IN THE WEST

Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1917, Page 1

IN THE WEST

French Oparations (Australian & N.Z. Cable Aesoc'aion and Keuter), LONDON, March 23. A French communique says a violent enemy attack before the village of lArtenyes, north of St. Simon, at first slightly drove back our troops, but we imediately vigorously conln tor-alt tacked and threw the enemy back as far as Grandscraucourt. New detachments crossed the Ailette south of the Oise, and we progressed north of Soissons. lit is now confirmed that the entm v attacks on the Stregny-Chivres front have been most violent, a whole regiment being thrown against one single point. The enemy losses in these fruitless attempts have been very high. Several enemy coup de mains normeast of liheims, towards Maisons do Champagne, in Avocourt Wood, and the region of St Mihel, failed. Official Report WELLINGTON, March 25. The High Commissioner reports from London on March 2±th at 2.30 p.m.: (Between the Somme and the t-nse there was vigorous action, but our troops fully succeeded in stopping the enemy,despite their bitter resistance, and we flung them back two to four kilometres north and east of St. Quentin canal. North-eastwards of Torgnier we forced hack enemy detachments on the heights immediately dominating the valley of the Oise.

In this region the .Germans had Hooded itlio'country, and the town of Lafere was inundated. Southwards of the Okie wo continued and crossed the Ailette nortlnvarls of Soissons. * We are still fighting and have considerably progressed towards Madgivcl. , North-west of Rheims two enemy aittacks on our front at Thil were destroyed by our barrage and machine fe un fire, and the enemy had considerable losses judging by the number of bodies hung up on the entanglements. French Report. LONDON, March 24. A French communique says: Last of Sit. Quonitin canal during the day wc extended our positions very appreciably at certain’points, and we reached the western' banks of the Oise, north of Lafere. We also progressed on the eastern bank of the Ailette, and our fire stopped enemy attempts against our small posts in the direction of Beryaubac, also east of lllieims and west of Mortthomme. r Correspondent's Report (Australian & N z. Csb’a Association). LONDON, March 23. Mr Beach Thomas, in describing the re-occupied diatriefts, says the residents’ faces and depict weakness end illness, and there aro pitiful stories of the invaders’ lust and brutalities. The villagers assembled while their homes were burned, and they were enslaved and latterly almost starved. There was a high mortality owing to the lack of milk and other necessaries. The retreating Germans indulged in a saturnalia of bestiality, breaking open coffins, aid scribbling obsanities ithe churches and defiling sacred places.

Fear of UffersiveLONDON, March 24. Eouter’s Headquarters’ correspondent says 'the inhabitants left behind state that the Bosches are talking a. good deal lately and know more of tlio true situation than is generally believed, 1 and they do not conceal their apprehension of another British offensive indeed one possble reason for their retreat may well have been dubiety jfche high command as to whether their men would face another Somme.