The sun., 1917-03-31
BRITISH GAIN ON |
SIX MILE FRONT
Germans, Driven Back a
Mile on SOmme. Lose 3
More Villages.
FRENCH ALSO PROGRESS
Fierce Artillery Engagement
Now On Between st. Quen-
tin and La Fere.

/, LONDON, March 3o.-While compara- |
tive quiet continues on the southern
part Of the Hindenburg line in France
occupied by the French the British are
pushing forward vigorously toward its
northern part. British troops occupied
three villages to-day. advancing on
front Of six miles a distance Of a mile.
court, Sorel-le-Grand and Fins, all on a
north and south line eight miles west
Of lie Catelet and equidistant fifteen
miles from Cambria and st. Quentin.
1t appears that this fighting was Of the
same character as most Of the fighting
on the British sector Of the new front.
advance guard fighting In which the Ger
mans were driven back to their main
line.
On the French front the progress an
nounced Is not great, but Is in an ex-
tremely important portion Of the line,
the Vregny Margival front northeast OF
Scissors. That the. French are still
progressing there shows that Gen. Nj
velle has not actually dropped his plan
Of doubling back the left wing Of the
new German line on the right wing of
the old. at she same time pushing
toward the development Of the ST. Co
balm forest.
Great Artillery Fights.
On the remainder OF the new front.
from st. Quentin to Laon, there were
great artillery fights, especially in the
region Of st. Quentin and La Fere Ger
man artillery bombarded the French
| first line. especially those portions of
It that reach out dangerously close
| to German positions. The French guns.
most Of which have now been brought
up to the new line. answered energet-
ically. The infantry stayed in the
! trenches.
| In the Champagne. however the
| French fantassins were not idle. There
they delivered just such counter at
\ tack as was made yesterday at Verdun.
which at one blow set at naught the
results of carefully planned German
attack Of Wednesday. The French re-
| captured all the first line trenches in
the region west Of Maisons de Cham
payne 6arm that the Germans took on
that day IN an attack that was hailed
| BY pro-Cermans as a grand offensive
that was to accomplish wonders.
The German official statement to-day
admits the retirement before the Brit
ish that the British War once has
announced for the last two or three
days In the general region west Of lie
Catelet II also REPORTS that Canadian
troops attacked German trenches four
times during the night east of Neu-
viue st. Vast north OF Arras, but
were repulsed.
Text Of Omcial Statements.
The Official statements follow:
French Night Statement-To the
north Of the Somme and between the
Somme and the Oise the enemy artiI-
| lery has bombarded several points on
our front line. Our batteries have
answered energetically. There has
been no infantry action.
I To the northeast OF Scissors We
have made progress IL the sector Of
Vregny-Margival.
To the west OF Masons dc Cham
payne spirited counter attack by
our troops permitted US to throw out
the enemy from the elements OF
trenches in which he took a footing on
the 2Sth OF March. During this
action We captured stxty-three prison.
| ers.
There has been intermittent can
nonading on the rest Of the front.
Belgian-During the night Belgian
detachment made an incursion into
the first German line at the bridge
Of Steenstraete. Sharp fighting re-
suited, In which severe losses were
inflicted on the adversary, who had to
abandon a few prisoners
French Afternoon Statement-From
the Somme to the Aisne the night was
calm along our outposts There were
no important events elsewhere on the
front. with the exception of patrol en-
counters and rather lively grenade
fighting in the sector Of Maisons de
Champagne.
Germans Lose Three Villages.
British-we have occupied the VIII
lagos Of Ruyalcourt. Sorel-le- Grand
and Fins. and have gained ground,
after sharp fighting. in the neighbor-
hood Of Heudicourt, where we took a
few prisoners. Early this morning a
hostile attack upon our positions south
, Of Neuville-Bourjenval was driven Off
with loss.
We entered the enemy's lines last
J night at two points east of Neuville-
st. Vast, inflicted casualties and Sc
cured prisoners.
The artillery was active on both
sides at a number Of points during
the day. East Of Vermelles our heavy
artillery obtained several hits on a
German train.
German-On the Artois front the
artillery duel was lively. East Of
| NeuVllle-St NaaBt n CANADIAN reGi-
ment four times attacked our positions
during the night. They were each
time repulsed with heavy losses. Some
! prisoners remained In our hands.
On both sides Of the road from Pc
J rome to Fins our protecting troops
after an engagement with stronger
J British forces. gave way on the line Of
J Ruyalcourt-Sorel.
Northeast OF Soissons French bat
talions vainly tried to gain ground
near Neuville and Margival. Our out
} posts repulsed them. infiicting upon
them heavy losses.
On the Aisne- -Marne Canal group
ings between Sapigneul and Laneuville
indicated an attack In preparation,
which was held down by our batteries.
In the Champagne as we'll French
troops held In readiness for an attack
were efficiently shelled.
In Parroy forest. on the Lorraine
front, our raiding detachments
brought back thirteen prisoners from
? hostile trenches.
S0O,OOO,OOO Aid by France.
PARIS. March 30.-The Government