LATE WAR NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12409, 29 August 1918, Page 6

LATE WAR NEWS.

THE BRITISH ADVANCE.

PEACEFUL PENETRATION.

A««inJi»K tnd N.Z. C»W* Annoutiok. (Received August 2D, 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, August. 28

Mr Pcrcival Phillips writes:—

T|io attack was renewed on Tuesday morning along the entire front. The Canadians near Henin rested at night, and began mopping up the Hindonburg lino, working towards Fontaine lea Oroisillcs and behind Croiailles, the Guards pushing round the other side of Coisiiioa from St Legor. Thus the whole German line of resistance is being pounded hard, and is steadily sagging into the Hindcnburg defences. It may he expected that the enemy will fight hardest on this northern scctor. A good fresh Prussian division is already engaged against the Canadians ana Australians. , The advance on both banks of tho Somme may bo described ns peaceful penetration.

By noon to-day our patrols on tho south side wore within a mile of Dompiorre, clearing machine-guns out of neighbouring woods', and tho Australians had penetrated Vaiix Wood, north of tho river, continuing towards Ourlu, no serious attempts being made to hold them. The Gorman rearguard is listlees, ami has apparently been ordered not to resist if pressed hard. The Australians are again traversing wholly devastated country, and the progress is naturally slow, being on the whole deliberate, almost leisurely. The .tourney towards Pcronno is in marked contrast to tho sharp, jerky attacks south of Bnpaume. v

THE OFFICIAL REPORT.

k. *nd N.Z. Cable Association and Banter,

(Received August 29, 11.45 a.m.) ■ ’ LONDON, August 28. Sir Douglas Haig reports;—

Southward of Bapaumo English and Welsh gained ground in face of strong opposition. Wo reached the western outskirts of Flors and drove tho enemy from Longiicvni, Dclvillo Wood and Bernafay. Wood. Wo repulsed counter-attacks by Prussian Guards astride tho Somme. Australians, English and Scots drove back tho enemy on the whole front of our attack.

IV o gained high ground eastward of Maricourt. Wo captured Fontaino Ics Guppy .and , tho woods between that P aco and tho Somxno, taking hundreds of prisoners,. ■ Wo also captured Vermandovillcrs.

clouds and rainstorms a, great amount of work was accomplished by aeroplanes. They dropped animation by •parachute to the machinegunners, while low-fliers bombed and machine-gunned enemy troops and transport columns. W 0 dropned 26) tons of bombs. *■