GERMAN, REPORTS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 March 1918, Page 2

GERMAN, REPORTS

SUCCESSES C'ONTIN UED. BIG ADANCE -MADE. LONDON. March 20. German official. —A wireless German official message stated '.vre 'yesterday achieved a fresh success. W e defeated English divisions brought from Flanders and Italy, and the French who were thrown against us in desperate attacks. Generals von Buelow and von de Marutz have finally retained Ervillers after a hot- fluctuating battle. We are advancing against Achiet le Grand and have captured Biliucourfc, and Bief billers; also captured Tirles and Miraumont. We have crossed the Aucre. Freshly brought English troops attacked violently on a wide front from the direction of Albert, hut were driven back after a bitter struggle.

A LATER ACCOUNT. LONDON, March 26th. A later German official report states we have crossed the river Ancre. Wo have also.crossed over the Albert—B;ipaume road near Courcellette and Pozieres GERMAN CAPTURES. LONDON, March 26. A further German wireless states General von 'Hofacker has forced a passage over the Somme, south of

Peronne, ‘by storming and capturing the Maisonette Height; also Biaches, -and Barleux. Strong counter-attacks wore themselves out before our lines. General von Hulier, after hand-to-hand fighting, drove the enemy hack near Marche le Pot and Hattencourt, across the Peronne-Roye railway. We have wrested St. Alian from the AngloFrench, who tenaciously defended it. We defeated the French at Freniclies and Bethancourt, and have captured Bussy. We are now standing upon tho heights northward of Noyon. We have downed 93 enemy aeroplanes and six balloons since the beginning of the battle. Our captures of guns have reached 963, and over a hundred Tanks are lying in the captured positions. Artillery battles continue on the remainder of the front. These are increasing in great strength in Lorraine. We have continued the, bombardment of the fortress of Paris.