THE WAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12409, 29 August 1918, Page 3

THE WAR.

OVERNIGHT GABLES. ALLIED ATTACK. CANADIANS TAKE VIS. NEW ZEALANDERS HEAVILY ENGAGED. LONDON, August 28- f Sir Douglas Haig reports:-—We again attacked astride the Scarpo. The Canadians penetrated deeply between ibp. Sensee and the Searpo, and captured Chorisy, Vis on Artois and ll»e Bois dn Sart, taking many prisoners. On the Canadians' right the Scottish crossed the Son.scn and seized Fontaine los Cvoisilles and established themselves on the, slopes southward of the village, taking hundreds of prisoners. Other Scottish troops took Rceux, Greenland Hill and Gavrclln. 'I ho English took Arleux en Gohelle and the, old German line southward of that point. Between Croisillcs and Bapamno and further south the English and New Zealanders wore again heavily engaged, and repulsed many determined counterattacks, inflicting heavy casualties. Despite the enemy's efforts, wo stormed Bcugnatro and progressed at several points between Boiignatre and Croisiilcs. GAINS ON THE WHOLE FRONT. LONDON, August 20 (evening). General Debenoy’s Third French Army to-day advanced on a front of eight miles to a depth of three miles, capturing Rove and Crapcaumosnil, while between Hcrlcville and the Somme the British reached the outskirts of Dompierre and the outskirts of Bapamno. The advance was about 11 1 roc miles at the maximum depth- We captured Cberisy (on the Sensee) and Gavrollo (north of the Scarpe). 'The entire Anglo-French advance is between two and three miles on practically the whole front. FIGHTING FOR ROYE. LONDON, August 28. Reuter's correspondent at French headquarters, describing the lighting in the vicinity of Roye, which is now encircled, says that the captures of Fresney, Croisetle Wood and St AJard constituted a considerable achievement, because the fighting occurred in the old fortified lines which’the enemy had reorganised. The Gormans were surprised at Fresnoy, where the prisoners included a battalion commander. The bridges over the Avre during jdto last few clays were seized by the French, whose infantry, fighting waist deep in the’water for hours, gallantly withstood all at- ' tempts to retake them. THE ’AMERICANS. FIGHTING ON THE VESLE. WASHINGTON, August 27. The Americans attacked the Gormans on the Bazoches front. The Gormans attacked the Americans, and the struggle is continuing, on the Flsmcs front.

RETAILS OF THE FIGHTING

ENEMY RESISTANCE NEAR ROYE. LONDON, August 27. Router’s correspondent' at French Headquarters writes: —General Debency at 5.45 in the morning attacked Fros-noy-les-Royo, the capture of which is announced in the French communique. The attack on the village which covers Roy a from the north was preceded by heavy artillery fire. Tho village was strongly defended, and the Germans desperately resisted. Furious street fighting with bayonets and grenades ensued. The French repulsed several violent counter-attacks. The capture of St Aland apparently was the result of a brilliant littlo operation, the net result of which is a considerable improvement in our position round Rove. THE NEW ALLIED LINE.

LONDON, August 27

General Debcney's advance was between Crapoaumesnil and Halln, south of Chatlines. The lino now runs from east of l.ianoourt to Halln, and cast of Hcrleville to the Somme tliroindi the outskirts of Do in pi cm;. We cnpturccJ ■Mnricourt. Thence die lino runs to Flers and north to Bapaunic. We leached the outskirts of Vaulx-Vraii-court. Thence the line goes to Hie outskirts of Ecoust. when it bends back to Croisilles, which is still in German hands. From Chcrisy the line runs to the outskirts of Remix,

Heavy lighting occurred in Delville Wood, and also at Longucvnl. Alilitary critics attach groat importance to the Somme offensive, because it affects the Hiudenburg line. Reuter’s correspondent at British Headquarters, writing on Tuesday evening, slates;—Tho concerted attack this morning by the Australians and other British troops began at 4.45 on a front of 8000 yds northward of tho Somme. It was completely successful, and, by ten o’clock wet apparently overran Aloulin do Fargny, Alaricourt, Bernafay Wood and Trones Wood. Wo captured hundreds of prisoners. Not the least important of the day’s success is tliccloarin of Vaux AVood. It is becoming increasingly clear that our pressure is forcing the enemy to expedite his retreat far beyond his original intention. The talk of prisoners suggests that the rearguard fighting began on the night of August 24, and that all the enemy attacks since have been in the nature of delaying actions to cover the withdrawals.

About six o’clock last evening a determined counter-attack was launched by the remains of the 100 th and 17th German divisions, which are known to have lost '-600 in prisoners since August S._ irrespective of other casualties. The Welshmen fell back a short distance before the weight of numbers, and took up a position between High Wood an! Bezonnn io Grand, Southward of the Somme the Australians are carrying out vhat they call ‘'peaceful penetration, ’’ consisting of patrol which is most demoralising to the" harassed enemy. esterday the Australians advanced to Fontaine 1c Gappy, which only a few days ago was a Gorman divisional headquarters. This morning some Australians were reported six miles from Pcronnp. Eastward of Arras the battle, which began yesterday morning, reached great intensity by'night, when the enemy attempted in oust us from the P ancourt, spur. Ho failed, and since has steadily lost ground. l\o gained valuable ground in the Hois du Vert. LONDON, August 27. Renters correspondent at British Headquarters stalesThci# is an unconfirmed report that we Itfive captured the Hois dn San, In any case, we have passed the point attained, after long and hitter lighting, last year. This morning our troops worked towards Plouvain. The enemy’s artillery retaliation was comparatively weak'. Croisilles still remains m Gorman hands, and the sunken roads north and west of it arc strongly held by the enemy infantry. A\ e are following the policy of not forcing the pace by the .sacrifice of lives. Ihe weather is gloomv. and aircraft visibility is bad.