BRITISH SUCCESS WEST OF LA BASSEE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2491, 18 June 1915, Page 5

BRITISH SUCCESS WEST OF LA BASSEE

GERMAN LONG-RANGE BOMBARDMENT ENEMY'S VERSION OF RECENT FIGHTING (By. Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) Paris, June 16. A communique, states: The British during tlio daytime on June IS captured a line of'trenches west, of La Bassee. , German long-range guns, from a distance of fifteen miles, shelled tlie forest of Compi'egne, but no harm was done. The shells mado holes thirty feet deep in the forest. (Rec, June 3.30 p.m-.) London, Juno 16. Sir John French reports: —"Yesterday oveninc we captured a mile of the first line of trenches cast of Festubert. but failed to hold them during the night against strong counter-attacks. We successfully attacked the German position north of Hooge early on Wednesday aud occupied the first line of trenches on a front of one, thousand yards, also part of the second line. One hundred and fifty-seven prisoners were counted fay noon. A Gorman counterattack was repulsed witn heavy loss." FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Rec. June 17, 7.20 p.m.) Paris, June 17. Official. —"We have gained ground at various points, notably east of Lorctte, and south-west and south of Souchez. "We have captured in tho 'Labyrinth' 300 prisoners, and machine-guns. "At Qiienneviere, after repelling several counter-attacks, we extended our gains north-westward and captured 100 prisoners. "The enemy threw 300 shells into Reims, some of them incendiary. A dozen projectiles hit the Cathedral. "We have made important progress in the Vosges, and carried Brannkop, on the northern hank of the Hautejech, taking 300 prisoners, i officers, many rifles, and half a million cartridges. "On Tuesday some bombs were dropped into St. Die, Belfort, and Nancy. Some civilians were wounded at Nancy." .

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. Tho High Commissioner reports:— London, June 16, 9.50 p.m. Yesterday evening we captured on the German front a lmo of trenches one mile long, east of Festubert, but failed to hold thorn during tho night against a strong enemy counter-attack. "Tiarly this morning, in the neighbourhood of Ypres, we successfully attacked the enemy's positions north of Hooge, occupying the whole of. his first line of trenches for a front of 1000 yards, and part of his second line. One hundred and fifty-seven prisoners were'passed to our rear. A German counter-attack was repulsed with heavy loss." GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE REVERSE NEAR YPRES ADMITTED. London, June 16. ■ 'A. Berlin communique states: "Influenced by the Russian defeats, tho French 3iid British made strong attacks at many points. The English, near Yures, slightly pushed back our positions north of Leke towaids the village of Belle, where the fighting continues. i _ f "Tivo attacks of an hour by. tho. English divisions between the Estairesf,a. Bassee Road and the Canal completelv collapsed. The Wcstphalians, reinforced bv portion of the Guards, repulsed this attack after desperate har.d-tc-hond fighting, in which tho British suffered severely We captured seven) machine-guns and one mine-throwing howitzer STEEL HELMETS IN THE FRENCH ARMY. (Rec. June 3.30 p.m.) Paris, June 17. The French are equipping their infantry with light steel helmets, resembling the antique headpieces of tho men-at-arms, as affording some protection against spent shell fragmentsand bullets