THE FIGHTING IN THE WEST

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3114, 19 June 1917, Page 5

THE FIGHTING IN THE WEST

; NEW ZEALANDERS AGAIN IN THE FIRING LINE ! SUCCESSFUL' OPERATIONS CARRIED OUT (By Telegraph-yPress Association—Copyright). London, June 17. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "The- Portuguese troops repelled several raids during June. We made a successful raid north of Bouzeaueourt. Our artillery frustrated a raid eon Hi of the Ypres-Comines Canal."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Eeutcr. ' . . , ' (Rec. Juno 18, (i.5 p.m.) London, .lane 17. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "There is hostile artillery activity southward of Croisilles, south-westward of lens, and a number of points between Armentiercs and Ypres. Great air activity prevailed yesterday. We brought down seven aeroplanes and drove down three others. Two of ours are missing."—Aus.-X.Z. Cable Aesu.-Reuter. SUCCESSFUL ADVANCE ON MESSJNES MONT. (Special Dispatch from the N.Z. Official Correspondent. Captain M. Eoss.) „- r . ~ ~,. France, June 15. Since the capture of Messincs the New Zealanders have again been in the firing line m further operations on a minor scale, when our troops advanced to establish forward posts. Halt of them were successful, but the other half missing their-way in the; darkness, returned to their own trenches. Last night, however, they tried again, and were completely successful, advancing a distance of a thousand yards in the direction of Warneton, occupying two stron» points and capturing eighteen prisoners and machine-suns. At one place the Germans fought determinedly, but were- overwhelmed. The half that originally were successful also mado a further slight advance, and all the troops cnra»eil then linked up. and are now consolidating tho line. The enemy nut on a heaw artillery barrage, but our troops still hold their ground. MESSINES-AND AFTER (Eec. June IS, tt.55 p.m.) Mr. Philip Gibbs says: "There are signs that bewilderment has possessed the enemy since the loes of Messines. The German command appears to be undecided where to make the next stand. Many groups of Germans in the ne.i"-h----bonrhood of Warneton a.ro in a hideous position because they are out of touch with their headquarters, and are living an awful life in shell craters under our gunfire. Our advance ou- the west side of Bullecourt takes another portion of the Hindonburg line, of which littlo now is loft. The organisation of our army amply provides for the hot weather. Tho fierce sun is baking the troops to a, deep brown. A noteworthy feature- of tho organisation was that water was sent up* quickly to tho troops at the Battle of Messiues, and also two lemons for each man. By common consent the 'Messines show' was tho best thing- any army had done. Twenty Gorman officers who had been dragged out of a at Wytsehaete, were in theblackest despair. They declared that thu'r men had 'gone to trio devil/ Tho Second Division of East Prussian troops wore wiped out From 3600 to 2000 wero taken prisoner, wliilo most of tho remainder were either killed or wounded." —Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. WITH NEATNESS AND DISPATCH CLEVER COUP BY BRITISH INFANTRY. (Koc. Juno IS, 10.15 p.m.) -Mr. Percival Phillips writes:—"Ono of the neatest achievement's was tho capture by tho infantry of a hill near Moncliy. They surprised two companies of Bavarians, who were breakfasting in their trenches. Tho British quietly slipped across, and without firing a shot brought back 175 prisoners within two minutes. It was the quickest and most effeotivo littlo job in tho recent operations Tlie Bavarians were compelled to leavo their their steaming coffee." .'. ATTACK ON THE FRENCH REPULSED London, Juno 17. A French official communique elates: "An enemy attack, which was beiil" prepared against our positions at Laxgonville, north-west of Cerny, was dispersed •by our fire/"—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Iteuter. (Rec. Juue IS, G. 5 p.m.) London, June 17. A. French official communique states: "Following up last night's bombardment on the Hurtebiso sector, the enemy attacked and succeeded in entering a salient in our positions, but was driven back a.fter a brisk fight. He was only able to maintain himself in a small element of Hit advanced line. Artillery a'ctivity continued all day here, north of Cerny. and north of Braye-cn-Laon'nois. The enemy violently bombarded Reims. Twelve hundred shells fell to-day, and there were many civilian casualties."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Router. THE GERMAN REPORT • , rr • i . , ... London, June 17. A. wireless German ofhcial eta tea: We repulsed the ifrMisli south west of Warneton. The English continued their attacks near Monchy and Croisilles, temporarily penetrating our lino; north-westward of Buillecourt Our counter-attack regained tho position. Wo captured a mountain of prominence north-ivestward of Hurtebiso Farm. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter

PRISONERS BEHIND THE FRONT WITHDRAWALS TO SAFETY: LIMIT COMPLETED. London, June 17. A. German official message states: "As Britain has announced that the withdrawal of all German prisoners of war to thirty kilometres (20 miles) behind tho ■front has been completed, Germany has completed (i similar movement."— Atie.NX Cable .Aesn.-ReT.tcr.

SPLENDID SUCCESS OP INDIAN WAR LOAN TWENTY-FOTO MILLIONS SUBSCRIBED. (Rec. June IS, 11.10 p.m.) Calcutta, ,Tuno 18. The Indian War Loan has closed. Tho subscriptions exceeded J2i.000,000, besides .£2,380.000 in Post Olßco and live-yea r-loaii certificates.—Keillor.