from Morris, failed. Aeroplanes have done great service, bombing transport and communications. They also pursued and destroyed a train.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn*

SIR D. HAIG’S REPORT,

RECAPTURE OF ALBERT. 8000 PRISONERS TAKEN. (Received August 24, 9.46 a.m.) LONDON, August 23. Sir Douglas Haig reports that English Eastern County, London and Australian troops, holding the sector between the Sommo and the Ancre attacked'with the object of carrying positions on the high ground traversed by the Bray-sur-Somme-Albert road. The attack was completely successful and we captured the whole of our objectives at an early hour. Vfe advanced two miles on a front of over six miles. We retook Albert. The enemy srongly resisted at certain points, particularly on the slopes northward of Bray, which itself did not form part of our objective. In this latter section a counter-attack pressed us back 600 yards. The fighting continued for some time in Albert, until the town was finally cleared by our troops. • In this successful operation we took prisoner 1400 men and captured a few guns. We also made progress on the left bank of the Ancre southward of Boaucourt. Northward of the Ancre the enemy counter-attacked heavily at a number of points. After we had repulsed one hostile assault in the early morning in the Miraumont sector the enemy again attacked this sector and entered our positions. Our counter-attack immediately drove him out. The enemy also succeeded northwestward of Achiet-le-Grand in pressing back our forward points, but again our counter-attack re-established the position an two hundred were taken prisoner. We repulsed other attacks eastward of Couroelles and eastward of Moyennevflle. \ We took prisoner a total of over five thousand yesterday, between the Somme and Moyenneville. On the Lys front we made progress eastward of Merville and in the direction of Neuf Berquin, taking prisoners and machine guns. We also advanced on a line northward of Bailleul on a front of lj miles, taking prisoners. We repulsed a raid in the neighbourhood of Dickebush.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn, and Router. WELLINGTON, August 24. The High Commissioner reports under date London, August 23 (midnight). Sir Douglas Haig reports; On the whole front between Lihons, southwards of the Somme, and the Cojeul River there has been fighting practically all night long. We have made progress at a number of points. GERMAN RETREAT. NORTHWARD FROM LASSIGNY. (Received August 24, 10.30 a.m.) PARIS, August 22. The French in Plemont are able to see the Germans retreating northward following the capture of Lassigny.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FRENCH PUSHING FOR* WARD. NORTH-WEST OF SOISSONS. 4 WELLINGTON, August 24. The High Commissioner reports under date London, August 23, (1 a.m.). French official report: Our progress on the whole front continues. Between the Matz and the Oise we hold the line from the mouth of the Divette to Evricourt. East of the Oise our lines reach Quierzy. Between the Ailette and the Aisne we have captured St. Aubin, Seleys, Bagrieux, Epagny, Bieuxy, Vaurezis, and Pommiers. Two hundred guns have been captured between the Aisne and the Oise since Tuesday. A MOONLIGHT BATTLE. FOR BEAUREGARD DOVECOTE. (Received August 24, 10 a.m.) 1 LONDON, August 23. Mr. Percival Phillips, describing a moonlight battle at Beauregard Dovecote, says that the German gunners held out most of Wednesday until the English cleared it. Late in the afternoon wo found two wireless operators huddled amid the wreckage of their apparatus and a solitary field-gun. Before the gun could be salved the Germans counterattacked and we dropped back picking our way amidst hot shelling through craters in the brilliant moonlight. The batteries were concentrating in a kind of desperation, putting down as heavy a screen as they could before the gateway of Bapaumo. The Germans had hardly begun to dispose their new machine-guns in the niches of the redoubt before they were again over-ridden. Bayonets flashed' in the moonlight and the English again manned the redoubt.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. The Germans for over an hour gas shelled a redoubt, .then fresh troops reattacked at dawn. ’ The impact of this blow sent back some of our troops nearly to the original line. This did not discourage them, however, for they stormed the Dovecote a third time at 7 o’clock in the morning, and got it. • Airmen are strafing the ground all day. They caught a transport column in a cutting and obtained eight direct bits. The remaining wagons bolted, tried to turn, and became jammed at another angle of the road, where tho airmen fell upon them with excellent results. Prisoners include an Austrian artillery captain, whose unit from the Tyrol has been in the line opposite Courcellos. The officer is polite and anxious to please and is very different from the Prussians. -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

STEADY PROGRESS MADE.

GREAT BOMBING ACTIVITY. DUNKIRK BOMBARDED. GOOD FRENCH PROGRESS. A GERMAN OFFICIAL DESPATCH. (Received August 24, 11.36 a.m.) LONDON, August 23. Sir Douglas Haig reports that fighting is proceeding practically along the whole front between Lihons and the Cojeul River. We are progressing at a number of points. We repulsed two attacks during the night in the neighbourhood of Baillescourt Farm, eastward of Beaucourt. We slightly advanced our line eastward of Letouret, north-west of Neuf Berquin, and eastward of Outtersteene. A local hostile attack north-westward of Bailleul broke down before our positions. A French communique reports: Yesterday we several times caught the retreating enemy under machine-guns in the region of Lassigny and between the Oise and the Aisne. We dropped during the day 34 tons of bombs on the region Chauny-Margival-Vauxaillon-An-zizy lo Chateau, and the night dropped 28 tons on tho railway stations at Ihionville, Confians, and Mezieres, also in the battle zone. Numerous bursts on objectives and fires were observed on the stations at Confians, Ham, Guiscard, Chauny, Thionville, Thiancourt and. Pontacvrt. Last evening the Germans bombed Dunkirk with shells of great calibre. Seven civilians were killed and one injured. During the day we continued to progress along the whole battle front between the Matz and the Oise, we skirting the Divette from its mouth to Evricourt. East of the Oise we carried our lines to the outskirts of Quierzy. Between the Ailette and the Aisne we captured St.' Aubin, Silens, Bagneux, Epagny, Bieuxy, Vaurezis, and Pommiers. The enemy abandoned a great quantity of material between the Aisne and tho Oise. Over 200 guns have been counted since August 20. A wireless German official' despatch says: The British and New Zealanders attacked between Moyenneville and the Ancre. Their first onslaught broke down before our battle positions. We recaptured in counter-attacks portions of the ground which we had ceded. According to plan w© retired a short distance south-westward of Noyon. and also withdrew our troops from Csriepont Wood to behind the Oise. The enemy gained ground at Blerancourt. The English made large scale attacks northward of Bapaumo and between Albert and the Somme, hut failed.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn, and Reuter.

GENERAL MANGIN’S ADVANCE. DESCRIBED BY CORRESPONDENT. SITUATION BIG WITH PROMISE^ (Received August 24, 12.50 p.m.) LONDON, August 23. Mr. Perris writes that General Mangin’s advance eastward of the Oise was sometimes stoutly resisted, hut elsewhere proceeded with singular ease. The capture of Mont do dioisy, between the Oise and Cuts, standing 300 ft. above the river valley, wirs the decisive point in the success. The Germans viciously defended Cuts, but .seeing themselves irresistibly pressed into low swampy land between the hills and the river accepted the inevitable and beat a rapid and sometimes disorderly retreat. General Mangin holding the Oise near Noyon necessitated the abandonment of the last enemy hold on the Divette valley. Thursday was mainly devoted to consolidation work. Many cannon find much material and .stores, hurriedly abandoned by the enemy, were found behind the broken linos. French cavalry patrols and tanks are out in all directions sweeping the country free of all enemy groups. The French guns are rapidly coming up. Aviators are incessantly bombing the river crossings. The skill in the plan and the execution of the movement and the way each move aided the other are striking and big with promise.—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Associationf' A CLEVER AIR RAID. ON ENEMY AERODROME. (Received August 24, 11.40 a.m.) . LONDON, August 23. Correspondents describe the recent air work, particularly the daylight raid on the Haroubin aerodrome on August 'l6. Plying at an average altitude of 200 feet, without interference from enemy planes, the British spotted two in the distance and attacked. One crashed down, and the other was driven down. They silenced nests of machine-guns about the aerodrome, and dropped a hundred bombs and completely destroyed three largo hangars containing machines, and partially wrecked eight machines in the open. They set fire to the officers’ and men’s quarters, blew up the officers’ messroom, and ignited several buildings, including an ammunition shed. There were many casualties. Having completed the demolition of the aerodrome, the machines went off, chased and stopped a train, overturned n staff motor-car into a ditch, and forced another to run up a bank. It j s believed they killed all the occupants of both. The whole squadron returned. Newspapers reviewing the week’s fighting, comment on the perfect coordination of the Allied armies under General Fech.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

GREAT ACTIVITY IN THE AIR,

TRANSPORTS AND TROOPS ATTACKED. RAILWAYS COMBED. A RAID INTO GERMANY. (Received August 24, 12.0 p.m.) LONDON, August 23., Sir Douglas Haig’s aviation report states that thick mist prevented aeroplanes participating in the early stage of the attack northward of the Ancre on August 22, but when the weather cleared their participation became active. The airmen attacked hostile troops and transport at low altitudes with bombs and machine-guns, scattering ammunition wagons and marching columns, and also in several cases silenced guns firing on our tanks by means of bombs and machine-gunning from the air. We dropped twelve tons of bombs during the day and destroyed twenty-one aeroplanes. Eight British machines are missing. Our night bombers dropped 25J tons on different targets. Cambrai and Marcoing stations were heavily attacked, also a number of bridges, lines, aerodromes and billets. We broke down the Aubigny-au-Bac bridge on the Douai-Cambrai road. The Air Ministry reports that despite the enemy’s determined protective efforts, consisting of large numbers of aeroplanes and an increased number of anti-aircraft guns, we heavily attacked five important German towns and five aerodromes. We attacked Frankfort and Cologne on the nights of August 22 and 23 with very good results. Bombs landed all round the stations and barracks. We also successfully attacked Treves railway junction.. We heavily bombed four aerodromes, hitting many hangars. We attacked chemical factories at Mannheim. On the morning of August 22 we successfully bombed objectives. The fiercest fighting occurred on the return journey, as a result of which five British machines are missing. An American official message states that they carried out a successful raid northward of the Vesle. Their aviators on Aug. 21 and 22 successfully, bombed railway yards at Longayon, Andon le Romman, and Conflans, .with many direct hits.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn, and Reuter.