THE ALLIED OFFENSIVE

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13891, 17 October 1918, Page 5

THE ALLIED OFFENSIVE

PART PLAYED BY THE AUSTRALIANS NOT FULLY REALISED. CHANGED ALLIED DEFENSIVE POLICY INTO AN OFFENSIVE. PAVING WAY FOR THE GREAT OFFENSIVE NOW IN PROGRESS. MADE FIRST SERIOUS BREACH IN THE HINDENBURG LINE. LOSSES MUCH LESS THAN NUMBER OF PRISONERS CAPTURED. (Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.) Received October 16, 7.40 p.m. LONDON, October 15. There is a feeling amongst the Australian troops in London that the English newspapers and public do not fully realise the part the Australians have taken in the recent fighting. It is claimed on their behalf that credit can be taken for the successful offensive policy commencing on August Bth, which changed the Allied defensive policy into an offensive, paving the way for the big advance, which is still progressing. They made the first serious breach in the Hindenburg line, and during six months' fighting from March to October, captured 251 square miles of territory, re-captured 116 towns and villages and many other strong points. They took 28,655 prisoners and 332 guns. They met and defeated the equivalent to 73 German divisions, including those reappearing the second time. The Times states that the Australian losses Vvere much less than the prisoners captured.