BRITISH STILL DRIVING AHEAD

Wanganui Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15657, 8 November 1918, Page 5

BRITISH STILL DRIVING AHEAD

MANY FOISTS CAPTURED (Received November 8, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, November 7. Sir Douglas Haig reported at 12.30 this morning: We progressed on the whole battle-front, despite rain, after sharp fighting.! We prisonered hundreds. On the right we captured Cartignies and Marbaix. In the centre we drove out the , enemy from hastily-cosntructed -defences on the east bank of the Sambre. We crossed the river near Berlaimont and captured Leval and Aulnoye, also an important railway junction there. Further north we crossed the Avesnes-Bavay road, eastward of Mormal Forest, and reached the railway southward and westward of where sharp fighting continues near the town. We cleared thp west bank of the Ronelle as far north as Angre, where all day long there was stiff Sgbting. We repulsed two counterattacks. On the left the Canadians, progressing eastward of the Scheldt, captured Baisleux and Qulevrechain. AMERICANS PUSHING ON DESPERATE RESISTANCE OYERCOME (Received November 8, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, November 7. An American communique states: We advanced over four kilometres east of the Meuse, despite most difficult ground and bitter resistance by the enemy, who are desperately striving to maintain their last foothold on the heights of the Meuse. The enemy failed to check our rapid progress west of the Meuse, where we reached the outskirts of Mouzon and captured Bulson and Raucourt. Twenty-two enemy divisions have appeared on our front between the the Argonne since November Ist. (Received November 8, 8.55 a.m.) NEW YORK, November 7. The Americans continue to progress on the Verdun front. The German are rapidly retiring, fighting rearguard actions.—A. and N.Z. Services. (Received November 8, 8.55 a.m.) NEW YORK, November 7. The entire German navy has revolted.—A. and N.Z. Services. (Received November 8, 8.55 a.m.) ' NEW YORK, November 7. The Copenhagen correspondent of the United Press states that the Politiken learns that there is a revolution in Hamburg. Street battles are raging, and many deaths have occurred.—A. and N.Z. Services. FRENCH INDEFATIGABLY PURSUING ENEMY ABANDONING GUNS AND MATERIAL (Received November 8, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, November 7. A French communique states: Our indefatigable troops continued to pursue the enemy all day between the Sambre and the Meuue, shattering local resistances, and advanced 10 kilometres at certain points, liberating numerous civilian populations. The enemy, harassed by our advance guards, abandoned everywhere during his headlong retreat prisoners, guns, and material, which so far are uncounted.

East of the Sambre we reached the eastern outskirts of Nouvion and Regnaval Forests, and captured, further south, Verving. North thereof we advanced beyond the Serre.

The Italians crossed the Hurtaux by assault, and stormed Rozoy-sur-Serre, to the north of the Aisne.

We are 12 kilometres north of Chateau Porcien, captured Rethel, and advanced six kilometres north thereeof. The cavalry here charged and captured a battery of field guns and a battery of four-inchers with the gunners and teams. \

(Received November 8, 8.55 a.m.) NEW YORK, November 7. The Anglo-French advance along the whole front continue.—A. and N.Z. Services.

CROWDING EFFORT BY OUE BOYS

100 6DSg CAPTORED LONDON, November 6. Mr Percival Phillips says:— The New Zealanders crowned the splendid achievement at Le Quesnoy by breaking through the German gun line eastward of the fortress, taking 10'J guns. Our men witnessed the extraordinary spectacle of German batteries driven by their own teams into the prisoners’ cage. The New Zealanders penetrated the waggon lines apd rounded up the transport. Other batteries were taken in the forest. The Ger man infantry fought determinedly wherever an officer was present to en force discipline. GREiT WORK BY NEW ZEALANDERS STORMING OF LE QUESNOY MOST DRAMATIC EVENT IN TUESDAY’S BATTLE. LONDON, November 6. All accounts agree that the storming of Le Quesnoy was the most dramatic event in yesterday’s battle, Mr Gibbs states: Though the New Zealanders have been fighting without a break for three months, their spirit is still high. Yesterday’s achievement will rank as one of their most heroic deeds. They stormed the outer ramparts of Le Quesnoy in old-fashioned style with scaling ladders, and made breaches in the walls. Only the new-fashioned machine-guns prevented them from storming the key of the fortress. The first invitation to surrender said: “You are completely surrounded. Enemy troops are far to the eastward of you. If you surrender you will be treated as 1 honourable prisoners of war.” Later invitations were given by entering through the breach in the wall, shouting, “We promise honourable treatment.”

A THRILLING EPISODE

LONDON, November 7. Mr Percival Phillips, describing Monday’s fightings says: Le Quesnoy held out all day long at the bidding o a stubborn commander, who met the three invitations to surrender with a point blank refusal. Landercies resisted in the same way. Other villages remained strong points until surrounded. Mormai Forest gave ample cover and abundance of wire and pits enabled the defenders to delay our troops, but’ in some places, where opportunity offered, they surrendered auafhetically. Their conversation in the cages is a never-ending chorus of defeat. The storming of Le Quesnoy was the most dramatic episode. The old town, with its ancient ramparts, has often been besieged, but it never saw harder fighting than the New Zealanders made yesterday. The New Zealanders were just westward of the fortifications. A division on the right was held up by machine-guns in a chapel until five tanks reduced them. Bombardments against the garrison failed to dislodge them. The New Zealanders tried to take Le Quesnoy by frontal attacks. They reached the outer ramparts and then were held up by machine-guns. The old fortifications were full of Germans. A furtheer advance by that method was impossible. The New Zealanders then worked northward and southward, picketed the town, and went ahead towards Herbignies and Jolimetz, forming the German artillery line. Many batterie grouped under cover of buildings and hedges, were firing furiously in order to protect Le Quesnoy. Before any could be withdrawn the New Zealanders were swarming among the guns, demanding their surrender. Without stopping to count the trophies, the New Zealanders rushed the waggon lines, cutting off transport on the point of galloping away. Le Quesnoy garrison were first aware of the catastrophe when the protective barrage suddenly ceased, leaving them perplexed but defiant. A British aeroplane flew overhead and dropped a message demanding surrender. The only answer was another outbreak of machine-gun fire. The New Zealand commander, after an interval, sent in two parties, each with a German officer, pointing out the futility of further bloodshed, but the garrison commander still declined to surrender. The New Zealanders late in the afternoon attacked again, pushed through the rampart and wiped out machine-guns. They penetrated the streets and were obliged to fight their [ way from barricade to barricade before the remainder of the garrison threw ;down their arms. Over a thousand prisoners were collected, from cellars and improvised hiding places. The capture of Le Quesnoy will be remembered as one of the most thrilling episodes in this campaign. It is believed this is the first time a besieged town been formally summoned to submit by British troops.