FIGHT IN PALESTINE 20,000 TURKS DEFEATED GERMAN ATROCITIES IN ABANDONED TERRITORY ACTIVITIES ON THE RUSSIAN FRONT THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN LATER

Waikato Times, Volume 88, Issue 13449, 30 March 1917, Page 5

FIGHT IN PALESTINE

20,000 TURKS DEFEATED

GERMAN ATROCITIES IN ABANDONED TERRITORY

ACTIVITIES ON THE RUSSIAN FRONT

THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN

LATER

FURTHER PROGRESS IN THE WEST _—__—— Operations Against Italy Coming BRITISH TRANSPORT MINED REACHES PORT SAFELY AMERICA'S PREPARATIONS Big German Peace Drive Expected ————— \ By Cable'.—Press Association.—Copyright FURTHER PROGRESS IN THE WEST BRITISH CAPTURE TWO MORE VILLAGES. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Received March 29, 11 p.m. LONDON, March 29. The latest report from Sir Douglas Haig states: "Following our success yesterday, our cavalry captured during the afternoon the villages of VillersFaucon and Saulcourt, about six miles north-east of Peronne. Further north we established ourselves at two points on the Doignies-Lagnicourt road, and after a short fight to-day we gained ground south and west of Croisilles, eight miles south-east of Arras, after meeting with strong opposition." GERMAN ACCOUNT OF RECENT FIGHTING. 1000 BRITISH DEAD COUNTED ON THE BATTLEFIELD. SUCCESSFUL ACHIEVEMENTS AGAINST THE FRENCH. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Received March 29, 11.20 p.m. LONDON, March 29. A German communique states: "We" counted 1000 British dead on the battlefield during the last two days, which is evidence of the success of our plans. A French advance on the west bank of the Oise, near La Fere, collapsed, with sanguinary losses. We captured trenches south of Ripont, in the Champagne, and drove off French detachments which penetrated our positions north of Rheims." A French communique states: "Following a violent bombardment of our positions west of Maison de Champagne, the Germans this morning lodged a strong attack and gained a footing in some elements of our first line. All attempts on Maison de Champagne were broken by our fire, which inflicted sanguinary losses." _

GRAVEYARDS SYSTEMATICALLY PILLAGED. ZINC AND-LEAD LININGS TAKEN FROM COFFINS. (Reuter's Telegrams.) Received March 29, 11.20 p.m. LONDON, March 29. A correspondent at French headquarters writes:—"The full atrociousness of the conduct o? the Germans is only now appearing. They not only broke open the vaults in the churchyards and used them as machine-gun shields, but they systematically pillaged graves for the zinc and lead linings of coffins and for possible ornaments and jewels. Cemeteries were torn up, coffins broken, the remains of the dead scattered, and rubbish and filth thrown into the graves. The Germans show fen almost exaggerated respect for their own • dead. Their trim and gaudy cemeteries abound with pompous epitaphs to the. fallen, characteristically inscribed on tombstones stolen, from neighbouringFrench cemeteries." (The Times.) LONDON, March 29. A correspondent states that the Germans hampered the food supplies the American Relief Commission sent to Roubaix, intercepting several train loads and substituting German rye and flour containing 30 per cent, sawdust for American flour. The substitute produced an indigestible, putty-like substance, which caused so many deaths that the gravediggers were unable to dig sufficient graves.

ENEMY ATTACKS GENERALLY REPULSED. GERMANS OBTAIN MINOR SUCCESS ON THE USSA. (Australian and N.Z. CaM<» Association.) Received March 29, 11.20 p.m. . LONDON, March 29. A Russian communique states: "German attacks at Illuxt, a few miles north-west of Dvinsk, and Postavy, 50 miles jouth of Dvinsk, were repulsed. A night attack at Boguchi, north-west of Krevo, occupied part of our trenches, but an immediate counter-attack restored the situation. We attacked with gas on the Stochod river, east of Kovel, near Baranovitch, about thp centre of the line, and south of the river Shara, a tributary of the Niemen. Here we are fighting for positions lost on March 23rd. Enemy attacks south of the river Ussa, south-west of Moinesti, occupied part of our positions after a desperate fight." .*»

VISITED BY BRITISH CHIEF-OF-STAFF. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Received March 29, 11.20 p.m. ROME, March 29. Sir William Robertson, Chief of the British General Staff, and a distinguished French general spent a week visiting the Isonzo and Trentino fronts. N

THREAT BY HINDENBURC ITALY TO SUFFER ROUMANIAN FATE. ITALIAN ARMY READY. and N.Z. Cable Association.) Received Marcli 30, 1.25 a.m. PARIS, March 29. The Journal's Rome correspondent states that everybody in Italy expects a great attack, for which the preparations are obvious. General Rossi states that General von Hindenburg threatens Italy with the fate of Roumania and Serbia, compromising communication with Salonika and forcing the French to face a new front. The Italian army's organisation has T)een brought to perfection, its artillery.being remarkably improved. Moreover, before Hindenbwrg attacks in the Trentino he will be seriously engaged on other fronts, -