AT CLOSE QUARTERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12405, 24 August 1918, Page 9

AT CLOSE QUARTERS.

FRENCH HARRY RETREATING HUNS. THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS. ENEMY’S FRONT BROKEN. A. aad N.Z. Cable Association and Router. (Received August. 24, 2.5 p.ui.) LONDON, August 23. A message from tlio French liourlqunrlcrs on tlio evening of August ‘23 says The pursuit, continued the whole afternoon and evening of yesterday. Wo readied the Oiso at Seinpigny just as the bridges were blown up, out their destruction is incomplete. Further south, as we are occupying Petit-Man-ias, the enemy began to retreat in disorder. Numerous trains on tlio other side of the Oiso wore seen hurrying northward.

Throughout the afternoon the enemy rearguards fought their licrccst to savo important material, hut vainly. Our troops at the dose of tlio evening advanced, other regiment's following, and collected a huge quantity of material, heavy gnus and machineguns.

Our artillery and cavalry pushed ahead, and it was soon noticeable that the enemy resistance, chiefly by ma-chine-guns, was diminishing. Nevertheless, it was desperate at certain points, notably from St Aulrin to north of Hill 140, where wc are lighting with bombs.

.Batches of prisoners continued to arrive nil night long, and it was impossible Ho count them, ns they total at least several thousands.

Tlie enemy considbrs the positions of liis first line divisions precarious, and ho rests his hopes on the second line divisions, which arc echeloned in depth, in order to resist at all costs.

Our advance continued this morning towards the A i lotto (through tho enemy's broken front.