ARTOIS AND PICARDY

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

ARTOIS AND PICARDY

FURTHER ANGLO-FRENCH PROGRESS. ENEMY'S TENACIOUS DEFENCE. on rosrnoNS in the oise CANAL. (Australian, N.Z. and Router.) Received October 21, 12.3-3 a.m. LONDON, Oct. 21, 12.30 a.m. . Sir Douglas Haig reports that the Anglo-American forces this morning, operating in conjunction with the French, lx>t\veen the Oise and T,e Catcall, successfully renewed the advance. We leached the west hank of the Sambre, Oise Canal, northward of Oisy, and took possession of the high ground westward of Catillon. In our operations during the past three days in this sector General Rawlirison's 4th Army completed its advance from tive to eight miles across difficult country, which the enemy defended with tenacity. Having driven the enemy on the first day of their attack from strong positions on the right bank <>t tlie Selle River by determined rnd jxTsistent fighting, thev succe-ss-fuljy cleared the whole of the high ground eastward of the river line, capturing many villages in the course of their advance, with over 0000 prisoners and a number of nuns. A French communique states that during the night the Ist Army, continuing its victorious advance, completed the task of throwing lwck the enemv, who endeavoured to maintain at all costs the position on the west bank of the Oise. We presently reached the canal from east of the forest of Andigny to north of Hautoville. We hold Hannappes, Tupigny, and Novales, also the mr.ioritv of the places bordering the canal. Since the opening of the battle in this region on Thursday we took 3000 prisoners and cantured 20 guns, !>esides a considerable number of machine-guns and important war material including an entire munition train. BELGIAN PURSUIT CONTINUES. (Australian, N.Z. and Reuter.) Received October 21, 10 a.m. LONDON, Octolter 20. A Helgian communique states that our troops continue to pursue the enemv nnd have occupied Zeehrugge and Bruges. They have passed the Bruges-Ghent Canal and have made progress towards Deltri.

DEVELOPING THE RESULTS OF SIX DAYS' OPERATIONS. A THIRTY MILE ADVANCE. ON A THIRTY SIX MILE FRONT. (Australian, N.Z. and Reuter.) Received Oetol»er 21. 10.10 a.m. LONDON, Oct, 20, 4.20 a.m. Sir Douglas Haig's Belgian communique states that the British, Belgian and French armies commanded bv King Albert to-dav developed the results of the last six days. The Belgians occupied Zeebrugge and Heyst, and stormed Bruces. Elsewhere the Belgians crossed the Bruges. Ghent Canal. Their left reached the Dutch frontier and their righ Aeltre. half-way lietween Bruges and Client. The French carried Tliielt and the adjoining high ground despite stubborn resistance by the enemy, who is endeavouring to bar the way to the Lys. The French line at the end of the day leached Mullevincat and alone th:> Lys to Grammcne and Goltlieim Wielshcke. The ?nd British Army completely cleaned uo Courtrai and advanced nearly four miles east thereof. Southwards thry reached the Courtrai to Tournai road, and although the enemv destroved all communications they advanced nlr#ost to the Scheldt. Since the beginning of the operation our groun of armies has advanced 30 miles on a front of 3(> miles. Th<> Flanders coast has lteen cnmnleto'y liberated, also the wliole of Western Flanders. THE OCCUPATION OF LILLE A CITY OF THANKSGIVING. THE JOY OF THE PEOPLE. A GREAT EMBRACE. OF GRATITUDE AND LOVE. (Australian an,! N.Z. Cable Assn., Received October 21. 9 a.m. LONDON, October 20. Air Philip Cilibs writ"s yesterday:— ! Lille and saw the joy <d hun.i•• 1 s < i; thousands of people who. <'llrtii:- the war per : od, have suffered :lr.:gic things and unforgettable out-la-jys to their libel ty and spirit. Although it was caily morning, the streets were thronged with well-dress. cd women ;ind children. and blaek-coat-cd men. The city's broad avenue.-), streets and parks were everywhere >d 'v. i;h Eng!i,h and Freiicls Hags,

The Germans blew up the bridges around the city a few hours l>elotd fleeing, but the British built footbridges, over which tliey entered tho town. The people opened their arms in a great embrace of platitude ami love for those who had helped t» rescue them. Tt was an overwhelm, mg and uplifting scene. Before I had pone far up the first avenue I was surrounded by a great crowd. A tody broke through and, clasping both hands, said: "I embrace vou for tho gladness you have brought" uv'' Sho kissed me on both cheeks, and this wa s the sipnal for general embraces, i retty girls offered their cheeks and small Iwvs gushed through and turned up their faces to kiss, end the soldier and old rn.ni joined in. Mothers lifted up their •.•iuldivn to i,e kissed, ;;nd this lasted not lor a few moments but for hours. Everybody had learned a few words of English greeting, and con- ■ 'nth cried, "Scheme, welcome! !; un V. ' lvt ' England!" Nearlv 100 fcngbsh people were liberated in Liile. The inhabitants of Lille will never torgef the Herman crimes. Thev rc-iQictho.rpi-cn.™of lcrror at Easter, 1.16, when 8000 yonng women were forcibly sent to work hundreds of away, and machine-guns wero ported at each end of the streets Officers ordered families to gather in the doorways and made arbitrary choice. Some were dragged out 'of bed screaming, and unsueakable things happened to them after their removal Twelve days later 12,000 men and boys were removed. It is generally known tnat the Germans removed millions of pounds' north of textile ma ehinery from Lille and the neighbouring town? and smashed what remained their deliberate plan iteing to k'll industry, but Lille to-dav is a citv of thanksgiving. FRESH BRITISH ATTACK ON THE SELLE RIVER LINE. FT RTHER POSITIONS CAPTURED. (Australian and N.Z. and Reuter.) Received October 21, 11.2(1 a.m. LONDOX, October 20. Sir Douglas Haig reports th.->t early this morning we attacked the enemv's positions on the line of the Selle river northward of Le Catenu. and crossed the river, despite con.-iueiahK- opjkjsiti°n. further north the advance was continued yesterday afternoon and evening, and we completed the capture or Denain. and reached the general lino of Havebuy, \\ andignies, Hamage, Brilton, and Beuvrv. The enemy's resistance is increasing en this front Th,. enemy has commenced io withdraw northwards of the Camhrai-Havh road. AVe occupied Saulzoir, and mnde progress towards Denain from the south. Northwards of £ensu canal we have already entered Denain. and reached Enaudain and Sornain. On the left the Bth Division have taken Marchionennes, and during tho past ten days in the course of an advnnoe of over 13 miles they taken several hundred prisoners. Further northwards we steadily continue to advance, and have reached the general line of Orehies, Cohrieux, Bourgpilles and Ttmpluive. southward of Roubaix.