THE FIGHTING ON THE SOUTHERN FRONTS

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

THE FIGHTING ON THE SOUTHERN FRONTS

AMERICAN ADVANCE THREATENS MEZIERES-METZ RAILWAY. (The Times.) Received October t'A, .">.;> p.m. PARIS. October 12. Experts consider llm Americans' victory astride of the Metise of the utmost importance, as it llirealens Ihe Mezieres-Metz railway, which is the only direct communication between the Germans in the north-west of France and those eastward and south-eastward of Verdun. ADVANCE CONTINUED AND VILLAGES CAPTURED NORTH OF THE SENSEE RIVER. [Australian and New /.'aland and Renter.) Received October J::. :>.:> p.m. LONDON, October 12. Sir Douglas IFaig's report on Friday evening states thai we continued our advance northward of the Sensee river, and now hold the villages of llamel, Hrebieres and Guincy. We are eastward of Henin-Lietard. and are on Die western outskirts of Animay. There was local lighting at certain points on Ihe remainder of the front. LONDON. Ge1,,!,.,- I°. •letu-h official: \\e have entered Vcuxicrs, and continued our progress on the ( hampagno front. "

FRENCH DRIVE FORWARD SIX MILES ON A S6-IWILE FRONT. CAVALRY PRESSING CLOSELY ON THE ENEMY'S REARGUARDS. FORCED Til ABANDON POSITIONS THAT IIH STRENUOUSLY DEFENDED. ITALIANS CO-OPERATE AND BRILLIANTLY ASSIST IN THE ADVANCE. (Australian and New Zealand and Reuter.) Received October 13, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, odober 12. A French communique slates that before our incessanl attacks the enemy was compelled to abandon on a front of 30 miles all the positions which he has been defending for days north of Hie Suippe and Ames rivers. Preceded by cavalry, which are pressing on the heels of the enemy's rearguards, our infantry are overcoming the resistance of the machine-guns, which have been charged with the duly of delaying us. our march has during the day advanced at SO nie points six miles, taking prisoners and capturing material. We crossed fly Suippe and captured Hertricourl. Aumenancourt le Grand, Bazaneourl, Isles sur Suippe, and St. Etiennc sur Suippe. The. whole of the enemy's lirst positions north of the Suippe are in our hands. Wo advanced beyond the C.nnd t'surges Wood, advancing in the wooded region west of Mesnil le Pinos. in the direction of the Retourne river, which we reached between Hondilcoiirt and Sault St. Remy. Further east we occupied the villages of Aussonce, Laneuville, Couroy, Machault, Contreuve St. Morel and Savigny sur Aisne. Continuing our progress we reached the outskirts of Begnieourt. Ville sur Retourne, Mont St. Remy and St. Jarie, about two south-west of Vouziers. - vf Cheinin des Dames the Italians, co-operating with the French, brilliantly continued their advance. They occupied Vendresse, Trdyon, Courtecon and Cereny en Esonnois. We captured Cuissy et deny, Jumigny and Paissy Wood, and reached Chemin des Dames. Numerous tires, kindled by the enemy, are reported in the villages of the Oise Valley, in the (inise, region attesting the systematic intention of the Germans to destroy everything before tliey retreat. GERMANS MAKING UNMISTAKABLE PREPARATIONS FOR FURTHER RETREAT. PRECARIOUS POSITION OF TROOPS IN THE LAON SALIENT. (Reuter's Telegrams.) Received October 13, 5.5 p.m. „ . , LONDON, October 12. Reuters correspondent at French headquarters, writing at midnight on i-nday says that (ieneral Oouraud's army, which was checked for davs bv desperate resistance, made a most important advance across the Suippe almost everywhere ~n the whole of a 20-mile front. The Germans are making unmistakable preparations for a further retreat. The French advance r'L, ?h° rn ,;h:ir ! 1I)a? T was even more ra P' (l - Between the Aisne and the Oise the enemy's retirement has been unexpectedly slow. The Germans' position in the Laon salient is most precarious, the Anglo-French having cut the main lines, (ieneral Mangin's army, nevertheless, is meeting considerable resistance ami the rate of his advance has been prudent Genfra nebeTev's army took 000 prisoners in the last 10 days, all small bodies eoT P K" garrisons of concreted centres of resistance in the Hindenburg line. THE GERMAN RETREAT MOST MARKED IN CHAMPAGNE. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.) (Received October 13, 5.5 p.m. . . r LONDON, October 12. A messnge this afternoon states that the Germans are retreating rapidlv on three sectors, but most pronouncedly in Champagne. The French advanced considerably beyond Vouziers practically unopposed. VIOLENT COUNTER-ATTACKS FAIL TO STOP THE FRANCO-AMERICANS. (Australian and New Zealand and Reuter.) Received October 13, 5.5 p.m. LONDON. October 12 An American communique issued at 3.30 a.m. on Sundav states that on both sides of the Meuse violent counter-attacks : failed to stem the advance of the Franco-Americans. We took Molleville Farm, northward of Bois de Consenvoye. passed through Bois de Foret, and are before the villages of Landres et St. Oeorge and St. Juvin, which is on Are. FRENCH PROGRESS CONTINUES ON THE WHOLE CHAMPAGNE FRONT. Australian and New Zealand and Renter.) Received October 13, 11.30 n.n't. LONDON, October 12, 5 p.m A French communique says we entered Vouzieres this morninc We continued to process along the whole Champagne front. We hold a general line from the river to Retourne, ami the road from Pauvres to Vouzieres