SPLENDID ADVANCE BY THE BRITISH

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3054, 16 April 1917, Page 5

SPLENDID ADVANCE BY THE BRITISH

IMPORTANT POSITIONS CAPTURED

CLOSING IN ON ST. QUENTIN

The Higli Commissioner reports:—

■'•■.'.'■■- - . LgmUni April ,13, 2-2Q p,nf. • A British offiojal dispatch states: Sir Dgoglas Haig reports; "We. attacked, during the night, the region'b etween St. Quentin and Cambrai. After some sharp fighting we captured the enemy's positions on a- wide front, from northwards of Hargicourt to Metz-en-Couturo. We now hold Sarfc Farm, Gouohe Wood, Goxizeaucourt Wood and village, and sliilap;e Wpod. A suecessfulnight raid south-westwards of Lops enabled,ps to bomb the enemy's dug-outs, considerably damaging, his defences.. In tl]e neighbourhood of Ploeestreet (north, of Armentiores)., a hostile raiding party came.under our machine-gun fire and failed to reach pur trenches." . ■ ~ ■' ..'V ■.■• ■■' . ■'■■ .V ■' ; ■--■■ ■■ : ■ ! '■ ■-; •.■• - ■ ■-: ... ■. •■-'■.■'• •"■'■' . . . " : . Lpndon, April 13, 11,45 p.m, "The area of active operations was extended northwards tg-day. -East and north of Vimy ridge we pressed back the enemy pn our whole front from north of the-Scarpe to south of Loos. We seized the villages of BajjleuJ, Willefval,Vimy, Petit Vimy,: Givench-en-Golißllo, and Angres, gaining a footing iii>the enemy's trenches north-east ;of Ijßns. Tn this area we captured prisoners and guns. ■ "' . V ' '■'/'' •"■■■' "South of the Arras and Oambraißoad we captured Waneeourt tp\ver ; , on a spur oast of Wanecourt, advancing astride of the Bindenburg line to a point seven.miles south-cast of Arras," making further prqgrpspj qn the high ground east of le Verguier and Havrincoijrt wqod, / "Muoh' useful aeroplane work was done yesterday, despite tj)e weatliej\' : "The number of prisoners taken si pee the conmiencement of pperatiqns on April 9. now exceed 13,000, inoludiiiK 385 ofiicors. We also captured 166 guns, including eight β-inch^howitzer. , ?, twent.Y-ejght,.s.9-in,ch howitzers, one hundred and thirty field guns and, howitzers, eighty-four trpnch niOl , ' tars, and two hundred'and fifty maohine-guns, & considerable mimbor of guns, trench mortars and machine-guns were, doniplished and. buried by our shell fire, and cannot he enumeratad. Many of the captured guns were turnr : ed npqn the enemy with goqd effect." ' ;■! , ■ , •■' , ' London, .'April'l4, 1,20 p.m. , "The village of Fayet, north-wesj; of St. Quentii), was cnvried during the night. After Ei- sharp fisht on tjie high, ground east of Iβ Verguier, wfi captured the important positions of Ascension-'Form, and Grand Priel Farm. We also made progress north of Bapaume-Cambrai Road, towards Queant, Northwards of the Soarpe, after constant pressure, we compelled the enemy to yield ground. Wo seized. Vimy station, h Chaudiure, and positions of Fnsso No: 6, aud Biuret mill, between Givenchy-eri'Goholle nnd Angres. The aims taken in this hrea include four 8-inch howitzers. -.':■. ■ "The ground gained in the recent operations now links up with the positions gained in tho battle of Loos,-and includes Double Crasteier. An attoinnted raid hy tl'e enemy .during the v night, eastwards of Loos, was driven off." •• ' . . ' : . : l ■ ,

INDICATIONS OF FURTHER GERMAN RETREAT

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright).

(Kec. April 15, 5.25 p.m.), '■ ■ ' ... f \ 'London, April 14. ' There arn indications that the German .retreat is extending. Fires have been ohsorved at Lens. —Renter. . ' - . ■ : THE LATEST: BRITISH ENTER' LENS ; / .■...".■ . VICTORIOUS DAY-LONG BATTLE '■■'"■ . (Rec. '(Vpril 16, 0.5 a.m.) ■.•■'■■ ' ■ ■ ; London, 'April IS. The British hays entered Lens.— Atis.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S DISPATCH 0 ... (Ron. April 16, 0.5 a.m.) ' - .' ' ■ ■■■*•■:. '■ :.' : London, April 15. • Sir Douglas Hais reports: "This morning we captured Lievin, southwest of, and adjoining Lens, taltinc; considerable quantities of war material. In the afternoon we seized Oitespierr.e, 'north-west of Lens. Wo pressed on alons-our whole front from the Scarpo River to the south of Loos, and reached tioints from two to three milos east nf Vimy ridjxe. • "In.heavv all-dny fighting smith of the Scnrpe, wo, everywhere maintnined the positions we have previously capturod, and inflicted serious losses mi ■ the piirniy.- Wfl made progress on n wid« front north and south of the Bapaume-CambVni Eoad, furious encounters resulting in our favour. Within a Few Hundred Yards of St. Quentin. . "From south-east of Fayet to within a few huiul>".l yards of St.' Quentin we carried Gracourt village at the -point of the bayonet. Tl'b enemy stubbornly resisted, and attempted a hostile" counter-attack,-' which ' was broken. •' ■ ■ ■'..*' "Our acronlnnes, on Thursday and Fridav, dronped larse nuaritities of explosives, with good results, on the enemy's stations, ammunition depots, and aerodromes, and successfully.attacked the enemy's infantry convoys with machine-Runs. Four German aoroplanes were brought down, ami six •were driven down. Twelve of ours have nofc returned."— Cable $S3n.-!flut«r.: \ '■■■'■