SHOW DELAYS MOVEMENT ON THE ANCRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16483, 8 March 1917, Page 7

SHOW DELAYS MOVEMENT ON THE ANCRE.

FRENCH' SAY GERMAN RETREAT IS NOT VOLUNTARY. FORCED FROM THEIR POSITIONS BY MEN AND GUNS. Renter. LONDON, March 6. A correspondent at headquarters states that several inches of snow have fallen on the western front, delaying the German withdrawal and the British forward movement, although the former is worse affected. It appears that the German line between Puisieux and Thilloy has accomplished the first stage of its withdrawal, and is resting along a spur of the Bapaume ridge temporarily. To the north-west the Germans are still withdrawing, and the British are everywhere following them up. The reports of advance parties show that the enemy's movement north-east of Gommecourt extended very considerably in the 24 hours preceding the snowfall. Later a heavy thaw set in, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PARIS, March 8. French military critics consider that there is a tendency in England to exaggerate the voluntary nature of the German retreat. They declare that the Germans have been forced from their positions by guns and mem The newspaper Liberte states that a fierce battle raged for 48 hours between Gommecourt and Irles. The Germans resisted desperately but unavailingly. It adds that the German resistance increases daily,, and is marked by a series of violent artillery and infantry engagements. The British, with superb dash, drove out the Germans, who continue their slow retreat.