ALL-NIGHT CANNONADING NORTH OF ARRAS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2488, 15 June 1915, Page 5

ALL-NIGHT CANNONADING NORTH OF ARRAS

HAND GRENADES IN THE "LABYRINTH" ~ STORY OF TEE ASSAULT ON HEBUTERNE / The High Commissioner reports:- London, June 13, 4.40 p.m. lie who 9 of last night the cannonade was unceasing north of Arras The Allies captured *.he railway station at Souchez. "South of 'The Labyrinth' fierce fighting is taking place with grenades, > In spite of tlie desperate efforts of the enemy we ha/e maintained all our gams of tue'previous day." THE FRENCH ASSAULT ON HEBUTEME Official.— I "Details of the fighting at Hebuterne and Serre, between Juno 7 and 10, show that the Germans occupicd a sharp salient at Serre, three kilometres (one mile and three-quarters) from Hebuterne. Both villages are situated on rising ground, facing each other. The German trenches lay halfway between them, fronting Tontvent Farm, and enclosed' by a hi" line of trees. ° "The enemy's trendies were garrisoned by a thousand men of the 17th Baden Regiment, all of whom wore placed liors do combat. Not a man escaped, while two companies of reserves were almost entirely. blotted out in the first counter-attack. "Two battalions o'f the 99th German Regiment wero hurriedly brought up from the Arras sector. They were without food, and suffered heavily. Prisoners taken by us up to June 11 totalled 80, including 10 officers. "Our troops displayed great dash. The assault was fixed for 5 o'clock in the morning. Our batteries prepared the way, and soon all the positions were covered with snlokfi. The Germans, meanwhile, wore keeping up a heavy fire on our trenches. Precisely at 5 o'clock the first line quitted the trenches and dashed into the furnace. In ten minutes they had passed two of the German trenches and reached a. point where they were ordered to entrench. "A second wave cleared' out the German trenches behind ouv first line On the preceding evenirg our artillery had cut the communication trenches' depriving the enemy of food and ammunition supplies. ' "We found the Germans squatting and crouching in little groups. Some fired occasional shots. The resistors were dealt with, the others surrendered After the capture of the position, we cleared out the choken communication trenches, under a heavy German cannonading, and consolidated our new position," FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. CRec. June 14, 9 p.m.) Official—"We have carried by assault a strongly fortified' rid ward of the sugar refinery at Souchez, and held' our ground rotwitSstandme an intense bombardment. "We have attacked the German trenches adjoining the Serre-Mailly Road, south-east of Hebuterne. Our infantry, with a single dash, carried the trenches, taking prisoner one hundred men belonging to three regiments. ' "Prisoners have stated that the German losses during the past few days have been very heavy. Certain units concerned in a counter-attack were annihilated as soon as their ranks had formed. "Our artillery caused a strong explosion at Puisenx, followed by fire and panic, which our gunfire increased. "We have progressed southward of Quennevieres Farm. "Soissons is again being bombarded. One hundred and twentv shells have fallen." HUGE NETWORK OF GERMAN DEFENCES CAPTURED. CRec. Juno 14, 6.10 p.m.) mt ~m . ~ , , London, June 13. The "Times" correspondent says that the Germans are exerting theirprincipal offorts against the French at Hobuterne. The French offensive, ho says is causing consternation in the German command, winch has creatod a mobile column, moving constantly to points against tho French pressure. The capture of Neuville-St. Vaast gives the French possession of a huge network of defence, constituting the Germans' greatest asset in North France The feat was accomplished at the cost of cruel losses.—("Times" and Sydnev "Sun" Services.)