The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-09-26

cess, and the end could not yet be fore seen
 The 18th Army, which took over the command of the troops on the Disc was at this point directly and seriously menaced from the south.
 l As a result of the course of events east of Albert (the British advance and south of the Disc, the position oi the German troops between the Somme 1 and the Disc was by no means so secure as the general military situation de- manded. It would have been fatal to run risks at this point
 ~ ORDERS A WIDE RETREAT The army groups of the the Grown prnce Rupprecht and von Boehn were therefore ordered to retire during the last days of August to the line already reconnoitred east of Bapaume-in front of Peronne-Somme-in front of Ham the heights northeast of Noyon Ca front of more than 35 miles).
 As fhefr reserve line, the Seigfried system (the Hindenburg line) was now, to be put in order. Von Boehn's army group had attached importance to the retention of the left bank of the Somme, in front of Peronne. be- cause from there favorable flankinr movements against the area north or Peronne were possible. Between liam and Noyon a canal which offered good obstacle to tanks. determined the position of the line. These move ments were carried through about the night of August 26-27.
 The l7th Army. which had only a short wheel to the rear to perform, and the 18th, carried out the retire. ment without q hitch and in good order, and held their new positions asaihse enemy attacks. The End Army was less fortunate. Northwest of Peronne the new line failed to hold The division to the southwest of the town let enemy gain the left bank. thus rendering the situation very diff ficult for the troops on the northern bank. Again some divisions failed put ting terrible strain on other gallant troops.
 dt was the Australians, aided by some American attachments, who smashed the German calculations to hold the high ground around Peronne. The Germans on the formidable Mt. St. Quentin felt so secure that they " NSiC ee1Nti ultcTly Dy SurprfSG when their position was stormed)
 CANADIANS SMASH LINE
 During this time, Field Marshal Haig had extended his offensive north wards as far as the Searpe Gin front or Arras) in order to get to the rear of the Siegfried position. north of the Croisilles- Moeuvres Gin front of Cam braD line. To achieve this, he had to take our Wotan position, which had been built in 1917, starting In the north, and running through Biache St Vaast and along the Scrape to the east of Monchy, in the direction of Bullecourt
 On the 26th of August the English offensive against the Arras- Cambria road opened (led by the Canadians).
 Here again the troops at first fell back according to plan, the early stages of the fighting developing favorably for us Subsequently the English reached the Wotan system. On Septem- Der strong assault by English tanks over-ran obstacles and trenches in this line and paved way for this in- fantry.
 Shortly after two o'clock in the af- ternoon General von Kuhl and Lieut. Colonel von Pavelsz, the Chief of Staff of the 17th Army, reported that it would n2 longer be wise to form a new line in front of the Arleux -Moeuvres
 
 from G. H. c. to withdraw the 17th Army to that line. whilst holding the position north of the Scarpe.
 We had to admit the necessity for this measure. In concert with yon Boehn's army group we had to take another important step on account of the position of the End Army. with drawing it's line and that of the 18th Army to the Siegfried position.
 COULD NOT AFFORD MEN
 It would no doubt have been pos sible to keep inc left wing of the 18th Army in front of the Siegfried line. on the Crozat Canal. but that required more men than the defence of the St. <Quentin-La Fere fine, with the broad valley of the Oise in front of it. G. H. |. rejected this idea, and brought the entire 18th Army back into the Seigfried line
 The 9th Army. Nl also the risAr