WESTERN THEATRE

Southland Times, Issue 17965, 5 March 1917, Page 5

WESTERN THEATRE

BRITISH MAKE FURTHER PROGRESS. COUNTER-ATTACKS REPULSED. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn & Reuter) LONDON, March 3. Received March 4, 5.5 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports : We made further progress northward of Warlencourt and Eaucourt, and north-west of Puisieux-au-Mont. We repulsed coun-ter-attacks on our advanced positions north-east of Gueudecourt and northwest of Ligny and Thilloy, inflicting loss. We raided trenches in the neighbourhoods of Angresalone and Loos. GERMANS OFFER STUBBORN RESISTANCE BRITISH GAIN MORE GROUND LONDON, March 4. Received March 4, 11.15 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports; After a stubborn resistance we further progressed northward of Puisleux-au-Mont. Eastward of Gommecourt our line advanced a quarter mile on a frontage of five miles. An enemy bombing attack forced us to evacuate a trench eastward of SaillySaillisel, but we regained the ground by an immediate counter-attack, mother). - r WHERE THE BRITISH NOW ARE.

ENEMY TRENCHES IN BAD CONDITION. ENTHUSIASM OF BRITISH TROOPS. REQUESTS TO BE KEPT IN FIRING LINE. NOT WISHING TO MISS THE ADVANCE. LONDON, March 3.. Received March 4, 5.5 p.m. Correspondents at headquarters state that the British lines have now reached Achlat le Petit, the first of the two remaining trench systems north-west of Bapaume. A fog again obscured the British advance and the German retreat, which is necessarily slow. The enemy trenches are in bad condition and betray an entire lack of careful preparation, which indicates that the enemy's stay In them was only temporary. The British troops are pushing forward with the greatest enthusiasm, and are actually requesting to be kept in the firing line, not desiring to miss the advance. It is untrue that the retreat is due to the British gas shells. These are certainly better than those of the Germans, but they are of small importance when compared with the wonderful mortars and other guns.

WITHDBAWAL SLOW AND OEADUAL FOGGY WEATHEE EXPERIENCED, THE HIST STEF IN THE ADVANCE. LONDON, March 3. Received March 4, 5.5 p.m. Mr Philip Gibbs, telegraphing on the 2nd, says that the enemy’s withdrawal is slow and gradual, successive trenches being held long enough to cover the enemy’s movements. A forest of barbed wire must be cut before the troops can advance. The positions on the Les Es-sarts-Bucquoy-Loupart Wood-Bapaume line, are being held by Grenadiers and machine gunners.

Prisoners taken near Monchy were ignorant of the plan of retirement from the Somme, and had actually been told by their officers that all the talk of withdrawal was a silly rumour which must cease. They reported that civilians are being removed from the villages beyond Bapaume. The weather Is again foggy, thus favouring the enemy. We are now near the Bapaume first defensive, and that will be the next step in our advance. SUCCESSFUL, FRENCH RAIDS. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn & Reuter) LONDON, March 3. Received March 4, 5.5 p.m. French communique : We made several successful raids on the German trenches near Moulin-sur-Louvent, east of Hill 304. and in the forest of Appremont and brought back prisoners and material.

ATTITUDE OF OEBHJUf NEWSPAPERS. TARDILY ANNOUNCING TEE ENEMY’S RETREAT. WHAT THE GERMANS AIM AT. AMSTERDAM, March 3. Received March 4, 5.5 p.m. German newspapers are tardily announcing the retreat, which they explain is in accordance with von Hlndcnburg’s general scheme, and which will secure a great strategical advantage, which cannot be disclosed at the present time.

Captain von Salezmann, military critic to the Vossische Zeltung, says that all von ilindenburg’s gigantic preparations aim at forcing a final decision this spring by the most extreme concentration. He Intends terminating trench warfare, when, owing to experience In Roumania and Macedonia, it lias been demonstrated that the Germans are immeasurably superin' to the British in open lighting. THE KING’S CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BRITISH ARMY (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn & Reuter) LONDON, March 3. Received March 3, 5.5 p.m. The King congratulated Sir Douglas Haig and his army for their splendid work in the steady and persistent pressure which is forcing the enemy from carefully prepared and strongly fortified positions. He said that the successes were a fitting sequel to the fine achivements on the Sotrtme, and of great credit to those responsible for the drawing up the plans of campaign.

Sir Douglas Haig warmly acknowledged his Majesty’s generous commendations.

SUCCESSFUL FRENCH BOMBARDMENTS LONDON, March 3. Received March 4, 5.5 p.m. French communique: We successfully bombarded enemy organisations north of the Alsne and on the left bank of the Meuse. THE ANCRE WITHDRAWAL GERMAN NEWSPAPERS’ STATEMENT (The Times.) AMSTERDAM, February 3. Received March 3, 5.5 p.m. German newspapers state that they were confidentially informed on February 20 of the Ancre withdrawal, but were precluded from commenting on it. The Frankfurter Zeitung states that von Hindenburg controls the withdrawal and everything thus far has gone entirely as was wished.

VIOLENT INFANTRY ENCOUNTERS (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn & Reuter) LONDON, March 3. Received March 4, 11.10 p.m. German communique: Strong British reconnoitring detachments attempted to penetrate our trenches at Hulluch and Licvin (north of Arras) but were repulsed. There have been renewed violent infantry encounters on both banks of the Ancre, the British sustaining sanguinary losses. ABLE MINDS DIRECTING TH7 ENEMY THE WISDOM ENT RETREATING LONDON, March 3. Received March 4, 5.5 p.m. The Nation, commenting on the German retreat, says that if the Germans fall back on the line between Arras and Sailly, we may only infer that abler minds are directing the enemy than ever before. The Germany which determined to hold Combles, Thiepval, and Pozieres: at all costs was a weaker opponent than the Germany which abandons positions that are only retainable at a prohibitive cost. The-first was a weak and stupid policy, but the second is a prudent and formidable one. By falling back on the ArrasSailly line the Germans will probably regain the use of.from ten to fifteen divisions.

voir KLUCK SAYS THAT EVERYTHING is ready <Tbo Timoa) BERNE, March 3. Received March 4, 5.5 p.m. Von Kluck, who several newspapers report, has been re-appolnted to an armycommand In France, interviewed at Budapest, stated that the Germans can afford to regard the West front calmly. Everything was ready to meet the AngloFrench’s greatest efforts. A GERMAN REPORT (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn & Reuter) (Admiralty per Wireless Press). LONDON March 3. Received March 4, 5.5 p.m. German official: We repulsed strong British detachments eastward and southeastward of Souchez. There were many encounters In the Ancre region.