FRENCH MAKE GOOD PROGRESS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9625, 3 April 1917, Page 5

FRENCH MAKE GOOD PROGRESS

Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Renter, (Received April 2, 6 p.m.) , LONDON, April 1. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— 1 We took prisoner in March 1239 Germans, making a total for January and March inclusive of 4COO. \ We occupied this morning Savy and in the afternoon Savy Wood, a mile eastward of tho village. Wo captured Yendelles, Epohy and Peiziero, and progressed north-east of Croisilles. We raided northward of Rocklincourt, north-east of Neuville St. Vaast and south-west of Givenchy. , A f French oommuniqiio states-Intermittent artillery action is proceeding between Ailetto and Laon road. Wo captured several systems of trenches and strong points east of Neu-ville-Sur Margival. The enemy was driven back to the outskirts of VauxillonTaffaux, suffering heavily. There aro active mutual artillorying operations west of Maisons da Champagne. A Belgian communique states that there is continuous artillery activity along tho whole front,' especially in the region of Dixraude. ENEMY BADLY CAUGHT AT SAVY BRITISH AND FRENCH THREATEN ST. QUENTIN. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. (Received April 2, 9 p.m.) LONDON, April 1. Mr Philip Gibbs writes: —“The enemy was badly caught at Savy. Six hundred Prussians held the village. Our guns approached before they wore expected as there was no regular bombardment, but registration shots inflicted heavy casualties. ■ “St. Quentin is now threatened by the British on tho west and tho French on tho south. From Savy the spires of St. Quentin cathedral are visible, but the town itself is hidden in a hollow. “Dirty work has been done ia spoiling the beauty of this medieval city. Tho Germans have already laid portions of the city in ruins. Houses, museums and picture galleries have been looted. “Hitherto the fighting has been on a small scale, but we aro approaching tho zone of the enemy’s long-range gun fire.” BETWEEN THE SOMME AND THE OISE VIOLENT ARTILLERY DUEL PROCEEDING. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Renter. LONDON, A.pril I. _ A French communique states: An artillery duel of considerable violence is in progress between the Somme and the Oise. We made sensible progress during the night north and south of the Ailotte, particularly north-east of Margival. AN ENEMY COMMUNIQUE ADMISSION OF BRITISH ADVANCE. Admiralty—Per Wireless Press. . LONDON, April I. A German official report states: Strong English attacks between Lens and Arras failed. The English advanced their lines from two to three kilometres between Peronno and Oouzcaucourt, and the Omignou (?) Brook, but lost heavily.