CLOSING IN ON LENS.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3124, 30 June 1917, Page 7

CLOSING IN ON LENS.

■■■ _ CANADIANS I THE VAN PERILOUS POSITION OF THE ENEMY OFFENSIVE OPPOSING FORCES REINFORCED The arresting item of news to-day is that the Russian armies hare taken the offensive. . The event is hailed with satisfaction in London, ■•■ • while in Germany the semi-official "Cologno Gazette" comments resignedly: "Let all come; our Eastern wall stands!" September 30 is named as -the day for the election of a Constituent , Assembly in Russia, and October 13 as the day on which it is to meet. A. statenientby Dr. Addison, British Minister of Munitions, indicates the wonderful strides that have ' been made in war production in Great Britain. An outstanding event .'■in the-Westem theatre is a British advance south of Lena, which re- ' ' presents a further important step towards the encirclement of that city. STUBBORN FIGHT FOR LENS BRITISH TROOPS ON THREE SIDES OF THE CITY ' CANADIANS PUSHING AHEAD (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright). ' ' . London, June 28. The United Press correspondent at Headquarters states that the Canadians have occupied Eleu dite Leauvetto, on the southern ddgo of lons, andpatrols, ad-, vancing beyond the Germans, blew up a bridge over the Souchez River leading to the city. The Canadian patrols entered the outskirts of Avion, and are nearing Mericourt. Troops are pushing towards Lens astride the Arras-Lens railway, and captured a portion of the Avion-Mericourt 6witch-line, with light losses. The Prussians holding the dug-outs refused to surrender, and were completely bombed out. The Germans are resisting stubbornly in the coal mines between the forks of the Arras-Lens and JDrocourt-Lens railways, but the situation is well in hand. The British are now touching Lens on three sides, and 'the enemy is reduced to fighting from the mins of the burned city. The trenches outeide are in our hands, and the position of the Germans is critical.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. OBSTACLES TO THE PENETRATION OF LENS CAPTURED 1 Paris, June- 28. The "Matin" states that; though the British, since the capture of Lievin, have held the immediate approaches to Lens, they were unable to penetrate the town until they, had captured the heights between thstJsburbs and the Souchez River. These are now occupied, no ; tably Hill 65 and Fosse 3 ; the latter an important strategic point.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ENEMY ATTACKS REPULSED. ' . ' The High Commissioner reports :— London, June 28. 1.10 p.m. . Sir. Douglas Haig reports: "During the night artillery heavily bombarded our positions in the neighbourhood of Fontaine-lez-CroiEilles. South of tho Cojuel river hostile, attacks against our advanced positions were successfully repulsed. Eastward of Vermellcs German raiders entered our trenches, but were ; immediately ejected. One of our men is missing." BRITISH ADVANCE THEIR LINE SO'UTH OF SOUCHEZ. (Bee. June 30, 0.50 a.m.) London, June 29. The High Commissioner reports:—British official: "We made considerable further progress to-day 60uth of the Souchez River. Our lino in this area Las advanced on a front of nearly two miles. We have Teaehed the ontskirts of Avion." (Eec. June 29, 9 p.m.) London, June ~'J. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—We have made considerable further progress southward of the Souchez River. Our line in this area has again advanced on a, front of two miles, reaching the outskirts of Avion. Seven enemy aeroplanes have been brought down. Tour of ours are missing—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuler. , GERMAN REPORT OF THE BOMBARDMENT OF OSTEND. London, June 28. Admiralty per Wireless Press.—A German official report states: "In retaliation for the bombardment of Dunkirk, the enemy bombarded Ostond, but did no military damage. Our artillery greatly damaged the English trenches on the coast." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. : THE ARTILLERY STRUGGLE ON THE FRENCH FRONT London, June 28. A French communique states: "The artillery struggle is particularly active at Hurtebise and Mont Cornillet. A Gorman attempt in tho AVattweilcr salient, north-east of Thann, in Alsace, failed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Rcutcr. / (Rec. .Tune 2!), 11.35 p.m.) London, June 29. A French communique' states: "There is intermittent enemy bombardment at various points, which is vigorously countered, particularly to tho loft of the Meuse. Twelve hundred shells have been thrown into Reims, and eight fell in the cathedral."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. .