WEST FRONT.

Grey River Argus, 27 February 1917, Page 3

WEST FRONT.

— OBRiIANS WITHDRAWING. NOT UNEXPECTED BY ALLIES. CONTINUAL "PRESSURE EFFECTIVE. ''■REPORT- BY MR. GIBBS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) vR-ec February -20. 10 ?•«>•)_• LONDON. February 2b. Mr. Pbilip" Gibbs, writing .from headquarters on t> 25tl« f says: l»»c " enemy is steadily withdrawing troin mam' positibns ln-tweoii Ucbutcrne and the "srrouiul »outh-wost of Bapauinc Our stroii},' patrols pusiu'rl 011 over tlio abaiH»on«'<l country suiil penctratea some placfs- throe milos boyoml their former liiu.' They arc already northwest of Serre and south of Jules. "Beyond Mirauiuont and Pys we have gained a number of Gorman strongholds, which wo expected to win only by heavy fighting. The, enemy is. yielding to the ceaseless pressure ol our -uie'ii, an dguns by '.escaping to a nfeW lino of .defynce along the Bapaumc I'vilgc. "This is the most notable movement sinc<! the autumn of .1.91(3. The Germans' stragctieal retreat reveals a new phase of weakness in the defensive conditions and the retreat lias not surprised our generals. Alter the Battle at Boom Kaviue on the 17th there Avere several signs that, the enemy contemplated a withdrawal from the ;t.\vo Mirauinonts. On Ihe morning of •the. 4th several fires were seen burning in tJrt.' German front lines. "The enemy's Hold batteries in ; several days' lighting used 'an abnormal amount, of .•umininitiou and seemed to be getting rid of supplies in the forward dumps before withdrawing his guns." ENEMY GlVliS UP POSITIONS. PETIT Ml K All AIM .\ T K N TE RK D. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Asßn.)' LONDON. February 25. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas llaig reports: As the result ot' increasing pressure the enemy vacated important positions at the Am-.re. We progressed considerably on a mile front south jmd south-east of Mirauiuont. We entered. Petit Mirauiuont and advanced on a froii| "f «>ne and a half miles south "and south-east of Soitc. - ENEMY GIVES MORE GBOUND SERRES OCCUPIED. FRENCH ARTILLERY EFFECTIVE. ; ("Reuters" Telegram.) (Rec. February 2G, 0.5 p.m.) : LONDON. February 25. . Field-Marshal Sir Douglas llaig reports: The enemy has continued- to yield ground along the Ancre. Small I bodies -oi: our troops advanced on -a I ■wide front and occupied (Serres aud 1 other important points eastward, meeting With little opposition. We successfully raided , eastward of Vier- .; straat on a 500 yard front, iufiicting casualties. We also raided eastward ,' of Arnicnt.ieres and drove out raiders ■who had reached our trenches northeast of. Ypres. There is considerable artillery fire astride the Somiue; A French communique states: — Our artillery is effectively in action in the region of Mort Honime. There is intermittent artillery (ire in Lorraine and the Vosges. . v ENEMY RAIDERS. .SPECIAL TROOPS USED. ■ (Australian ani N.Z. Cable Assn) /'■ ' "LONDON, February 25. The Headquarters ' correspondent, re- : '' ferring to raidings. says: The enemy is not using his storming tro.ops. for raidings. ..This suggests that he is 110 longer ablb to count on the regular rank and file going over the parapet. ' The storming troops consist of picked .men, specially trained, who; according | to the Army Regulations, are only employable in important oJensivo tactics.! Pollard's Pictures:— The 7000 ft.' dhasterpie.ee "The Rosary." FRENCH*" REPORT. ' ' CUST^aiLMtyARTILI.KRY MR-E ! (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn) LQNDOX, February 25. A Fi-eneh cojnmuniquo states: ffherc was the customary artillery' lire on the •whole fj-ont.\ There was no infantry action except t u '° fruitless enemy attempts 'at Kolii VLV& Alsace.FRENCH RAIDS SUCCEED LONDON; February -25. ■ •- A French communique, states: "SVe made two ..successful raids on ihe enemy's posts at. the Fovest of Apreiuont, north (ft Badorivilhu-s- . :. ■^ .. . y ■