THE WESTERN THEATRE.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15869, 7 April 1917, Page 9

THE WESTERN THEATRE.

GREAT FRENCH PUSH. FURTHER BRILLIANT CAPTURES. ENEMY COMPLETELY OVERWHELM ED. Tho High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, April 4 (11.15 p.m.). A French official message states:— Notwithstanding violent snowstorms and the soaked earth, ivo continued to throw back the enemy on the wholefront between the Somrno ami tho Oise, and pressed him beyond a very important, dominating position defined by the villages of Grugios, Urvellcrs, and Moy, which wo brilliantly captured. North of La Folio farm the Germans, overwhelmed by our irresistible attacks, precipitately abandoned three lines of trenchcs fronted by a barbed wire system, abandoning their wounded and important material, also three bombthrowers. South of the Aillctto there is no change in the position in the region of Margival and Laffaux. A violent artillery duel is in progress in tho Woovro sector. Our long •rango guns caught enemy detachments in the station at Vignencllcs. NEW FRONT HELD. STILL PUSHING NORTH. (By Cabla—Press .Association—Copyright.) (Australian and JT.Z. Cable Association.) (Renter's Telegrams.) (Received April 6th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 5. A French communique states: — "The enemy has not attempted to renew action from tho Sommo to the Oiso on tho new front which we conquered yesterday. "Our reconnaissances pushed forward during the night north of Gauchy and north of Moy as far as the enemy lines, which were found to be strongly held. "An intermittent cannonade is in progress east and -west of the Somme. Tho Germans unsuccessfully attacked between Sapigncul and Gidat farm. An enemy detachment at Cootinged advanced and occupied a' portion of a trench, but wer© immediately driven out." BRITISH SUCCESSES. VILLAGES, MEN, AND GUNS CAPTURED. HEAVY ENEMY CASUALTIES. Tho High. Commissioner reports:— LONDON, April 5 (2.15 p.m.). Sir Douglas Haig reports:— "Wo captured the villages of Ronssoy, Basso and Boulogne after heavy fighting, and took 22 prisoners. "Tho retreating enemy was caught in his own entanglements and suffered heavily from our machine-gun fire, i "Eastward and north-eastwards of j Meta en Couture we continued to progress in tho face of considerable resistance, reaching tho western and southwestern edgo of Goutzeaucourfc Wood and Havrincourt Wood, and capturing a further 60 prisoners, tw o trench mortars, and machine-guns." COUNTER-ATTACKS FAIL. CAPTURED GUNS BROUGHT IN. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Renter's Telegrams.) (Received April 6th, 6.5 i>.m.) LONDON. April 4. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— "The enemy's determined attempt to recover th© six guns we captured on Monday, west of St. Quentin, failed. The six guns were brought in. Vio captured the village of Metz-en-Couture. Fighting continues east of the village." THE GERMAN REPORT. (Received April 6th, 6 p.m.) LONDON, April 4. A wireless German official report 6tates: — "Westward of St. Quentin the French paid heavily for tho ground gained. "Wo brought down nine aeroplanes and two balloons." STUBBORN ENEMY RESISTANCE. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, April 4 (3 p.m.). A French official report states: — East and west of the Somme we have continued to progress on all tho front we attacked yesterday. Beyond Dallon our reconnaissances have pushed as far as Fauborg to the south-west of St. Quentin. To tho north-east of Castres, we have reached the borders of Grugis. On tho right wo have completely captured Moy-sur-Loise. South of Ailetto, fighting has continued on the borders of Laffaux, and in th© village itself, which -we penetrated, despite the stubborn resistance of the enemy, who defended it loot by foot. Our fire smashed with heavy losses German counter-attacks south of Vauveny.