PEACE MOVES.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15868, 5 April 1917, Page 7

PEACE MOVES.

AUSTRIA BRINGING PRESSURE

ON GERMANY.

AMERICA AFIRE WITH WAR ENTHUSIASM

PRESIDENT'S SPEECH HAILED AS GREATEST IN AMERICAN HISTORY

BRILLIANT FRENCH ADVANCE SOUTH

OF ST. QUENTIN.

ENEMY DRIVEN FROM STRONGLY HELD POSITIONS.

(3rd TEAR—24Bth DAT.)

THE WESTERN THEATRE, BRILLIANT FRENCH SUCCESS. STRONG POSITIONS CAPTURED. ENEMY'S DESPERATE RESISTANCE. (By Cable—Press Association—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Renter's Telegrams.) (Received April 4th, 6 p.m.) LONDON, April 3. A French communique states: —East and west of the Somme, after violent artillery preparation, we attacked a position south of the line Castres-Es-signy-Benay, from Epine de Dallon to the Oise. We attained our objective, despite desperate resistance, and carried on a front of f3ur£een kilometres a series of strong pointy solidly organised, and held by large forces. We captured Epine de Dallon, "the villages of Dallon, Gifficourt, Cerisy, and several heights south of Urvillers. South of the Ailette wo continued to progress in the region of Laffaur, of which we hold the south and north-wes-tern outskirts. We also carried Vauxeny and gained a footing west and north thereof. Our batteries caught a German column marching towards Laffaur Mill. The enemy violently bombarded Rheims. Their guns threw over 2000 shells, and killed several civilians. THE HINDENBURGr LINE.

THE KAISER'S LATEST. EVACUATION OF BELGIUM. ' . PARIS, April 3. Le Matin* states that the i«r lately informed President "Wilson that Germany was willing to evacuate Belgium, maintaining the garrisons at Liege, Nam or, Antwerp, Ostend, and Zeebrugge, and retaining control of the Belgian railways. Germany would also evacuate certain French territory with an indemnity of £600,000,000. SPIES IN SWITZERLAND# ITALIANS OBTAIN SECRET DOCUMENTS. BY BURGLING AUSTRIAN CONSULATE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received April sth, 1.30 a.m.) BERNE, April 4. A wireless message states that two Italians, with a view of exploiting their failure to repatriate and join the army when summoned, carried out a daring burglary at the Austro-Hungarian Consulate at Munich. They secured hundreds of secret official documents. The Consulate is the long standing centre' whence activities of spies infesting Switzerland have been directed.

STRONG CONCRETE J FORTIFICATIONS. > DEPARTMENT*OF SOMME > LIBERATED, r I (Beoiter'a Telegrams.) (Received April 4th, 6 p.m.) , LONDON, April 3. Mr Beach Thomas, describing the i position on tho West front, says: , "We are now in contact with the Hindonburg line, from Beaurains to St. i Quentin. The German guns are now : within reach, and we can see great mixing places for concrete with which the line is fortified. The enemy's i heavier artillery is now once more brought to bear upon our lines. "The department of the Somme has now been completely liberated. Villainous destruction and attempts at assassination by mantrape continue. The commonest form is heaps of bombs resembling sticks.'' BRITISH LINE STRAIGHTENED. (Received April 4th, 6 p.m.) LONDON, April 3. The British Headquarters correspondent says: "Our line is now almost dead straight for fourteen miles, from Beaurains, south of Arras, to the great Amiens-Cambrai road, near Beaumete." THE AVIATION STRUGGLE. EIGHT GERMAN MACHINES DESTROYED.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Renter's Telegrams.) (Received April 4th, 6 p.m.) LONDON, April 3. Sir Douglas Hlaig reports Southeast of Arras, we carried the village of Henin-sur-Cojeul, and stopped counterattacks. Further south, we captured Maissemy and occupied Ronsay Wood. Eight German aeroplanes were brought down, and six of ours are missing. ! FRENCH ACTIVITIES. LONDON, April 3. A French communique states:— "There has been intermittent artillery activity from the Sommo to the Aisne and at Maisons-de-Champagne there have been frequent patrol encounters. AN ENEMY REPORT. BRITISH GUNS KILL PRISONERS. LONDON, April 3. A German official message, claims that the Germans took over 300 prisoners near Moreuil, but coming under English machine-guns only sixty reached the _ lines.