WESTERN THEATRE

Southland Times, Issue 17971, 12 March 1917, Page 5

WESTERN THEATRE

BRITISH ADVANCE. PROGRESS ALONG THREE MILES. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn & Reuter) LONDON, March 11. Received March 11, 11.6 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports; We attacked and captured the Village of Irles, and the neighbouring defences, our advance extending over a front of three miles. We took a considerable number of prisoners. Our casualties were slight. SIGNS OP SPRING. WAITING POR THE CURTAIN. INTENSITIES GERMAN F RIGHTFULNESS. LONDON, March 9. Received March 10, 5.55 p.m. Reuter’s correspondent at French Headquarters states that signs of spring are to be seen everywhere, and soon the curtain will ascend on a tremendous drama. According to German-Amerlcan correspondents remaining at Berlin, the Germans are depending on a long spell of bad weather preventing operations before April. The correspondents also make great play of intensified frightfulness, including terrific mortars, throwing bombs eighteen Inches in girth, besides a larger and more systematic use of gas and liquid fire, not to speak of the immense Increase in machine-guns, automatic rifles, and grenade rifles. Where formerly the barbed wire defences were five yards deep, they are now a hundred yards deep. The retirement of the enemy continues more slowly, but' appearances may be deceitful. Anyhow the British higher command accurately knows what the Germans are doing, and is making plans accordingly. .

BRU.EIAITX FRENCH SUCCESS. COCBTES-ATTACKS EEPTOSED, LONDON, March 9. Received. March 10, 6.5 p.m. French communique: Our attack yesterday between Butte de Mesnil and Maison d’e Champagne, was brilliantly successful, Despite snowstorms, rendering marching difficult, we carried enemy positions on a front of 1500 metres to a depth of 600 to 800 metres. A violent German counter-attack on the left of the sector in the evening was repulsed by grenades, after an obstinate struggle, with serious enemy losses. Two enemy attempts against Avocourt Wood failed under our fire. THE ENEMY BEATEN BACK. VERDUN GAINS MAINTAINED.

LONDON, March 10 Received March 11, 5.5 p.m.

French communique: In Champagne there was obstinate fighting all night between Butte de Mesnil and Maison de Champagne. The Germans made several attempts to recapture the trenches we took on the west of that sector, but after alternate retirements we finally beat them back.

The enemy made some progress on the right of the sector. We maintained all our positions on the right bank of the Meuse. The Germans again attacked the trenches retaken by us north of Courieres Wood. Our Immediate counterattacks drove out the enemy. We carried out several coups de main, notably at Armancourt, where our detachments penetrated the German trench. GERMAN THENCUES WRECKED. COUNTER-ATTACKS SHATTERED. LONDON, March 10. Received March 11, 5.5 p.m. French official: We entered and wrecked the enemy trenches at several points south of Roye. The enemy three times furiously coun-ter-attacked the positions we captured yesterday in the sector at Maison de Champagne. Our curtain of fire everywhere shattered the efforts of the enemy, who was obliged to retire, leaving numerous dead. We captured fresh trenches north of the Butte de Meanll-Malson de Champagne road.

esebtcth champagne success. GERMAN EPFOKT NUX. EXETER. LONDON, March 10. Received March 11, 5.5 p.m. Accounts of the French success in Champagne show that French equanimity regarding the German capture in the middle of February has been fully justified. All the weather conditions on Thursday were unfavourable. There was several inches of snow on the ground, and aeroplanes were useless on account of fog, yet the attack progressed exactly according to programme. There was the usual methodical bombardment, then the steady advance of the infantry close behind the advancing barrage. It is true that some of the lost ground was not recovered, but it was not wanted. The infantry was asked to retake certain trenches and important posts, and took all. GERMAN REPORTS. LONDON, March 9. Received March 10, 5.5 p.m. Wireless German official; We entered the British position westward of Wytschaeti. The French attacked southward of Ripont and penetrated our trenches at Hill 185, also in Champagne. Our counter-attack regained the trench dominating the height. The farm remains in French hands. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn & Reuter) LONDON, March 10. Received March 11, 5.5 p.m. German official: We repulsed French attacks near le Aucourt. The Russians, led by French officers, penetrated our lines on both sides of Prosnos. Our counter-attack ejected them. The positions westward of Champagne several times changed hands, resulting in no important change in the situation. Our detachments forced their way Into Courieres Wood. The remainder of the garcicon ft***

RECIPROCAL RAIDS. £IIXIII7 SUPPERS CASUALTIES. LONDON, March 10. Received March 11, 5.5 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports; Last night the enemy launched five raids on our trenches northward of Wulverghcm, and re-attacked with four parties this morning. Only one party in each case reached our trenches. The enemy left some prisoners. We raided the enemy's first line southward of Biaches, and damaged the dugouts. We inflicted many casualties.