RETREAT OF THE HUNS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3037, 26 March 1917, Page 5

RETREAT OF THE HUNS

PAGE OF GLORY ENEMY DRIVEN BACK ON A WIDE FRONT THE' NEW iREGIME IN RUSSIA . REMARKABLE NOTE TO THE TSAR BATTLESHIP SUNK RUSSIANS CAPTURE' KERINB

■ .The .kllied offensive mi the . West.front appears to.hare been re» .; sumed, for, the news &is .morning stows that tiio ]?rencb>nave driven ■ the ,enemy hack on • a wide .front between ■ the fiiomine ■ 'and the. Oise. Sit Douglas Baig reports ■patrol encounters in str-engttiat a number •of pdinta. 'Tbe'rSaiser professes "to see in. the' German (retreat a -wonderfully clerer -performance, aihd in a 'letter to -the King of. Bavaria he refers to it as providing history.'.with,.a ipage of glory.From the ieoccupied villages there come appalling stories of vandal- \ iam, atid -deyastation. 1 \ One cowespondent-describes >the TotTeating ..Germans, as having indulged in a [saturnalia 'of The , ; news from; Russia is-cheering. Tihe .Provisional, Government is ■ speeding irp the work : of reorganisation, and all .Russia Is now turn- ; ing towards,-the prosecution.of the .-war. "The whole : of Russia has- , accepted : the order-of th*sg3,i and the army shortly takes the .oathto servethe new' Government.. In the/meanwhile the Tsar and Tsarina are; prisoners, their isolation being regarded .as necessary to prevent a counter-revtilution.. The Russians operating on Persian frontier :have reached Kerind, near iKermanshah. The'JiVench Danton is'one of the.latesb '■ victims of the submarine ..■frightfulneßß.: .;■.■■'.■ ■■■;;■■■ .. ■* . ■ .. ■■ ■; : ,'.-.,

THE GERMAN RETREAT AS TEE KAISER SEES IT ~. '

GREAT, ARMY MOVEMENT' "HISTORICALLY IT WOULD BE A PAGE OF GLORY" • ( Br anjlegrapit-Press 'Aisooiation-Oopj-iiKht (Rec. March 25, 6.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, March 23. ' k German official message Kaisor has sent a letter to tho King of Bavaria, in which he says: "Wo owe tho brilliant carrying out of tho groat army movement on'the "Western front firstly to the succeßsnil action of your son Prince Rupprocht. Tho whole performance deserves the highest appreciation, and historically it would bo a page of gloiy. It is my extraordinary joy to inform you of this." A Berlin official message states:—The Kaiser, in a messago to General Hindenburg, says the movements on the front in Franco are most important for the general situation on our Western front. You and General Ludendorf (Chief of the Staff) decided the measure, thus creating a new base for further warfare."—Atis.-N.Z. Cable Ass .-Reuter. RELEASED FRENCH PEOPLE TELL A DIFFERENT TALE v • (Rec. March 25, 5.5 p.m.) London, Match 23. Reuters Headquarters correspondent reports that the inhabitants left be-hind-state that the Bosches were talk ing. a, good deal lately, and that they know more of the true situation than is generally'believed. They did not ( conceal -their apprehension of another great British offensive, indeed, 'one possible reason for the retreat may wel 1 have been the dubiety of the high command whether the men would face another Somme push.—Reuter f l

SUCCESSFUL OFFENSIVE BY THE FRENCH '' . (Bee. March 25, 5.5 p:m,V . London, March 24. A. French communique states:—Between the Sommo and tho Oise our troops, with'determination and dash, carried out a completely successful offensive, despite desperate resistance. ' The enemy was driven back on a wido front for a distance ranging from two to four kilometres (lj to 2i miles) north and east of the St. Quentin canal and north-east of Tergnior, and pushed forward detachments as far as tho heights dominating the valloy of tho Oiso; , The Germans caused flooSs in this region, and tho town of La Fere is inundated.

South of the Oise wo continued to ccross the Ailoto in the region north of Soissons, and considerably progressed towards Margival. Two enemy attacks north and west of Reims failed under our barrage, The enemy losses were considerable, judging by tho number of bodies hnng up,in the entanglements. Another communique says :—East of tho St. Qiicntiu canal we extended our positions very appreciably at certain points, and reached tho western, bank of the Oiso north of La Fere. We also progressed on tho eastern bank of tho Ailette. Our fire stopped enemy attempts against small posts in the direction of Behhy-on-Rac, also cast of Bohns and west of Mort Homrne.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assri.-Reuter.

' VIOLENT ENEMY 'ATTACKS REPULSED. > : London, March 23. A French communique states:—A violent enemy attack before the village of Artemiw, north of St. Simon, at first slightly, drove back our troops; but we immediately made a vigorous counter-attack and threw the onemy back as far as :Grand Seraucoiirt.—Aus-N.Z. i Cable Assn.-Reuter. GERMANS CLAIM TO HAVE DRIVEN BACK THE FRENCH. „. „ m . , , London, March 23. !A German official report states:-Wo drove back tho French who hud crossed tho Somme and the Crozat Canal, with sanguinary losses. Wβ repulsed strong French attacks west and south of Margival.—Aus.-N.Z Cable Assn.-Reuter. STRONG PATROL ENCOUNTERS AT SEVERAL POINTS. (Rec. March 25, 5.5 p.m.) London, March 23. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—There have been patrol encounters in strength at a, number of points between Etreifrera, Beaumetz-lez-Cambrai, and Beaurains. We made a successful raiding expedition eastward of Arras. The bombardment of the trenches south-east of Loos and east of Vermilles continues. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. : BRITISH OCCUPY ROISEL (Rec. March 25, 11.50 p.m.) ' , _ . London, March 25. Sir Douglas Hajg reports: "Wo haveoccupied! Roisel, seven miles east of Peronne. . . "Strong enemy detachments attacked our positions in the vicinity of Beaument, and obtained a footing, but 'our counter-attack drove them out. "We progressed en a front of 1} jniles south-west of EconsWSt. Mein, and repulsed an attack north of Boiry j and Hecquerelle."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router. ENEMY. REPORT OF THE FORWARD MOVEMENT. (Rec. March. 25, 5.5 p.m.) . . V London, Maroh 23. . A , wireless German official message says:—On both sides of the.Somme and the Oise the ehewy is feeling forward hesitatingly, and is frequently entrenching, being seriously hampered by our measures:' .■■•■ Wβ repulsed the French eastward of La Fere, iu/the Ailette Plain, Neurflle, and Margival.— Cable Assn.-Eeuter,

ON THE EVE OF A BIG BATTLE (Itec. March 25, 11.60 p.m.) London, March 2t. There is an indication that Prince Rupprecbt's army is hastily establishing itself on tho lines between St. Quentin and Cambrai, the approaches to which are jbhrrt-d by two systems of advanced trenches. The British, profiting by the frost and darkness, have been bringing up artillery by leaps and bounds. Tho newspapers opine that possibly we are on tho eve of a big battle. The onemy resistance-in the French sector is energetically increasing.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. LATEST FRENCH SUCCESSES (Rec. March 26, 1.25 a.m.)' London, March 24. 14: French official communique states :_ "North of the Somme wo drove baek.'the enemy to the outskirts of Sapy into previously prepared 1 , trenches. Following up out successes between the' Sommo and tho Oiso ■Wβ attacked the enemy, who defended every foot of ground, and drove him back about' a mile north of Grand Eracourt and Gibercourt. Wβ seized the west-bank of the Oise, between the euburbs of La. Fere : and north of Vandveil, tho' two advanced forts at La Fere falling into our hands. South of the Oise,. despite the,-floods, we made considerable progress on .the east bank of the 'Ailefcte,' and captured several villages. We threw hack the enemy's rearguards in the foreest of Crony."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable AEsn.-Reuter. IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY WHERE' THE GERMANS' WOULD MAKE A.STAND, ■ i : ' New York, March 23. The New York "Times" correspondent In London interviewed General Maurice (Director of Military Operations), who declared that the Gerjnans blew up every _ important cross-road in their retreat, and wrought diabolical havoc on , buildings and , public- t works.. . It was wanton destruction, and not a military precaution, but it did not stop tho British advance. It, means that Germany has'threatened to destroy every portion'.of France in their hands if compelledito continue the retreat. -!Che present retirement did not surprise tKe BrSish, but it was impossible to say wncro tho Germans would ,make ..a stand.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.. • ' ~""~"~" ■ . ■ ■ . PRIVATE INFORMATION FOR GERMAN MINISTERIAL .....-.■■ . PARTY. Rome, March 23. Dr. Helfferich .(Minister for,the Interior) .privately-told members of tho Ministerialist Party that the 191? harvest was very bad, but that the war would .he decided before August—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. .' ■ .

HORRORS IN THE REOCCUPIED DISTRICTS

SOME PITIFUL STORIES RETREATING HUNS INDULGED IN A SATURNALIA OF BESTIALITY •..••..'.' • " ■■; ■• (Rec. March 25, 5.5 p.m.) ''. .■; ' ... ■■■.....-'■■ , London, March 23. Mr. Beach Thomas, > describing the ireoccupied districts, says .th© residents' faces-'and. gestures depict weakness and> illness.: They tell ■ pitiful •, stories of the 'invaders'. last brutalities. The (villagers were assembled- while their homes were burned; they were enslaved,' and. latterly starved. The high mortality was owing ."to lack of. milk and other necessaries, . . ■:■',-'The retreating Germans indulged in. a saturnalia of bestiality, breaking open cbffiriß, scribbling obscenities in churches,. and defiling sacred places.— ■Aus.-N.Z. : Cable Assn. .-':''■ .-. ' . ■ ■ .

APPALLING DEVASTATION ON THE LINE OF KETEEAT.

■■•.-. (Rec. MarcK 25, 5.5 p.m.) - <-.'• . ■ . , ...i- • - . Paris, March-23. ' The newspapers relate'heartrending storieß' of famished ohildren being found wandering, ghostlike, in >the ruino of the,homes. Soldiers Euppb'ed the inhabitants of some districts, with their first food for days. They had tad no meat .since' September, no-milk for a year,_and never -.received &■■ quarter of the Tations-supplied 1 by the American Belief Fund. ■ . . ... ~ There is appalling devastation everywhere on the,-line of retreat. At Channy'lßDo out of 2500 nouses were destroyed, including chuTcn'es and-public buildings. ' All males between 14 and;6o years of age were carried off. .'The enemy herded women, children, and the feeblest inhabitants of thirteen .surrounding communes in a certain quarter of the town and then trained ,guns on this qtiarter, jkiUing and wounding many. _ \ ■ , _ It is officially confirmed that Germans are ppißoning wells ' with .arsenic. —Heater. ■ , ■ . . '■ . ' - : .

ROBBERY BY. GERMAN OFHOERS

<■ ■ ■ . (ITec. March 25; 11.35 p.m.) -'■■-■■:. , :, . , London, March 24. "'; ''The "Daiy Mail's" Parie correspondent states that on the-eve of the departure German officers' robbed ■ Noyon jbanks of £700,000 in securities, jewellery, and cash.—Tlnited Service. . ■ SOME.OP THE MOST TRAGIC SCENES OF THE WAR (Special From,the N.Z. Official War . /' - -.-'. ' •■."■: ' Correspondent.) . . ..-■■■: .. r - Headquarters, Thursday Night. During the past few days I have been in-the area of the German retreat, and have-witnessed some of the most tragic scenes of the war. The Gennans, in their retreat, havo destroyed, desecrated,-and defiled: From.' yillago to village, one goes from bad to worse. '.-.'_ ' ; ■ ■ I was in'Perdnne the morning after, the German retreat, and made a minute examination, enabling me to say that tho calculated' destruction by the retreating enemy wae diabolical in its thoroughness, and ■ yindictiveness. AH nouses not touched by shellfire wero blown to bits with high explosives, and 1 all the furniture and the household goods end treasures of the late inhabitants were smashed with axes, hammers,, and picks. Even the.handles of the instruments.of destruction were then .themselves destroyed. The town was a scene of empty desolation; trees of the beautiful avenue were,hacked halfway through,-and all orchard trees sawn down.. The fires were,still burn-

To-day, 1.-visited other villages, whero woe is added to desolation, ami only women; old men, and children were left. .The'children, pale-faced thin stared at one with all their childish merriment gone There had been neither meat nor milk in some of these villages for months. The people ..were virtually held in bondage, all the cattle and provisions were commandeered, and w«i Young girls .made to work hard at yood-choppißg and. other tasks. Much of the food.sent ifrom America and Spam for the inhabitants was.taken by the ,army,; and children died through ill: nourishment . ■ ; The interesting fact was elicited that the German soldiers have been badly fed for the past six months, hut the officers bought food.™ Belgium, and,lived fairly well. Behind one officers' moss, I saw.a pile of between 1500 aud'2ooo empty bottles that had held expensive wines and liqueure Latterly some of the soldiers-cried when sent forward to tho trenches; .others refused to go, and were'shut in an attib without food for four days.,.. .. . Germany lias expressed her bitterest hatred of Britain, and realises •that she cannot now win. In .private houses the Germans smashed the pianos, mirrors and pictures, destroyed libraries, and.carried off all could 1 lay their hands-on; In the mortuary chapel of one chateau ./they tho coffin oflthe owner, buried in 1859, cut into the lead coffin, ,and left the body partly revealed. They also strew.ed the, altar vestments about. For miles onte went through avenues .and orchards m which scarcely ,a, tree .had been left standing. , , ~, , . . , .. , The scenes witnessed were .such as left the eaddest impression, nud called loudly for, assistance from all civilised countries towards the punishment of the barbarous militarism that caused them.

EXTRAORDINARY LETTER FROM GRAND DUKE TO TSAR

TSARINA SURROUNDED BY EVIL-MINDED INTIMATES ■ ' : (Ilea , March 25, 5.5 p.m.) ■ . ■■ ~" ■ London, March 23. The "Times" Petrograd correspondent says an extraordinary letter from the Grand Dtike Nicholas Milulovith to the Tsar, written in November, has been published. The Grand Duke, _in warning ;him of intrigues using his wife as an instrument, eajs: "Often didst thou tell me thou could put faith in none, that this applies particularly to tliy_wife, who, loving -theo, yet led thee in error, being surrounded by evil-minded intimates." , ■ Grand Duke Nicholas was exiled in December for telling the Tssr the. truth and denouncing the Monk Rasputin.—The "Times." THE WHOLE OF RUSSIA HAS JOINED THE NEW IIEGIME. '-•■'• ' (Rec. MarcniS, 5.5 p.m.) . Petrograd, March 23. The Government's proclamation states that the whole of Russia, including Finland, the Caucasus, Turkistan, and Siberia have joined the new regime. The coup de' main only deprived Russia of two thousand killed and wounded. It'was necessary to isolate the Emperor and Empress at the Castle Tsarskoe Selo in order to prevent a counter-revolution or a monarchical propa-ganda.—Aus.-N.ZI. Cable Assn. ' . • , EARNEST SPEEDING UP OF REORGANISATION (Rec. March 25, 5.5 p.m.) ■•■„•■■, London, March 23. The "Daily Chronicle's" Petrograd correspondent reports that the reorganisation, is speeding up with the utmost earnestness. . , The idea, ia widespread that the swiftness of the retreat on the West front means that General Hindenbuig !s massing troops to take Russia unprepared and has had a sobering effect. Many factones have resumed work. Recruits are drilling Sri the streets, shops_ and banks are open and trains are running. It is astonishing the city so r(uickly recovered. . The army shortly takes the oath to sorve the new Government. Tho newspapers are energetically calling attention to the war, declaring it must not be overshadowed in the fervour for internal reform,—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asstt. . ■ ■ ■ '

. • ■ ' GOVERNOR-GENERAL OP. FINLAND APPOINTED, -. , (Reo. March 25, 5.5 p.m.) ' . Stockholm, March 23. M: Dakovitch, a member of tie Duma, has been appointed Governon-Gen-cral of Finland.—Aus.-N.35. Cable Assn ; . ■ . ■ : f NIHILIST&AR.T.Yj DISSOLVED.. (Rec. March.;2s, 11,35 p.m.) . . . Petrograd, March 24. . As .a result of the revolution, the Nihilist Party has been dissolved — Aus.-N.Z.: Cable Assn. ' RECOGNITION OF THENEW GOVERNMENT. ■ i(Beo. March 24, 5.5 p.m.) ■■■■■> Petrograd, March 23. Ihe English, French, and Italian Ambassadors have conveyed to the Foreign Office recognition.of tho Provisional Government, and have asked for a formal reception, whon ; Sir (George Buchanan*has;recovered from an attack of influenza. Sir George, with the Cabinet, will be present at the reception. ■ The Washington State Department has'announced it 3 formal recognition of the new .Russian Government.—Reuter. ENEMY CONCENTRATING 'AND THREATENING PETROGRAD (Hec. March 25, 11.35 p.m.)' ■ . Petrograd, .Maroli 24. . . 51. Gufcchoff has issued a proclamation that the.enemy is threatening Petrograd, and is concentrating reinforcementSj munitions;, and food on the Northern front. : .''.■<■.. Petrograd is swarmiug with-spies and traitors, who are nefariously operating among all classes of professions and- trades, using, all kinds of •uniforms as disguises. . He urges the citizens to be :prudent, .and not betray the secrets of national defence.—Aus.-N.Z. Caßfe' Assn. ■