THE WESTERN FRONTS

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13888, 14 October 1918, Page 5

THE WESTERN FRONTS

NBNE GERMAN ARMIES IMPERILLED BY ALLIED ADVANCE. (Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.) Received October 12, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, October 11. Mr fieorge H. Perris. special correspondent on the Western front, writes: "It is too soon to say the Herman retreat in the south is general, but there are indications that the Anglo-French victories at Cambrai and in the Champagne are now bearing fruit. Conlrawise, it would be rash to expect a debacle, but nine German armies are imperilled." ENEMY PRISONERS IN THE GREAT OFFENSIVE TOTALS 500,000. (Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.) Received October 12, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, October 11. The Allies' bag of prisoners since July 18th is nearing the half-million. It was 461,000 yesterday, including r.5.000 Bulgars. The guns captured since Marshal Foch launched his great offensive total over 5000, and the machine-guns captured total 40,000. ENEMY RETIREMENT CONTINUED WITH FRENCH EVERYWHERE IN CONTACT. (Australian and New Zealand and Reuler.) Received October 12, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, October 11. A French communique issued at 4.33 p.m. states that we maintained everywhere contact with the enemy, whose retirement continued at different points on the front to the north id' the Aisne. We occupied and advanced beyond Moussy and Moulin and Laonnais. The Italian troops reached south of Courtecon and Chemin cles Dames, which we hold as far as the heights of Cerny en Laonnois. In Champagne we gained a footing in various points on the north bank of the Suippe, between St. Etienne and yoult sur Suippe. We also progressed at Yarnerwille and Yaudetre" St. Vastes. Further east pursuing the retreating enemy, we. carried Senide, Point St. Martin, Cordon and Briebes. (Admiralty per Wireless Press.) Received October 13, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, October 11. Herman official: Between St. Etienne and the Aisne we withdrew to positions on both sides of Hrandpre, on tin; north bank of the Aire. The Americans, attacking with strong forces all day long between Sivry and Haumont Wood, were beaten back in bitter fighting. LATEST ALLIED ADVANCE EMPHASISES THE ENEMY'S DIFFICULTIES. HIS DAYS OF RETIREMENT ACCORDING TO PLAN HAVE HONE. (Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.) Received October 13, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, October 11. News from the West front emphasises the enemy's difficulties. Our latest advance has turned the Bunding line between Laon. This was the enemies's next line of retreat,roughly behind the Serre-Sissonne barrier switchline. The British are now well in the rear of the Bunding line. The enemy must certainly evacuate St. Gobain Massif immediately, and will also be compelled to straighten out his line between Lille and the Searpe. It is difficult to know exactly how the enemy will join up these two lines, and it all depends on what the Allies have in store. The enemy's days of "retirement according to plan" are past. He is now evacuating Chemin des Dames. The FrancoAmerican forces have joined hands north of the Argonne in the Hrandpre (jap. GREAT ALTERATIONS ON THE WHOLE FRONT NOW IN PROGRESS. GERMAN LATERAL COMMUNICATIONS SERIOUSLY THREATENED. Received October 13, 5.5 p.m. LONDON. October 15. Great alterations of the whole base of the West front are now in progress. The German army is definitely falling back, and it is difficult to sav where tne movement will end. The British advancing towards Douai have passed the Drocourt-Queant line, and reached the Lens-Douai railway in the neighbourhood of Beaumont and Quinrey la Motte, and more northward have reached Henin-Lietard, on the Douai-Carvin road. The enemy will probably take up a position in front of Douai. We captured St. Aubert, more southward, and are now' within less than seven miles of ihe German lateral communication railway between Lille, Valenciennes, Avesnes and Hiison, which is the main trunk line behind the whole German front. Its severance would mean throwing back all the enemy communications, gravely endangering everything northward of Valenciennes, especially the Lille salient, More to the southward, along the whole front between the Soissons-Laon road and Grandpre the enemy is retreating with the Franco-Italians closely pursuing. The enemy's hold on Chemin des Dames is slackening hourlv. More to the eastward the French crossed the Snipe at several places and advanced four or live miles. They have captured Machault. The enemy is falling back in the direction of Vouzieres to a line behind the Aisne.