Hokitika Guardian & evening star TUESDAY. MARCH 20. 1917 PERONNE AND AFTER

Hokitika Guardian, 20 March 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & evening star TUESDAY. MARCH 20. 1917 PERONNE AND AFTER

Following close upon tho news of the capture of B&panme came word yesterday that Perocne bad beep taken also. Peronne, till a fortnight or so ago, was the objective of the Frenoh operations in the Somme fighting. It was recently only that the British troops were stretched down to Roye, which rel'eved the French from the Somme offensive, and left them the Charapagna-Yerdun front as their share of the western theatres In the Somme fighting late last year the Frenoh troops were able to menace Peronne and its fall was spoken of as possible at that time, but for the same reason that the British were held up, in the neighboring sector, bo the Frenoh offensive had to snocumb to weather conditions and be content to hold their dearly bought advance. The winter of serious disoouteut in difficult and dangerous country is now past, and in the spring with new troops taking the place of the old, the main offensive is in progress. When the British last week won Loupert Wood, Mr Phillip Gibb predicted something important to follow. Loupert Wood covers the direct approach to Bapaume, so that the capture of that stronghold was the first verification of Mr Gibbs’ prophesy. Peronne was hardly considered in the scheme, but the capture last week of St Pierre Yesst Wood, to the north of Pennine, must have decided tbs fate of the latter important centre also, and so there was a quick double viotory. A message yesterday said that General Baig's successes were considered the prelude to the capture of the important railway junction of Oroisslles. After that the great mineral centre of Oambrai where the

first British Array put up a big fight to oheok the invadiug German hordes will be the main scene of operations ; continued also with La Gateau—another name, emblazoned on the banuerß of “ the contemptible army,” It was further added that the Germans are expsoted to yield considerable ground in the Arras district. This is important, for it indicates the material effect of the British pressure. It would appear that the days of stalemate are vanishing. The nibbling process is passing away. This indicates surely that the equality of the fighting forces is being upset. The British are growing stronger, or the Germans weaker. Probably a little of each, thus the more snrely tilting the balance of power in favor of the Allies and assuring the final viotory The dead lock in the west is being brokeD, and the British and French are breaking through. The enemy are being excased as retiring to a near dependable line, bat if they had the strength to hold their reinforoed lines which they have held so long, they would not permit the prete ~c disorganisation and real confession of weakness in having

to give np a bold they have held with tenacity for eo long. The Bapature and Poronne successes confirm the belief that the big offensive carries great nsolu in its train, and we ere now bet nee,eg tbs first frnits. 0