ADVANCING ON BAPAUME.

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 March 1917, Page 5

ADVANCING ON BAPAUME.

ENEMY'S STRONG POSITIONS.

CAPTURED BY THK BIUTISH

[AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.]

Received this day nt 9.35 a.m. LONDON, February; 28. Phillip Gibbs/telegraphing on the 27th, «ays: The troops still advanced all along the line to a position whence the enemy arc withdrawing, meeting resistance here and there from bodies of men left behind with machine guns in order to delay the pursuit^ There was outpost righting in the neighbourhood of Vaux Wood and Kossingol Wood, east of Gommescourt. The enemy's guns put over a. shrapnel barrage, but did not succeed in checking our men long. We captured ground in the northern part of Puissieux. Thus far Puissieux has not been heavily bombarded, and many ruined houses still stand, forming good eover for the enemy's machine guns. They are apparently determined to sell the place as dearly as possible. Early on the 27th a party of Britishers established themselves securely in a,corner of the village and are now routing: the hornet's nest at Puissieux. Thence our line was thrust out far beyond Miraumoiit, Beauregard and Dovecot. The enemy before retiring built many obstacles and wire entanglements, which in some places were, thick and unbroken, ' particularly at the trenches south of Loupart Wood. In one case the. outposts found belts of wire 12ft thick. German gunners were hidden on the other side. Heavy explosions were heard in the direction of Bapaume, where there is great destruction in order to hamper our entry.

A FOROEn RETREAT.

GERMANS YIELD STUONG

POSITIONS

deceived thic. dav at 10. oil a.m. PARIS, February '2B

Le Petit Journal states that the retreating Germans blew up a number of large-fcalibro guns. The fact that the Germans abandoned a strong position and i-.topped on a mediocre line indicates a forced retreat and not a strategic operation.

THE GERMAN RETREAT

FUENCH EXPERTS' OPINION

[UNITED SEIIVICE TELEGRAM.]

Keceived this day at 1.15 p.m. LONDON, February 28

.Some French experts anticipate strong German resistance west of Ihipaunie, -others a retirement to the Arras-Cambrai line after a delaying battle in the Bapauine section.

Le Matin stater, that the enemy h established along a new line of hills west .and couth-west of Bapaume, and blew up a number of heavy guns during the retreat.