1918-09-30 — Page 5

Page

THE WAR.

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, `MONDAY · SEPTEMBER 30ra. 118.

SUCCESSFUL NEW ALLIED ATTACKS:

BRITISH ADVANCE TOWARDS

CAMBRAI;

FRANCO-AMERICAN TROOPS' OFFENSIVE IN VERDUN DISTRICT:

TWENTY-EIGHT THOUSAND PRISONERS TAKEN.

CONTINUED PROGRESS IN THE BALKANS:

BULGARIA ASKS FOR AN ARMISTICE

Franco-Belgian Front

(THROUGH EXUTER'S AGENCY.) -

BRITISH FRONT. FIRST AND THIRD BRITISH ARMIES ATTACK,

Losos, September 99th. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re ports:-Portions of our First and Third Armies, under General, Horne and Gen- eral Byng, respectively, attacked before dawn on a wide front in the general direction of Cambrai.

AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY OVER THE BATTLEFIELD.

AMERICANS THROW BACK RE- PEATED COUNTER-ATTACKS.

An Air Ministry communiqué soyà:-

LONDON, September 28th In conjunction with the Franco- "American An American communiqué statea:-Our operations yesterday we attacked the rail- First Army continued the attack north- ways at Metz Sablon, and Andun-test of Verdun and took Charpentry, Homan, with very good results.

Very, Epinonville, and Ivoiry. "

Large numbers of enemy aircraft were Repeated hostile counter-attacks were encountered in bitter fighting. Wa thrown back by troops from Ohio, New! destroyed two and shot down one out of Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Oregon, control.

Six of ours have not returned.

We further attacked Metz Sablon at! night and also bombed railways at Mezieres, Thionville and Ars and the Frescaty aerodrome.

GERMAN VERSIONS.

LONDON, September 27th.

says:

A German affioial message -We repulsed partial attacks eastward of the Mease, the Austro-Hungarians specially distinguishing themselves.

Washington, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana.."

We, captured over 100 guns of which twelve are heavy guns, many trench mortars, and hundreds of machine-guns.

Our prisoners now number over 8,000/ including 125 officers," ALONG BIG STRETCH OF HINDEN- BURG LINE.

The Balkans.

·{THROCON REUTER'D JORNOY.) BALKANS ADVANCE

CONTINUES.

BRITISH ENTER STRUMNITZA, LONDON, September 37th. A British official Salonika states:British troops, pre- message from

ceeded by yeomanry, entered Strumnitza on Thursday morning, while British and Greek tfcops stormed the heights of the Belashitsa mountains.

The British have taken" 30 guns.

SERBIANS TRIUMPHANT

PROGRESS.

LONDON, September 27th.

A Serbian communique of the evening of the 20th confirms the enpture of Ishtip

has entered Kochane.

Serbian cavalry. pursuing the enemy

|

BULGARIA ASKS FOR AN ARMISTICE.

ALLIED GENERALISSIMO SEG. GESTS FLAG OF TRUCE.

COPENHAGES, September 17th. A Berlin official message says:~-The Bulgarian Premier has proposed an armistice to the Entente.

Berlin adds that the offer is not support. ed by the other Bulgarian Ministers or by King Ferdinand, and declares that strong military measures will be taken to support the Bulgarian front.

AMSTERDAM, September 27th. Amesange From Berlin says:-Bul- garia's offer of an hrmistice was made by the Premier Malinoff to the leader of the Entente troups" operating against Bul Bora

PARIS, September 27th. General Desperey, the Allied Generalia- that he was unable to grant either an simo in the Balkans, replied to Bulgaria

armistice or interruption of the fighting, but would receive the Bulgarian delegates.. if they present themselves before the

have been captured, including several Enormous quaadities, of war material

British lines with a Bag of truce.

military trains abandoned by the Bul-Office has received Balgaria's application

LoxDus, September 28th. Reuter's Agency learns that the Foreign

for an armistice.

LONDON, September 29th, Retter's Correspondent at American Headquarters, telegraphing on the 37th, The French and Americans, advancing says So far the advance has progressed Further progress was made in the even-Argonur.employed numerous tanks. Od what the result will be.

westward 'of the Aisne and eastward of like clock-work, but it is too soon. to say ing, more especially in the northern advanced posts, in accordance with orders,what may be considered the Hindenburg

A great number of additional Bul portion of the hattlefield, and additional retreated, fighting, to their allotted deline but behind is a string of trenches

We have taken garians and Germans have been taken prisoners and guns were captured.

prisoner. The Sixth and Seventeenth Corps con-heights north-westward of Tahure and as joined to it by a good deal of wire and The enemy reached the called Hagenstelling, and behind that and tinued to make good progress between far as Fontaine-en-Dormois, where our other defensive works, is the. Folkerstell Flesquieres Ridge and the Bourton

reserves shot their bolt to the enemy's ung, which connects a series of strong Heights.

local break-through.

which the German main reliance is Places. All these must be passed before Kliembildestellung, which is the line on placed, can be reached.

beyond Haynecourt, reached the Douai

The First Canadian Division, passing

Cambrai road by nightfall.

passing

fence lines.

BRITISH GAIN GROUND TOWARDS

Fresh battles are imminent..

CAMBRAI

and south-eastward of Sommepy, and also The enemy's attacks between Auberive northward of Cernay, broke down. The Eleventh Division, through the Canadians, advanced rapid-enemy reached Mont Blainville, Mont Between Argonne and, the Meuse the ly a distance of over two miles. captur-Faucon and the bend of the Meuse north Notwithstanding the great strength of ing Epinoy and Disy-le-Verger,

castward of Mont Faucon, where he was the enemy positions, especially in the northern sector, where the Canal-du-Nordion, pressing northwards along the

Simultaneously the Fifty-Sixth Divi-brought to a standstill by our reserves. and open ground sloping towards the Canal, captured ever 500 prisoners in the enemy rendered the advance most difficult, defeness north-east of Sauchy-Cauchy- all our objectives have been reached.

American detachments on our extreme helped by the admirable work of the These operazione were materially tight captured a series of trenches and Engineers, who in less than four hours fortified farms forming the outer defences from the opening assault; and, despite of the main Hindenburg system south-west-shell-bre, successfully threw across the ward of Le Catelet. Further north the Canal-du-Nord Fifth Division captured Beaucamp and, capable of carrying transport, thus per Д number of bridges combining with the Lancashire men of the mitting the advance to continue without Forty-Second Division, cleared Beaucamp ridge running northeastwards towards Marcoing.

check.

The operations were progressing satis- factorily this morning on the whole battlefront.

In the right and centre, the Guards and Third Division of the Sixth Corps, under Leneral Haldane. breaking through the BRITISH ADVANCE IN FLANDERS

LONDON, September 28th.

Sir Douglas Haig states:The opera

enemy's defences east of Harrincourt, carried the village of Flesquieres and

2.40 p.m.

LONDON, September 28th.

states:-The enemy has gained ground As wireless German official message

6 p.m.

towards Cambrai.

tacks in Champagne and between Argonne Renewed vigorous Franco-American at- and the Meuse failed.

FRENCH FRONT. FRENCH CAPTURE TEN THOUSAND PRISONERS.

A

PARIS, September 28th. communiqué states:-Our troops to-day, the tanks supporting them, front, breaking the resistance of the freshly advanced on the whole battle enemy, who vainly attempted to arrest our progress. We made progress between violent counter-attack"

bind the fighting front to participate in eagerness of the troops immediately be The Correspondedt describes the interse

forty-eight years ago the armies of the the battle. It was across this country that Crown Princes of Prussia and Saxony pusad like devouring vultures to feast at

the Prussian armies are facing south Sedan upon the vitals of Franec. Now, instead of Prussia hastening to victory desperately to avoid defeat from the army of the New World--a miracle, indeed, which is proof of the final appeal of righteousness to the heart of maa. ENEMY STUBBORNLY RETIRING

was

TO PREPARED LINE.

LONDON, September 27th. Reuter's Correspondent at American Headquarters, telegraphing at 9 o'clock on the evening of the 25th, says: -The bonbardment before the assault extremely severe, the enemy's massed artillery being gassed for hours, Fog increased the difficulties of our young troups. It is too early to pronounce upon the results, but certainly the enemy has been forced to give up positions of great strength. His machinegun work alone caused trouble, although his air work proved as the battle progressed. Our tanks, did well. The Prussian Guard

to the last..

garians.

P

kilometres as the crow Hire, northward of The Serbian cavalry has advanced 190-

the line whence the offensive started.

FURTHER PROGRESS "BY SERBIANS.

LONDON, September. 28th-

A Serbian communiqué, issued on the evening of the 27th, anys: --Our troops on took the garrison prisopers. the 28th inst. entered Veles where they

There is no suggestion that M. Mali- noff's action is taken only on his own initiative. The request is for an-armisticn- in order to discuss peace. Great Britain can only reply after consultation with ber Allies.

It is understood that the view in official

Turkey. It would free the whole Salonika circles is that peace with Bulgaria would have a prodigious effect, especially spen

Our advance towards Uakub continues.rection with Turkey it would also free

army. and, in certain eventualities in con We also progressed considerably be- Jond Kochane;.

!

An enormous additional number of prisoners, mostly Germans, and also large quantities of war material, includ ing machine-guns and three mountain guns, have been captured.

Serbian cavalry, by a bold push, co town of Kochage. wards the east from Ishtip, captured, the

The Serbian Armies have reached Kar bintai, north of Ishtip; and are now attacking the town of Veles, which is defended by a German Jaeger bastalion, with disorganised Bulgarian elements.

flang back the left wing of the Eleventh The Allies advancing from Prilep Germano Bulgarian army in the moun tain region west of Kruchova

The Italians have already reached the

ALLIES ADVANCING.

took possession of the long spar running tions of the Second British Army, in Auberia and St. Marie Apy, despite held Fagnois with instructions to resist

Flanders in conjunction with the Bel-East of Sommeepy we crossed the Chal. It is believed the enemy is now stub neighbourhood of Kruchero.. On their left the Scottish and Nayal gian, Army, will be reported in a. Belgian lerance Railway on a front of four kilo-bornly retiring to a prepared line to

eastwards from Flosquigres towards Mar- coing.

coiuruumiqué.

AERIAL OPERATIONS.".

LONDON, September 27th. Sir Douglas Haig states:-Twenty

were dropped dur

Three-and-a-half tons of bombe were dropped at night-time, without loss.

metres advancing over two kilometres towards the north.

North-east of Tahure we captured a powerfully-organised centre of resistance at Gratreuil, also the village Gratreuil. and Fontaine-en-Dormois, further east and we ennquered Le Chelle and Cernay On the right our lines were, carried to within a kilometre south of Boucouville,

Since yesterday our advance at certain points reached eight kilometres,

La two days the number of prisoners captured by the French exceeds 10.000 and much material.

AERIAL ACTIVITIES.

Fine weather on September 28th en- fullest extent in the battle. Twenty-six abled our aviators to co-operate to the tons of bombs were dropped in the day- time on the rear of the battlefield and 23 tons of bombs at night on canton- ments, bivouacs, aerodromes and stations Fighting planes practically nullified observation by enemy aircraft, and wo felled 42 machines and set fire to seven balloons.

anits of the Seventeenth Corps, having stormed the line of the Canal-du-Nord | cast and south-east of Moeuvres, were the ârst to be checked by the defences at Graincourt. Outflanking Graincourt tons of. bombs from the north, they seized Anneux and ing the day-time or enemy dump, carried forward the whole Corps front. railheads, We captured Graincourt and continued several hangars during a raid on sa

and billets. We ignited Wood. the advance to. Cantaing and Fontaine- Notre-Dame

aerodrome. We. destrored a machine on On the left and centre, the Canadian which attempted to repel our attack-

the ground and shot down seven others, Corps, under General Currie, attacking with the First, Third and Fourth Canar elsewhere. Five of ours are missing.

We destroyed four hostile machines, "dian Divisions, forced a passage over the Canal-du-Nord and captured the villages of Sains-lez-Marquion and Bourlon, and also the wooded heights of Bourlon hill.

TANKS PARTICIPATE. Pressing on with the assistance of the Eleventh English, they substantially pro-

LONDON, September 27th. 4.34 p.m. gressed toward Raillencourt and Hayne-

Reuter's Correspondent at British -court.

Headquarters, telegraphing on the 27th Oar, deep advance astride the Arras inst., stated:-The British attack this Cambrai road was greatly assisted by the morning, was assisted by a thick haze close co-operation of the Twenty-Second

The Canadians crossed the Canal du Corps, under, General Goddey, and south-Nord above Moeuvres, and, advancing ward and northward, of the Sensee and

towards the cust, reached to within Ecarpe rivers by the Fifty-Sixth London

mile west of the Bourlon Wood. Division. This corps crossed the Canal- Later, our tanks were seen near Fles du-Nord and attacking northwards cap:

quieres, the infantry closely following, tured

Bauchy-le-Stree and Sauchy-

By half-past nine o'clock we had crossed Cauchy,

the Canal defences on a front of between North of the Scarpe on the extreme

five and six thousand yards. left the English and Septtish troops com-

We advanced to an extreme depth of pleted the capture of Arleux-en-Gohëlle

"a mile and a quarter. and the trench system thereabouts,

The enemy resistance was strong in There was perfect co-operation between places, particularly east of Havrincourt. We are along a big stretch of the His- and between the infantry, artillery, tanks, denburg support line and have grossed it and aircraft, and the gallantry and re-in places.

the commanders of neighbouring units

source of all ranks again enabled & com-

plete success to be achieved at relatively

small coat.

Several thousand prisoners were taken and many guns captured.

"about"

which all his heavy artillery has been withdrawn. But our inroads are deep. Our gassing of the enemy gunners proved more effective than expected.

Mont Faucon is the key to the whole of this front, und, with Septaarges and

lung to enable the German front to swing Cuisy, has formed a kind of hinge where the Volkerstellung joined the Hagenstel some ninety degrees from the south to prevent any successful exit from Bois- de Montfaucon in front of it. The coun- try in which we are now operating is ideal for artillery work.

FURTHER ENEMY RETIREMENT LIKELY. LONDON, September 25th. 6.30 p.m! Headquarters, telegraphing at noon yes Realer's correspondent at the American terday, stated

M 201

north.

י

܀

LONDON, September 28th. A French Eastern communiqué states: The Allies are unremittingly advancing northwards. They eleared the Verdar railway and the

have Monastir-Prilep.Gradsko road.

completely

The British have captured the town of Strumnitza.

The Near East

(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.] THE ADVANCE IN PALESTINE TURKS TO MAKE A STAND AT AMMAN.

the Mesopotamia hd Palestine armies Moreover, it would probably effect advan- and kill the German menace to, the East.

tageously the world's food situation. CONFERENCE OF BRITISH

STATESMEN..

LATER.

Mr. Balfour and Mr. Bonar Law are conferring with the Prime Minister, as regards the Bulgarian armistice proposal DISPOSITION OF GERMAN COLONIES. SOME AUTHORITATIVE VIEWS.

LONDON, September 27th. Beater understands that the following may be regarded as embodying some of the views held in authoritative quarters on the question of the disposition of the Cer- man colonies.

..

if Germany's colonies are returned to her There can be no shadow of doubt that

would menace the traders of all nations. she will, use them as submarine bases which

In this connection it is recalled that at the outbreak of the war, as the price of England's neutrality, the Kaiser, made certain specious promises regarding the Ports on the Northern French Coast, but said nothing of what would happen to the French colonies. It now seems clear that one of Germany's objects was their

Headquarters, telegraphing on September

LONDON, September 28th.

acquisition. Indeed, when challenged by Benter's correspondent at the Palestine Sir Edward Grey, Germany would not The enemy, though still resisting stoutly 20th (Tacsday), stated: The Turks are guarantee France's colonial, integrity in places, appears not to have reached determined to make a desperate stand at because Germany knew quite well the the limit of his retirement.

Amman, which is the only door for escape value of France's naval bases, We are progressing steadily on the less to resist the dash of our troops.

from the south, but the enemy is power- We have broken through the

The present eontention of the Germans Hogen" and Voelker" lines, which vanced, in a wide encircling movement, Colonies merely to get

The Australians dismounted and ad-is that they want the restoration of their were subsidiary defences to the Hinden- from the west to the south The New Zea: This is regarded as obvious camouflage, raw materials. burg line, which we carried yesterday landers made a sweeping movement on the for the value of the total exports from the morning

We are less than a mile from north. the beads of his three standard

whole of their African colonies before the railways.

Uur men, using South African, tactics, Way, amounted to only about £5,000,000 A communiqué. states:The French The sky early this morning was illu worked round each hill where the resist per annum.

Moreover, Germany's cry for PAEIS, September 28th. enemy dumps. communiqué states:- Yesterday's The

enemy is also reported to be blow

The main body of the eneiny is prepar colonial system, because under normal attack in Champagne developed success ing up works and bridges, indicating a desperate stand in the upper reaches conditions Germany could buy her raw fully. From the Siappe to Argonne the further retirement.

of the Jabbok River.

naterials in the markets of the world. If formidable network of trenches, and ponsible for many prisoners. The Saxons Semakh-es-Samra, after severe band to more for raw materials it would be but first German positions, consisting of a

The excellence of our barrage was re-

The Australians occupied Tiberius and it so happened that Germany had to pay barbed wire over five kilometres deopere completely out off and had to sar-

hand fighting in the streeta. which the enemy has

render.

justice. The Allies will also have to pay Dot ceased to ly captured by our troops on a front of Americans turned all the strong places It was noticeable yesterday that the trengthen since 1015, have been brilliant-

General. 35 kilometres, and passed at certain stead of storming them na in the

Chateau Thierry days. points.

di

CONSIDERABLE FRENCH

CAPTURES.

PARIS, September 28th.

gauge

raw

troops yesterday captured 7,000 prisoners.minated for miles by an explosion of ance was obstinate and thus reached the materials is really. an echo.of her old

BRILLIANT FRENCH FEATS.

PARIS, September 27th, attack in Champagne developed success-

·A communiqué states: Yesterday's

fully,

STRONG RIDGE CAPTURED.

LONDON, September 29th. 9.50 p.. Reuter's correspondent at French Head- quarters, telegraphing on Tuesday even-

stated:

town.

wwwwwwww..com

more.

As regards the naval aspect of Germany getting back her colonies one must bear in mind the immense increase in the capacities of submarines, which now have a range of from 17,000 to 30,000 miles, which can be doubled if the ballast tanks are filled with oil fuel.

This range of action would seriously interfere with all the trade routes of the world.

(THROUGH RECHTER'S AGENCY.} LEAGUE OF NATIONS. MR. ASQUITH'S 'VIEW.

Lospor, September 27th." Mr. Asquith, in a speech at Manchester, view it is noteworthy that a Society has As throwing light upon this point of A considerable number of prisoners are German positions consisting of a formid is enormously strong. It is a long naked clean peace.

From the Suippe to Argone the Arst of positions captured to-day trian Note, which did not offer a real and the uses to which the submarins can be expressed strong-disapproval of the Aus recently been formed in Berlin to study already reported. About nine enemy divi. able network of trenches and barbed wire ridge on which the so-called buttes are opinion that the time had come when the one of the chiefs of the Admiralty Staff sions were engaged, some made up of com over five kilometres deep, which the merely protrusions. What the French best heads among the Allies who could be

Mr. Asquith expressed the put. The Council of this Society include posite elements. Several were compara enemy had not ceased to strengthen since stormed was really & naked wall, every spared from combatant and administra-Deperief of the Submarine Inspectiqu tively fresh in the line. Largs forces are troops on a front of 38 kilometres, and inch ander observation.

1915, were brilliantly captured by our yard of which was trenched and every tive work might be assembled in con- LATER Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig re-up, the battle so far is going well.

undoubtedly in close reserve Summing they passed this at certain pointe The most gratifying feature of the problem of a League of Nations.

ference to attack the practical side of the GOVERNMENT'S FIRM ports that over 10,000 prisoners and more

Navarin Farm, the Buttes-de-Sousin. adyante was the inability of the enemy to REQUISITES OF A CLEAN/PEACE, ATTITUDE WITH STRIKERS Montmaret, Tabure, Mesnil and the bold the ground he had than 200 guns have been taken.

SIX THOUSAND PRISONERS,

villages Tabure, Epont, Bouvroy, for years.

boon fortifying SATISFACTORY PROGRESS ON

Cernay-en-Dormois, Berron and Nelzi. It is estimated that the French, by noon

LONDON, Septofaber 27th. LONDON, September 27th.

Mr Asquith declared that a General

LONDON, September 27th* court, which were organised as points had crossed 30 lines of trenches.

The Press Bureau states that the Gov- THE WHOLE BATTLE-FRONT.

9.20 p.m.

d'apper and obstinately defended, were hardest fighting was round Tabure, where with the best interests of the Nation and that unless work is resumed on October The Election at present would be inconsistent erument bas notified the Clyde strikers Router learn that the British to-day captured on the first day of the battle the defences were thickest and the Ger- the Allies. attacked between Sauchy-les-Trees and

mans used, grenades.

There was nothing in the lat, protection certificates will be with after severe fighting

experience of war that tended in any way drawn and the Military Servics Acts will The French guns played a very import to the conclusion that we should be better be immediately enforced Gouzeaucourt, and reached a point about

ant part in the

The Seventy-off after the war by any system of tariffs. Eyes" were brought up within a low mie boycott in order to obtain" & lasting Eves sad One Hundred and Fifty. It might be necessary to employ an econo

materially helped to break the enemy would be wholly inconsistent with the atonishing numbers, unperceived, and tinuing guerilla oportiona after the war thousand yards of the front last night in peace, but to use it as a method of con-

requisities of a clean peace.

LONDON, September 28th.

2.10 p.m...

Sir Douglas Haig states:-Our attack three miles from Cambrai. n. the Cambrai front was yesterday pressed without relaxation until a late 6,000 prisoners. We have also captured Up to the present we have taken about Jour,

some guns, including a complete battery

The prisoners counted up to the pre- sent exceed 7,000, including 200 officers

The enemy did not attempt to react

and is proceeding satisfactorily, despite during the night.

The attack was resumed this morning bad weather.

-resistance.

THE SILVER MARKET,

LONDON, September 28th The silver market is steady.

(Continued on Poạc 6,)"