THE FRENCH OPERATIONS

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13887, 12 October 1918, Page 5

THE FRENCH OPERATIONS

PROGRESS AT ST. QUENTIN. LINES CARRIED EASTWARD. PRESSURE ON CHEMIN DES DAMES. FORGES GERMAN Iw.iIREMENT. THE FIGHTING IN CHAMPAGNE. HUSTLING THE EXHAUSTED ENEMY. (Australian and N.Z. and Reuter.) Received October 12, 9.20 a.m. LONDON, Oct. It, '» a.m. A French communique reports that east of St. Quentin our troops, closely maintaining contact, cont-i. :ed to pursue the enemy, whose ■■ rguards are resisting se.vi rely. We advanced nearly four miles at certain points and carried our lines to the cast of Seboncourt and the outskirts of Bernoville. East of Montigny and Bernot we occupied numerous villages, including Fieulaine, Neuvillette, Regny, Chatillon sur Oise, and Thenelles. South of the Disc we captured Servais and took prisoners. Between the Allelic and the Aisne the pressure of our troops, assisted by Italian units operating on both sides of Chemin des Dames, forced the Germans to retire beyond the Oise canal. Notwithstanding vigilant machine-gun-ning we captured Peaunne, Chivy, Verneuil, Cortonne, Bourg and Cetnin. Simultaneously crossing the Aisne east of Neuilly we drove back the enemy northwards, and occupied Pargnan and Bauiieux. Farther east we attacked strongly north of Berry au Bac and gained ground, taking prisoners. In Champagne the enemy, exhausted by incessant and severe fighting since September 2filh on the front of the 4th Army, began tjiis morning to retreat in the direction of the Aisne. Our infantry, hustling the rearguards who are attempting to arrest our advance, passed (he villages of Lirz Montiiols and Challerange, and have reached the outskirts of Montsmartin and St. Morel. Farther on our right we crossed the Aisne opposite Termes, which we hold. We have occupied the station at Crandpre, where numerous prisoners were taken. FURTHER ENEMY EVACUATIONS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn ) Received October i2, X. i"> a.m. NEW \ORK, October 11. The Germans are evacuating the Chemin des Dames region, and have also begun the evacuation of Hie SI. Gobain forest.