THREE MORE VILLAGES CAPTURED

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3040, 29 March 1917, Page 5

THREE MORE VILLAGES CAPTURED

RESULT OF THE CAVALRY DRIVE :■..■*/.■ SHARP FIGHTING AT BEAUMETZ . . . Br TolosraTiii-Frcsß'Aesoeiation-Coprrißht. ■ ■ ■.■'.•;■ '■ . .-■ ..■■,■■■ New York, March 27. The British have captured Equancourt and Longavesnes.-—Aus.-N.Z. CaJble Assn. ' . • ' ■ ■ .' ,-■■■. , ■ - .. . ■•■■..■ ■■.(Rμ. March 28,8.55 p.m.) \.. ■ ; ■'"". London, March 27. ,&ir Douglas Haig reports: "Our cavalry drove tho enemy out of Longavesnes, Lieramont, and Eqiiacourfc, which wo now occirgy. A number were taken prisoner. The enemy's third attack northward of Beaumetz was temporarily successful, but wo recaptured the post and re-established our position. Our fire drove off a- raiding party eastward of Ploegstreet."—Aus;-N.Z. Cahlo Assn.-Reutcr. .. ■ THE ADVANCE OP THE FRENCH ■■"■ FIGHTING IN; THE COUOY FQREST. : , „, . .. London, March 27. A French official communique states: Botween tho Somme and the Oise our artillery dispersed gatJierings of tho enemy's troops between Bonay and TJrvillers. South of the Oise' we made important progress in the lowor Couoy Forest, and: occupied Folombray and Lafleuille, notwithstandbg tho difficulties of tho ground and the vigorous icsistanco of-the enemy. Wo also mado progress north of'Soissons, in tho region. oP Cable Assn.-if-cutor. , : : .'-. ' .' , ; SUBSTANTIAL GAINS BY THE FRENCH^ ■.-.■■■•'■'■ (Rcc. March 28, 9.20 p.m.) ". '■:'■ '•''-'' ' ..• r , ,' „,-■:,,"■ . < London, March 28. . A I'rcuch olhcial eomm-uniquo states: "Between the Somme and the'Oiso there h. violent reciprocal artillery, fighting on the Roupy-Essigny-Benav front, where our fire stopped! dead several Gorman attempts to attack. South of the Oiso, following up our success, we have captured all the lower Forest of, Coucy, the villages of Petit Barisis, Vernenil, and Coucy-la-Ville. Our advanced elements at some points reached the western outskirts of tho Forest of Sigobain, in the upper part of Coucy. The losses in this region were elight. North of Soissons w, mado important progress, north of Neimlle-sur-Margival, 'and north-east of Lenilly."—Aus.-iN.Z.' Cable Assn.-Rcutor. \ Tho High Commissioner roports:— .-■-, • ■■■ '■ . V ; London, March- 27, 2.30 p.m. "A French official report states: Southward of the Oise we have continued our progress in the lower Couoy Forest, and have occupied tiio northern part. The enemy has .been thrown back beyond the line of Barisis and Ser-' yais. Southward-of the forest we madb a brilliant attack during the night on tho village of Coucy; tbe Germans are energetically «fofending the chateau. Northward of Soissons we look a farm to the north-west of Marginal, a point d'appui solidly held by the enemy." ■-,-.'■- THE ATTACK ON THE " HINDENBURG" POSITION : WHERE THE GERMANS AEE MAKING A STAND. Paris, March 27." ._ The German? seem to be making a stand in the "massif , of St. Gobain, which is an elaborately fortified redoubt stretching from the .Oise, east of Charmey, through the two forests of Ooucy, ahnost to tlie Aisne. It consists of high ground 1 intersected by deep ravinss, which are easily, defensible. Its weakness is that it does not <juito extend to the Aisne. The French are therefore able, to drive in from the 6outh between the inassif and valley. The French have gained a footing in the Forest of Coucy at several points, and are also strongly attacking at Neuville, the fighting'being conducted in the woods, without trenches, in the old-fashioned manner. Tbe so-called "Hindenburg position" consists of a labyrinth of concreted trenches, connected by. covered ways, and protected by seven or eight lines of barbed wire.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' - : : . , - A BELGIAN RAID. ' , . .-■■.' London, Maixsh 2". : Wireless, per Admiralty Press.—A Belgian official report states that a Belgian detachment raided! a German position near Steenstraat (five miles north of Ypros), inflicted losses on the enemy, razed his field works, and brought back prisoners.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router. THE GERMAN REPORT "WE GAVE WAY BEFORE AN ENCIRCLING MOVEMENT."(Rcc. March 28, 6 p.m.) London, March 27. A Gorman wireless official report states: "The rain has reduced the intensity of tho fighting along the whole of the West front. The enemy has occupied Roisel. Strong French forces came upon our reserves between tho Oise and Coucy-le-Cliateau. W-β gave way before a threatened! enoircling movement." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable-Assn.-Renter.