THE WAR.
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6rn, 1918
RITISH ADVANCING ON
CAMBRAI:
ENEMY'S NEW “SWITCH” LINE
MENACED:
MOEUVRES AND YTRES CAPTURED: GERMAN FRONTIER POSITIONS STRENGTHENED.
OLSHEVISTS MURDER BRITISH NAVAL
ATTACHE AT PETROGRAD,
inco-Belgian Front
LATEST CABLES. THROUGH NEUTER'S AGENCY.)
BRITISH FRONT.
AERIAL OPERATIONS. “
Lospas, September 3rd. 11.33 p.m.
Douglas Haig states :
aeroplanes, worked all day in front he advancing "battle line while ration balloons followed up closely. ge formations of hostile machines ently attacked our airmen, who per in their various tasks of maintain batact with the infantry, artillery
and bombed and machine-gunned 'troops and transport. They also ed anti tank guns and dropped sup-
of small-arm Anmunition
try in the forward zone,
しか the
re was much air-fighting, and we yed 10 hostile machines and drove two uncontrollable. Twenty British! nes are pissing.
The Germans dammed the Scarpe, and 'the water has 'spread over a considerable area, but this has not interfered with our
progress.
We struck the enemy at a new place to the nurth, where our troops stormed and captiered Richebourg-St. Vanst. ·
The weather continues ident for held
warfare.
HOW THE
SWITCH" LINE WAS
-BROKEN.
LONDON, September 3rd,
10.45 p.m. Reuter's Correspondent at British Headquarters, telegraphing to-day, says:
ETAING CAPTURED.
LONDON, September 3rd,
9.00 p.m.
Alergoser, the loss of Cambrai would mean the fall of St. Quentin, which, in turn; would make the retention of the great St. Gobain heights between La Fere and the Ailetta, impossible.
It is worth reiterating that the German
Renter's Agency learns that we have captured Etaing, whence the line runs to a kilometre cast of Dury, thence through the western outskirts of Buissy, which is line on the West Front really depends on, held to the past of Pronville, west of the retention of these heights, which Boursics and east of Doignes.
General Mangin's advance also threatens. A GERMAN REPORT.
Losbox, September 4th.
8.3 p.m.
A substantial adrance was unde south of Ypres.
A German official statement says: -- We withdrew on Monday night our troops in the line from, Arlous to Moeuv res and Manancour:.
We captured Le Mesnil. Etricourt, and Irnancourt, and reached the line of the Tortille river, being an advance of a fur- ther two miles or a freat of six miles since this morning."
We repulsed four French attacks Numerous Sres were observed at and against the high ground between Cam- east of Bus und Bertincourt.
There are also siĝas of enemy évacua-, tions in the uren south of the Sensee river to west of the Canal-du-Nord.
South of the Lys we reached the south- era outskirts, of Sailly-sur-Lys and ad vanced along the Estaires-La Bassee road as far as Neuve Chapelle, of which we hold the outskirts.
な
We captured Richebourg-St. Vaast. There is evidence of a further retreat astride the Cambrai Bapaume road.
MOECVRËS CAPTURED BY THE
BRITISH.
LONDON: September 4th.
9.10 p.ts." Reuter learns that the British hate cap- tured Moeuvres and creased the Canal du
pagne and Bussy.
We repulsed, after hitter hand to hand fights, renewed French, American and Italian attacks between the Ailette and
the Aisne.
"
EARLIER CABLES,
MINOR ACTIONS REPORTED.
LONDON, September 4th. 1.45 p.
Fichi Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re- norts:-Minor actions are reported from different localities.
We reached the east side of Vaux
Woods, purth of Moistains, and slightly advanced at other points.
Generally, we reached the line on the
They also occupied Rumancourt and the FRENCH TAKE 1,200 PRISONERS. west bank of the Canal-du-Nord as far us north of Sains-lez-St. Marquin, and
also hold Inchy-en-Artois, "Dernicourt, and Hermies whence the line runs west of Rayaulcourt and Ytres.
We captured Ytres, four miles east of Le Transley, and made progress beyond.
South of Ytres we hold the west bank of the Canal-du-Nord, which we crossed at the village Haute-Allaines, two miles north of Peronne.
The report of the occupation of Lens is prematura,
GERMAN MAIN HEADQUARTERS
TRANSFERRED.
THE HAGUI, September 3rd. Les Nouvelles states that the German Main Headquarters have been transferred from Spa to Versiers, in the province of Liege.
CLOSE TO THE WINNING POST."
Paxis, September 4th.
A semi-offcial report states:-The hour seems close at hand when the superh efforts of the Allies will begin to bear fruit. One of our great chiefs said yes |terday," "We are in the last lap and
are now close to the winning post,”
GERMAN REPORTS.
Lostos, September 3rd.
6.10 p.m.
PARIS, September 4th..
3.40 SL, DL
A communiqué states: Our infantry crossed the Somme opposite Epenancourt.
Further south the French gained a looting at Genvry, east of the Canal-du- Nord, capturing prisoners.
East of Noyon we made fresh progress and reached the outskirts of Salency.
this region, between the Ailette and the Artillery firing tontinues heavy in
Aisne
Yesterday we captured 1,200 prisoners. Our aviators were very active, co- operating with the artillery in destroy- ing centres +7 Pesistance. Nineteen enemy aeroplanes and nine balloons were grassed." Tons of bombs were dropped an the back areas, and camps were machine-gunned.
THROUGH HAVAS AGENCY.]
LUDENDORFF'S AUTHORITY
WEAKENING.
PARIS. September 3rd. A Havas message says:
"The Serco fighting of the last few days, which bas produced a fine British success, cannot fail, owing to the efforts of the troops of Generals Deboney. Humbert and angin, to have most important consequences,
The long and bitter battle which was Nord on a three-mile front, reaching the / Canal-du-Nord, and occupied Ecourt-St. by superior fores, pressed us back on again enters the shelter of the Hinden-
expected to develop out of yesterday's attack against the famous switch" line broke suddenly during the afterponn into a general enemy flight.
From the time we carried the "switch" system at 7.30 am, until well after mid- day the resistance stiffened, and then died down so suddenly that it was evident that. the enemy was withdrawing as hastily as
he could
At 10.30 this morning our airmen re- dropped 24 tons of bonus during ported that no Germans were to be seen y and night.
west of the Canal Du Nord and De La GREAT PURSUIT CONTINUES. Sensee, which runs nearly due south from
LONDON, September 4th..
Douai, save at a few outposts at places along the bank. British Ler's Correspondent at
Dar airmen are having a great time. quarters, telegraphing to-day, says:
great pursuit of the retiring Gering at a little more than 200 feet, continues.
43 p.m.
German rearguards are quite un o check our galloping-up batteries."
have frequently red on
mas
g towards the east at point-blank
appear to have reached the out- of Moeuvres. Stiff fighting is proli ere, as this is the village connecting switch" line with the main
nburg Line, with which it is linked edoubt covering a square mile.
however, we decay Buissy and it should not be difficult to turn the res position by coming down on the: f the town.
Wherever the enemy is met with he seems to be in a state of semi-panic. ..
The number of machine guns we have already collected is said to run into thousands."
We captured the crews of sonte heavy howitzers, who had just blown up their guns. They complained that they had scarcely been able to fire at all owing to
the want of shells.
Comparatively few guns have fallen ino our hands since the enemy, early in the battle, smut his batteries scampering towards the rear:
THE FLANDERS» LINE.
LONDON, Septenber 2nd.
8.45 p.m. Reuter learns that the line in Flanders runs from Voormezeele, immediately west of Walverghein, through Nehre Eglise ank of the Canal du Nord. The and teenmergy to cast. of Estaires and
terday evening we were reported la tering Ytres."
established our posts along the west
ite side of the Canal does not appear | La Couture.
held in strength, but is simply stiff machine-guns.
ods used by the enemy damming csco Scarpe, Canal increased you.
, bus did not seriously binder cur
ess.
::
amount of enemy war material to ared up in the territory over which ve swept is immense.
3
The retirement is continuing. Considerable progress has been achieved
on the whole 2 mile front from the Scarpe to the Same.
The Drocourt-Quenatswitch" line! was definitely smashed in on in front of. six miles.
Quentin, north of the Arras Cambrai
western butskirts of Neuville Beur Jouval to the north-western part of Farrincourt | road.. Wood, "both of which are north-east of
Ytres.
We made progress astride the Lys. We are approaching Nerve Chapelle
NO SIGNS OF GERMAN COUNTER-and La Ventie, and we took possession of
STROKE.
Losos. September 4th.
7a.m.
There is still not the slightest sign of the expected German counter-stroke which mist soon be delivered if General Laden- dorff wishes to save the situation.
Prisciers speak of the great mysterious army headed by General which is ready to pounce ou. the Allies, but the whereabouts of this army is un-
known.
where the enemy will turn.
Mackensen
Sailly-sur-Lys, Nieppe and Le Remarin.
BRITISH ENTER WULYERGHEM."
Losos, September 3rd.
21.83.p.m.
Field Marshal Sir Douglas Huig ce ports: After the heavy defeat inflicted on the enemy yesterday, our progress be tween Feronne and the Sense continued. We reached general line Yares-
„Beaunietz-les-L'ambrai Baralle Run.
court-Lecluses -
road.
wireless German oficial report) It is likely that when General Luden- states:-The English southeast of Arras,dorff, after the "severe" blows sustained,
both sides of the Arras Cambrai high barg Line, he will have to bring the whide German Army into line to hold put temporarily. The foe will be. power.. less to resist the fresh American Armiest supplied with new material. This is probably now realised by the German High Command, who sees his effectives vanishing and his best defences broken
LONDON, September 3rd.
11.13 p.
"A wireless Geman evening official report states:--Between the Scarpe and the Some the movements which we sou menced on the night of September and were completed in accordance with plan.
LATEST CABLES.
FRENCH FRONT-
FRENCH APPROACHING
'CRISOLLES,
PARIS, September 8th. A ennmanikai states: Last evening and at night we continued to push the Wempturedne drove back with losseneny rast of the Canul-du-Nord and bostile rearguards, which resisted nur between the Ailette and the Alane.
We captured Bois-du-Chapitre, north- advance.
Our artillery inflicted heavy casualties east of Chevilly, and Bussey, farther on the retreating enemy. ".
Our advanced clements are pursuing the enemy and are approaching Crisolles. North of the Ailette we enrried our
youch.
The chief problem of the moment is Experts expect that he will attempt to stand on the Brebieres-Moeuvres line, but this will her very uncomfortable as it covers Cam- brai and Douni with such a narrow margin that no elbow-room is left for retiring in dese formation over the ridge lines to the Western outskirts of Coucy-le- defence.
It appears that the Germans in a last attempt to save the situation have packed 70,000 men onTMx front of 8,000 yards.
律
Our batteries over open rights, success fully engaged large numbers of the enemy
north-west of Equancourt.
In their hurried retreat the enemy left: quantities of stores and material.
South of the Lys English troops cap-
The nume. “Hindenburg line " has not tured Richebourg-St. Vaust, nud, esinh-
Chateau and Jumencourt.
into.
After continious defents, scorEN of desertions are counted daily. while the authority of General Ladendorff is weakening and passing into the Army Commanders' hands all along the immense front from Nieuport to the SBisions region, where the Imperial Crown Prince certainly feels already the threat
un his right fank.
(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY-}'
WITHIN A MILE OF CROUY.
LONDON, September 3rd.
8.05 p.m.
French Reuter's Correspondent at Headquarters, telegraphing this after- To the south we advanced east of Levillynoun, states: General Mangin's attack and reached the outskirts of Clamenney and Braye, and penetrated Bubylelong.
We captured over 1,500 prisoners in this region.
...
Un the Vesla front, our elements crossed
yet appeared in German communiqués lished theives on the line of the while it has utterly vanished from the La Bassee rond between Richebourg and the river at several points. German papers of which it was the chief Estaires.
feature in past werks.
So far there is no indication of the feeling in Germany, where the Crown Prince and the official writers are ela borately explaining the advantages of an elastic defence, preparatory to breaking the news of the smash,
GERMAN FRONTIER FORTIFICA- TIONS STRENGTHENED.
· Loxpos, September 4th.
Le Pèm Parixion reports that some Ger-
frontier. !
|
victory,
on
We captured Estaires, also a number of prisoners and a few guns.
We advanced slightly in the western outskirts of Leus and east and north of Givenchy-lez-La Bassee.
AMERICANS CAPTURE SOISSONAIS PLATEAU.
LONDON, September 4th.
6.10 p.m. Reuter's correspondent at the American- Headquarters, states: The long and
on the plateau between the Ailette and the Aisne yesterday afternoon resulted in another important advanen."
J
'On the left, opposite Guny, we have the bridgehead across the Ailette," and the French troops occupied the wood west of Covey-le-Chatenu. They also establish ed a footing in the little wood south-east of Moulin-de-Nogent, so that we are now. barely mile from Coucy.
•.
On the main plateau, Terny-sorny, which We also progressed north-east of Steen-stubborn struggle during the past week prsisted several attacks, was taken, and on the Soissonais Platean was crowned a footing obtained on the plateaux north- werck, and we entered Wolverghem.
cast of Crouy, ENEMY IN DIRE STRAITS. with victory, in which one of the best
German Divisions were put out of action' LONDON, September 3rd.
5:15 p.m.
by the French and American troops, We are now in possession of the Platenu. Reuter's Correspondent" at British
man generals have had several retreating Headquarters, telegraphing on Tuesday positions strongly fortified "the morning, states:-To what straits the enemy is reduced may be judged by the The journal remarks that the fact that fact that the fighting strength of the We penetrated, froin the western edge the German staff have considered such a Second Quards Reserve Division, which was trent is the best proof of the Allies thrown in during the fighting and had Etsinte to the western edge of Cagnicourt
already suffered so heavily, was barely enemy had no time to destroy all and are thenes approaching Queant.
So rapidly were our guns got across the LATEST NEWS REGARDING LENS. 4,000 men, one battalion consisting of a aul crossings.
Losnox September 4th. single officer and 35 other ranks. rounded up yesterday over 2,600 entrenched zone that six-inch high velo-
The position at Lena appears to be that bitterness and arrogance are almost en The prisoners are dejected, but their ers and captured 22 field guns, cities since early this morning have been booty at Richebourg St Vaast, in maintaining continuous harassing fire the British advanced guards are in the
tirely absent, on to that already cabled, included on the Marquoin crossing on the Cambrai western and south-western parts of the road, by which all beavy German trans-city, which the enemy has abandoned, but, port had to escape.
owing to gas traps, etc., progress must be very enutious.
hotzera.
news was received this morning that ral Plumer's army
had advanced
At 11 o'clock the old Royal Naval divi- er 1,500 yards in the region of Lasion had advanced nearly eight miles,
APIDITY OF ADVANCE SUR,
PRISES GERMÄNS.
Loyoos, September 3rd.. uler's eorrespondent at the British quarters, telegraphing to-day, states: surprise occasioned by the rapidity or advance sectas to have been com
since yesterday morning, and was still going.
North of the Scarpe our troops have done little more than steadily throw "for-] ward a covering flank.
Our infantry outran the support guns, in spite of the fact that the batteries galloped forward in a way reminiscent of Long Valley manœuvres,
7.25 p.m.
י |
It should be remembered in this connee tion that Sir Douglas Haig never claims the capture of a position until he has con- solidated it.
GERMANS SERIOUSLY MENACED
BY CAMBRAI ADVANCE.
LONDON, September 4th. 12.30 p.m. The advance towards Cambrai is at present the most dangerous menace for the enemy, because the loss of Cambrai would certainly mean the loss of Douai,
The enemy gunire is desaltory and is powhere formidable. The enemy is evi ammunition in this part of the front. Lille very difficult.
any fires are springing up at many dently desperately short of artillery whose fall would make the holding of
e for back.
The enemy incurred very heavy losses
in the endeavour in check our progress, expecially the Prussinn Guards, whose dead were piled up in five, futile counter-
attacks.
North-east of Crouy we are on the édgs of the second plateau across the Margival Valley, through which the Soissons-Laon Railway runs.
Over 1,200 prisoners were captured during the day,
The tanks played an important part in yesterday's. French attack, alep our air-
men.
As a result of yesterday's fighting we greatly strengthened our position along plateau tooth and nail The Prassian The enemy, naturally, is defending the the Ailette, and brought our lines within a few miles of the line, held before the last German advance over the Chemin- den Dames.
What the enemy considered his first fine of defence in that region is now entirely in French handy.
1.40 a.m.
at
The German fighting aeroplanes are ainest wholly devoting themselves to
EARLIER CABLES. anti-tank work, particularly at night-time,"
ENEMY MOVING NORTH
in order to detect the grinding of the when they constantly cut off their engines
LONDON, Beptember 4th.
Reuter's correspondent- tractor, after which they drop brilliant
French parachute lights to see where to bomb.
Headquarters, telegraphing last, evening, The weather is cloudy and windy, but states:-The enemy is desperately resint- is not unfavourable for campaigning.
ing between the Somme and the Aison.
We are extending our positions north- REPORT OF LENS OCCUPATION
cast of Noyon. PREMATURE.
Violent fires, are reported in the Vesle region, especially at Meurifal and Barbonvil The enemy is apparently destroying store prior to withdrawal. -
Numerous convoys are reported moving towards the north.
LONDON, September 4th.
3.00 p.m. The British captured Etaing, and
advance of over a mile since last night." Ecourt St. Quentin, representing an
"
Guards delivered five futile counter- attacks, leaving the ground littered with their dead
Five days" hard fighting between the Ailette and the, Aisne have given good results. The first powerfully-organised * line across the Ternysorny plateau was taken, the second line is already being [attacked and the French are across the Ailette at several points. The battle has used up several of the enemy's best divi- ions, who were no match for General Mangia's Colonial troops. +
GERMAN REPORT.
Lowpox, September 3rd.
6.10 p.m.
A wireless German official report states: The French west and south of Coucy-le-Chatenú slightly pressed me back. from the Ailette.
Strong repeated enemy attacks between the Ailetto and the Aisne failed.
(Continued on Page 6.)
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