OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTH

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13892, 18 October 1918, Page 5

OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTH

AMERICANS SLOWLY CUTTING THROUGH THE KREIMHILDE LlNfe. FRENCH CO-OPHHATIUN NOTABLY ASSrSTS IN THE PROGRESS. (Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.) Received October 17, 5.5 p.m. WASHINGTON. October IC. Some Americans west of the Meuse are slowly cutting through the Kreimliilde line, after a savage battle, the French and Italians co-operating. The French gains in the Rethel neighbourhood are notably assisting the American progress. (Reuter's Telegrams.) > Received October 17, 11 p.m. LONDON, October IG. The Americans have captured Grand Pre. ENEMY UNABLE TO STAND ON THE PREPARED SERRE-SISSONS-RETHEL LINE. FRENCH TROOPS DESPITE LONG FIGHTING SCOUT THE IDEA OF AN ARMISTICE. INABILITY .OF THE GERMANS TO ESCAPE FROM FOGH'S TENTACLES. (Australian and New Zealand ond Reuter.) Received October 17, 7..'50 p.m. LONDON, October 10. A French communique issued at 4.10 p.m. states that we slightly progressed at night time north of Sissonne and north of Asfeld. We checked a violent counter-attack in the region of St. Germain Mont. South-west of Rethel we captured the village of Acy. (Reuter's Telegrams.) Received October 17, 7.:i0 p.m. LONDON, October 16. Reuter's correspondent at French headquarters states that our continued advance on the Laon-Aisne front has dissipated any enemy hope of standing on the prepared Serre-Sissonne-Rethel line. The French troops have been fighting incessantly for three weeks, most of them with only brief rests since the spring, but they scout the idea of an armistice, They know that what prevents the enemy retreating rapidly is his inability to escape without disastrous loss from the tentacles which Marshal Focli has thrown round him. The German retirement was technically well conducted; he got most of bis material away, but it is blocking the roads for the retreating troops. Hence the retreat pace lias been compulsorily slackened, and may prove the most costly operation the German Command has yet attempted. AMERICANS DRIVING DEEPER INTO THE KRIEMHILDE LINE. Received October 17, 7.30 p.m. MONTREAL, October 10. Mr Kdwin James, correspondent with the American Army, cables that the Americans drove deeper into the Kriemhilde line north of Verdun, captured Puvin, and advanced beyond the enemy's second lines.