HAIG'S GREAT WIN

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3107, 11 June 1917, Page 5

HAIG'S GREAT WIN

■ , o THRILLING DISPATCHES FROM CORRESPONDENTS 7' : . THE NEW ZEALANDERS AT MESSINES GLOOMY REPORTS FROM CHAOTIC COUNTRY Details of Haig's great victory at Hessin.es and Wytschaete come flowing in from enthusiastic, war correspondents in thrilling dispatches to-day. Cleverly planned, carefully rehearsed, this latest terrific blow in the West has been rounded off and the gains secured with amazing rapidity. The inevitable German counter-attack has been delivered! aad has collapsed under the British bombardment, with heavy losses. And to cap ' all this the British have delivered yet another stroke on a stretch of the enemy's line further to the south. The German communiques on the subject admit some of the less uncomfortable facts of the battle, and ekate glibly over 'its worst aspects. The news from Russia is gloomy. .There 'are various reports, all more or less unanimous in the conclusion, that the situation is no better. One dispatch 6ays that M. Keren- , ski, Minister for War, .described as the one man in, Bussia who could handle the Workmen and Soldiers' Delegates, is said to be losing favour with: that body; the signs, says the report, point to a change of. Government. 'Finland is stated to have demanded complete independence. The most gloomy of a gloomy serie3 is a.dispatch which purports to represent the opinions of the State Department officials at Washingi ton. Buseia, they think, is out of the war for good, and the struggle ■may be expected to last for another three years. The most hopeful aote is contained in a report stating that, after listening to the Belgian Minister and a member of the French Embassy. at Petrograd, a representative meeting of Bussian interests conveyed to England its steadfast adherence to the Allies and its determination not to seek a separate peace. FOLLOWING UP THE VICTORY GAINS SECURED WITH LIGHTNING SPEED I ANOTHER BLOW AT THE GERMAN FRONT (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright). London, June 8. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"The position captured yesterday was one of the most important enemy strongholds on the West front. It dominated the Ipres salient, giving ihe enemy complete observation. The Germans had neglected no precaution to render the position impregnable. These conditions enabled tho enemy to overlook all our preparations for the attack, and he had moved up reinforcements to meet us. The battle, therefore, had become a gauge of the • Germans' ability to stop our advance under the most favourable conditions, .when they possessed every advantage of ground and preparation, and knew that the attack was impending. The German forward defences consisted of an elaborate and intricate system of well-wired trenches and strong points, forming a defensive belt over a mile in depth. Numerous farms and woods were thoroughly prepared for defence, with large numbers of machine-guns. The Germans brought increased numbers of guns of all calibres to boar not only on the front but on the flanks of the attack. There were numerous communication trenches and switch lines, radiating in all directions, amply provided with strongly-con-structed concrete dugouts and machine-gun emplacements designed to protect the garrisoa from the effects of our bombardment. The Germans omitted no precaution that could be provided by the incessant labour of years, guided by the experience- of the defeats of the Somme, Arras, and Vimy Eidge. Opening of the Battle. •"Our troops, in spite of these difficulties and disadvantages, carried out the first assault and subsequent attacks in almost exact accordance with the arranged time-table. Nineteen deep mines wero exploded simultaneously at 3.10 in the mornin", wrecking a large portion of the front and support trenches, including extensive dug-out and mining systems. Immediately upon the mine explosions, onr guns opened, and infantry attacks carried the wholo.line system within a few mintues. Our troop 3 immediately pressed on up the western slopes of the Messines-Wytschaeto Eidge, and within three hours stormed the entire crestlino from south to northwards. Shortly afterwards the wholo of Messines was cap- ' tured We also completed the capture of Wytschaete village. Before midday after hand-to-hand fighting, our troops, in the second stage of attack, pushed down the eastern slopes of the ridge and advanced against a powerful line of rear defences. Heavy fighting occurred in a further series of fortmed •woods and strong points. . We captured the village of Oosttaverne, lying just to the westward of the centre of the. line. Practically the whole of this trench system was in our hands by nightfall, and we had gained the whole of the days objectives. Great numbers of German dead, lying in captured positions proved the severity of the enemy's losses, a large proportion being borne by Bavarians. Our losses .were light. The enemy at night did not attempt to recover the lost positions. Thanks to the Army. "Followin" General Plumer's great care and the thoroughness of the preparations, the complete success is chiefly ascribed to the destruction caused by the mines, the violence and accuracy of tho bombardment, and the fine work of the Royal' Flyin" Corps and inomparablo dash and courage of tho infantry. The ' whole force "acted in perfect combination, and the tanks wore excellent. Every means of offensive at our disposal was used, and thus every arm of the service had its share in the victory. We captured a German post last night north of - Havrincourt Wood."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. LATEST DISPATCHES FROM SIR DOUGLAS HAIG POWERFUL COUNTERATTACK REPULSED FURTHER STROKE SOUTH OF THE SOUCHEZ t.. ' " ! (Eec. Juno 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, June 9. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"Qur new line south of Ypvcs has been organised and seoured. German counter-attacks south-east and north-east of Oosttaverne and cast of' Mossines wore repulsed with loss by onr infantry or broken by artillery The prisoners counted so far now total 6400, of whom 132 are officers. Over twenty guns have been collected. Our aircraft valiantly co-operated with the infantry and artillery, and also successfully bombed and attacked with machine-guns the. enemy's aerodromes, balloons, trains, billets, depots, and troops, and prevented the enemy's aircraft participating in tho battle. Wβ brought down twelve of the German machines, and drove down eight which were beyond control. Fourteen of ours are missing. , Powerful German Night Attack, "Thoenemyat seven o'clock last evening, after heavy artillery preparation, launched a powerful counter-attack against nearly the whole of our new front ( southward of Xpres from St. Yves to tho northwards of the Ipres-Commes Canal, a distance of six miles. A laTgo forco, composed of fresh divisions delivered the attack with great determination. Under Mir destructive artillery and machine-gun fire the enemy's attack was completely repulsed at all points. The fighting was particularly fierce eastward of ilessmcs and a£o in the neighbourhood of Klein Zillebeke, and northwards of the canal. The enemy s attacks wore broken by midnight, with great loss all along the line. Hβ retain possession of the whole of the gTound that has been captured since tho commencement of the battle. Another Successful Advance. "Wo carried out operations with complete success last night further southward on a wide front, from southward of Lens to La Bassee. Our troops entered tho German positions southward of tho Souchez Eiver, on a front of over two miles, and penetrated to a depth of over half a mile. We inflicted heavy casualties. Our casualties were light. We successfully entered the German trenohes northward of the Souchez Eiver, south-eastward of Loos and southwestward Of La Bassee, killing a large number of Germans and greatly damaging the enemy's defences. We Taided the sector of the Hindenburg Line which is still held by the enemy westward of Bullecourt, a number of the garrison being either killed or taken prisoner.'-Aus.- N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeitter. .CALM FOLLOWS THE STORM (Eeo. June 10, 11.5 p.m.) London, June 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "The day has been -guiet on the battlo front. Southward of Ypres there has been mutual artillery activity. Wβ have made slight progress on the right flank of our new positions. Over 7000 prisoners have been taken since Thursday morning, whjic a Rr oat number of guns, machineguns, and trench mortars are buried in the debris. We have improved our positions on the Scarpe in the neighbourhood o f Greenland Hill. Onr aeroplanes, when bombing the enemy's railway stations, detonated by a bomb a large accumulation of rolling stock containing am m , ln ition. Fires and explosions continued until dawn. Wβ brought down three Gorman aeroplanes and drove down four others which wero not under control. Six o f ours are missing."—Ans.-rf.S. Cable Assn.-EcutoT. :

A WELL-REHEABSED STROKE London, June S. Editor's correspondent at JTcadquar ters states that two complete rehearsals of the present operations wc-io carried out with realistic-completeness ot detail.— lieuter. (lice. June 10, 5.5 p.m.) , , London, Juno !•. 'I'lio attack on llessines Eidge was previously worked out in the open air on a model covering an area of four tennis courts, and which included mioh minute detail as au isolated trco etninp.—Aus.-N./i. Cable Assn. A GREAT DAY FOR NEW ZEALAND AND ALSO FOR THE IRISH. (Roc. Jnuo 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, June a. Mr Philip Gibbs writes:—"The cap hire of Messines Eidge has given the men a remarkable sense of great achieveraon t. They know that a formidable task has been carried out with extraordinarily light losses. The proportion ot neatly wounded is high. At least one Iris h company took its objective wit&outa single casualty. The victory was nnclou ded by the heavy sacrifices of the flattie of the Somme. The New Zealanders say that it was a great day for mw Zealand." The Irish at Wytschaete. Mr Gibbs describes a visit to Wyt schacto, where the Irish Nationalists and TJlsteraen vie with the exploit of the New Zealandera in the carryinG: ot Messines Ridge. The Irishmen state that the bombardment wiped out \iyischaeto Wood, which was eight liundre d yards square. Nothing stayed rao I Irish attack except occasional small bodies of Germans with a raacnine-gun. j."b village was a. fortress, and the position w as capable of defence on all sides, pub I the Irish surrounded and captured it easily. The garrison was demoralised by ho long shell fire. The Dublin and M unater men took o thousand prisoners, and the Ulstermen another thousand. The Germans on Friday continued to mass their forces at Warneton for their counter-attack, but each b ™ e ° ur f! scattered them. The new ridge has giv en -us direct observation, and tue tames have thus been turned.—Aus.-N,Z. Cable As3n, OPERATIONS ROUNDED OFF WITH LIGHTNING SPEED (Ecc. June 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, Juno 9. Correspondents at British Headquarters state that the Australians made a small local attack on Battle Wood on' Friday morning, rounding off lnursdays gains. The whole operation was so successful that it was completed oj ».au o'clock in the morning. The total number of prisoners is now at least seven thousand, while more than a hundred guns have been knocked put. lhe α-us-traliims and New Zealanders broke an records on Thursday in digging.miccessve lines of trenches, six feet deep, during the morning attack., llie Jintisn. success was so complete that even the heavy guns were able to move into tne uorman lines in a few hours. . , i The United Press correspondent at Headquarters reports that six tflouianu prisoners Qiave been taken. "Our success was so complete that British cavalry entered the action. ■ Our advance is over three miles deep at the centre, and we Ypres salient is wiped out. The objectives on the Messines Eidge were tuny won, and the battle was carried out perfectly. Men of Ulster and Irish Nationalists fought shoulder to shoulder like demons, and stormed the ridge togetner. The ni"ht was spent in consolidating the gained ground. The Germans to tne eastward of the ridge are in a critical position, because the River Lys and the Comines Canal converge behind them, m eetinj at Comines. Thus even « tney succeed in crossing the waterways, their losses from shell fire will be enormous. The prisoners were terror-stricken l> y the 'earthquake. Ihey thought tne Last Day had arrived, and wero much shaken. The counter-attacks resembled dying kicks. There were record rain and hailstorms in tho afternoon, ana these are believed to have been duo to the explosions plus the artillerr lire, which surpassed anything previously seen in the war. The British success was largely due to Mie air service. Warplaues manoeuvred ceaselessly, scorning the heavy aerial ban-ages." "Stonewall" Plumer's First Great Chance. Mr. Beach Thomas says-.—"General I'lumer's army, which had fought a fine stonewall battle for nearly two years, took in hand tho biggest and boldest attack of the war. It will remain a m irade how human beings, in the- midsn of the storm, kept their senses and had courage enough to move their limbs as they wished, much less to carry through tho complicated tacticsl in a turmoil where no man could hear an order, or recognise the signs of tne lanttscape and one scarcely could catch sight of a noighbour or an enemy. .Nobody could see our infantry—English, Scotch, Trish, and men from tho Dominionswalking calmly up to tho thunder and 1 ightning of their own shells, daring more than human tissue has endured in history. The defence included tne pick of the Bavarian and Prussian troops, with reserves heavily massed behind. When the Anzacs went to storm the crown of the fnnious ridge the enemy stopped them not at all. The Anzacs waited for tho advance of their own barrage, but the most ardent spirits declined to wait, aad dodged forward among their own shells and sent up hilarious rockets announcing their arrival. While some dug with gusto and skill on the back of the ridge, other pushed down tho slope, where afc the moment of writing their adventure is in full career. Men of Ulster and Irish Nationalists in the Thick of It. ■ Other correspondents at British Headquarters insist that the enemy had known for weeks of the coming attack at Messines, and had-made every possible effort to make the positions impregnable. Yet General Plrnner had-broken the lines This was General Burner's first great offensive. Hitherto he had had the ugly task of holding the Ypres salient. Stern fish tin? is, generally speakin" ahead of us, as the Germans are sure- to'use the troops they havo already massert for counter-attacks. The first success, however, is a brilliant victory, and represents an advanco in the centro of between four and live thousand yards. The Irishmen assisted the New Zenlanders to capture the ridgo; with the Australians and English troops fighting near by. Particularly stiff liglitin- occurred in Battle Wood, where the Germans still hold a corner, this being tho only sot-back the British had in the wholo glorious day. 'there was also heavy fighting around the White Chateau. Before a large part of the ridge is a dip in the ground, whore the British artillery was nimble 1o cut tho wire. But the attackers went through everything with irresistible dash. A feature of the battfe was the success of General Plinner's aviators, who. though they brought down forty-four enemy machines, only lost ten. In one case, five British aeroplanes fought twenty-five Germans, aud wrecked eight of them, and all the British aviators returned safely. THE ENEMY DUMBFOUNDED (Rec. Juno 10, 5.5 p.m.) I Paris, June 9. The British victory at Messines dum Wounded the enemy, who brought up four icscrve divisions" to assist six divisions of'his best troops who were facin"- the British Tho movement was immediately observed, and the British, artillery opened fire. The German heavy guns replied at very long range, but the precision of the British gum neutralised the Germans' fire Lacking the proper artillery support, tho Germans twice attacked, half-heartedly, and vainly.— Kentcr. . ■ GERMANS CEASELESSLY HARRIED MAGNIFICENT WORK BY THE BRITISH GUNS. (Kec. June 10, 11.5 n.m.) London, June 10. Eeuter's correspondent at Headfluarters, writin; on the evening of June fl, says: "There isj;reat aggressive activity on our front. The Germans never were so harried There were tou raids on tho front of the First Army last night. The Canadians wero most successful south of Lens. They brought back a record Bag of prisoners. The latest 'news of tho German counter-attack on our new positions on the Messines Ridge last flight, shows that it was most costly for tha enemy, our gunfire and machine-gums mowing down the Germans, whose losses since Thursday morning are estimated at five times the total number of prisoners taken Tho Third Bavariai} Division sustained a record disaster, only a shattered remnant withdrawing. A"s" an instance o£ the extraordinary efficiency of our artillery I am permitted to state that our batteries advanced so smartly after the infanbx a few nours after the battle began that they had actually a more intense concentration of fire on the vital sections of the attack than at the openine of the action, when every weapon was in its long-planned position. It has now been demonstrated that the British Army can take the initiative against the Germans at any time and place it chooses, with the confident assurance- of victory."—Eeuter. _ '■ , THE KING'S MESSAGE TO THE ARMY (Eec. June 10, 5.5 p.m.) • London, June 8. His Majesty the King telegraphed to Sir Douglas Ha>S:-"I rejoice with' thanks that with the thorough preparations and splendid co-operation ot alt arms, the important ridge at Messines, tho scene ot many memorable struggles, is aViiii in our hands Tell General flumer and tho Second Army how proud mra of the achievement by which in a few hours tho enemy was driven out of the strongly-entrenched positions ho has held lor two and a half ycais. - Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Bcuter. Mβ, LLOYD GEORGE HEARS THE NEWS. London, Juno S. Mr Lloyd George'was staying at Walton Heath last night, and left an order to be called at three o'clock in the morning Hβ had Hie sat.sfaction of hearin- that the terrific mine explosion had opened the Messines offensive. Sir Douglas Haig's preparations were so perfect that he was able to advise Mr. Lloyd George of the exact moment of the attack.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. i THE GERMAN REPORT (Roc. June 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, June 1). - 4 German official report states-.-"The English wore unable to continue the battle, in Flanders with the forces th?v employed ay We repulsed a local advance east of Messincs."-Aus.-N .Z. Cable Assn.-Eeulei. (Eec. June 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, Juno v. A German official report states:—"English attacks, after days of strong and destructive fire, between I'prcs and Ploegsteert Wood, northward of ArmentierM, wero repulsed. Southward of Ypres wo also fought successfully on the southern win" of the enemy. Aβ tho result of numerous mine explosions the enemy penetrated our positions at St. Elo i, AVytschaoto, and Messines, and advanced by stubborn fighting via Wytschaet o and Mossines. A strong counter-attack drove the enemy back in the direction of Messines. Further fresh reserves brought the enemy to a standstill. Late rwe withdrew from the western salient to a "prepared position two kilometres (1* miles) westward. The artillery duels ■iro of oreater intensity on the Arras front, and also on the Chemin-des-Dames Kidee and the Aisnc-iind-Marno Canal. Wo repulsed French detachments in the Vosges at Sundgau. There havo been m any air fights. We brought down fifteen of the enemy's craft. Their Version of the Latest British Attack. A later commnnique states:-"Tho enemy directed a strong firo eastward, of Wvtschaete and Messines, but no massed attacks were launched, llie Australians fruitlessly attacked eastward of Messines. Fresh fighting developed m tlie evening astride the Ypres-Cominos Canal, and on the Douve Lowlands, ihe enemy was unable to gain the advantage. Fighting activity has increased from tho La Basseo Canal to the Senseo Brook. Tho enemy repeatedly attacked north-eastward of Vermelles, southward of Loos, and eastward of Croisilies. We reniikcd by strong counter-attack and hand-to-hand fighting, detachments of the enemv which penetrated oiir trenches on tho Souchez Brook, Giveucliy, and tho Avion, Vimy, and Gricourt Eoads. The positions remain completely ours. Wo repulsed "French advances at Brnye-cn-Lnonnois andCemy. —Aus.-i\./j. tabic Assn.

AIR ACTIVITY IN FLANDERS. London, Juno S. The Admiralty reports that on. Wed nesday naTal aeroplanes attacked and drove two enemy'aeroplanes out of control throe miles north-east of Dmnnde. A naval pilot broiißht down another, also -uncontrollable, five miles north-east of Dixmude.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. GREAT ACTIVITY ON THE FRENCH FRONT London, June 8.■V French, official commitnimio states:—"There was great activity during the nlcTit on the whole front north of Laff aux Mill and south of Filain, and in the sector of Cerny. The artillerj- fighting was occasionally violent. The enemy repeatedly and at numerous points attempted to execute attacks, winch col-lapsed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rcc. June 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, June 3. A French official communique states:—"Our batteries were most active during the night in the region north of St. Quentin. The Germans renewed their attempts at various points on the Chemin-des-Dames. from the south of l'Unin. to the east of Cerny, where the artillery duel has continued violently. Our fire dispersed four successive attacks, north-east of Cerny, and also two attempted coups-de-main, north of Froidmon Farm. The enemy suffered heavily. —Aus.-i\ M. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ~. . A later communique states:—"On the Chemin-des-Dntneg artillery activity i« lively. The enemy has not attempted to re-attack us."— Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Keuter, (Rec. June 10, 11.5 p.m.) London, June 10. A French official report states: "There was a sharp artillery duel southeast of St. Quentin and north-west of Braye En-LaonJiois .where, n. raid by the enemy was easily repulsed. The day was quiet elsewhere."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asjwi.Bcuter. THE RAIDS ON ZEEBRUGGE Amsterdam, June 8. 'i'lie Dutch newspaper. "Telcgraaf" states that the Germans we?e unable to bring Bupplies of fish from Holland on Wednesday owing to every available truck being required for the transport of wounded soldiers from Zeobrugge and the neighbourhood, as tie result of the naval bombardment and air raids.--,AUS.-N.Z. Cable Assn.