GERMAN RETIREMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16979, 16 April 1917, Page 5

GERMAN RETIREMENT.

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY REPORTED. Router's Telegrams. LONDON, April 14. (Received April 16, at 0.5 a.m.) The • indications are that the German retreat is extending. Fires have been observed from Lens. INCESSANT BOMBARDMENT. LONDON, April 14. (Received April 15, at 5.5 p.m.) A French communique states: South of St. Quentin we continued to bombard the German positions between the Somme and the Oise. There is great mutual artillery activity in the Champagne, where we effected numerous reconnaissances. ANOTHER VILLAGE CAPTURED. A MILE OUTSIDE ST. QUENTIN. A SHARP ENCOUNTERLONDON, April 14. (Received April 15, at 5.5 p.m.) Sir Douglas Haig reports: Last night, after a sharp fight, we carried the village of Fayet, a mile to the north-west of St. Quentin. We captured important positions in Ascension Farm and Grandpriel Farm, on the high ground eastward of Le Vergnier. We also progressed northward of the Bapaume-Cambrai road, in the direction of Queant. Our constant pressuro has compelled the enemy to yield further ground northward of the Scarpe River. We seized the Vimy Station, La Chaudiere, and other enemy positions between, Givenchy-en-Gobelle and AngTes. The guns captured in this area include eight-inch howitzers. The ground gained in the recent operations links up with the positions gained in the battle of Loos, and includes Double Crassier. We drove off an attempted raid eastward of Loos. Tin-: FRENCH ADVANCE. ENEMY RESISTING ENERGETICALLY. LONDON, April 13. ■ (Received April 14, at 5.5 p.m.) A French communique states: South of St. Quentin fighting continues before the positions we conquered in the morning, the enemy vigorously resisting. Our artillery furiously 'bombarded the German organisation between the Somme and the Oiee, andi there was' an artillery duel in the Aisne .and Champagne regions. VIOLENT ATTACKS. OPERATIONS AROUND ST. QUENTIN. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association and Router. Admiralty, per Wireless Press. LONDON, April 14. (Received April 15, at 5.5 p.m.) A Gorman official message states: — There was a pause in the fighting yesterday north-eastward of Arras. Further southward, at Croisilles and Bullecourt, a feel- a violent artillery bombardment, the British vainly attacked several times. Our. after-thrust 'inflicted considerable enemy losses. Strong enemy attacks failed against our St. Quentin positions. For the past week the heart of St. Quentin lia- been violently bombarded, and the Palace of Justice, the Cathedral, and the Town Jla.ll ' have been seriously damaged. The artilleries are fighting at their full strength in the region of Soissons, Rheims, and the Western Champagne. The enemy Inst, on the west front on Thursday, 11 asroplanes, and on Friday 24. SOUTH AFRICANS IN ACTION. AVENGING FALLEN COMRADES. LONDON. April 13. Mr Philip Gihbs gives prominence to the South Africans' share-in Easter Monday's attack. Colonels charged ahead of their men, and the first line war, captured without casnaJtifes. Afterwards the forces fought a wicked mv.hino-gun fire. They gathered in hundreds of prisoners and many guns, including fiin howitzers and a vast ho.ul of ammunition. Their tnrninfr of the guns upon th<-> enemy was a triumph. The South Africans are avenging the tragic episodes of Delville Wood.