WESTERN FRONT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11947, 5 March 1917, Page 2

WESTERN FRONT.

THE BRITISH LINES. By T*l«gr»pk.—P*«« LONDON, March 4. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—After a •dfabborn, resistance ffc further progressed northward of Puissieux-ati-Mont and eastward of Gom-mecourt. Our line advanced a quarter of a mile on ft frontage of live miles.- An enemy bombing attack forced us to evacuate a trench eastward of Sailly-Sallisel, but we regained ground by an immediate counier-atta< k. LONDON. Maxell 3. . Correspondents at Headquarters say that tho British lines have now reached Aehiet-le-Petit, the first of Iho two remaining trench systems before hapaume. Fog ag;dn obscured tho British advane- anil the German retreat, which is necessarily slow, tho enemy trenches are in a bad condition. "An entire lack of careful preparation Indicates that the stay va.s considered only temporary. Taf British troops are pushing forward with greatest enthusiasm an<l arc actually requesting to bo kept in the ;''r;nc line, not; desiring to miss the advance. It 13 urttruo that the retreat is one to British pa- shells The?e are certainly better thai) those used by the Germans, but they are of- small importance'compared with the wonderful mortars and other guns. GERMAN CLAIMS. LONDON, March 1. 'A wireless German official message gays:—We repulsed '.strong English detachments east and south-east, of Souchez. There were many encounters in the Anere region. AMSTERDAM, March 3. A German communique says:—Strong ' British, reconnoitring detachments attempted to penetrate our trenches at Hulluch and LievUi but were repulsed. There* were renewed violent infantry encounters on both banks of the Ancre, the British Buffering sanguinary losses. GERMAN BOASTS. O.PEX WARFARE TO COME. AMSTERDAM. March 3. German newspapers, tardily announcing the retreat, explain that it is in accordance with Tlindonburg's general schemes, and will secure a great strategical advantage which cannot be disclosed at the present time. Capta'n von Sakmann. the military critic in the " Vossisehe Zeiiiurg.'' says that all Hindenburg's gigantic preparations aim at forcing a. final decision this-spring by tho most extreme concentration. ' He intends terminating tho trench warfare, when owing to the experience in Rumania and Macedonia, the Germans would bo immeasurably superior to the British in open lighting. " Tha Times " Service. AMSTERDAM, March 3. Gorman newspapers state that they were confidentially in formed on February 20 of tho Ancro withdrawal, but ivfcre precluded from commenting on !t. Tho "Frankfurt Zeitung " states vliat Hindenburg controls tho withIrawal. Everything thus far has gone .•ntiroly as wished. BERNE. March 3. Von Kluck, whom several newspapers report has been reappointed to an army command in France, was interviewed in Budapest, and stated that the Germans could afford to regard the west front calmly. Everything was ready to meet the greatest AngloFrench efforts. . THE KING'S MESSAGE. ARMY CONGRATULATED. Australian reed N.Z. Cable Association &nd Router. LONDON. March 3. The King congratulated Sir Douglas Haig on the Army's splendid work, steady and persistent, pressure forcing the enemy to quit carefully prepared and strongly fortified positions. Tho successes were a fitting sequel to the fine achievements on the Soinme and were a great credit to those responsible for drawing up tho plans of campaign. Sir Douglas Haig warmly acknowledged his Majesty's generous commendations. WITH THE FRENCH, SUCCESSFUL RAIDS. "AwitTsHan and N.2. CtMts AssaotatUm ta4 Hunter. - PARIS, March 3. A {French communique says:—We Harried out several successful raids on 'German trenches near Moulin-Sous-Touvent (between the Oise and the Aisne), east of Hill 304 (in the Verdun sector'), and in the forest of Apremon't (east of St Mihiel). We brought back prisoners and material. ZEPPELIN EXPLODES. NEW AIRSHIP DESTROYED. Australian and X.Z. Ca.bi« Association. LONDON, March 3. Belgium rcjt'-:-:s state that a new Zeppelin whip- on speed trials at Ghent exploded and w.'.s completely destroyed. The crew were incinerated.

WAR IM THE AIR. " The Tiffiwi " Servica. LONDON, March 3. German air losses in February were 60. and Me Allies lost 29.