GOMMECOURT AND TWO VILLAGES ' CAPTURED

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3017, 2 March 1917, Page 5

GOMMECOURT AND TWO VILLAGES ' CAPTURED

HAIG'S ADVANCE CONTINUES GERMANS BECOMING NERVOUS , The High Commissioner reports: : London, February .28, 10.15 p.m. A British official report, states: "This morning tvo attacked and captured a portion of tho enemy's trench'north-east of _ Sauly-Saillisel. Our advance north and south of the Ancre continues. During the night wo occupied Gommeconrt. To-<tay ire captured the. villages of Thilloy and Puisioux-au-Mont, with their adjoining trench systems, ana pushed our lino onn thousand yards jiorth-easfc of Gommecourt. Last night we successfully raided tho enemy's second line, reaching tho neighbourhood of Clory. We entered the enemy's positions north-east of Arras and south-west of Lens. A German raid northeast of Armentieres was repulsed." DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE ADVANCE ENEMY'S ATTEMPTS TO DELAY PURSUIT. Bt Tolosraph-.Prcss A6sociation«Copyricht London, February 28. Mr. Philip Gibbs, telegraphing on February 27, says: "Our troops still advanced all along the line of positions from whjoh the enemy is withdrawing; meeting with resistance hero and there. Bodies of men were loft behind with machine-guns, in order to delay the pursuit by their outpost fighting. In the neighbourhood of Vans Wood, Rossignol Wood, and east of Gommecoiirt, tho enomy's guns put over a, shrapnel barrage, but did not succeed in cheoking our men for long. Wo captured north of Puisieux. Thus far Puisieux had not been heavily bombarded. Many mined houses still stand, forming good cover for the enemy's machine-guns. Apparently they aro determined to sell tho placo as dearly as possible. .Early on Fobruary 27 a party of British Lroops established themselves securely in a corner of tho villago, and are now routing out. the hornet's nest of Puisicux. From here our line ( is thrust out far beyond Miratunont, Beauregard, and tho Dovecot. Tho enemy before retiring built maJiy obstacles, wire entanglements in some places being thick and unbroken, particularly at. tho trenches south of Loupart Wood. In one-case/the outposts found belts of "wire twelve feet thick, with German gunners hidden on the other side. Heavy explosions have been heard in tho direction of Bβpaurno, where there has heen great destruction in order to hamper our ontry."—Ans.-N.SS. Cable Assn. FORCED Oil STRATEGIC RETREAT-? London, February 28Some French exports anticipate strong German resistance ireet of Bapaume, others a retirement to tho Arras-Cambrai liue, after a delaying battle in tho Bapaume section. Tho "Matin" .states that tho enemy is established along a now line of hills west and south-west of Bapanmo. Tho Germans blow up a number of heavy guns during the retreat.—Aus.-N'.Z. Cable Assn. The "Potit Journal" states that, the retreating Germans blew up a number of largo calibro guns. Tho fact Unit tho Germans abandoned strong positions and stopped on a mediocre line indicates that it was a forced retreat, and not a operation. I UNEASINESS IN GERMANY, (ttcc. March 1, 0.25 p-iu.) Amsterdam, February 28. ! I'neasiness prevails in Germany over tho British advance- ou the Ancre. J Tho newspapers aro uot allowed to comment on the German, retreat, which in informed circles is considered to bo a- bad omen for the coming offensive— Ans.-N.Z. Cable Asen. GERMAN: REPORT. (Reo. March 1, 7. p.m.) London, February 28. A German official message stales: "Tho British were repulsed between Le Transloy and Sailly. Fighting continues at two points in our first line trenches." —Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. (Ileo. 'March 1, 7.15 p.m.) London, March I. A wireless German official message stales: "Infantry combats in accordance with our plans have taken place on the Ancro. - Tho French surprised and captured a river post on the Aisno, hub wore driven out.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Beuter. ON THE FRENCH FRONT (Rec. March I. 5.30 p.m.) London, March I. A' Frenott official report slates: "Tho artillery is active on both sides of the Avre- The enemy's attempts to reconnoitre in the region of Roye broke down -aaitr our fire."—Aus.-jN.Z. Cable Atso.