FRENCH OFFENSIVE IN THE WEST

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2483, 9 June 1915, Page 5

FRENCH OFFENSIVE IN THE WEST

THE FIGHT FOR THE "LABYRINTH" , ENEMY'S COUNTER-ATTACKS WELL HELD (By Telegraph—Prees A sen.—Copyright;) Paris, June 7. A communique states: "There was an artillery duel of extreme intensity at Lorette, Ablain, and the Cabaret Rouge on Sunday and Monday. ' Tho enemy's coanter-attacks completely failed. "Ws attacked the enemy's position near Hebuterne ; and captured two lines of trenches along a front of 1300 yards, several quiekflrers, and a number of prisoners. "The Germans made violent counter-attacks north of tno Aisne, but failed. .Wo maintained our gains of June 6. (Beo. June 8, 10.5 p.m.) Paris, June 8. Official. —"Fighting of the utmost violence continues north of Arras. Our progress is maintained., ■ "We continue the investment of West Ablain and Neuville $t. Vaast, directing convergent attacks on the centre of the "Labyrinth." We reached tho central redoubt at two points and repulsed all counter-attacks. "Our attack south-east of Kebuterae was completely successful. We carried by assault two lines of trenches and a farm at Toutvent, taking four hundred ttnwounded prisoners and several machine-guns, leaving several hundred corpses on the ground. _ . • , "The Germans sire multiplying their desperate efforts to retake the trenches north of the Aisne. In addition to two thousand dead ws made prisoners of 250, iud captured six machine-guns. Many others are under the debris. We sprayed the enemy's trenches at Vauquois (near Varennes) with burning liquid, by way of reprisals." HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. The High Commissioner reports:— London, June 7, 6.10 p.m. "North of Arras, two German counter-attacks failed, one. at. the sugar roflnery at Souchoz being stopped by the French artillery, and the other at "The Labyrinth" by the infantry. The French progressed, gaining new ground 'of ona kilometre (3-sth or li mile)' east of La Ghapelle do Lorette, taking at "Tho Labyrinth" 110 yards of the centre work. ZEEL4ND-FLANDERS LINE CLOSED FOR NINE DAYS. Amsterdam, June 7. The frontier betwoen Zeelnnd and Flanders will bo closed to-morrow for nine days. STUPENDOUS BOMBARDMENT BY THE GERMANS APPARENTLY INEXHAUSTIBLE SUPrLY OF SHELLS. (Rec. June 8, 6.15 p.m. ) London, Jnne 8. The Times" correspondent in North France reports tbat the Germans for days have beon bombarding the British lines. "They have apparently an inexhaustible supply of shells, which they are expending with" extraordinary lavishness. Twenty, thousand shells have fallen in Ypres in four days, and with similar prodigality they have been shelling the Franco-Belgians southward and northward of Dixmude, the Yser Canal, and the Artois plains."— "Times" and Sydney "Sun" SIGNS OF COMING EVENTS IN ALSACE. (Rec. June 8, 6.15 p.m.)London, June 7. A "Times" correspondent, writing from the Swiss frontier, learns that twenty thousand German naval troops have arrived at Brussels, bringing with them lieavy guns which nave been dismounted from ships of their battle ileet. This accounts for the increase in large calibre guns which have recently beori active at many points along the front, notably in Alsace. An army corps of Bavarians has been transferred to Alsace. i There has been extensive mining in certain Alsatian owns in expectation of tho French .advance compelling a German evacuation.—"Times'" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) THE OUTLOOK ON THE WESTERN FRONT A LONG, DOGGED, AND COSTLY STRUGGLE. (Rec. June 8, 9.15 p.m.) Sydney, Juno 8. Mr. Harry Guillett, tho Official Australian Correspondent on the British front ill Flanders, in a letter dated in March, gives an interesting account of tho organisation of the Army and tho trench warfare. Jlo says: ''It is generally admitted that there is not much to choose between the lighting qualities of "the best German,. French, and British troops, nor, owing to lack of opportunity lias there so far lieeu any transcendent generalship on any one side. Tho war is more likely to mar than make leaders' reputations. '•Victory is going to the side which is ptiltinji forward Iho largest force. These evenly-matched soldiers are keeping in best Iran, and nr_ the best the campaign will be extremely Moody. \Ve must expect lo pay high for onr progress." Mr. Guillett insists on the neceaeitj of indefinite psiwaraiwo and iuo*. Jiauslibla ammunition,

SHARP REVERSE TO THE ENEMY NORTH OF THE AISNE. (Rec. June 8, 8.50 p.m.) Paris, June S. Official. —"The Germans north of the Aisne brought ilp reinforcements by automobiles from a base eighty kilometres (about 50 miles) away, but their counter-attacks were repulsed. Tho Germans loft two thousand deail on the lield.