IN THE WEST

Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1917, Page 4

IN THE WEST

Bapaume Captured LONDON, March 17. Headquarters in Franco announces that Bapaume has been taken. LONDON, March 17. iA French communique says:—We continued progress along both banks of Itho river Avre, and took prisoners. There was severe ahtillerying between Soissons and Reims. Haig’s ReportLONDON, March 17. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: Our advance northward of the Somme continued through nearly the whole of St Pierre Vaast Wood, also trenches extending a thousand yards southward, and two thousand northward. We beat off an attack north-east or Gommecourt, and carried out successful raids in the Arras-Soucliez and Vermelles neighbourhoods, inflicting many casualties.

French Report. LONDON, March 16. A French comm unique says our light detachments' occupied points in front of our lines between the river Oise am Avre, and finally there was lively arttillerying in the region of Maison de Champaign. An enemy coup de main on our small posts in the neighbourhood of Sourores Wood and Chambrctts Farm on the right bank of the Meuse, failed. ROME, March 15.

Semi-official.—The Italians have reoccupied Buchamemz, the west coast of Tripoli. PARIS, March 16. Admiral La Caze, Minister of Marine has been appointed War Minister pro item. VANCOUVER, March 16. Mr Lansing has telegraphed Carranza that the United States refuses to impose a munitions embargo against; the Allies. Russian Advance ROME, March 16. Advices from Peftrograd state mat; the Turks have evacuated Persia. The Russian advance continues without; cessation. LONDON, March IG. A wireless Russian official message says : —The enemy attacked in the region of Starvislau, but our counter tacks northward and north of Monaatir We dislodged the Turks from a fortified summit westward of Kermansliali. In Mesopotamia. Further Success LONDON, March 16.

Mesopotamia Official. —After establishing our posts on the left bank 30 miles upstream 'General Maude attacked the Turkish rearguard on the right bank, fifteen miles northward of Baghdad after night-marcliing. On Wednesday we drove the enemy back till dusk, when we occupieu a portion of the town of Bakubah on tho right bank of the Diala. Our machine guns caused a lire on a small Turkish steamer attempting to cross 'the Trigris on Tuesday night. It drifted down the river and we captured it, with a quantity of ammunition.

In Bagdad LONDON, March 16. When the 'British vanguard entered 'Baghdad divers sects and races lined tin, streets, balconies and roofs, hurrahing. Groops of children danced before us, shouting and cheering. The women turned out in holiday dresyses. ' The people have been robbed m order to supply the Turks. The oppression for the last two years hau been unendurable, and last week "degenerated into brigandage. The . mere mention of the British was punishable. The Turks abandoned hope on February 23rd and looted wholesale, sending the merchandise, to Samarrah.

The German Consul left a fortnight ago and the Austrian Consul two days be fore. The bridge and clothing factory were blown up on March 10th, and (the railway station , hospital, a'nd British property gutted. The . Kurds looted when the Turkish gendarmerie left, rifling the bazaars. Merchants are craving our protection. Regiments were detailed to police the bazaars and houses, rind they found the rabble busy dismantling the shops. They even looted the seats from the public gardens. The British attitude was characteristic. There was no display and no attempt to create an impression. We entered dusty, and unshaven, after hard fighting, bivouacking and fighting from March 7th to March 10th. Extraordinary gallantry was shown in crossing the Diala. Air Raids LONDON, March 16. Hostile aeroplanes at 5.30 this morning dropped bombs at Westgate, hut with no casualties, and flight damage. PETROGRAD, March 16. A Bulgarian communique sayy:—The enemy violently bombarded our positions west and north of Monastir. A British Loan LONDON, March 16. M. Jassy announced to his Cabinet that Britain had agreed to lend It'oumania £40,000,000.