THE WESTERN FRONT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 962, 12 March 1917, Page 8

THE WESTERN FRONT.

ADVANCE ON THE ANCREAN IMPORTANT GAIN. Ilii/h Commissioner'* Calk. LONDON, March 10 (10.35 p.m.). A British official message stales that the village, of liies, four miles west of Bapaume, and the neighbouring defences, have been captured, and a considerable number of prisoners taken. This represents an advance exceeding a three-mile frontage. THE FLANDERS SECTOR. ENEMY TRENCH RAIDS. A. and N.Z, Cable Association and Renter. LONDON. March 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—Last night the enemy launched five raids on trenches northward of Wulverghem, and re-attacked with four parlies 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 Biachcs, damaged the dugouts, and inflicted many casualties. ©

SIGNS OF SPRING.

PREPARxVTIONS FOR BATTLE. Renter's Telegrams, LONDON, March 9. Router's correspondent at French Headquarters states that there are signs of spring everywhere, and soon the curtain will ascend on the tremendous drama. According to German-American correspondents remaining at Berlin, the Germans arc depending upon a long spell of bad weather preventing the commencement of operations before April. The correspondents also make great play regarding intensified frightfulness, including terrific mortars throwing bombs 18 inches in girth, besides a larger and more systematic use of poison gas and liquid fire, not to speak of an immense increase in machine-guns, automatic rifles, and grenade rifles. They also declare that where formerly there were barbed-wire defences five yards deep they are now 100 yards deep. The retirement of the enemy continues to grow slower, but appearances may be deceitful. Anyhow, the British Higher Command accurately knows what the Germans arc doing, and is making his plans accordingly.

CHAMPAGNE FIGHTING. FRENCH REPLACE LOSSES. Australian and N.'/,. Cable Association. LONDON, March 10. Accounts of the French success in Champagne show thaf the French equanimity regarding the German capture in the middle . of February was fully justified. All the weather conditions on Thursday were unfavourable, and there were several inches of snow upon the ground. Aeroplanes were useless in the fog, yet the attack progressed exactly according to programme. There was the usual methodical bombardment, and then the steady advance of infantry close behind the advancing barrage. It is true that some of the lost ground was not recovered, but this was not wanted. The infantry was asked to retake certain trenches and important posts, and they took all that was asked of them.

MANY LOCAL ACTIONS. ENEMY FAILURES AT VERDUN. A. and N.Z. Cable Assoi-iati'm and Rculer. LONDON, March 10. A French communique states: —In the Champagne obstinate fighting, lasting all night, took place between the Butte du Mesnil and Maisons de Champagne. The Germans made several attempts to recapture the trenches which we took in (lie west of that sector, but after alternate advances and retirements, we finally beat back the enemy.

We made some progress on the right of the sector of fire, and smashed the German attacks. Tn the Verdun sector, we maintained all our positions on the right bank of the Meuse. The Germans again attacked the trenches retaken by us north of Caurieres Wood, but our immediate counter-attacks drove out the enemy. We carried out several coups de main south of the Avre, notably at Armancourt (three and a-half miles south-west of Roye), where our detachments penetrated the third German trench. We entered and wrecked enemy trenches at several points south of Roye. The enemy made three furious counter-attacks upon the positions which we captured yesterday in the sector of Maisons de Champagne. Our curiam of Maxim fire everywhere shattered the efforts of the enemy, who were obliged to retire, leaving numerous dead. We captured fresh trenches north of the Untie de Mesnil-Maisons de Champagne road.

THE GERMAN REPORT. NO IMPORTANT CHANGE. A. and V.Z. Cable Association and lieuter. Admiralty per Wireless Press. LONDON, March 10. A wireless German oflicial message slates:—We reptdsed French attacks near Lancourt southward of CrapeauMesnil, four miles south of Roye. Russians, led by French officers, penetrated our lines on both sides of Prosncs, 14 miles cast of Rheims. 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 Caurieres Wood, and the remainder of the garrison fled.