ALLIES BREAK THROUGH ON 100-MILE FRONT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9613, 20 March 1917, Page 5

ALLIES BREAK THROUGH ON 100-MILE FRONT

GERMANS ON THE RUN -- ..1. - ANGLO-FRENCH CAVALRY IN HOT PURSUIT SIXTY VILLAGES CAPTURED By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. (Received March 19, G p.m.) LONDON, March 18. Sir Douglas'Haig reports l Wo have occupied Neslie, Chaulncs, and Peronnc. AVo pressed back the Gorman rearguard and advanced on a front of several miles during tho last twenty-four hours to a maximum depth of ten miles. , Our front is forty-five miles from the southward of Chaulnes to tho neighbourhood of Arras. 1 AA’e have also occupied: over sixty villages. Two German raids reached, bur trenches north-east of Vermelles. There is groat aerial activity all along the front. PRESSING THE ENEMY REARGUARDS HAIG’S SUCCESSES A ; PRECLUDE TO THE CAPTURE OF CBOISILLES. Reuter’s Telegrams. f . London, March is. Reuter’s correspondent at Headquarters, in a message dated 1 18th inst., states; The rapid hardening of the ground and. fine weather is responsible for tho activity on the Somme and the Ancre. There was much fighting to-day, the patrols pressing the enemy rearguards everywhere. The sharpest conflict was at Bapaumo, where the British came uponi -the Gormans before they could clear away their coveringtroops. Tho Germans began to withdraw immediately we advanced. The rapidity of their retirement showed that the German main army has fallen back a considerable distance. / .Australian and New Zealand Cable Association i PARIS, March 18. Sir Douglas (Haig’s successes are considered as the prelude to the capture of tho important junction of OrOisilles (eight miles south-east of Arras); The Germans are exported to yield a considerable extent of ground in the Arras district. I GERMANS MAKING HURRIED RETREAT LAYING COUNTRY WASTE. POISONING WELLS AND MINING ROADS. United Press Association.—Copyright, Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, March 18. Mr Philip Gibbs writes: “The Germans are in full and rapid retreat to new lines many miles in the rear. They have abandoned positions and are laying waste villages in the entire country-side, poisoning wells with arsenic, burning bridges, at«d mining roads, , „ ‘Our cavalry patrols have gone far away, and the infantry is pushing forward.” • “EVACUATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH PLANS” HEAVY LOSSES INFLICTED UPON THE BRITISH. A CAPTURED -GERMAN AVIRELBSS REPORT. Admiralty—Per "Wireless Press. Auahralian and New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, March 18. , A German offlcraUmessage states: Between Arras and tho Oise the British and French occupied sections of onr former positions including BapaUmo, Roye, and Noyon, which wo evacuated in accordance with oUr plans. Our covering troops inflicted heavy losses. French attacks north of Camhrottes failed. The enemy lost twenty-one aeroplanes. Wo lost three. PRESSING THE GERMANS EVERYWHERE BUSIEST DAYS OF SOMME OFFENSIVE ECLIPSED. Published in “The Times.” LONDON, March 18. “The Times'" correspondent at tho Western Headquarters states that, favoured with find weather and drying of the ground, wo. are everywhere pressing tho retiring Germains. , , Tlie strenuous activity behind tho lines eclipses the busiest days of tho Somme offensive. The spirit of the troops is ono of demonstrative enthusiasm. SPLENDID FRENCH PROGRESS POSSESSION ACQUIRED OF LARGE AREA. ■ High Commissioner’s Cable. , LONDON. March 18, 3.30 p.m. A French official report states; Between the Avro and the Oise we made serious progress during the night. All the ground between our former lines and that part of the road from Royo to Nqyon between Dam cry and Lagny height is m our possession. FORWARD MARCH ON 37-MILE FRONT PROGRESS OF OWE® 12 MULES IN DEPTH IN DIRECTION OF HAM. High Commissioner’s Cable. LONDON, March 19. 1.35 a.m. French official.-—From the Avre to the Aisne on a front of more than sixty kilometres (over 37 miles) our forward march has continued. North of the Avro our cavalry entered Nesle. Wo immediately advanced our patrols towards the Somme and gave. battle to detachments of rearguards, which feebly resisted north-east of Lassigny. Wo have accomplished, up to the present, an advance of more than twenty kilometres (121 miles) in depth in tho direction Of Ham. More to the south our cavalry and light detachments ranging tho valley of tho Oise occupied Noyon. This morning, between tho Oise ana Soissons, tho whole German first lines and villages of Carlespont, Morsatn. and Nouvronvingre fell into our hands. We gained a footing on tho plateau northwards of Soissons and occupied Orouy. In the region of Reims we easily repulsed a sudden attack towards Papompellc and Champagne. , - : A Gorman attack on our trenches in tho region of CTiamhrottes was stopped dead by our La-trace. ■*■■■•