STRUGGLE GROWS INTENSE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3036, 24 March 1917, Page 9

STRUGGLE GROWS INTENSE

ENEMY ATTEMPTS TO COUNTER THE ADVANCE

ATTACKS REPULSED WITH HEAVY LOSS

AMERICA'S WAR DECISION

DECKS CLEARED FOR ACTION

BRITAIN'S MESSAGE TO RUSSIA

■ On the .Western front the character of the operations has changed from the ruh-away-and-follow-oh tactics to closer fighting. ;The enemy is now attempting, vainly, to stem the rising tide of the Allies''onward march, and desperate and costly counter-attacks at,' many points have hepa. repulsed. A lato March snowstorm has hampered the advance. lii America, public expectation of a final decision for war at the coming special meeting of Congress is high. The newspapers regard the matter as praotically settled, and discussions are proceeding in regard to the dispatch of an expeditionary force to the seat of war. The new regime in Russia is-rapidly settling down toi some' appearance of constitutional order, hut the Duma is faced with a'.number of problems, not .the least of which is thq Republican activities' of. the anarchistic. extremists. The ex-Ministers are to be tried by jury, and the death sentence] .it is stated, has been abolished.. The British Parliament has debated the resolution of congratulation to the Duma. An incident of the debate was a question by a member relative to an alleged obstructive policy in regard to the Dardanelles. > • "

ENEMY'S RESISTANCE INCREASING

> HEAVY SNOWSTORMS IN THE WEST FRESH PROGRESS ON THE FRENCH FRONT The High Commissioner reports :— ' ; J .:.■'';'.' •'';'. -■"'■'. London, March 22, 9.10 p.m. A British official dispatch states: "The enemy's resistance is'increasing along our whole front from the west of St. Quentin to the south of Arras..;, Heavy, snowstorms have increased the difficulties of our advance." ■ BRITISH ADVANCE DESCRIBED , By Taleeraph-Prcis 'Atwciation^Oopyright •----.. (Rei.. March 24, O.TO a.m.) ;•'...■.■■''.'.■. '•■■ ' London, March 23. The '"Morning Post's" correspondent at Headquarters , says: "Open warfare, cavalry skirmishes, and occasional encounters with German cyclist patrols are-still'a'feature'of the British advance. The German rearguard's resistance is curiously jrregular, varying from stubborn opposition by entrenched infantry east of Bapaume, to merei glimpses of isolates detachments moving in trees and villages west of St. Quentin. Although we are driving in the rearguards, -. we have not yet obtained contact with the main armies. The German guards and machine-gunners still hold the position astride the Cambrai Road, but this consists of isolated entrenchments. As the enemy's screen continues southwards' and moro eastward the angle daily becomes more- pronouncedj thinner and more flexible, inviting increased cavalry pressure. Nowhere is the British advance more cautious than east of the Sornme, where, however, it,has reached Savy, close to St. Quentin,' representing/an advance of twenty miles. After the long confinement in the trenches the to rush pell-mell over the fields and hard roads is almost irresistible. It has mostly been a steady movement. A large por.'tion of the' advance falls on the cavalry patrols. Cyclist scouts are far ahead, scouring woodland and gullies; -The infantry guns go forward steadily 'over the mended'roads."-7<Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. .

THE ADVANCE OF THE FRENCH

; ' •.':". SEVERAL VILLAGES OCCUPIED '''"': .;■' ; ",' - London, March 22. •':•• "A French communique states:'"After a lively struggle we extended our "position easts of the St. Quentin Canal and in the region north of Tergnier, arid closed'with the enemy at several important points. We advanced.south of the Oise and north of Soissons,' and occupied several villages."—Aus.-N.Z. ' Cable Assn.-Eeuter. .'.•; ; (Rec. March 23, 11130 p.m.) . London, March 22. i. . . A French official communique states:' "There has been heavy artillery, fighting in the-Woevre. ,An attempt by the enemy at Romainville Farm, near St. Mihiol, failed. Reports continue to pour in of German vandalism in,the evacuated zone. Von Fleck, commander of the 17th Army Corps, carried off th©;furniture of the house in which he resided at Ham."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ..,-■'

CLOSE FIGHTING GROWING INTENSE

VIOLENT ATTACKS BY THE ENEMY;. REPULSED.

The High Commissioner reports:—

... London, March 23, 1.5 .a.m. | .A. French-official report states: "Between the Somme and the Oise, the enemy, attempted violent counter-attacks to throw us from the east bank of the St. Quentin Canal. On the front from .Clastres to Montescourt, successive attacks were broken by our machine-gun fire, the Germans losing heavily. ;In the region west of La Fere, the enemy was completely checked.' Soutb of the Oise our detachments crossed theAilett'e at- several point's. Three attacks along our line from Vregny to Chivres were stopped by our barrage. In the region south of the Aisne our artillery, enfilading the enemy, inflicted heavy The enemy is still systematically pillaging ( the evacuated zone 'without the slightest military reason." ' .

GERMAN OPINIONS ON THE OUTLOOK

• MUCH BOASTING OVER' "STRATEGIC-MOVE.".-. (Rec. March 23, 5.15 p.m.) ■ '.. . '.-.■•..' ■• ■■ ■ London, March 22. The. Telegraph's" correspondent at Rotterdam states that the German newspapers are at great pains to prove that the retreat will mean victory. All the correspondents on the various fronts suggest that the'object is to assist jn the German plans for an offensive. Major Moraht's latest argument is that thoso who do not understand strategy must repose' full confidence in Field-Marshal von Hindenburg. "Thoso who understand strategy; will appreciate what is happening." The "Koelhische Zeitung" rejoices .that Germany has created a rone .where every facility for the Allies will bo non-existent. ■ The "LokaVAnzeiger" says: "We have new positions behind country of which we know every inch, and the enemy knows nothing. The great Anglo-l''rp"rli spring offensive has been reduced to nothing. The enemy has lost l!ic new Somme battle before it has been fought.;- Germany, by a stroke of genius, retains full freedom of decision and movement."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

GREAT GERMAN OFFENSIVE RUMOURED

■'•' W. w„~ "v i Ktv; i..' , , - New York i March 22 - n Y ° rk ■' r at The Hague learns from con. fadential German sources that Germany intend* to begin a great offensive on a certain front on April 5.

WAR ENTHUSIASM IN AMERICA

PRESIDENT'S ACTION WIDELY APPROVED

EXPEDITIONARY FORCE DISCUSSED

satisfaction at the President's action; It is betiZ J^Jtvu : 10 V° £ 8 take fr by ™U make the American position.unmistakable. Mr. Roosevelt's proposal for an expeditionary forceis widely discussed, tut while it is evident that there will be a vast body of volunteers, it is unlikely that any early action in the matter will be taken R„2w y STSP 6 P ro ofthe Chairman of the Reserve Board to extend the billion dollar credit of the Allies, .accepting the mere obligation as.security. • l * ■■ All the newspapers feature with headlines Across the pages tbo proximity or war. lie renewal of preparations is now under way, and the war nolicy is taking shape. Ifc is expected that the President will give CWgresTa Mof Germaai outrages, review Germany's actions and ask Congress to declare that a state of/war exists It is believed that Congress will then authorise the use ofarmed forces. It is anticipated that the army will he in readiness for rapid mobilisation when Congress meets. The New York ''World's" correspondent at Washington says that when Congress.meets the President will say that a state of war has existed since March 17, when the merchantmen City of Memphis, Illinois and Vigilancia were sunk. The Government is considering plans to 'mobilise the National Guard,, which, if necessary, may eventually be sent abroad, requisitioning German interned ships for the purpose.' There will be a gigantic mobilisation of the financial resources assist the Allies. It will be the duty.of Congress to declare that a state of war exists. When the United States entera the war it will mean an earlier and better peace ! N^ Y S rk ,W' B Wi' , yt, aro l nOTr at war - There'is no wisdom in denying the faot."—Aus,-N.Z. Cable Assn. . ' • " u ' uum

ANOTHER AMERICAN STEAMER SUNK SEVEN SURVIVORS REACH THE DUTCH pOAST. (Rec. March 23, 7,40 p.m.)' -v •* • i rr u«. ~«„ ± ',Amsterdam, March 22. The American steamer Healdton (4489 tons) has been torpedoed. Seven survivors have reached Terschelling. (Reo. March 24, 0.10 a.m.) mi; tr u» , 'j j '-11. i Rotterdam, March 23. ; The Healdton was torpedoed without warning. A second boat has been picked up. Twenty-one are missing.—Sfas.-N.Z. Cable Assn. NEUTRAL MOVE TO AVERT WAR, '■",, , , , ,■' , . „ r _. , Washington, March.22. . A strong neutral move, headed by M. Ritter, the Swiss Minister, is pend™S. withva view to keeping the United. States and Germany out of mutual hostilities. It is believed that Germany is contemplating a modification of the U-boat campaign. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. , A HINT TO NEUTRALS i . ■•'■....' rm. c, , „ , ,- ... , ~ , Washington, March 21. The State Department will make it known officially that, the Government will refuse to consider any neutral suggestions until Germany has withdrawn her submarine blockade.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. • REMARKABLE DOCUMENT DISCLOSED «.j _____ GERMAN PRESS INSTRUCTIONS ON PIRATE WARFARE. (Rec. March 23, 10.55 p.m.)

-.■■' ,„, L , , -,-,-i , , ' London, March 23. ■The full text has been published of a. remarkable set of confidential in- ' structions which was officially issued to the German newspapers io\ discuss the unrestricted submarine war. The instructions declare that expressions of opinions regarding the new warfare would encourage the enemy. ."The determined approval of the entire people must ring out from the Press. All the factors have been carefully weighed, and it is now a question of the best and only means of securing a speedy victory/ The Press must use outward ■forms of friendliness for America, otherwise the danger of America's participation in the war will be increased." The newspapers are requested to assert that the German Navy is firmly confident. England's references to - perfected defences are refuted by results. "The personnel of the enemy's mercantile marine has been weakened, and its material used nip; You are requested to employ this psychological weapon with a view to spreading fear amongsl enemy and neutral crews."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reutor.

THE HUN SPY AGENTS

. . New York, March 22. 'Albert Saunders and Car] Wunneberg, accused of sending'spies to England, have been sentenced to two, years' imprisonment and fined £500. Accused pleaded guilty.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ■'