WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

FRENCH CONTINUE TO PROGRESS. 'DESPITE, ENEMY BOMBARDMENT. Received March 15, 10 p.ir, London, March 15. , A French communique states: We continued our progress, "bombing the region of Maisons <le Champagne, notwithstanding a furious enemy bombardment with tear shells FURTHER BRITISH ADVANCES. 1000 YARDS OF TRENCHES TAKEN. ENEMY POSITIONS BOMBARDED. A. and N.Z. Cable Association & Renter. , Received March 18, 12.30 a.m. London, March 15. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Hajg reports: Our line has been advanced on a mile and a half frontage, south-west of Bapaume. We progressed on a two thousand yards frontage south of Acfiict le Petit. We occupied a thousand yards of trenches south-west of Essarts, which is north-east o£ Gommecoiirt. We raided trenches eastward of Armenticres, and effectively bombarded positions north of the Somme and cast of. Arras. BRITISH MILITARY MACHINE. i NOW PALPABLY IN MOTION. ■ ENEMY RETIREMENT FORCED. (Received March 15, 5.5 p.m. London, March 14. Mr. 'Beach Thomas, the war correspondent, states that the British military machine in France, numbering two million men, is now palpably in motion. The German new retirement is forced by ,lhe terrific British gunnery pulverising the defences oil the Bapaume ridge. We captured Loupaofc Wood, and two miles of trenches at each end, controlling the surrounding slopes. All correspondents agree that import; Rnt British, movements are pending. Mr. 'Philip Gibbs forecasts that the coming events aro likely to severely damage the enemy, even if he escapes disaster. SHORTENING THE LINE. CORRESPONDENT'S ADVICE Amsterdam, March 14. Major iloraht, who has just returned' from a visit to German headquarters, has a sensational article in the Tageblatt insisting on the advantage if the German western front is considerably shortened. "Let us remember," he fays, ''that iri the battle of the Masurian Lakes Hindenburg showed the Russians that despite a voluntary retreat he did not abandon the initiative."