RETREAT OPENING THE WAY TO AN ADVANCE ON GHENT

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13894, 21 October 1918, Page 5

RETREAT OPENING THE WAY TO AN ADVANCE ON GHENT

GERMANS RETIRING VOLUNTARILY TO SHORTEN THEIR LINES. (Australian and Now Zealand Cable Association.) Received October 20, 5.5 p.in. LONDON, October If. M. Marcel llutin states that Prince Ruppreeht's retreat is opening the way to an Allied advance on Ghent. The enemy will have a hard task to escape difficulty between the Oise and Le Gateau. (Australian and New Zealand and Reuter.) Received October 20, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, October 19. Sir Douglas llaiir reports that he day was marked by stubborn resistance on the line between Bruges, Ooostcamp, Wynghene, Thielt and Oostroosebeke. We overcame the resistance east of Oostcamp and Ooostroosebeke. The Belgians south-west of Bruges are progressing considerably, crossing the Bruges-Ostend canal at several points. Advancing northwards, they occupied Oostcamp and readied the approaches to Bruges. The 2nd British Army improved their line south of the Lys and crossed the railway at a number of points. The British in the afternoon occupied Roubaix and Turcoing. The British in Flanders continue to clear out strong enemy rearguards, and are advancing steadily. The British have known for a fortnight that the retreat was in progress. The Hermans, who are going of their own volition, still have .">OO,OOO reserves, apart from the 1920 class, but prefer 1o cut their losses and use tli/> half-million men to defend a new line than bolster an untenable longer line. The enemy apparently has not quite evacuated the Zeebrugge area, as Ostend has been shelled from there. Although Bruges is not yet occupied, our troops have readied the western and southern outskirts. British patrols after traversing Roubaix and Turcoing, have readied the outskirts of Mouscron. ANGLO-AMERICAN PROGRESS IN CO-OPERATION WITH THE FRENCH. ENEMY DRIVEN FROM FRESH POSITIONS DESPITE HEAVY RESISTANCE. A FORCED RETREAT ON THE LYS-SENSEE SECTOR CONTINUES. (Australian and New Zealand and Reuter.) Beceived October 20, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, October 19, 1 a.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports that the British and Americans continued the attack between Rohan and Le Cateau, and made good progress in co-operation with the French on their right. Despite heavy resistance, we once more have driven the enemy from the positions tie took up. We have captured Wassigny and Ribeauvillo and entered Bazual, where the fighting continues. We took over 1200 prisoners in these operations. Between the Sensee canal and the Lys the enemy's forced retreat continues. We advanced a further five miles, despite considerable resistance. Heneral Home's Ist Army completed the capture of Douai and progressed eastwards, on this lront we have reached a general line Marquette-en-Ostrevant, Masny. Bersoe, Fretin. Sainghin and Ascq. Northward of Ascq General Plumer's 2nd Army are eastward of Roubaix and Turcoing. DETAILS OF NAVAL OPERATIONS AT OSTEND AND ZEEBRUGGE. KINO AND OI'EEN OF BELGIANS ENTHUSIASTICALLY RECEIVED AT OSTEND. BRITISH MOTOR-ROATS TORPEDO CAPTAIN FRYATT'S VESSEL AT ZEEBRI'GGE. Australian and New Zealand and Reulor.) ' Received October 20, 5.5 p.m, LONDON, October 19. The Pi'ess Bureau stales that British monitors on Monday shelled the 1 inland areas of the Belgian coast, but drew no reply, suggesting that the enemy had withdrawn his heavy batteries. British ships subsequently, under the cover of smoke screens, in making a reconnaissance, inshore, were met by shells of all calibres from the coast, but sustained no damage. Coastal motor-boats visited Zeebrugge with a view to torpedoing Captain Fryatt's steamer Brussels, which was lying alongside the mole. Aeroplanes, cooperating, dropped Hares, afterwards bombing actively. The motor-boats observed the wreck lyinir in the fairway, and although the chances of failure were great, owing to the shallowness of the water and the narrowness of the opening, the the motor-boats tired torpedoes at a ratine of 100 yards. The officers agree that a torpedo hit the Brussels' stern. The raiders, despite gunfire, returned without casualty. Admiral Keyes reports:—The situation between Nieuport and Ostend on Thursday morning was obscure. It seemed uncertain whether the enemy had withdrawn, as no fires started in either the Middelkerke or Ostend division. Our destroyers reconnoitred the coast, aircraft assisting. They arrived at Ostend at 11 a.m. and an aeroplane landed on the beach, where large c:|iwds of inhabitants were assembled. I entered the harbour in a whaler, and landed at 11.30 o'clock, meeting a great reception. The enemy was not yet clear of the town, and a light battery at Lecoq opened fire on the ships, two shells falling on the beach close to the crowd. A heavy battery of four guns from the direction of Zeebrugge opened fire on the destroyers, and as it seemed possible that the presence of naval forces would lead to a bombardment of Ostend or to more shells falling on the town, thus endangering the lives of the civilians parading the streets, I decided to withdraw the naval force, and thus give the enemy no excuse for firing on Ostend. I therefore re-embarked and the destroyers withdrew, being heavily shelled to just eastward of Middelkerke. Four motor launches remained at, Ostend as an inshore patrol. The inhabitants were nervous lest the Germans should return. The King and Queen of the Belgians expressed a wish to visit Ostend by sea or air. Owing to ttie difficulty of landing and the uncertainty of the situation they proceeded in the British destroyer Termagant to the vicinity of Ostend. They were received on landing with indescribable enthusiasm, and returned to Dunkirk at 10 p.m. The British naval forces were not damaged, and no casualty was suffered. AMERICANS GAIN FRESH SUCCESSES IN CO-OPERATION WITH THE BRITISH. ADVANCE CONTINUED UNDER MOST DIFFICULT CONDITIONS. (Australian and New Zealand and Reuter.) Received October 20, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, October 19. An American communique states that the Americans, participating in the British attack on Thursday, southward of Le Cateau, penetrated two miles and stormed Molain, St. Martin, Riviere and l'Arbre de Guise. West of the Oise the First Army re-attacked in the morning from Andigny forest to the river and gained fresh successes. We recaptured the village of Mannevrct, the forest of Andigny, of which we hold the eastern outskirts. We advanced three miles in this region under most difficult conditions and reached the outskirts of Hannappes, Grand Verly and d'Oyales, and captured the villages of Grougis, Disonville and Berneville, despite furious resistance. Farther south our advance guards continued the pursuit. Retween the Oise and the Serre we advanced north of Sery les Mezieres to the outskirts of Surfontein", nortti of Nouvion and Capillon, over five miles beyond the confluence of the two rivers. We occupied ten villages and have so far counted 1500 prisoners. DUTCH ARMY PREPARING FOR ANY EMERGENCY. GERMANS PREPARING TO MARKED STAND AT ANTWERP. . (Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.) i Received October 20, 5.5 p.m. AMSTERDAM, October 19. The Dutch army had all leave cancelled in readiness for an emergency. Holland is making provision for war victims. Ride and tield-gun fire had been heard near the frontier. The Germans have Hooded the districts westward of Antwerp, with a view to making a stand. ENTHUSIASM IN PARIS OVER THE CAPTURE OF LILLE. (Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.) Received October 20, 5.5 p.m. PARIS, October 19. The capture of Lille was the occasion of universal rejoicing. The capital was beflagged for the first time in the. war period. German guns were massed round the statue of Lille in the Palace de la Concorde. ANGLO-FRENCH-BELGIAN PROGRESS CONTINUES IN BELGIUM. - rs STRONG RESISTANCE RESULTS IN HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING. j- GERMANS ATTEMPT TO BLOCK THE FAIRWAY AT OSTEND. _x . (Australian and New Zealand and Reuter.) 0 Received October 20, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, October 18. A Belgian communique says that the Anglo-French in the morning resumed their advance. The Belgians have reached a general line from Ostend, Oudenburg, Ettelghem, Varssenacre, Standre and St. Michel. Towards the east enemy resistance is strong, and resulted in hand-to-hand fighting. We have reached the eastern outskirts of Oostcamp end Riengbeek, capturing Oostroosebeeke, and have progressed about a mile beyond. (Australian and New Zealand Ct'blt: Association.) Received October 20, 5.5 p.m. jf/" LoNHON, October IS. The Germans, before evacuating o?tPhd, sank a large paddle steamer, with the object of blocking the fairway between the Vindictive and the pie-*. Other small craft were sunk in harbour. HIDEOUS OUTRAGES PERPETRATED BEFORE THE EVACUATION OF LILLE. r THE CITY 'PILLAGED AND ROBBED IN EVERY DIRECTION. Renter's Telegrams.) y October 20, 5.5 p.m. «.• », yf'-.J PARIS-, October 19. The Havas correspondent at Lille says that the enemy yesterday bombarded I lie town with long range guns. Prior to leaving they destroyed th ■ 'municipal waterworks gas and electric installations, fa'rYied oil' all electric appliances, and perpetrated hideous outrages on the female population, forcing women ami young girls to undergo medical inspection on the pretext, of safeguarding the health of the army. They 'carried off aH the securities in the bank of Lille, and robbed and pillaged ifi • V' ; ry iliiVctlon, destroying furniture and breaking open the doors of buiMiftg#.