IN FRANCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 March 1917, Page 5

IN FRANCE

CONTINUOUS AIR-FIGHTING.

BRITISH GAIN GROUND

I.ON DON, .Mareli 12,

Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports. We slightly improved our position iiorth-easiward ol Bouchavesnes, securing prisoners. We raided trenches southwards of Arras and bombed dlogouts despite strong resistance, inHicting many casualties. Air-fighting is continuous.

FRENCH SUCCESS.

GFR \IA N T R F.NG i I IvS C A PTTJ.REI)

LONDON. March 12,

French Official.—ln the Champagne we re-attacked in the afternoon a German position west of Maisons de Champagne and captured on a mile front all the enemy trenches, also Hill 185 and entered a fortified work on the hill. There is an artillery duel on both hanks of the Meuse. The German:? this afternoon bombarded the open town of Soissons with incendiary shells, causing several fires.'

FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT

ALT, POSITIONS MAINTAINED

Received this day at 11.5 a. in. nONDu.s. At a rch 13

A French communique states: 'the Germans, west of Marsnn de Champagne, yesterday violently counter.attacked Hill 175. Our barrage and machine-gun lire stopped them. We maintained all our positions. The enemy's coup dc main in tin' region of Louvmont, oa the right bank of the Mease, was easily repulsed. We. launched three coups dc main last evening on the German trenches, between Acre and Aisne. which our fire wrecked. The Germans continue to bombard Senssons, Enemy attempts to reach our lines nt (Tony toad and in the region of llenieiicliivy and farther eastward, failed. There is lively artiilerying in the sector of To .yon. R 1: CI; N T IT (IHTIX Ct, A GERMAN REPORT, Li I) ST R A 1.1 AN AND *.Z. CABLB ASSOCIATION.] Received this clav at 1.15 p.m. LONDON', March 13. Wireless German official.— An English attack on a wide front southward of Arras failed, with heavy losses. 1 here was lively (mliting at Am re. On both hanks ..f Ihe Mcn.-v onr (ire tinned hack a !;heucii advance northwards of Avne, We : i ulihoniiv defended liiil 185 against an attack in' superior forces, but the French bv sanguinary sacrifices captured a liarr.’iw stretch of the south-western slope. The French, are attacking between Qchreda and Fake ITcsper. THE COMING OFFENSIVE. GERMANS REINFORCED. [at am a man and n.z. cable association.] Received I his (lav at 8.45 a.in. AMSTERDAM. March 13. ’Frontier reports indicate that, a continued stream of Germans Inwards the French and Belgian I rentiers continues. Thev report that General Falkcnhayn has reached Tillemmit. near Louvain.