WESTERN FRONT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17419, 5 March 1917, Page 7

WESTERN FRONT.

the BRITISH LINES.

FURTHER PROGRESS

Australian and N.Z. !Cabl. Aaaoclation Reuter. (Received March i, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 3. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—We made further progress north of Wax-lencoua-t-Eaucourt, and north-west of Puissieux-au-Mont, and we repulsed counter-attacks on our- advanced positions northea-st of Gueudecourt and north-west of Ligny-Thilloy, inflicting l 0S We raided trenches in the neighbourhood of Angres and Lpos. (Received March 4, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 4. Sir Douglas Haig reports :—After a stubborn resistance we . further progressed northward of Puissieux-au-fionv and, eastward of Uommecouit. Our line advanced a quarter of a mile on a frontage of five miles. An enemy bombing attack forced us to evacuate a. trench eastward of Sailly-Salli?el, but we , regained ground by, an immediate counter-attack: GERMAN CLAIMS. (Received March 4, 5.5 p.m.) v LONDON, March 4.. A wireless German official message says : _We repulsed strong English detachments east and south-east- of Souchez. There were many encounters in the Ancre region. (Received March 4, 11.10 p.m.) , AMSTERDAM, March 3. A German communique says:—Strong British reconnoitring detachments attempted to penetrate our trenches at Huilush and Lievin but There were renewed violent infantry encounters on both banks of the Ancie, the British suffering sanguinary losses. \ SCOUTING OPERATIONS. FAVOURABLE WEATHER. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, March 2. The latest messages from the British front state that aeroplanes are busy scouting and photographing m the cieai sunlight. , , , No German aeroplanes have been seen. . The enormous increase m railway m - terial recently made on the Britis front is likely to prove valuable m tolowing up the Germans. Sunshine an fresh winds are drying the earth, ma - ing rapid road construction possible. NEWSPAPER COMMENTLONDON, March 3The “Nation”: commenting on the German retreat says: “If the Borman fall back on the line Arras-SaiUy wo can only infer chat abler minds directing the enemy than ever be oie. Germany, which was doternrin® hold Conibics. Thiepval and P°zicres . all costs, is . a weaker opponent < • the Germany which abandons posi m • only retainable at a prohibitive c ' The firat was weak and skipHC *- second pittdent and formidable- •• j falling back to tho Arras-Sadly h Germans will probably regain ti of ten or fifteen divisions.” -

ENEMY’S WITHDRAWAL GRADUAL. ' ' / FAVOURED BY FOGLONDON, March 3. • Mr Phillip Gibbs, telegraphing March 2, says that the enemy 6 drawal was slow and gradua > . , , give trencheabeing held long ***

cover movements. Forests of barbed wire must be cut before tile troops can advance on the positions. The Essarts-Bucquoy-Loupart Wood-Bapaumo line is being held by grenadiers and machine-gunners. Prisoners taken near Monchy were ignorant of the plan of retirement. Some were actually tola bv their officers that all the talk of a withdrawal was a silly rumour and must cease. It is reported that civilians aro being removed from villages beyond Bapaume. The weather is again foggy, favouring the enemy. Wo are now near Bapaumo’s first defences. That will be the next s«ep in our advance. , (Received March 4, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 3. Correspondents at Headquarters say that the British lines.havo now reached Achiet-le-Petit, the first of the two remaining, trench systems before Bapaume. Tog again obscured the British advance and the German retreat, which is necessarily slow; The enemy trenches are in a bad condition. An entire lack of careful preparation indicates that the stay was considered only temporary. The British troop 3 are pushing forward with greatest enthusiasm and are actually requesting to be kept in the firine line, not; desiring to miss the advance. It is untrue that the retreat is due to British gas shells. These are certainly better than those used by the Germans, hut they. are of small importance compared with the wonderful mortars and other guns. GERMAN BOASTS. OPEN WARFARE TO COME. (Received March 4, 5.5 p.ra.) AMSTERDAM, March 3. German newspapers, tardily announcing the' retreat, explain that it is .in accordance with Hindenburg’s general schemes, and will' secure a great strategical advantage which cannot be disclosed at the present time. _ Captain von Salzmann, the military critic in the “ Vossische Zeitung,” says that all Hindenburg’s gigantic preparations aim at forcing a final decision this spring by the most extreme concentration.' He intends terminating the treiich warfare, when owing to the experience in Rumania and Macedonia, the Germans would be immeasurably superior to the British in open fighting. . “Th» Timee" Service. (Received March 4, 5.5 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, March 3. German newspapers state that they were confidentially informed on February 20 of the Ancre withdrawal, hut were precluded from commenting on it. The Frankfurt Zeitung” states that Hindcnburg controls the withdrawal. Everything thus fax - has gone entirely as wished. BERNE, March 3. Yon Kluck, whom several newspapers report has been reappointed to an army command in France, was interviewed in Budapest, and stated that the Germans could afford to regard the west front calmly. Everything was ready to meet the greatest AngloFrench efforts. THE KING’S MESSAGE. ir ARMY CONGRATULATED. • Australian and N.Z. Oablo Association and iteutar. (Reooived March 4, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 3. The King congratulated Sir Douglas Haig on the Army’s splendid work, steady and persistent pressure forcing ike enemy, to quit carefully prepared and strongly fortified positions. The successor were a fitting sequel to the fine achievements on the Somme and wore a great credit to those responsible for drawing up the plans of cauipaign. Sir Douglas Haig warmly acknowledged his Majesty’s generous oommendationa. ~ J

WITH THE FRENCH. AIRMEN BUSY. ' ’ > LONDON’ March 2, A French communique says:—Wo repulsed two German raids west of Sois l sons and raided a German trench near Vauquois. A German aeroplane bombed Mont Didier and one person was killed and three injured Eleven iFrdnoh aeroplanes bombed hutments on the Guiscard railway and stations at Anpiliy and Baddeiir, on the Oise, causing a fire at tho lastnamed place. A later French communique says:— We successfully bombarded tho enemy organisations north of the Aisne and on the loft bank of the Meuse. ~ SUCCESSFUL RAIDS. i Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Router. (Received March 4, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, March 3. A french communique says:—We carried out several successful raids on German trenches near Moulin-Sous-Touvent (between the Oise and the Aisne), east of Hill 304 (in the Verdun sector), and in the forest of Apremon (east of St, Mihiel). We brought back prisoners and material. ZEPPELIN EXPLODES. NEW AIRSHIP DESTROYED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received March 4, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 3. • Belgium report's state that a new Zeppelin while on speed trials at Ghent exploded and was completely destroyed. Tho crew were incinerated. WAR IN THE AIR. \ LOSSES IN FEBRUARY. “ Tho Times ” Service. (Received March 4, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, \March 3. German air losses in February were 60, and the Allies lost 29. PARIS ECONOMISING. AMUSEMENTS RESTRICTED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. ' PARIS, March 2. In order to economise coal, theatres, music-halls and kinemas are restricted to tlireo evening performances and two matinees weekly. Omnibuses and tubes will stop early, except on theatre nights. Parisiens have accepted restrictions without grumbling.