ENEMY'S CONTINUED RETREAT IN THE ANCRE REGION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3019, 5 March 1917, Page 5

ENEMY'S CONTINUED RETREAT IN THE ANCRE REGION

FAVOURED BY FOGGY WEATHER REMOVING CIVILIANS, FROM BEHIND BAPAUME By TclcEra,jjh.-PtC3B' Associalion-Copyrifhl (Rec. March 3, 8.5 p.m.) ~ _, ... ~.,', ' . London, March 3. ' Mr. Philip bibbs, telegraphing on March 2, says the enemy's withdrawal is slow and gradual, succssivs trenches being hold long enough to cover movements. Forests of barbed wire must be cut before the troops can advance. The positions on tboEssarts-Bucquoy-Loupart AY'ood, on the Bapaume line, feeing held by grenaders and machine-gunners. . Prisoners taken near Moncby were ignorant of the plan of retirement. Some were actually told by their officers that all talk of withdrawal was asilly rumour and must cease. It is reported that civilians art. being removed from the villages beyond Bapaume..- The weather is aagin foggy, favouring the enemy. Wo are now. near the Bapaume- first defensive, and that will be the next step of our advance. —Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. BRITISH LINES ADVANCED TO. ACHIET-LE-PETIT. (Rcc. March 4, 5.5 p.m.) < ■' ' \ / ' ' Umdon, March 3. Correspondents at headquarters report that tho British lines have now reached Achiet-le-Potit, the first'of the two remaining trench systoms before Bapaume. Fog has "again obscured tho British advance, and the German retreat, which is necessarily slow. The enemy trenches are in a bad condition, and'their entire lack of careful preparation indicates their stay is only temporary. •' • The British troops are pushing forward with tho greatest enthusiasm, the men actually requesting to bo kept in tho firing line, not desiring to miss the advance. _ ," It is not true that tho retreat is duo to British gas shells. Tueso certainly are hotter than the Germans', lyfit are of small importance compared with the wonderful mortal's and other guns.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG CONGRATULATED, BY THE KING (Rcc. March 4, 5.5 p.m.) \ London, March 3. ' His Majesty the King has congratulated Sir Douglas Haig on the Army's splendid work, tho steady, per .'sistent pressure forcing tho enemy to evacuate carefully prepared and strongly fortified positions. J'ho successes were a fitting sequel to tho fine achievements on tho Sommo, and wefo a great credit-to those responsible for drawing up tho plans of, the campaign. Sir Douglas Haig warmly acknowledged His Majesty's generous commendations. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Iteulcr. i. . ' ABLER MINDS DIRECTING THE ENEMY'S OPERATIONS. (Rcc. March 3, 8.5 p.m.) ' London, March 3. The "Nation," commenting on the German rotrcat, says: "If the Germans fall back on the lino Arras-Sailly we can only infer that abler minds are directing tho enemy than ever before. Tho Germany which determined to hold Combles, Thiepval, and Pozieres at all costs was a weaker opponent than the Germany which abandons positions only retainable at prohibitive cost. Tho first was weak'and stupid, tho second prudent and formidable. By falling back on the Arras-Sailly line the Germans will probably regain the use of ten to fifteen divisions."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. : TARDY ADMISSION OF THE* RETREAT BY GERMAN NEWSPAPERS \ liec. March-4, 5.5 p.m.) ! Amsterdam, March 3. ' German newspapers, in tardily announcing the retreat, explain ihat it is ' in accordance with Hiudenburg's general scheme, which will secure a great strategical advantage which cannot be disclosed at the present timo. Captain von Salzmaun, tho military critic of the "Vossischo Zeitung," says: "All Hindenburg's gigantic preparations aim at forcing a final decision this spring. By the most extreme concentration he intends terminating trehch warfare, when, owing to the experience in Rumania and Macedonia, the Germans will be immeasurably superior to the British in open fighting."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . VON HINDENBURG CONTROLS THE WITHDRAWAL. V (Rec. March 4, 5.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, March 3. German newspapers state that they were confidentially informed on Foljruary 20 of the Ancre withdrawal, but were precluded from commenting upon it. The "Frankfurter Zeitung" sta'/es that General von Hindenburg controls the withdrawal, and that everything thus far has gone entirely as he wished.—Tho "Times." GERMANS CAN AFFORD TO REGARD THE WEST FRONT CALMLY. ' (Rcc. March 4, 5.5 p.m.) Berne, March 3. General von Kluck, whom several newspapers report lias been reappointed to an army command in France, interviewed at Budapest, slated that tho Germans can afford to regard the West front calmly. Kvcrything was ready to meet Mm Anglo-French greatest efforts. —Tho "Times.' FURTHER BRITISH PROGRESS NORTHWARD OF WARLENCOURT (Rec. March 4, 5.5 p.m.) London, March 3. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—We made further progress northward of Warleneoiirt-Eatieourt and north-west of Puisieux-au-Moiit. ' We repulsed eounler-aHacks on our advanced positions north-cast of Gueurlecourl and north-west of Ligny ant) 'J'hilloy,' inflicting loss. Wei raided trenches in the. neighbourhoods of Angro Salome aud Loos..— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assu.-Reuler,

BRITISH LINE 'ADVANCED A QUARTER OF A MILE. (Ike. March 4, 11.15 p.m.) „. „ , „ . „ r , ± London, March 4. Sir Douglas flaig reports:— After a stubborn resistance wo further progressed northward of Pmsieux-au-Moiit, eastward bi Gonmio.uourt, and our line was advanced a quarter of a milo on a frontage of five miles. "An enemy bombing attack forced us to evacuate a trench eastward of ■Sailly Saillisol. Wo regained thogrmm by an immediate counter-attack — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-lteuter. BRITISH AEROPLANES BUSY SCOUTING AND PHOTOGRAPHING. ,„,,,, , ~ „ ...', , London, March 2. Tho latest messages from the British front state that aeroplanes arc busv touting and photographing in clear sunlight. No-German aeroplanes were seen, Tho enormous increase in railway material recently made on the British trout will prove valuable in following up the Germans Sunshine and fresh winds are drying up the earth, and making rapid road construction possible.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AEROPLANE RAIDS ON RAILWAY STATIONS. . „ ' . . L ,„ , London, March 2. A J'rench communique states: Wte repulsed two German raids west of Soissons, and raided a German trench near Vauquois. A. German aeroplano bombed' Montdidier. One'person was killed and three were injured. , Eleven French aeroplanes bombed luitmonts at Guiscard, and the railway' stations of Appilly and Badoeur-sur-Oise, causing a flro at the last-named place.—Aus.-N.Z.'Cable Assn.-lteuter. SUCCESSFUL FRENCH RAIDS.ON GERMAN TRENCHES. (Ree. March 4, 5.5 p.m.) ~, , •.,«,! London, March 3. A .trench communique states: We made several successful raids ou German trenches near Moulin Sous _ Touvcnt, oast of Hill 304, and tho Forest Apreinont, and brought back prisoners and material.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Beuter. (Rcc. March 4, 5.5 p.m.) , ~ . . . London, March 3. A trench communique states: We successfully bombarded enemy organisations north of the Aisne and on the left of the Mouse.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable i Assn.-Jteutcr. MANY ENCOUNTERS IN THE ANCRE REGION. (Rcc. March 4, 5.5 p.m.) ... ~ .. • , , , London, March 3. A wireless German official messago states: We repulsed strong English detachments eastward and south-eastward of Souchcz. There were many encounters in the Ancro region.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Keulci\ INFANTRY FIGHTS ON. BOTH BANKS OF THE ANCRE. I (Ree. March 4, 11.10 p.m.) • ' . , „„, London,' March 3. A German communique stales:— 1 Strong British reconnoitring detachments attempted to penetrate our trenches at Hulluch and Levin'(?) and were repulsed. ■. < ' "There- were renewed violent infantry encounters on both hanks of lho Ancro. Tlie British suffered sanguinary losses."—Aus.-N.Z. Gable Assn - Eeul er.