FIGHTING IN ARTOIS AND PICARDY

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13895, 22 October 1918, Page 5

FIGHTING IN ARTOIS AND PICARDY

40 GERMAN DIVISIONS MASSED BETWEEN LE CATEAU AND THE OISE. DOUAI MORE COMPLETELY SACKED THAN ANY OTHER TOWN. (Reuter's Telegrams.) Received October 21, 7.15 p.m. PARIS, October 21. It is stated that the Germans have massed 50 divisions on a 36-mile front between the disc and Le Gateau. The Germans sacked Oouai perhaps more completely than any other town. The contents of the houses were destroyed and many houses burned. The streets were strewn with furniture, all the shop windows were broken, two-thirds of the pictures in the museum are missing, the stained windows and organs in the churches were smashed, and the sacred ornaments flung on the tlagstones. BRITISH FORCE THE PASSAGE OF THE SELLE RIVER. POSITION'S ESTABLISHED OX HIGH GROUND DESPITE DETERMINED OPPOSITION. (Australian and New Zealand and Reuter.) Received October 21, 11.35 p.m. LONDON, October 20. Sir Douglas Haig reports thai this morning's attack by the British forced (he passage of the Selle river between Le Gateau and Denain. Having captured the villages in the river valley and driven the enemy from Solesmes, we fought up the slopes eastward of the Selle and established ourselves on the high ground overlooking the Harvies Valley. We encountered determined opposition, especially at Solesmes and St. Python, but we overcame Ibis opposition after bard fighting and repulsed a number of counter-attacks. This operation was carried out in heavy rain. We took 2000 prisoners and some guns. Our advanced troops are within two miles of Tournai, and are in contact with the enemj eastwa>ri of a general line from Denain, Bois des Eclusettes, Landas, Moucbin and Marquain.