THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16227, 24 March 1917, Page 9

THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION.

Press Association—By T«s—Cbpyyright.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. M • and Reuter.) •' .Received 10.5 p.m., March ,23rd. '■ LONDON, March 23. , Sir Douglas Haig reports -.—The enemy's -resistance is increasing along the whole front ~ westward of St. | Quentin to the southward of Arras. ' Heavy ' snowstorms impede our advance. ' ■ VIOLENT COUNTER-ATTACKS. REPULSED BY FRENCH. French- communique.—ln the region of St. Quentin patrol- skirmishes nave taker, place.- North of Dollon and between the Somme and the Ois© the "enemy attempted violent counterattacks to dislodge us on the east bank of the St. Quentin canal. Successive enemy attacks on our front at Clastres and Montescourt were broken by machine gun fire, inflicting heavy losses. Equally violent fighting on the west of La Fere terminated in the complete defeat of the enemy. South of the Oise our detachments crossed the Ailette a* some points. The Germans north of the Aisnc renewed their attempts between the Laon road and the river. Three attacks on the Vregno-Ohivers. line were stopped by onr barrage fire. , • < Our artillery in the region south of the Aisne ■ enfiladed the Germans, inflicting ,tho heaviest losses. FURTHER,'I SOUTH. Fairly heavy artillery fighting prevails in. the Woevre. An enemy attempt on the Romainville farm near St. Miliiel, failed. , .GERMAN BOOTY. , Reports are continuing' to pour 'in of-German vandalism in the evacuated,, zone'. General Fleck, Commander of, the Seventeenth Army Corps, carried off the furniture from the house in which he resided at Ham. * EXPLAINING THE RETREAT. _ GERMAN EFFORTS. ' ' (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received 5.5 p.m., March 23rd. LONDON,, March 22. The "Daily Telegraph's" Rotterdam correspondent says that Gorman newspapers are taking great pains to prove J that the retreat means victory. All their correspondents at the Front suggest that the object is to upset the Allied plans for an offensive. , Major Moraht's latest argument is that those not understanding the r-trategy must have full confidence in Marshal Von Hindonburg, and those understanding the strategy must appreciate what is happening. The "Koelnische Zeitung" rejoices ever the fact that Germany has created a zone whore every facility for the Allies is non-c::istent. The '-Lokal Anzoiger" says it Iras revealed new positions behind country of which the Germans know everv inch and the enemy knows nothing. The great Anglo-French spring offensive has been reduced to nothing, and the enemy has lost a new Somme 'battle before it is fought. Germany; by t stroke of genius, retains full freedom and decision of movement. THE BRITISH ADVANCE. CORRESPONDENT'S ACCOUNT OF IT-. f (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received 0.50 a.m., March 24th. LONDON, March 22. The "Morning Post's" headquarters correspondent says that in open warfare and cavalry skirmishes there have been occasional encounters with German cyclist patrols. Still a feature the British advance is the German rearguard resistance, which is curiously irregular, varying from stubborn opposition by eutrenched infantry east of Papauoie, to mere glimpses of isolated detachments moving among the trees and villages west of St. Quentin. Although we are driving in the rearguards we have not yet obtained contact with the main armies. German guards and machine gtmneTs still hold Beugnyytrea and a position astride the Cambrai road, but this consists of isolated on>trenchments. 'As the enemy screen continues southwards of S'evings, a more eastward angle is daily becoming moro pronounced, and is becoming thinner and more flexible, inviting increased cavalry pressure. Nowhere was the British advance more cautious than east of the Somme, where, however, we reached Savy, close to St. Quentin, representing an advance cf twenty miles. After a long confinement in tho trenches the temptation to rush pell mell over the fields and along hard roads was almost irresistible. "We wanted at least to get within hear-

ing distance of the guns, but our advance has .mostly been a steady movement.. ';, A large portion of the advance falls on cavalry patrols and cyclist scouls, who are far ahead, scouring the woodland gullies. Infantry and guns go f.oru ard steadily on the mended roads. ". . ENEMY AVIATOR MISSING. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. % - - and Reuter.) 1 , 1 ' AMSTERDAM, March 22. German .official.'—Prince •, Fredrioh Carl of Prussia flew over Gr.einy l inns between Arras .and Peronne,- but' has ' not returned. v , - - ,■ -I, ■. .. ■■ ■.■ ■' ■—-■