FURTHER ENEMY WITHDRAWAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1917, Page 5

FURTHER ENEMY WITHDRAWAL.

HEAVY GUNS MOVED. Amsterdam, March 21. A correspondent in northern France states that the Germans are showing .great activity from north of La Bassee to the Belgian frontier, indicating a fresh withdrawal. Heavy explosions have been heard at •Lens, Carven and Douai, showing that German works have been destroyed. The Germans have moved heavy guns eastward, particularly to around Lille., which place is in a strong state of defence. OFFICIAL REPORT. Wellington Last Night. The High Commissioner reports, under date London, March 21, 2.25 a.m.:— French official report states that between the Somme and the Aisne we are continuing our progress. We proceeded to the occupation of he reconquered zone. North of the Somme our cavalry reached the environs of Roupy, seven kilometres from St. Quentin, chasing the enemj cavalry patrols. North-east, of Chauny our cavalry occupied Tergnier, and crossed the St. Quentin canal. CONSIDERABLE FRENCH PROGRESS. London, March 21. A French communique says: Our cavalry skirmished with detachments of the enemy on the road from Ham to St. Quentin. We carried the Chateau de Avriennois and the village of Jussy/east of Ham. We have occupied the general line of the Ailette, south of Chauny. All the positions reached have been solidly organised. We have made considerable progress north and of Soissons and taken ten neijf villages. We penetrated the /'German trenches north of the Chambrettes Farm, on the right bank of the Meuse. FIGHTING ENEMY REARGUARD. Paris, March 21. A sharp engagement was fought with the German rearguard machine at Croiselles, and open patrol fighting and long range sniping elsewhere. lure? were observable at a distance from Bapaume, some apparently on the outskirts of Cambrai. In many places there is evidence of a hasty retreat. There \vn« a considerable amount of ammunition at Achict-le-Grand. A German general cr«er has been discovered. It explains the system of destruction to be observed, including the burning of houses, felling trees as barricades, "and the pollution of wells. A notable feature of the advance was the almost entire silence of the German artillery.