THE ADVANCE ON THE ANCRE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3014, 27 February 1917, Page 5

THE ADVANCE ON THE ANCRE

ENEMY/ CONTINUES TO GIVE ' GROUND BRILLIANT RAID BY NEW ZEALANDERS (Rcc. February 26, 6.5 p.m.) London, February 25. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "The enemy has conliuuccl to yield ground along the Ancre. Small bodies of our troops advanced over a wido 'front and occupied Serre and other important points to the eastward, meeting with little opposition. We successfully raided ground eastward of Vierstraat on five hundred yards of front, inflicting casualties. Wβ also raided eastward of Armentieres and drove out raiders reached our trenches north-east of Ypres. There lias been considerable artillery firing astride tho Sommo."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. STRONG- BRITISH PATROLS FAR IN ADVANCE (Rec. February 26, 10 p.m.) London, February 26. Mr. Philip Gibbs, iu a dispatch from the British Headquarters, dated February 25, says: The enemy is steadily withdrawing from many of his positions between Hebuterne and the ground south-west of Bapaume: Our strong patrols have pushed on over this abandoned country, and penetrated in some places three miles beyond our former line. Already they are north-west of Serre and south of Irles (beyond Miraumont and Pys). We have- gained a number of German strongholds which we expected to win only after heavy fighting. The enemy is yielding to the ceaseless pressure of our men and guns by escaping to a new line of defence along the Bapaume ridge. This is the most notable movement since the autumn of 1916. The Germans' strategical retreat reveals a new phaso of weakness in defensive conditions. The retreat has not surprised our generals. After the Battle of Boom Ravine on February 17 there were several signs that the enemy contemplated a withdrawal from tho two Miraumonts. On the morning of February 24 several fires were seen burning on tho German front lines. The onemy's field batteries for several days have- been firing an abnormal amount of ammunition, and seemed to be getting rid of the supplies in the forward dumps before withdrawing their , guns." NEW ZEALANDERS IN ACTION A RECORD RAID. The following special dispatch has been received from the New Zealand official war correspondent (Captain Malcolm Boss):— ' February 21. At dawn this morning, an intense artillery fire was concentrated on a sector of.the German, trenches, opposite the New Zealanders. For a brief spaco there was an almost continuous line of flame, visible through tlieJog. With the first sound of the guns many men from an Auckland battalion dasbgd from their cover across No-Mau's Land, and in less than three minutes tho first wave was in the enemy's first-line trench, which our shelling had badly battered. Thero, several Germans were- killed, and others taken, prisoner. Succeeding waves went forward, penetrating the enemy's support line. For several days a thaw_ had made the ground heavy with sticky mud, and the men had to cross protecting ditches filled with water and half melted ice. They also had to get through tho barbed-wire- entanglements, which in places remained uncut. With splendid stamina and determination they overcame these" obstacles and gained their objective, bombing a dug-out, and killing and capturing more Germans, mostly Bavarians. Several prisoners . were sent back to our trenches without escort.. They went willingly. Later, others were afraid to go through their own barrage, though the Now Zealandera walked through it unconcerned, many of them with their hands in thejr pockets. In the words of a' hrigadier: "They came hack through the enemy's shell fire as if they were returning from a working party. The enemy's casualties, of course, are unknown, but they must he heavy, as our artillery fire was destructive, and several wore bombed, bayoneted, and shot. The infantry were loud in their praises of the intensity and accuracy of our bombardment, and also with tho ; arrangements for the recovery and treatment of the wounded. Our casualties, jj'fye not severe.' The New returned with 42 prisoners, which is the biggest capture we have made in any raid. . , . A LATER DISPATCH. ' February 22. Further details are available regarding yesterday's raid. These prove that the enemy suffered severely. At one point the New Zealanders caught the enemy at "stand-to," and killed a considerable number. -At the lowest estimate 150 Germans were killed. Probably the total reaches two hundred. In one short section of trench a New Zealand officer counted thirty-five cfead Germans. Thirteen wounded prisoners are being well cared for in our hospitals. Among the total of forty-four prisoners there are .some elderly men of the Landwehr, and sevoral Bavarians of extremely youthful appearance. One officer who captured three Germans lost his way in tho fog, and finding himself getting deeper into the enemy's territory, offered his prisoners a chance to direct him back to his own lines, which they did without demur. One of the wounded prisoners is a Pole, who put up a good fight, but strongly objects to being called a German. Returning from tho trenches our tired, but merry, raiders elieoretTbrigade headquarters, and also tho battery of artillery, the latter tribute being a splendid compliment to tho shootii>£,of our gunners. Our wounded were remarkably cheerful. The surgical examination showed that there were, after all, few machine-gun wounds. They I wero mostly from splinters of shell and bombs. Tho battalion has received tho congratulations of the Army. Commander and the Commander-in-Chief, tho latter compliment being a- high , honour for any- battalion to obtain. This morning the Divisional Commander thanked the officers and men for tho excellent work they had done, and the credit they had brought to New_gfialimrl. Later, General Sir ' Alexander Godloy inspeoted the raiding party, addressed them at length, and offered his hearty congratulations on their fine performance. He dwo.lt upon the importance of these rnids, which inflicted many casualties to the enemy and destroyed his morale. MENTIONED IN DISPATCHES. (Rec. February 26, 11.35 p.m.) London, February 26. A War Oflico dispatch mentions twenty members of tlio Fiji Defenco Force and thirteen New Zealanders, including Colonels Barnot, Fitzherbert, Hall, Hutchen, Myers, Pnrkes, Richardson, and Wylie.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuler.

ON THE FRENCH FRONT London, February 25. A French official conununiqiio states: "Wβ made two successful raids on. tho enemy's posts in tho forest of Apremont and jiorlli of Badonvillers." — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-llouter. (Hoc. February 26, 6.6 p.m.) London, February 25. ! A French official communique states: "Our artillery was effectively active- in tho region north of tho Sommo. Thoro has been intermittent artillery fighting in Lorraine and in the Vosges." AN INDICATION OF WANING ' MORALE. London, February 25. A correspondent at headquarters, referring to the raidings, says that the enemy is using his storming troops for raiding, which suggests that Germany is .no longer able to count on the regular rank and filo going over the parapet. The storming troops consist of picked or specially trained men, who, according to army regulations, are only employable in important offensivo tactics.—lleuter. GERMAN REPORT. London, February 25. Wireless, per Admiralty Press: A German official message states: "Wβ repulsed several local British attacks , southward of Ypres, between Armentieres and Arras."