BRITISH ADVANCE FROM LENS TO LOOS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3165, 17 August 1917, Page 5

BRITISH ADVANCE FROM LENS TO LOOS

ENEMY'S FIRST LINES CARRIED COUNTER-ATTACK COMPLETELY CRUSHED (By Tslegraph— Pr«m Aeuooiition—Copyright). London, August 15. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "We attacked early this morning on a -wide front from the north-western outskirts of Lens to Bois Hugo, north-east of Loos, and carried the first lines at all points. We are making satisfactory progress. Wo completely' crushed a counter-attack east of Cite St. Emilio. The French gained further ground north-west of Bixsehoote. Wo repulsed raiders eastward of Klein Zillebeke. The weather is stormy, with heavy rain. Our heavy artillery and rifle fire repulsed an enemy attack east of Wcstnoek. We have improved our positions on the right bank of 'the Stceubek. Tho Portuguese troops, after sharp lighting, repulsed raiders, estimated at throe companies strong, east of Neuve Chapelle. Despite the enemy's aggressive tactics, our long-distanco aeroplanes reached and bombed their objectives and turned 'their machine-guns on tho in-fantry."—Aus.-N.SS. Cabio Assn.-E-euter. ,

. . HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. /i'he High Commissioner reports:— London, August 16. A British official report states: "Early this morning tho Canadian troops stormed' tho German positions south-east and east of Loos on a. front of two miles. The formidable defences of Hill 70 were carried by assault. After storming tho iirst trencli system the whole of our front attacked. We advanced to ithe western defences of Cite St. Auguste, penetrating tho position to a depth of a mile. Besides an elaborate series of trenches and strong points on Hill 70, the villages of Cite St. Elisabeth, Cite St. Emilie, and Cite St. Lauren, as well as tho Bois Rase and tho western half of Bois Hugo, are now in our possession. All our objectives were gainod. Our casualties were slight. During tho -day flvo counter-attacks were' repulsed by our infantry, or broken up by the artillery. One was by troops of the Prussian Guards. The enemy's losses were heavy. The'number of German prisoners has not yet been ascertained; 282 reached the collecting stations this afternoon. On the Ypres battlefront an attack against our positions near the Pilkenr-Langemarck Road was completely repulsed.

The Press message covering (he abovo dispatch adds: "The defences of Hill 70, since September, 1915, when the Germans resisted our attacks, had been strengthened by (very device. British aircraft brought down nine German aeroplanes, and drove down five. Seven of ours are missing, two of which wore overtaken by a violent storm."—Aus.-N .'/,. Cable Assn.-Eeuter.

THE DAY'S OBJECTIVES SEVERAL IMPORTANT POSITIONS STORMED. (Rec. August 16, 5.20 p.m.) London, August 15. Tho United Press correspondent states: "Tho Canadians also stormed tho enemy's positions near Hill 70, carrying everything with irresistible dash, and achieving their day's objectives in the first rush along one thousand yards of front to a depth of nearly a mile. Bois It ase, Cite St. Laurent, Cite St. Emilic, parts of Cite St. Elisabeth, Bois Hugo, and a number of other important positions about Lens, passed into British possession. Several hundred prisoners have already been counted. Lens is now a mere death trap for tho Germans if t'hey continue to hold it."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ON THE FRENCH FRONT London, August 15. A French communiriuo states: "There is an artillery duel in Belgium. On both banks of the Mouse enemy raids at different points were easily repulsed."— Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Rcuter. (Rec. August 10, 5.20 p.m.) London, August 15. A French official communique states: Wo havo made appreciable progress west of the Dixmudo Road, in Belgium. An activo artillery duel is in pi-o-gress on both banks of tho Meusc.. An enemy attack west of Hill 301 was re-pulsed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Rcutcr. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. London, August 15. A German ofhctnl report stales: "Strong Allied enemy attacks in the Western theatre arc being prepared. We took prisoner a large number of Portuguese at "euvo TJhapelle. The French twico unsuccessfully attacked southward of Naumy. There is increased artillery action on tho Aisno front, in Western Champagne, and northward of Verdun. Tho French havo brought strong forces to Verdun, especially artillery. We repulsed attacks at Flirey."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.Keuter. (Rec. August 10, 8.35 p.m.), » n «• • i u i i «»ni .-,. , London, August 15. A German official report states: "The artillery battle raged all nHit Ion" in Flanders. Wo repulsed the English southward of Fraonberg. and on both sides of Hooge. A. violent artillery duel is in progress between. Hulluch and Lens. French attacks at Cerny failed. —Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Eeuter. (Eec. August 16, 10.10 p.m.) London, August 10. A German official report states: "Infantry engagements are proceeding northWard of Lens and eastward of Curny-en-Laonuois."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Eeuter. "ARTILLERY OF ALL THE ALLIES STRIKING IN UNISON." (Eec. August 16, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, August 15. , M. Marcel Hutia writes: "Tho artillery of all of tho Allies appears to be striking in unison. Unfavourable wenthor in Flanders hampers ttio aviation work, preventing the British artillery from achieving its maximum effort."—Aus.N.Z. Cablo Assn.