HEAVY ATTACK ON THE FRENCH LINE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3118, 23 June 1917, Page 9

HEAVY ATTACK ON THE FRENCH LINE

MASSED WAVES GALLANTLY WITHSTOOD - COUNTER-ATTACKS GAIN NEW GROUND (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright). London, June 20. A French official communique) states:—"Afler the. bombardment mentioned this afternoon the Germans attached our positions on a. front of 1000 yards with largo forces, and succeeded in gaining a footing in part of the- first lino trench east of Vauxaillon. Another attempt, south of Tilain, on a salient on our line eastwards of Hozere Farm, was without result. The artillery duel is lively between H\irtebJ6e and Chevreiix and on the Verdun front on tho sectors of Yaclieranville and Les Chambrottos."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Ecuter.

The High Commissioner's report on the same'operations states:—"A German attack yesterday east of Vauxaillon was extremely violent. II; was pi'oparai by .'artillery and carried out by assaulting troops consisting- of a fresh division from the- Russian front. The attack was broken by our stubborn resistance. All the enemy attempts to increase o&rly gnius were broken by our fire, ami tho Germans were finally unable to penctrato our first lino except nt two points southward of Mount SiDgcs and northward of Moisy Farm. Our counterattack regained tho former position.' , HUGE LOSSES FOR TRIFLING GAINS. (t?ec. June 22, 8.10 p.m.) London, ,luno 21. A French ofiicial communique sfatos:—"The German attack yesterday east of Vauxaillon was preceded by a fierce, bombardmont, and carried out by special assaulting troops recently brought f.rom thn Russian front. Our troops resisted obstinately all the enemy's efforts to develop the fow advantages ho had acquired by tho first shock of bis attack. Smashed by our lire and counterattack.-?, the Germans finally only penetrated our first line in two places, namely, south of Mont Deuinges, on a front of four hundred yards, and north of Moisy Farm, on a. front of two hundred yards. An energetic counter-offensive this morning enabled us to recaptnro tho former position, where we discovered numerous bodies, testifying to the enemy's high losses. Between ,Tune 8 and 20 we destroyed fourteen of the enemy's aeroplanes, while seven others fell in their own lin°s. Our air squadrons dropped twelve tons of bombs on the eneffiy's railway stations, factories, blast furnaces, bivouacs, and ammunition dumps, eausing important damage."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn .-Renter. IMPORTANT RESULTS GAINED. (Bee. Juno 22, !).45 p.m.) ..•■■•■ London, June 22. . A French, official communique states: —"Fighting continued to our advantage east of Vauxaillon.. Our counter-attack on tho trenches in tho Moisy Farm sectoi' gave important results. Up to the present we have recaptured all the lost positions except a salient of four hundred yards to tho north-east, where the'enemy's parties are still holding out. The artillery duels are most lively in this region elf our lines. A fairly lively bombardment' is in progress between Hurtcbisß and Craonne. .In Champagno our advanco north-east of Mont Cornillet was. a particularly brilliant accomplishment. The enemy attempted to recapture the positions we wrested' from him on June IS,' but was repulsed by our bombers, who pursued and captured their trench. AVe have thus advanced »three hundred yards deep on six hundred yards of front.—Aus.-'V.Z. Cable - Keuter. ON THE BRITISH FRONT ' London, June 20. Sir Douglas Eai*- report;:— "AVe com pletoiy repulsed! the enemy's fourth coun-ter-attack northwards of the Souchez Hi ver (west of Lens). The'weather was unfavourable for flying yesterday, but our aeroplanes co-operated with the artillery with good Tesnlts. Wo brought down two German aeroplanes. Two of ours are missing."—A us.-N.Z. Cable A*Esn. ■Geuter. (Bee. June 22, {1.45 p:m.) London. June 22. Sir Douglas iuw; reports:—"Our h'ro repulsed the enemy's -raiders southward of tho Baps','ii';-Cambrai Road, eastward of LavenHe," and also in. 'ths neighbourhood of Lombaertayde, where another enemy party entered our front line, but- were immediately driven out. The enemy's artillery is active astride the Scarpe."-Aus.-N.55. Cable Assn.-Reuter. CANADIANS IN ACTION. Ottawa, June 21. Keports from Canadian Headquarters etatp that tho Canadian captured a group of German trenches on Reservoir Hill, facilitating tho Allies' approach towards Lens.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. j . TiW. GERMAN REPORTS London, June 20. A German official report states:—"Artillery firing ha? been very violent between the Tscr and the Lys. The English attacked on Ihe north bank of Ihe Souchez. They wore repulsed on the whiffs, but penetrated our first lino in the centre. ■ AVn recaptured the greater part of the ground lost on Monday southward of Hoehberg (or Mont Haul), in tho Champagne."—Aus.-N.Z. Cabie Assn.. Keuter. (Kcc. Juno 22, 5.20 p.m.) London, June 22. A German official report states:—"Near the coast we. made a night surprise attack on the English, and brought back prisoners. AVo stormed "the French positions on a front, of 1500 yards at Vimxaillon, and penetrated far into tho enemy's reserves. We repulsed counter- ffcacks on the captured trenches."—Aus,I N.Z. Cable. Assn.-Beuter.

WANING MORALE OF THE GERMANS FIGHTING SPIRIT DISTINCTLY LESSENING. London, June 20. Visitors arriving in London confirm the reports of newspaper correspondents respecting the waning morale of this Gorman troops. It is Very notable along the Western front how readily the Gorinaus surrender. Some of tho best disciplined troops are kept in hand, but tho overwhelming gunh'ro frequently caused them to desire to become prisoners. Tlie fighting spirit is most distinctly lessening. The Germans, in sheer ruthless malignity, firo large naval shells daily into Roims, Arras, and Bapaumo. These places are in ruins. Nobody is living in Bapaume, and only four hundred in Arras. Tlie "Petit Parisian" states that the British armies' remorseless harrying i<s4 effaced tho word "rest" from the German vocabulary. The airmen are spreading on every side a network of raids, while the. artillery block supplies, especially the all-important victuals.—Aus.-JN T ,Z. Cable Assn.

THE ENEMY'S LOST AIR PRESTIGE . DESPERATE ATTEMPTS TO RECOVER IT. London, June 20. Thp "Morning Post's" correspondent at Headquarters states that the German airmen aro desperately attempting to recover the prestige lost at llcssinos, ivhrn tlio British completely smothered them and prevented them from tailing part in (be battle Tho Germans <lo not venture, to attack singly, but frequently a couple of Britijb machines havo dispersed a German squadron of fifteen machines lite frightened birds.—A.us.-A'.Z. Cablo Assn. GERMANS REMOVING CIVILIANS FROM WEST FLANDERS. (Rec. Juno 23, 1.15 a.m.) Amsterdam, Juno 22. It is reported that the evacuation of the civil population in West Flanders continues. -Two thousand persons have been removed from places behind the front. —Reuter.