BRITISH SUCCESSES.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 February 1917, Page 1

BRITISH SUCCESSES.

&r. impel tant Move

(Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.)

■LONDON, Feb. 18. Mr Pliilip Gibbs says that Friday’s and Saturday’s successes north-east of Gramdecourb give the British important new ground on both sides of the Ancre, on high rising slopes dominating the ruined villages of Miraumont and Perpitmiramont. This steady progress is a precise repetition of itlie attacks which resulted in the enemy’s evacuation of Grandcourt, which was then in a similar position to that now occupied. At Miraumont, prior to Saturday’s attack, the Germans strength* ened all tlio garrisons in the neighbour hood, by sending up the Prussians and largo supplies of artillery and ammunition. They knew that if the high ground south of the Arncre was lost the two Miraumo-nts must surrender. The German commanders ordered the high ground to be held at all costs, yet as the result of the two days’ fighting, and after heavy counter-attacks, the Gormans lost all the high slopes, and now hold only a hillock guarding the entry to Miraumont which consists of a strongly defended knoll, wherein the Prussians still resist, but the British outposts have dug in close below, while shell-lire is demolishing the earthworks.

773 Prisoners

LONDON, Feb. 18. Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig reports : We prisoncred on the Ancre on Sntur- ' day 773 of tiro enemy. In the morning three waves of German infantry, accompanied by supporting troops, attacked our new positions at Baillescourt farm. They came under our concentrated artillery fire, and were driven back with heavy losses before reaching, our lines. We entered positions at night southwest and north-west of Arra.s, south of Manquissart, and north of Yprcs, and inflicted many casualties. We also repulsed raiders south of Ypres.

Excited

AMSTERDAM, Feb. 18

The German papers are excited over the western activity, forcasting an cany great battle.

LONDON, Feb. 17.

A French communique states: There was intermittent artillcrying on most of the front, especially in the direction of Ribecourt. German Official: There was strong artillcrying at Ancre. In the forenoon fresh infantry engagements developed. LONDON, Feb. 18. A French communique states! Thera were patrol encounters especially in the sectors of Troyon and Zestnhambrettes and northwards of Badouvillcrs. A detachment penetrated the enemy trenches at Lo Pretre Wood and destroyed work and dugouts.

french Report

PARIS, Feb. 18

The French headquarters’ correspon. dent throws further light on the" Gorman attack on February 16tli in the neighbourhood of Maison de Champagne, which was a coup do main on a large scale, with (the object of lm proving their local position. The sector selected was immediately cast of a. salient left in the German Iin 0 between Tuhurc and Buttedemcsnji oy the French offensive in September 1916, when the assault swept past the tremendously powerful positiion, leaving a territority. The attack was proceeded by extremley heavy artillcrying. The enemy also exploded mines under the front line, demolishing the defences, and charged amid the ensuing confusion The operations were not more than a single successful rush.

Further Advance

LONDON, Fob. 17.

Sir Douglas Haig reports: Wo carried out a successful operation on both banks of the Ancre this morning and progressed considerably. We attacked southward of the river and captured positions on a front of one and a half miles opposite the villages of Miraumont and Petit Miraumont, and penetrated over one thousand yards. We advanced our zone within a few hundred yards of Petit Miraumont, and captured northward of the river an im portant position on the upper slopes of a spur northward of Baillescourt Farm ou a thousand yards’ front. We successfully repulsed a counter-attack. Tho enemy’s losses were heavy. Wo made raids southward of Neuve Chapclle and northward of Ploegsteert. We reached the second line at the tatter. A large number of tho enemy were killed and many dug-outs wore destroyed. We repulsed hostile parties westward of Givenchy. On the Tigris. LONDON, Feb. 18. Mesopotamia Official: We took tho offensive on Thursday on the right bank of the Tigris. We secured our objective on a seven hundred yards’ front.. We extended our gains by bombing to a depth of five hundred yards on a thousand yards’ front. M e easily repulsed a counter-attack.

We assaulted later the 'left centre, and secured our objective on a front of 850 yards. During the night we cleared out the enemy from small areas, securing the whole Dahra bond. Wo made prisoners of 80 officers, whereof two wore regimental and three battalion commanders, and 190(5 men. The booty includes five machine-guns 250 rifles and large quantities of am*

munition and stores. We advanced on Friday 1200 yards southwards of the Shuinra'n Loop. We are now holding tho south-west corner of this bend.

LONDON, Feb. 17,

Two Turkish communiques admit retiring on the Tigris, following British attacks.

The Kaiser Angry

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association and Renter.)

LONDON, Feb. 18,

Tlie “New York Times” Paris correspondent, who was formerly resident in Berlin, says the rupture wit/li the United States came like a bombshell in Imperial circles. The Kaiser flew into violent rage, directed principally against Count SBerustorS. The Kaiser complained that his representative in Washington had invariably (created misunderstandings, and intu been lacking in tact, with what lie characterised as a “hypocritical English pastor,” at Washington, meaning President Wilson. He Ithcn ordered the memorandum, which was transmitted to the United States thrOuglit the Swiss Minister.

A Cardinal’s Views

(LONDON, Feb. 18. Cardinal Bourne (Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminister) in a Pas. toral letter says: There is a spirit of hopefulness and certainty abroad, such, as was impossible during, the more anxious periods of the war. Although there was never any uncertainty as to, the final issue, there have been many dark days. We are now convinced that while the enemy power is waning, ours is gaining strength in numbers, leaders, and weapons, representing a change such as the world has not seen before. The King, Government and Empire look forward with confidence to the future.

The Submarines

LONDON, Feb. rib Experts state that the German submarines, after a fortnight at sea, must be dry docked and have their engines overhauled. They were sent out iu a squad, the first of which left port on February sth, and is due to return about February 1 Otli.; The submarines are fewer than two hundred and it will take mouths to build enough submarines and train the crews to replace losses. German papers state that the Deutschland is now carrying petrol for the other submarines.

Arming Merchantmen. LONDON, Feb. IS. Experts discussing the rapidity of arming merchantmen state that experience increasingly proves that even a single gun astern forces submarines to operate under water, when the speed is slow and the endurance of tile electric batteries small. This helps antisubmarine measures near the ooasit). When the submarine tries to return home or lie on the bottom whilst carrying out internal repairs. Here it meets, the various electric devices, such as microphone on trawlers, nets, destroyers, motor boats, dirigibles and hydroplanes.

Sinkings.

LONDON, Feb. 18. The British • steamer Romsdafen has been sunk.

LONDON, Feb. 18,

The British steamer Valdes has been torpedoed without warning. Two weie killed and nine are missing.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10,

The practice of making public tlie destinations and manifest of ships leaving American ports has been discontinued.

A Borman Rlovo.

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association

and Reuter.)

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19

The text of Germany’s proposed extension of the treay of 1799 has been received by the State Department. -- The chief purpose of- the extension is to ensure to Germany that her ships in the United States will not bo seized, and it also deals with the property riglis of Germans in America. Mr Lansing declined, to comment.

Disabled Steamer

BOSTON, Feb. 17th

Captain Polaek, of the Kron Princessin Cecile, at the hearing of a litigation suit and proceedings for the sale of the steamer, gave-evidence that he was instructed by an official from the German Embassy to disable the machinery and prevent the use of the vessel by the United States in the event of war. That order he obeyed at tho end of January. The damage was estimated at £2,000.

Captain Polaek was excused from disclosing the name of the official, declaring that if he did so he would be court-iua'rtialled in Germany.

In Italy.

ROME, Feb. 18

The Government has ordered} (the censorship of gramaphone discs, as it was discovered that German spies transmitted military and political secrets thereby.

DOME, Feb. 18

The Government has commandeered all crops at thirty-six lire per quintal, and have tixed the price, ol the next crop at forty-live lire per quintal, hoping thereby 'to encourage increased sowing,

A Russian Mava -

(Australia & N.Z. Cable Association

LONDON, Fob. 18,

The “Daily Mail’s” Petrograd «.«••- respondent says Premier Protopopoff is legislating to remove the restrictions on Jews entering commerce, contracting for railways, and forming limited companies. He lias instructed the Governors of the provinces to ceaso disturbing the jews.

In Macedonia,

ROME, Feb. 17

A messago from Salonika reports that the enemy’s right wing in Macedonia is broken and the Austrian? and Albanians dispersed with scrioua losses.

ATHENS, Feb. 18,

Information from official sources shows that Mr Elliot (British Minister; informed the Foreign Minister that the Entente was considering the question of provisioning Greece.

Deceitful Greeks

ATHENS,. Feb. 1U

Mr Jeffries says that the position in Greece is disquieting. Over 50,000 rifles have been received from the army but none from the civilians, despite me Government decree. The civilians' weapons were incalculable during November, and arms were delivered in the streets like handbills. Tbo w.-un> information regarding arms is preventing the foundation of definite demands, the fulfilment of which will lead to the rising of the blockade.

Mr Jeffries adds that the General Staff is apparently trying to mine the Corinth canal, and is indulging in obvious military deceits.