THE STORM BURSTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3106, 9 June 1917, Page 7

THE STORM BURSTS

STUPENDOUS ATTACK BY THE BRITISH GERMAN FRONT LINE BLOWN TO OBLIVION' ' 'NEW PUSH IN FLANDERS ANZACS TAKE MESSINES SOCIALIST PEACE HOPES SHATTERED , FRENCH AIMS ENDORSED BY BRITAIN The great storm, anticipated by the terrific bombardment that has raged on the British front during the past week, has burst along a 13mile front in Flanders. The enemy's lines have been carried in accordance with the preconceived plan of operations, and the advance continues satisfactorily. According to tho correspondents' dispatches, the first - shock of the.attack was appalling. Underneath the German front 'was , one vast subterranean minefield, sprung, at a prearranged moment,, with . ■ tho result that in a fraction of tiino the German front line had dis r appeared Wytschaete and Messiiies were as though they bad never ....'. been, aad the whole face of the countryside in the vicinity altered beyond recognition. The Australians and New Zealanders wero at the tak- '" ing of Messines, and the Irish at Wytschßete. Tho fantastic illusions of fcthe Socialist peace-agitatorß have been rudely dispelled by M. Ribot, the French Premier, in a telling and uncompromising speech in the Chamber , of Deputies, a.speech endorsed, to tho apparent discomfiture of Mr. ■- Philip. Snowden, by a. Ministerial statement in. the British' House of Commons. Germany, the criminal of Europe, will be held to strict accountability for her crimes. BRITISH ATTACK ON NINE-MILE FRONT MESSINES-WYTSCHAETE RIDGE CARRIED•• . , "EVERYWHERE WE CARRIED OUR FIRST OBJECTIVES" ■■The.-High Commissioner reports:— i. London, June 7, 12.30 p.m. Sir T Douglas Haig reports: We attacked at 3.10 this morning- the German, positions ,on.the Messines and Wytschaete ridge, on a front of over nine miles. Everywhere we captured our first objectives, and further progress is reported to be satisfactory on the whole front of Our attack. A number of prisoners is reported to be already reaching the collecting, stations. [Wytschaete is four miles south of Ypres, ! and two miles north-west of Messines. Both villages stand on the crest of a range of low hills which runs to the north-enst beyond Ypres.] LATEST OFFICIAL DISPATCH FRESH SUCCESSES IN THE ADVANCE The High Commissioner reports:— London, Juno 7, 11.50 p.m. A British official report states: "Our operations south of Ypres were continued methodically throughout the day, and were completely successful. The MessiuesWytschaefjo ridge, which for 2\ years dominated our position at the Ypres salient, was stormed by our troops this morning. We' captured the villages of Messines and Wytschaete, and the enemy's defence systems, including many strongly-organ-ised woods and defended localities, on. a front of over nine miles from south of Ladouve Brook to the north of Mont Sorrel. Later wo agaju advanced in accordance with our plan of operations, and carried the village of Oosttaverne and the enemy's rearward defence system east of the village on a front extending over five miles. An attempted counter-attack on the southern portion of our new positions was completely crushed by our artillery. The enemy's casualties to-day were heavy. Besides other losses, up to 5.30 p.m. this afternoon, over 5000 prisoners had passed through our collecting stations, and others are still coming. We also captured a number of guns, many trench mortars and machine-guns (these are still uncounted). There were many air fights. Five hostile formations, one of which consisted of over thirty machines were attacked and dispersed with heavy casualties. Nine German aeroplanes were brought down, and at least nine others were brought down out of control. Six of ours are missing.-" GERMANS ADMIT THE BREACH (Rec. June 9, 0.5 a.m.) London, June 7. A German, ofhcial report states:—"Tho enemy has broken into our foremost position on the Wytschaete salient. A fluctuating battle continues violently "— Aus.-N.Z. Cable' Assn.-Reuter. AUSTRALIANS AND NEW ZEALANDERS AT MESSINES ■MB. PHILIP GIBBS'S GHAPHIC STORY OF THE BATTLE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright). , (Eec. June 8, 10.10 p.m.) . London, June S. Mr. Philip Gibls writes: "The Australians and New Zealanders captured Messines in an hour and forty minutes, in tho face of a desperate German defence, killing many of the enemy. The Irishmen captured Wytschaete, while the English took Battle Wood, south cf Lillebeke. Tho Germans are now massing troops towards Warneton for a counter-attack. The Ypres salient has been wiped out. The Battle of Messines, which began at dawn to-day, was more audacious than the battles of Vimy and Arras, because of the vast strength of the enemy's positions, and the massed gunfire was of greater intensity than in any of the previous battles. Our troops are now fighting forward through the smoke and the mist—English, New Zealanders, and Irish Protestants and Catholics fighting dioulder to shoulder. They made good progress up the,slopes of Wyschaete and Messines. Prisoners are already telling how tho British swept over and beyond :he German positions, and the day goes well. Messines ridge, for two and a'half Fears has been tho curse of our men who were holding the Ypres salient. The Sermans here had stacked guns with every kind of explosive against us. The jattlo only started after the most complete preparations known to military ;oience. Miners a year ago commenced tho tunnels for. laying down the tremeiilo'us explosive 'ammonal,' which at a touch to-day blew up hillsides, alfering tho ,-cry geographical face of France. Sir Herbert Plumcr for a year had been prewiring for this attack, and was ready a week ago with guns, 'tanks,' and every cind of explosive which modern science had designed for killing men in great misses. The terrible bombardment; commenced a week ago. and increased in •iolencc, working up to a supremo fury as tho dawn broke. The Germans for fivo lays had been pinned to their tunnels, and hud'no way nf getting out of then' :oiies of death. "Regiments attempting lo come up last night wore shattered by mr heavy guns, which laid down belts of shell-fire, devastating and impenetrable.' Messines Another Gibraltar. "Our gunners also smothered Hie German batteries whenever the airmen reealed thorn. Our aviators have been wonderful—they have brought down 11 of he enemy's machines in live days. Flocks of aeroplanes went up this morning n order to blind tho enemy and report on the progress of the battle. The men :new they were going to attack a Gibraltar, and expected that the eneinv •ould fight his hardest for the Messines ridge. The final mithuist of the gun's .-as a most terribly beautiful thing, the most diabolical splendour yet seen in lie war. Out of tho dark ridges of Messines and Wytschaete, and the ill-famed nil GO there gushed an enormous volume of flame from the exnloding mines. A •cw Zealand boy who came back wounded said he felt like being in nn open oat in a -rough'scii. The ground rocked up and down. -Thousands of Auznes and Irit.ish soldiers were thus rocked before they scrambled nn' and dashed I'orw-inl [> tho German lines, assisted by a tornado of shells, which crashed oyer the nomy's iiround. AVhite, red. and green distress rocket* rose from (ho German ines, telling the gunners that the British were nnon them. Soon these distress ignals appeared no more—instead, were Mir. British signals. "The German prisoners began tn come back in. batches. They described th" agerness of the- attacke'"' as *n great lhat. they .sometimes seemed to be. in ndance of the barrage. The Germans, who did nn( expect tho attack for another ivo days, made a desperate effort at night, lo relieve their exhausted troops, ut tho new divisions lost heavily in coming up to tho firing line. The story ».

of tins great, victory cannot yet he told, but the reports show that our men everywhere succeeded in gaiuiug their objectives with astonishing rapidity. Sir Douglas Hitig's plan of the battlefield was carried out almost to the letter and ■the- time-table. The Irish at Wytschaete. "The Irish Nationalists and Ulstermen, vying with each other in courage and self-sacrifice, stormed their way up to Wytschaeto ,and alter a desporate resistance captured all that was left ot the famous White Chateau. By midday our men were well down tho further slopes of tho ridge, while tho field batteries were rushed up tho ridgo and took their now positions. The English, further north along the shoulder of tho Ypres salient, captured tho greater part of Battlo Wood, south of Zillcbeke."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PRAISE FOR THE NEW ZEALANDERS (Rcc. Juno 9, 0.30 a.m.) London, June 7. Tho "Times" correspondent at Headquarters says: "In winning Messines the New Zealanders did their work, as always, cleanly and well, and sustained very light easualties. They have already consolidated the fortified ground with a thoroughness and precision worthy of the highest praise."—The "Times."THE ATTACK DESCRIBED GERMAN FRONT LINE BLOWN TO OBLIVION. (Eec. June 8, 7 p.m.) London, June 7. The United Press correspondent at Headquarters states: "The British infantry .this morning attacked on a twelve-mile front, from the Ypres salient to Armenticres. They havo already wrested from tho Germans 'the Messines ridge, which dominates the whole north end of tho Hue. Tho Germans have held Messines since October, 19M. The British are now in possession of the town. Many 'tanks' were used, with great success. The British have also taken Balta Wood, Linfer Wood, Neray Farm, Pheasant Wood, and the villages of Hospico and Zareenba, and are still advancing. Prisoners who' have been brought in state that never had they experienced anything like the bombardment of the British guns."—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn. Router's correspondent at Headquarters states: "The new offensive opened an hour l>eforo daybreak. At a pre-arranged moment tho biggest thing ever attempted in mining operations rent the sky with ear-splitting crashes as a long series of mines—somo of them dug a year ago—exploded along the whole of the enemy's positions. The total charges for these eruptions was over a. million pounds of high explosives, and was a most fitting answer 'to tho Kaiser's bombast about the collapse of our offensive in the West. The preliminary bombardment along the front of attack was appallingly intense. The villages of Wytschaete and Messines have totally vanished. From north of Hill 60 to south of Ploegsteert the spectacle is incredible. The geogTaphy of the while district is changed, blown and furrowed beyond recognition."—Router. BRITAIN'S AIR SUPREMACY IN THE WEST! London, June 7. Since Sunday the British Save brought, down sixty-two enemy aeroplanes, and our losses have numbered only twenty.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ARTILLERY ACTIVITY ON THE BELGIAN FRONT A Belgian official communique states: "The artillery is active on both sides on the whole of the Belgian front, principally at Dixrnude and between Steenstraate and Het Sas, where we destructively bombarded the enemy batteries." Cable Assn.-Eeuler. ANOTHER VIOLENT ATTACK ON THE FRENCH REPULSED London, June 7. A French" official communique states: "Violent fire stonped a strong enemy attack at ; midnight on a. front of 850 yards north-west of St. Quentin, and inflicted the heaviest losses on the enemy. There was very lively reciprocal artillery firing south of Mian and north of the Chemin-des-Dames."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuler. (Eec. June 9, 0.5 a.m.) London, Juno 7. A French official communique states:—"The artillery struggle is fairly violent in the Chemin-des-Dames region, notably south of Kilain."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Keuter. GERMANS . CLAIM SUCCESS ON T'itt FRENCH FRONT (Eec. June F '■.. ....u.) London, June 7. A German official report states: "'liriween l'pres and Armentieres an artillery battlo has raged since yesterday, with undiminished violence. Tho English attacked this morning in* Flanders. Stromr English attacks at Hulluch, Loos, Lieven, and Koeux failed. We captured French positions at tho Chemin-des-Dames, southward of Pargny b'ilain, on a front of 1J miles, repelling coun-ter-attacks and taking 557 prisoners. We destroyed eight English aeroplanes."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reutcr. FRANCE DECLARES HER WAR AIMS "WE MUST HAVE REPARATION" SOCIALIST PEACE AGITATORS UNEQUIVOCALLY DISCREDITED Paris, Juno 7. ■ Iu the French Senate, M. Bigis Manßet introduced an interpellation inviting 31. Robot (the Premier) to define the general policy of France. He said the Senate had been unanimously indignant when it learned that seven Frenchmen proposed to go to Stockholm to confer with Germans. It wished to share the Government's responsibilities in being unable to admit that Frenchmen should show the least sign of halting when their country wns still invaded. 31. Ribot replied: "Tho German Socialists from the first were conscious accomplices in crimes against humanity. Even now they approve the atrocities by their culpable silence. It is morally impossible for Frenchmen, in the middle of tho war, to confer with such enemies. Such confabulations in foreign towns can only create an illusion of peace that is dangerous. Never at any moment, and especially when the struggle is hardest, and because the end is approaching, can wo leave such an illusion in the public mind and in the Army. Franco requires all her strength, especially her moral strength. As befits freo men, we do not seek captious and equivocal formulas. We have rejected a trap laid with se'ductive formula, which did not originate in Petrograd but was imported from elsewhere, and tbe birthplace of which is only too obvious. The words 'no annexations' cannot mean that we have no right to demand what belongs to us, namely, Alsace-Lorraine, which has never ceased to be French at heart since tho abominable act which violated justice and right in 1871. But what is meant by 'no indemnities'? If it is a question of humbling the conquered, we will havo nothing to do with it. But no French Government could renounce reparation for tho damages and atrocities after the unprecedented devastations of our territory. _ It is not an arbitrary act. but an act of justice which is our aim. I am convinced you will find these ideas reflected in President Wilson's Note to Petrograd. We are thus in complete agreement with the conscience of the.civilised world. We must demand guarantees to safeguard our children from the return of such horrors. Shall we find them.in territorial acquisitions or temporary occupations of territory or neutralisation of territory? All these questions must be considered when the time comes. Our best guarantee will be the formation of a Europe in which all tho nations will belong to themselves, and where no single man can let loose such evils. It is necessary that tho Germans should consent, for I believe in the power of ideas of justice. All those who have fought together to the end will find tho need of not separating after victory. They must form a League of Pence, in tune with the democratic spirit which France had the honour of introducing to the world. Wo nations in arms must form a Society of Nations, in which the future of humanity lies. All nations which are not nations of prey must unite ti> compel k the others not to disturb the peace." The Senate adopted unanimously a vofoof confidence in the Government, affirming that peace is possible only on the lines laid down in the speech.—Eouter. BRITAIN IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT SOCIALIST MEMBER ANSWERED IN THE HOUSE. (Eec. June 8, 5.5 p.m.) London, June 7. In tho House of Commons, replying to a question, Sir George Cave (Homo Secretary) stated that the Government, the House, and tho country were completely agreed upon the statements of the Allies' war aims as named in the French Chamber of Deputies. He promised to convey to Mr. Bonar Law tho suggestion that the House should show its entire accord therewith. Sir. Philip Snowden (Socialist): Are we to understand that the Allies are prepared to continue fighting regardless of other considerations until these aims have been attained? (Cries of "Yes!") Sir Georgo Cave replied: 3lr. Snowden must take the answer I have given as absolute. Major Hunt asked: In view of the fact that our soldiers and sailors have been told that they are fighting for the very existence of the Empire, and that the resolutions that have been passed in various parts of the Emnirc—that llio Governments of the Umpire should accept the sole responsibility for the seltlement and future welfare of (he Emni'-eV soldiers and sailors, together with their near dependants—whether the Imperial Government was prepared to accept this responsibility? Sir George Cave replied that he could sav no more at present than lliat (he. Government was most carefully considering the subject—Eeuter.