Steady Progress.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1917, Page 1

Steady Progress.

Patrols at Work.

(Australia & N.Z. Gable Associ ition)

LONDON, March 22

The Morning Post’s headquarters correspondent states : Open warfare cavalry' skirmishes, and occasional encounters with German cyclist patrols are still a feature of tlie British advance. The German rearguard resistance is curiously irregular, varying from stubborn opposition of entrenched infantry east of Bapaume to mere glimpses of isolated detachments moving in the trees and villages west, of ■St. Quentin.

Although \vc arc driving in the rearguards we have not yet obtained contact with the main armies. The German guards and machine-gunners still hold the Beugnytres position, astride the Cainbrao Hoad, but this consists of isolated entrenchments. As the enemy screen continues southwards of Sevengs, and more eastward the angle is more daily pronounced and is becoming thinner and more flexible, inviting increased cavalry pressure. Nowhere is thek British advance more cautious than cast of the Somme, where, however, they have reached Savvy, close to the St. Quentin representing an advance of twenty miles.

After the long confinement in the trenches the temptation to rush pellmell over the fields and bard roads is almost Irresistible. The men wanted to get at least within hearing distance of the guns, but there lias l mostly been a steady movement. A large portion of tlie advance falls on the cavalry patrols, and cyclist scouts far ahead are scouring the woodland gullies . The infantry and guns go forward steadily on the mended roads.

Kaiser’s Letter

AMSTERDAM, March 2d.

A German official message says: The Kaiser sent a letter to the King of Bavaria thus; We owe the brilliant carrying ouifc of our great army movement on the Western Front firstly to the successful -action of your son Prince Ruppreclit whoso performance deserves Ifclie highest appreciatm... Historically it will he a page of gioxy and it is my extraordinary joy to inform you thereof.

LONDON, March 23.

Berlin official The Kaiser in a message to General Hindenburg says the movement on the front in France is most important for the general situation on our Western Front. You and Ludendorf have decided the measure tints creating a new base for further warfare.

Entente Losses

LONDON, March 2d

A Berlin message states that the Entente’s losses in warships, including auxiliaries, since the beginning of flie war are 850,000 tons.

German Report

LONDON, March 23.

A wireless German official message says: AVe drove back the French, who had crossed the 'Somme at the Crozat canal, with sanguinary losses, and wo repulsed strong French attacks west and south of Margival. Our airships successfully bombed the (British establishments near Mudros. LONDON, March 23.

Wireless German official.—On both sides of the Somme and the Oise the enemy is fooling forward hcsitantingly and frequently entrenching. He has seriously hampered our measures.

Wo repulsed the French westward of Lafere, LVijlcpto plait l, Neuvjille and, Margival. A Ye stormed and took Russian positions between Solyomar. ond Czobamos vallpys.