Early War News.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVII, Issue 16619, 26 August 1918, Page 7

Early War News.

AMERICAN COMMENTS. ON BRITISH OFFENSIVE. NEW YORE, Agust 23. . The New York "Times," commenting on the British offensive, states that Sir Douglas Haig's new offensive is plainly a counterpart of his lata brilliant drive further south. The new drive was begun in fog, and what it has accomplished is not yet fully reported. . General Byng is moving ■with characteristic' speed jn the direction of Bapaume.- Marshal Foch's plan is evidently to keep the Germans imoving and not allow them to select winter quarters.

The New York "Tribune," comment;ing on. the British offensive, says that General Byng has had a chance to ,"eome~ back" at the Germans. He iwas unable to repeat the first day's ;success at Cambrai, but nevertheless [ho shook the German line at a critical point, making more than ever likely a German retreat.

ALLIED 00-ORDINATIQN. TRIBUTES TO FOOH. LONDON, August 23. The newspapers, . reviewing the week's fighting, comment on the perfect co-ordination of the Allied Armies under Marshal Foch. AMERICA'S FIGHTING MEN. -4OOJOOO AT FRONT. AMSTERDAM, August 23. The German military authorities officially admit the accuracy- of Mr Baker's figures, which show that there are l;200,000-Americans in France and that. 400,000 being already at the front. 40,000 are already at the front. ~ ; ; SIX MONTHS' VACATION* FOR CROWN PRINCE. NEW YORK, August 23. An unconfirmed cable from Zurich, published here, says that Berlin advices state that the Kaiser has "granted the Crown Prince, six months' [ vacation."

LONG-RANGE GUN. SHELLED BY FRENCH. PARIS, August 23. The French located and shelled a long-range gun during the advance between Lassigny and Roye, necessitating its withdrawal. PARIS CHECKING EXTORTION. , In order to combat extortionate charges the City Council is opening 480 municipal grocery stores. Fixed prices will prevail. Tradesmen undertaking not to exceed, the fixed prices will be granted special facilities to obtain supplies, thus not necessitating their dealing withi wholesale profiteers.

WOMEN'S WAGES. LONDON, August 23. The Ministries of Munitions and Labour have agreed to advance the women's wages 5s a week. Mr Churehil! having drawn the War Cabinet's attention to the relationship between men's and women's wages. STILL FOOD ECONOMY. Sir Leo Chiozza Money, commenting on the latest shipping returns, states that British ships every month are bringing 200,000 Americans and American ships 100,000. This deprivation of cargo space still renders food economy., the order of the day. KNOCK-OUT BLOW. ESSENTIAL TO PEACE. Mr Kellaway. in a speech at Hull, said a knock-out blow was an essential preliminary to a permanent peace and a league of nations. /

PURSUIT CONTINUED. ENEMY HEAVILY PUNISHED. Reuter's Telegrams. LONDON, August 23. Reuter's correspondent at French Headqusirters, writing on Thursday evening, says:—The pursuit continued during the -whole afternoon and evening yesterday. We reached the Oise at Sempigny just as the bridges were blown up, but the 'destruction was incomplete. Further south, as we were occupying Petit Mauias, the enemy began his retreat' in disorder. Numerous jtirains on the ovher side of the Oise were seen hurrying northward throughout the afternoon. ' The enemy rearguards fought their fiercest to save important material but vainly, and our troops at rhe close of the evening advanced. Other regiments following collected a huge quantity of material, heavy guns and ma-chine-guns.

Our "artillery and cavalry pushed ahead. It was soon noticeable -that tbe enemy resistance; was chiefly by means r.f and was diminishing. Nevertheless it remained t

desperate at certain points, notably St. Aubin ;«nd to the north of Hill 140, where ivc were fighting with "bombs. Batches of prisoners arrived all night ioDg. It was impossible to count them as thera -were at least several thousands.

The enemy considers the positions of •his first line divisions precarious. He rests his hopes on his second line divisions, which are echeloned in depth in order to resist all costs.

Our advance continued this morning towards the Aiiette through the enemy's 'broken' f ron t.