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100 Years Ago | 8 October 1918

On this day a century ago, these were some of the news items The Statesman readers got to read about India and the world.

100 Years Ago | 8 October 1918

THE PEACE MOVE

Mr. Barnes, Member of the War Cabinet, speaking at Manchester, described the Chancellors speech as a great advance towards peace. Nevertheless the remarkable change was caused by our armies. When scrutinised the offer revealed the time-worn German cynicism. Turkey and Bulgaria were left to their fate and Austria was to be cut up. Germany, who caused the war, was to be the only one to come out with a whole skin. A change of heart or system was not indicated, and restitution for the devastated territories was not mentioned. Germany wanted to bargain for her colonies, yet retained an autocratic form of Government. We were not going to make a colleague of the Kaiser. The road to peace would be greatly smoothed if Germany cleared out of Belgium and France and set up a real responsible Government.

7,000 PRISONERS AND 100 GUNS

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In the House of Commons Mr. Bonar Law said that on a front of twenty kilometres between Morlancourt and Montdidier by three o’clock we had reached all our objectives, captured a hundred guns, and 7,000 prisoners. The advance was to a depth of between four and five miles. At one point we had penetrated to a depth of seven miles. The ground gained being immediately in front of Amiens the strategic importance was obvious. The attack completely surprised the Germans, and has upset whatever plans they had formed. The result may be taken as an indication of the complete change in the military position which has occurred recently.

AUSTRALIANS ADVANCE

A British communiqué says: There was stubborn fighting all day at Mont Brehain and Beaurevoir. Having captured the former in the early morning, with five hundred prisoners, the Australians were severely counter-attacked. The enemy throughout the day repeatedly attempted with his reserves to regain the village, but all the attempts were repulsed and the enemy suffered heavy losses, the British tanks doing great execution. The village remains ours. The possession of Beaurevoir was fiercely disputed and long remained doubtful.

The enemy, being strongly reinforced, did not spare any effort to retain the village. After progressing during the day by hard fighting the English in the evening again attacked and carried the village, establishing their line firmly eastward and north-eastward. Northward of Beaurevoir we took possession of Aubencheul-aux-Bois and established ourselves on the high ground northwards towards Lesdin.

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