THE FINAL ROUND.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 14 March 1917, Page 5

THE FINAL ROUND.

GERMANY MASSING TROOPS IN - FRANCE. SUCCESS IN CHAMPAGNE FRENCH CAPTURE ENEMY POSITIONS ON MILE FRONT. CHINA WILL BREAK WITH GERMANY

ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

FRENCH SUCCESS IN CHAMPAGNES

ENEMY POSITIONS CAPTURED.

ON A MILE FRONT,

LONDON, March 13

French official—ln the Champagne we again attacked this afternoon the German positions west of Maisons de Champagne, and captured on a mile front all the enemy trenches. We also took Hill 185 and entered a fortified work thereon.

There was an artillery duel on both banks of the Meuse.

GERMANS BOMBARD SOISSONS.

LONDON, March 13 A French communique says: The Germans during the afternoon bombarded the open town of Soissons with incendiary shells, causing several fires.

FRENCH MAINTAIN THEIR GROUND.

Received 11.5

LONDON, March 13

A French communique states; The west of Maison de Champagne yestereve violently counter-at-tacked Hill 185. Our barrage and gun fire stopped them. We maintained all our positions. The enemy’s coup de main in the region of Louvemont on the right bank of the Meuse was easily repulsed. We launched three coups de main yestereve on the German trenches between Avre and Aisne, which our fire wrecked. Th e eGrmans continue to bombard Soissons. Enemy attempts to reach our lines on the Crony Road and in the region of Beulenchivy, farther eastward, failed. Lively artillery ing is proceeding in the sector at Troyon.

BRITISH ON WEST FRONT.

SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS REPORTED, LONDON, March 13 Sir Douglas Haig reports: We have Biightly improved our position northeastward of Bouchavesnes. We entered trenches in the same neighbourhood, securing prisoners. We raided trenches southward of Arras and bombed dug-outs, despite strong resistance, inflicting many casualties.

IN ALSACE-LORRAINE

A SERIOUS SITUATION. LONDON, March 13 There is a serious situation in Al-sace-Lorraine, where there have been an enormous number of arrests of residents suspected of disloyalty to Germany. The suspects are sent to the interior and imprisoned. There is much trouble in munition factories owing to constant hunger strikes by workers of both sexes, particularly in Wurtemburg and Baden. Many men have been called from the armies to replace strikers and hunger invalids. CONTINUAL STREAM OF GERMANS TOWARDS WEST FRONT Received 8.45 AMSTERDAM, March 13 Frontier reports indicate a continual stream of Germans towards France. The Belgian frontier continues closed. Falkenilayn has reached Tillemon, near Louvain. UNREST IN CONSTANTINOPLE. LONDON, March 12., A Swiss message says that grave events have occurred in Constantinople.

IN MESOPOTAMIA.

TURKEY BLAMES GERMANY

LONDON, March 13 Eafaat Bey has left Geneva for Turkey. Bedry Bey has left Constantinople for Berlin owing to reported differences between Turkey and Germany regarding the Mesopotamian losses. It is believed the Turks are holding Germany to blame because the best Turkish troops were sent to defend Austro-Gcrmauy.

TURKISH ARMY DEMORALISED

LONDON, March 13

The Daily Telegraph’s Rome correspondent says information from Turkish sources says the army in Mesopotamia Is demoralised and spent. It lacks food and munitions for the artillery. The armies in Armenia and Persia are in a similar conditon. Bad winter weather had heretofore saved them; that protection has now ended.

ARMY’S NEEDS CAN BE PROVIDED

LONDON, March 13

In the House of Commons, Mr Bon an Law said that Gcncrol Maude reports that he is satisfied he can provide the army’s necessities in Bagdad.

A BRILLIANT PURSUIT

110 MILES IN FIFTEEN DAYS. LONDON, March 12. Mr. Bonar Law stated in the House of Commons to-day that the fall or Bagdad was the sequel to a series of brilliant performances by British and Indians, showing push and detenulm-.-tion beyond praise. There was heavy fighting, especially on the right bank

of the Tigris, with severe Turkish losses. The troops since the fall of Kut had pursued the Turks 110 miles in fifteen days, through country destitute of supplies, and in the face of heavy weather difficulties, thrice crossing the Tigris. The final march of eighteen miles in intense heat and through severe dust storms was a brilliant achievement. There was every reason to believ e that two-thirds of the enemy’s entire artillery was captured or thrown into the Tigris, while large numbers of prisoners and much booty was captured. He concluded by paying a tribute to the skill and vigour of the leadership, the valour and endurance of the troops, the highly successful supply service, the medical arrangements, and the General Staff’s plans.

RETREAT FOR MILITARY REASONS.

AMSTERDAM, March 12,

In the Turkish Chamber of Deputies Enver Pasha (Minister for War) admitted that the Turks had retired in Mesopotamia and Persia for military reasons.

GERMANY AND THE NEU TRAL POWERS.

CHINA WILL BREAK WITH GERMANY. PEKING, March 13. The Senate has approved of the severance of relations with Germany. Government action is expected to-morrow.

NATIONAL SERVICE.

PROPOSED EXCLUSION OF IRELAND.

LONDON, March 12

Mr Farrell’s amendment to exclude Ireland from the National Service Bill was defeated by 148 to 7(3, Mr Hazleton moved that there be a separate Director-General for Ireland. Mr Duke and Mr Chamberlain had agreed to delegate this work to a rex>rc-'■r-ntative who was entitled to the tech”.cal status of representative of the Director of National Service in Ireland.

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

AMERICAN BUILDING AIR CRAFT Received 8.45 WASHINGTON, March 13 The Navy Department has awarded contracts fon the construction of thirteen dirigibles within three months. Germany, through the Swiss Minister,, has renewed the attempt to amend the German American treaty of 1798, in order to exempt German residents in the United States from arrest in the event of war. The proposals are not likely to bo accepted. Germany has protested against Americans continuing relief work in the occupied districts of Northern France. Herbert Hoover, the American Minister, has departed for. Spain.

ON THE SEA.

ITALIAN FIGURES Received 8.45 ROME, March 13. An official statement has been made for the week ending March 8, which shows that there were 403 arrivals, 391,211 tons; 464 sailings,, 315,801 tons at Italian ports. The sinkings were four steamers and three sailers.

SIXTY GERMAN SUBMARINES DESTROYED.

IN FORTY-FIVE DAYS

Received 10.25

WASHINGTON, March 13

It is asserted that authoritative reports have reached here that it is estimated that sixty German submarines have been destroyed from January 1 to February 5.

GERMANY'S LATEST SCHEME

LONDON, March 13.

The Daily Chronicle’s Amsterdam correspondent says: Latest telegrams from Germany state that two large submarines of the Deutschland type are now acting as supply ships for smaller craft which are operating in the Atlantic. Pour other large submarines have been commissioned for similar services. Special efforts are being made to sink shipping between America and England. Germany is attempting to perfect a decisive submarine campaign in case of war with America.

THE AFRICAN CAMPAIGN

LONDON March 14

General Smuts interviewed said the only thing which delayed the absolute end of the German East Agrican campaign was the prevalence of the rainy season till May when the Gormans would be compelled to surrender or enter Portuguese territory, where the Portuguese prepared to handle them. The enemy only consists of the remnant of the army. Practically all the South Africas white troops have departed. the native battalion (who were raised owing to the unfavourable climate) .remaining. General Smuts spoke in high terms of the natives’ magnificent infantry work, and said they would shortly be available for service elsewhere. Nothing had given greater pleasure than the Hon Long’s statement that no German colony would return to Germany. The mere suggestion was preposterous, he considers. "Think what would happen to* the natives if any part "were returned. The natives have supported us magnificently. Our. prestige in the East would suffer.”

DARDANELLES COMMISSION

EVIDENCE NOT PUBLISHED. LONDON, March 12. Mr. Bonar Law said that the Dardanelles inquiry evidence would not be published.

SHIPBUILDING IN CANADA.

OTTAWA, March 13. The establishment of an extensive shipbuilding industry in Canada for the British Government is announced. The Imperial Munitions Board has let a contract for £5,000,000 sterling. This includes steel ship of substantial tonnage. Ships which are being built for Norwegian interests are to be taken.

IN FRONT OF BAPAUME,

THE AUSTRALIAN LINE. Australian troops are taking part in the advance on Bapaume from the south, according to telegrams recently received from the Australian war correspondent, Mr. C. E. W. Bean. Telegraphing from the British headquarters in France on February 28, Mr, Bean says: The foremost Australian troops are for the first time in five months through into the green country beyond the desolate belt of dark brown ploughed land which marks the shell field of the Somme. Yesterday afternoon one could clearly see small clusters of our infantry around the villages of Le Barque and Ligny, and in the bottom of the valley before Bapaume. All through the afternoon at intervals the Australian guns barked out suddenly, and for about ten seconds white puffs of shrapnel broke out among tlf e trees of Thilloy village, near the top and opposite the hill, behind the crest of which B'apaume lies. Immediately after dusk the Australians were through Ligny and now the centre of our line faces the Germans not very far in front of Bapaume. THE GERMAN DEFENCES.

The German line is on top of the bills, along the crest of which runs two very strong lines of trenches. In front of Le Bars the Germans yesterday, for the first time, counter-at-tacked dowm a trench which had just been taken by the Australians, but we immediately drove them back to a part further than that which we had previously gained. A rearguard action in front of the Australian centre is being bravely fought by two regiments of Prussian Pootguards. The Germans are destroying everything as they retire.

Writing on March 2, Mr. Bean says: Last night there was activity along every part of the Australian line before Bapaume. On Bapaume heights, across the valley from Le Sars, lies Loupart Wood through which the German main line runs eastward to Bapaume. The forward lines, which the Australians and British have been attacking, run mostly along the lower slopes of these hills; but at one point, north-east of Le Sars, they cross a sort of promontory of the main ridge. The projecting part of the crest is very stubbornly held as it is an outpost looking over the valley. ATTACK AND COUNTER-ATTACK. Last night the Australians attacked the trench crossing this summit. The Germans fought tenaciously. The Australians took the greater part of the trench. The Germans counter-at-tacked, and drove out our men, who again drove back the Germans. The Australians are now holding the greater part of this trench, and are still fighting. Part of the German counter-attack moved across open ground. This party, about one company strong, cam e under fire from our outposts, and, after, many were lost, about 30 men, including a regimental doctor, surrendered.

About the same time, on the other flank of the Bapaume defences, a German patrol, about forty strong came down across the slope in order if possible, to cut off and capture some of our outposts, and Identify the units facing them. They were seen coming through the mist, and fired upon. The German patrol avoided the hre( moved on, and surrounded a small patrol of six Australians, ana captured them. Then it pushed on, with its prisoners, but suddenly it came on one of our trenches. The Ger mans were themselves captured, and the six Australians were all released or escaped.

Further still to the south a patrol of Australians, meeting a party of Germans in an outlying trench, attacked and made prisoners of several. The Germans in this part were lately ielieved, in order that fresh troops might be put into the line. These fresh troops attacked ip the early morning, attempting to advance over No Man's Land, on a front of 500yds. Our flr e simply swept them away. Fifty dead are lying there this morning, and thirteen were made prisoners

Altogether, it was a most expensive night for the Germans.