PROGRESS ON BRITISH FRONT

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 88, 13 April 1917, Page 5

PROGRESS ON BRITISH FRONT

FRENCH SUCCESSES ON THE OISE

EMPIRE'S NEED OF SHIPS

The British have captured further important positions north of Vimy Ridge, and on the River Souchez, a number of prisoners being taken. Two hostile attacks by night failed. The French have also made important progress south of the Oise, taking strong positions and capturing prisoners. Wet weather has, however, interfered with the operations, slowing down the rate of British progz-ess. The British cavalry has again been engaged in the pursuit, and has done excellent work. The capture of Monchy-le-Preux, five miles east of Arras, was the result of a brilliant bit of manoeuvring, the Germans being outflanked and completely surprised, a particularly strong position thus being taken with slight loss. The British successes have created dangerously sharp salients in the German lines, and may compel further retreats. A German paper declares that the Germans rely on the strength of the line midway between Lens and Douai, extending south to the BapaumeCambrai road.

The New Zealanders are still engaged in a quiet portion of the line, artillery combats being their main relaxation.

Ships form the keynote of the Allies' success, said Mr. Lloyd George to an American gathering held in his honour. If America supplied this need Germany would soon be driven back to the real Hindenburg line, the Rhine, instead of her frontier as she had intended, at the coast of America. Victory certain and complete is a matter of to-morrow, perhaps a nearer to-.ruorrow than most people imagine.