GERMANS FORCED TO FIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16499, 27 March 1917, Page 5

GERMANS FORCED TO FIGHT

MASSES of TROOPS engaged ENEMY STILL YIELDING GROUND STORY OF FINAL BATTLE FOR BAGDAD llip' "'.'■ ■'■■ ' " '"■ t '■■•■. '■•' ;v ' The rapidity of the French pursuit has apparently upset !; the / enemy's calculations, and large masses'•:. of German ;- infantry have been compelled to stand their ground and fight. / r). The French hold a commanding , position, and are driving :'< : - ;|f the enemy back with heavy losses. The fighting has been , .■■' H( ; bitter, but at all points to the advantage of the French, who * ';.-. have driven the enemy back to lines three miles south-west ||\i of St. Quentin, where it is expected the Germans,will make ' , • . a stand. Resistance is also developing on the British front. Three inndred civilians in the evacuated area have died in consequence of hardships, brutality, and starvation immedi* ately preceding and during the German retreat. The French H* Government intends to lay evidence of the German barbarities P before neutrals. :'-.\ .'■ -■!■ v.*/'; ||. The story of the final battle for Bagdad shows that the |a forcing of the passage of the Diala River, a tributary of the I?' Tigris', was marked by gallantry of the highest degree. The I crew of one pontoon after another were killed by the Turkish !;'" fire. Eventually 60 Lancashire men succeeded in crossing, y and fought the Turks for a day and two nights until the passage of the river was forced. |- : Fourteen regiments of the American National Guard have been called out to protect munition plants and bridges. | Several German newspapers declare that if an American ""■•' ;?_''" steamer fires at a German submarine it will mean I war, ..';•• '•-■' I. America has ordered all her relief workers to leave Belgium, ' • '%'-* considering that the German promise to respect them cannot j u be relied on. The " prohibited " zone, within which German %*:, submarines sink at sight, has been extended to include 1J S practically all European waters, andincluding the Archangel % '(■■■' ■ '.„ route.' % . ■'..■■■ .'„'. . / y- , •' -* ■■: ;^.';;\.:.'