BRITISH OPERATIONS NORTH OF ARRAS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2492, 21 June 1915, Page 5

BRITISH OPERATIONS NORTH OF ARRAS

FIGHTING NEAR FESTUBERT LA BASSEE ELECTRICAL POWER STATION BOMBARDED (By Telegraph.—Press Aisn.—Copyright.) London, June 18. Field-Marshal Sir John Fronch reports: "The fighting on tho northern and southern portion of our front continued throughout the 16th, with the co-operation of our Allies in the attack about Arras. "All the first line trenches captured eastward of Ypres remain in our hands, despite two counter-attacks, nliich were .-repulsed with heavy loss to the enemy. 'We, however, were unable to jetain those of the enemy's cscor-i lino trenches occupied in the morning. ""We slightly advanced eastward of Festubert, as the result t>{ further attacks, and, judging by the numerous dead Germans in tho ti-enolias our artillery fire was very effective." ' GERMANS RECAPTURE SOME OF THE TRANCHES. m , ~ . Paris, luiio is. lie German recapture of portion of the Festubert trenches was largely due to the use of machino puns and hand grenades. It is stated that rn some parts of the German front there is ore macriiia gun for every twelve raen. EXTRAVAGANT CLAIM BY THE GERMANS. ~ , , , London, Juno 18. A Berlin offioial message states that the British north-west of La TJa&seo suffered a now defeat. The attackers were annihilated; only a few escaped. THE BRITISH EXPLODE SEVERAL MINES. n , London, June 20, 2.50 n m. High Commissioner s report:— "General French reports to-night: Yesterday north of Hooge the British occupied the German trenches wi a frontage of 250 yards, which tho enemy ware forced to abandon. We captured during the week 213 prisoners including 2 officers, three machine «uns, and one full gas cylinder. ' "North-east of Armentieres the British exploded sovoral n inec yesterdar and destroyed a portion of tl,<a rneiry's trenches. Our artillery and t 'i'o fire inflicted casualties on the enemy v-Hle they were trying to escapo after the explosion. "Tho electrical power station at La Bassee was successfully bombarded yesterday "by our amuau. • » THE ENEMY'S PLANS SMASHED BY THE BRITISH. (Rec. Juno 20, 3.50 p.m.) r. • x, j c., , . . o „ , Amsterdam, Juno 19. During the nine days of the closing of the Belgo-Dutch frontier '100 000 German troops traversed Belgium, of whom 300,000 wero sent to the IHitiii" lino where, tha French pressure is dangerous. A hundred thousand, with two hundred heavy guns, wero held in reserve at Courtrai aud Eoulers, hopinc for an opportunity to break through, but during the last three days tliev wore hurriedly sent to defend the trenches at La Bassee and Ypres where the British attack in force was a magnificent surprise, and smashed the enomy's plan. DEFINITE SUCCESSES OF FRENCH TROOPS London, June 20, 3.10 a.m. High Commissioner's report:— North of Arras, after a fierce struggle, Buval-Bottom, which has been stubbornly defended by the enemy since May 0, was carried by assault. On the slopes east of Lorette, in tho direction of Souchez, the French captured several trenches, making 300 prisoners. Tho advance in Alsace was continued on both banks of the La Fecht. The Fronch bombarded the Munster railway station and blow up tho ammunition depots tbero. Metzernl, which the Germans set on firo before evacuating, has been campletoly infested. GERMANS CLAIM TO HAVE DESTROYED FRENCH FORTIFICATIONS. (Rcc. Juno 21, 0.35 a.m.) Amsterdam, June 19. A Gorman official message says:—"Wo recapturcd Embermeriil and destroyed tho French fortifications, and retired to our former positions." THE FRENCH CLING TO THE SLOPES OF HILL 119. i (Rec. Juno 21, 0.3-5 a.m.) Paris, Juno 19. Official. — 'After a very sharp struggle we invested on all sides and carried by assault Biival-bottom, which the enemy obstinately defended since May 9 Wc captured some machine-guns, and only 10 prisoners, as tho German resistance had been desperate. "Wo captured several fcronehes on the slopes oast of Lorette, and tool; .'IOO prisoners. AVe hold tho slopes of Hill 119, where our troops cling lo the ground beyond the last German trenches. Despite' ili« enemy's attack south of these slopes, our line advanced to (lie north-oast of Hip. Labyrinth. " "A German battalion at. Embcrnmni] captured » miimll posl. We immodiafely counter-attacked, and though our fnr<r s v.nre numerically inferior icoccu"icd tho whole nosition and put the ajsailaiiti to flight."