FIGHTING IN THE WEST.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 961, 10 March 1917, Page 9

FIGHTING IN THE WEST.

MUTUAL TRENCH RAIDS. Australian and- JV.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, March 8. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—We advanced slightly on both sides of the Ancre Valley. We entered trenches near Biaches and captured prisoners. The enemy raided our front line south-east of Chaulnes, southward of Arras. A few British are missing. There is active reciprocal artillery fire at various points on the whole front. FIGHT ROUND VERDUN. GUNS HEARD IN PARIS. Reuters Telegram'. PARIS, March 8. A -semi-official message says that the Germans, in view of their defeat in Caurieres Wood, have apparently discontinued their effort on the right bank of the Meuse, but our batteries dispersed troops who were massing north of Malancourt, apparently with a view to a surprise blow. There have been merely secondary actions on the rest of the front, but the cannonade is so furious that it is heard in Paris, as was the jioise of the battle of the Marne. The British on the Ancre are consolidating their conquered positions. THE FRENCH SECTOR. VICTORY IN CHAMPAGNE Australian and S.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, March 9. A French communique says:—ln the Champagne, after an intense artillery preparation, we carried the greater part of the salient which the enemy occupied on February 15, between the Butte du Mesnil and Maisons de Champagne. On the left bank of the Meuse our artillery fire wrecked German organisations between Hill 304 and Avocourt Wood.

In Alsace our batteries caught and dispersed a strong enemy detachment south of Gcrnav.