AUSTRALIAN ADVANCE

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1917, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN ADVANCE

Fighting Beyond Bapaume The following messages from Mr C. E. W. Bean, official correspondent with the Commonwealth forces, are published in the Australian papora : March 20 Early yesterday morning, and during the night before, the Australian infantry rushed ' the Germans out of villages five miles beyond Bapaume—in some oases before the Germans had time to destroy the place as thoroughly as they intended. Yesterday afternoon some of us walked through these places. The little village of Beaugnatre had been blown down by placing explosives under the walls, and was destroyed more completely than by shell fire. The same method has been employed in Bapaume. During the afternoon we could see the Germans quite clearly retiring in extended order over the far hills beyond Noreuil. Lines of them were moving up the distant slope, forming into more compaot bodies, and disappearing over the skyline, Near by, at one time, stood a railway train, in which probably some of thaic stores and baggage bad been packed, Our cavalry and infantry patrols have been in touch with the IJhlans, and the old interesting forms of warfare have all returned. The green country around us was full of traoes of German encampments, of which every hut and stick had been removed, only paths and scrap heaps remaining, The Germans bad recently sawn down hundreds of great trees along the roads, and had blown many craters at the cross-roads. The villages on the horizon were all burniDg, The German array before this section of the front is now, with the exertion of rear parties, entirely behind a gii at double line of defences, which stretches fiora before Cembrai to the BOft lowest,

The village of Vaux-Vraucourf, however, had been lsso completely rained. There had bean a short fight there during the night. Later the Germans attempted to reconnoitre into the village and were driven off by our troops. The Australian and Brutish advanced troops this morning came upon a portion of the German rearguard in the villages about a mile in front of this line. There was some sharp fighting between the outposts, the Germans hitting back border than at any time Bince the re>tre?.t brgao, with the exception of the first stiff fighting near the Bipiuuia road at the beginning of the month. The Germans have been poisoning

the wells with filth and dang. One typical German jest just reported is the discovery iu tbe captured German trenches of a cat, crucified, with a cigar iu its month. This is probably a sneer at tba crucifixes which are oornmon along the French roads. ’ March 21 The Australian troops advanced about a rnil3 in some parts to day: They are in touch with th« German rearguard at every part, and no.v no great distance from the German line of tranches. A German aeroplane was shot down to-day. The pilot was severely wounded. He is reported to be Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia. It ha-' baen snowing lorsj mittently throughout the day. Tu-night ths ground is whits.