WESTERN CAMPAIGN

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16231, 29 March 1917, Page 8

WESTERN CAMPAIGN

ON THE FRENCH FRONT. . - GERMAN POSITIONS. DESCRIBED. (Australian and N.Z.\Cablo Assn.) PARIS, March 27. Ihe Germans seem to-be malting a fctand at Massif de " St. Gobain, an elaborately foi'tified redou'ot stretching from the Oise, east of Chauny, through the two'forests at Coucy almost to the Aisne. It consists of high'' grounds, intersected with deep ■ ravines, which is easily defensible. Its weakness is that it does not quite extend to the Aisne, and the French are *ible to drive in-tlle front to the south, between Massif and Villy. The French gained a footing in the forest of Coucy at several points; The French are also strongly attacking Neuville, the fighting being con-ducted-in the woods without trenches | in the old-fashioned manner. The iso called Hindenburg position consists of a lab-vrintli of concreted trenches, . connected bv covered ways and protected by seven or eight lines of barbed wire.

BRILLIANT FRENCH PROGRESS

. (Australian and N.Z. Cahle Assn. . •- .■ and Renter.) . . / ■. LONDON.- March 27.' A French communique'; states:—We c.">n£inued our advance south of the Oisi? in the lower Forest; of Coiicy. if whieh'we occupy the. entire northern portion. The enemy was driven beyond the Bariss-Servais line. We brilliantly carried the .village'of Coucv-de-Chateau in the south of the forest , . : ' In the region north of Soissons _we captured a farm north-west of Margival and strongly held a point d' appui. A FURTHER REPORT. PROGRESS EXTENDED. / ) A French communique states:—Between the Somme '.and the Oise out* Artillery dispersed enemy gatherings between Benay and TJrvillers. South of the Oiso wo made importprrt progress in the lower Courcy Forest. Wo occupied Folembray and La Fluille, rothwit hstanding' difficulties of the terrain and a vigorous enemy resistance. Wo also progressed north of Soissons In the region of Vrcgny.

, BRITISH ' SUCCESSES. TWO MORE VILLAGES • CAPTURED. The; B ritigh llave captured . Equancourt (south of Beaumetz)- 'and Longavesues. - ' BELGIAN TROOPS ACTIVE. GERMAN POSITION RAIDED. A -Belgian message _ states A Belgian detachment raided a German position near Steenstrante (Ypres front) inflicting losses, razed the enemy's field works and brought back prisoners.