GERMANS BOMBARD SOISSONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9619, 27 March 1917, Page 5

GERMANS BOMBARD SOISSONS

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuterdeceived March 26, 5.5 p.m-) , ... - LONDON, March 25. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Wo improved our position west of Qroixelles, and entered enemy trenches north-west of Loos. "Wo ejected raiders who entered our trenches west of Hulluch. There have been many air fights. Eight German machines.were brought down; four of ours are missing. Reuter’s correspondent at French Headquarters states that the enemy apparently miscalculated the rapidity of the French pursuit, which has already cost him heavy loss. It forced the Germans to turn at bay in large masses. Enemy infantry is now engaged along the whole of the, front from St. Quentin to the Ailette. Tho correspondent describes the excellent commanding position tho advance has established. Reuter’s British Headquarters correspondent comments on the growing resistance of the Germans. He adds that behind the recovered territory many thousands of-men aro toiling day and night restoring communications and clearing away ruins loft by tho Germans. The correspondent refers especially to the speedy work of tho Royal Engineers in building bridges sufficient for ;ho heaviest transport. • Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. i LONDON, March 25. 'A French communique states: Wo made further progress north of Grand Serau Court and St. Quentin, and advanced appreciably north of Ohauny and on the east bank of the Ailette. Wb consolidated positions there and in the region north of Soissons. , ■ • , . ~ We seized portions of trenches east of Malancourt Wood;'-west of the Meuse. ' y ' . \ Tho prisoners taken yesterday belonged to seven different regiments. There is great mutual activity in aerial bombing. The Gormans bombed Dunkirk and Calais, but did small damage.” . ' ' : ” There is little change north of Soissons, which the German, long-range gone aro bombarding. Thfero is lively artillery work at Berry-au-Bao and Reims, and in AlsaceOFFENSIVE CONTINUED FROM SOMME TO AISNE ENEMY MAKES VIGOROUS DEFENCE. Australian and Now Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. (Received March 26, 81.50 p.m;) ; LONDON, March 26. A French communique states; Wo continue the offensive from the Somme to the Aisno. The struggle is stubborn owing to the vigorous defence, but our soldiers, inflamed by the sight of the destruction wrought by the enemy everywhere, drove back tho Gcrrujins with heavy losses. ■ Between the Somme and tho Oise we drove back the enemy beyond an important position'at CassresHssigny 1c Grand. A violent counter-attack on-the Essigny-au Benay front broke down. ’ . ” South of the Oise at various points wo penetrated Lowct Coney Forest. Wo reached tho outskirts of Foleubray and Coney le Chattan. The Gefmdca at Foleubray caught our artillery' and dispersed, suffering great losses. North of Soissons wo increased our gains, and repulsed counter-attacks. Artillery operations are active on the Craohno and Verdun front. High Commissioner’s Carle. - LONDON, March 25, 11.15 a.m. - French official.—From the Somme to |he Aisne wo have conticaied tho offensive. A bitter .struggle has resulted from ;the energetic defence by the enemy; but our .soldiers arc so exasperated by the.enomy’s ravages everywhere' that driving back the onomv has been done with serious losses to tho latter. On the Somme-Oiso front wo threw back tho enemy beyond an important position at Cassres-Essigny le Grand. South of the Oise we have penetrated several points at Coney Forest, reaching to the outskirts of Foleubray. North of Soissons our gains have been increased. * ■ ~ A RUMOUR OF SET BATTLE UNJUSTIFIED GERMANS DRIVEN BACK THREE MILES Australian and New Zealand Cable Association, (Received March 26, 10.40 pw.m.) LONDON, March 26. Tho latest messages froto the British and French ii-onts show that there is not the least justification for sensational messages published to-day that a set battle has commenced and the heaviest fighting is,in .progress, f The French have advanced appreciably during the last tnenty-four hours. They have now driven the Germans back from their line three miles south-west of St. Quentin, where it is expected they will try to.hold the Grumcs-Urvillers-Ccritzy-Moy line. ■’ j

GERMAN SOLDIERS EAT CATS AND DOGS ——— : j ■ ... CLEAN EVIDENCE OF FORCED RETREAT OF ENEMY. Published in “The Times.’’ (Received March 26, 8.50 p.m.) . LONDON, March 25. “The Times” Headquarters correspondent states that there is evidence that the retreating Germans are underfed. They are eating cats and making aausages of dogs. They arc extremely short of medical and surgical necessities, and there are numerous deaths from poisoned ■wounds* Additional demonstration that the Germans Were forced to retreat is shown by the fact that the British are now passing weli-huilt dug-outs, trenches and gunpits. There are vast quantities of valuable material miles behind the surrendered- lino. A GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT WITHDRAWAL OF BRITISH FROM YPREfa. United Press Association —Copyright. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association -and Renter, LONDON, March 25. A German official report states; South-east of Ypres we advanced, and found the trenches destroyed and evacuated. Our protecting troops gave way in accordance with instructions at Beaumetz and Roisel. Eastward of the Crozat Canal, we repulsed the French at Vrcgny, and wo pierced the French lines at Souper and Ccrny. Our aeroplanes destroyed seventeen English and French machines. THE DEVASTATED TERRITORIES A FRENCH OFFICIAL VISIT. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. PARIS, March 35. M. Poincare, President of France, accompanied by M. Painlovo (Minister f or War), M. 31alry (Minister for the Interior), and M. Bourgeois (Minister for Labour), with xnembers of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, visited Novon, Guiscards. Ham, Nesle, and Roye. " M. Ribot (Premier) has announced that the Government is collecting evidence in order to protest to neutrals against Germany’s barbarous acts in the evacuated territory.

PROTEST FROM FRENCH GOVERNMENT TO NEUTRALS Reuter's Telegrams. ■ (Received March 26, 9.55 p-m.) PARIS, March 20. It is officially announced that Franco is protesting to neutrals that the Germans have unjustifiably and barbarously' devastated evacuated torntoiics. and aim at ruining for many years one of tho most fertile regions in trance. Neutral Governments have been requested to warn the banks against tlea - ing in semrities stolon by the Gormans in recaptured districts, as the Allies will not reoogniso tho validity' of the dealings. HINDENBURG’S FIENDISH ORDERS SICKEN EVEN GERMAN SOLDIERS'. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association, PARIS, March 20. Three hundred'women and children and a god men died in consequence of tho hardshios, brutality, and starvation they had suffered immediately preceding the German retreat. There wore 150 victims at Chauncy alone. Tho work of destroying property m the largo towns lasted three weeks. Some Germans have admitted that the work sickened them, but added that they wero simply carrying out \on Hindenuurg s orders. GERMANS STILL SEND PRISONERS TO WAR ZONE Australian and New Zealand Cable Association BERNE, March 20. Despite British and Fronoh warnings to Germany that they will enforce their threats of reprisals, a largo number of prisoners have been sent to tho " 1U The°intornational Rod Cross is endeavouring to induce Germany to cancel the movement.