ANOTHER ADVANCE BY THE BRITISH

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3007, 19 February 1917, Page 5

ANOTHER ADVANCE BY THE BRITISH

FIGHTING ON THE ANCRE , IMPORTANT POSITIONS CAPTURED BjrTelcgra.ph-Presa ABBociation-Copyriffh.!,\ (Rec. February 18,11.5 p.ni.) '■'~'-.' London, February 17. Sir Douglas Haig reports: As the result of successful operation's on both banks of the Anero tliis morning, tc made considerable progress. Wo attacked southward of the river and captured positions on a front of 1J- miles, opposite the villages of Miraumont and Petit Miraumont, and penetrated over a thousand yards. AVo advanced our zone within a few hundred yards' of Petit Miraumont, and captured northward of the river an important position on the , upper slopes of the spur northwards of Baillescourfc Farm, on a thousand yards of front. We successfully repulsed a counterattack. The enemy's losses were heavy. We made raids southwards of Neuve Chapello, and north-east of Ploegsteert, and reached tho second line of the latter place. A large number of the enemy wero killed, and "many dug-outs were destroyed. We repulsed hostup parties westward of the lines eastward of Givenchy.—Aus.-N.Z. Oabie Assn.-Reuter. The Admiralty reports: "Our naval aeroplanes yesterday effectively bombed Ghistelles aerodrome, aud also Bruges harbour and shipping.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ' '.'•■-'-. " '■'."'/ ' , RAIDS ON THE BRITISH FRONT (Rec.. February 18, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 17. Sir Douglas Haig* reports: "We made a successful raid southward of Souchez. One of the enemy's parties reached our line north-east of Armentieres, but was immediately driven out. As the result of air fights on Thursday, nine German machines -wore brought drown. Four English machines are missing.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. SUDDEN ATTACK BY THE ENEMY ON THE CHAMPAGNE FRONT VIOLENT ARTILLERY DUEL NOW RAGING. London, February 16. A French official communique states: "Tho enemy bombarded our front from the Butte do Mesnil to the Maison de Champagne, and succeeded, with the aid of the explosion of several mines, in penetrating a saliant west of the Maison de Champagne and north of the road to the Butte de Mesnil. Our barrage and flanking fire caused the cnomy heavy losses. A violent artillery struggle is proceeding. There is great patrol activity in the Woevre. Our air squadrons bombed railway stations, blast furnaces, an aerodrome, barracks, bivouacs, and a military party.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. February 18, 5.5 p.m.) i London, February 17. A French official communique states: "We made several successful raids at Berry-au-Bac (on the. Aisne). aud in the Argonne. Thero is an active artillery duel west of Maison-de-Champagne, Louremont, and in tho Vosges south of the Col Sto Marie. In Alsace, one of our detachments penetrated and wrecked a saliant position at Amertz Wilier."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Reuter. (Rec. February 19, 0.25 a.m.) London, February 18. A French official communique states: "There is intermittent artillery firing on most of the front, especially in the direction of\ Ribecourt."-— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. THE GERMAN VERSION. London, February 16. Wireless, per Admiralty Press.—A Gorman official report states: "The Crown Prince attacked in the Champagne southward of Ripont, and was completely successful. AVe stormed four lines on a front of 2600 metres (about a mile and a half) to a depth" of 800 metres (half a mile), and took 858 prisoners.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. February 18, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 17. 'A. wirelessed German official report states: "Wo repulsed a strong English attack southward of_ Miraumont. French advances westward of Berry-au-Bac and southward of Riport failed. Onr aeroplanes bombed important establishments behind tho front, and blew un several ammunition dumps on the Somme."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Renter. (Rec. February 19, 0.25 a.m.) London, February 18. A German evening official communique states: "There was strong artil- j IcTT bombardment on the Ancre this foraioon, when fresh infantry engage- < ment 3 developed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. \ I

SPUING THAW ON THE WESTERN FRONT. , . London, February 16. Mr. Phillip Gibbs writes from France to the "Daily Telegraph": "A thaw has set in—the first signs of spring. The British raids arc "ever proceeding, and the guns are hammering all along the line. Tho Germans do not know from where the attack is coming, as the wire is being cut and trenches bafc- / tered in many sectors." THE GREAT TESTING TIME AT HAND (Rec. February 18, 5.5 p.m.) ~..,,„, ~ ,_~ , l London, February 17. „ J , lr - Arthur Henderson, speaking at Manchester, said that he shared to the full the feeling that the next few months were going to test tho Mies as they had never before been tested. He was confident they had got the measure of their opponents, and the great Allied loaders would bo bitterly disappointed if this summer they did not strike such a blow as would lead to the final victory.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.