THE WESTERN FRONT.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1917, Page 3

THE WESTERN FRONT.

BATTLE OF MESSINES.

PAPTICULAPS OF THE GREAT

SLCCESS.

SIX THOUSAND PRISONERS,

(Australia & N.Z, Cable Association.)

LONDON, June 8.

The United Press correspondent at Headquarters states that ,6000 prisoners were taken. ,'

The success was so completo that trie British cavalry entered into aeum.. Our advance was over three miles deep at the centre of the Ypres salient. We wiped out all objectives on Messines ridge and fully won the battle, which was carried out perfectly. Ulsterites and Nationalists fought shoulder to shoulder like demons, and stormed the ridge together. The night was spont in consolidating the ground won.

Detachments of cavalry entered into the action. Germans eastward of Hide are u» critical* position, because !tho riyor Lyes and Comm'inos canal converge behind, and meet at Comines. Thus even if they succeed in crossing the waterway, their losses from shell-fire will he enormous. The prisoners were terror-stricken at the quaking of the earth . X ii*\V thought the last day had arrived. They were much shaken,, and their counter attacks resembled dying kicks.

'Record rnin and hail storms occurred in the afternoon believed, to- bo duo to the explosions, plus the artillery which surpassed anything seen during the war. The British succoss was largely duo to the Air .Service. The Warplanes manoeuvred ceaselessly scorning a hoavy, aerial barrages. Sir Douglas Haig’s preparations were so perfect tli at ho was able to advise the Hon Lloyd George of tlio exact moment the attack would beginGERMANY’S UTTER DEFEAT. EVERY POSSIBLE PRECAUTION. LONDON, Juno 8. Correspondents at the British Headquarters insist that the enemy had ' known for weeks of tho coming attaeje at Messines, and had made every possible effort to make tlieir positions impregnable, yet General Pluiner has broken the lines. Hids is General Plumer’s first great offensive. Hithento ho had the t.gly task of holding Ypres salient. Stern fighting is certainly ahead, as the Germans are sure to use the troops already masse for counter attacks. The first sucess, however, is a brilliant victory and represents an advance in the centre of 4000 to 5000 yards. Irish men assisted Abe Now Zealanders to capture tho ridge, Australians and Englishmen fighting nearby There was particularly stiff fighting in IBattlo Wood, where >tho Germans still hold a, corner, this being the only back to the British in the whole, glorious day. There was also heavy fighting round White Chateau. Before a largo part of the judge is a dip in the-giuun-, where the British artillery were unable to cut the wire but tho attackers went through everything with an irresistible dash. , A feature of the battle is the success ! of General Plumer’s aviators. Though they downed 44 German machines they only lost ten. In one case five British aeroplanes fought twenty-five Germans, wrecking eight, and all the British returned lyGENERAL HAIG’S REPORT. MOST IMPORTANT SUCCESS. LONDON, June 8. General Haig raports the position captured yesterday is one of the most important of the enemy’s strongholds. On tho West Front, dominating Ypres salient, and giving the enemy complet‘d observation.

The Germans neglected no precamion to make the positiin impregnable. These condition enabled the enemy to overlook all preparations for the attack and tho enemy moved up reinforcements to meet us. The battle, thei efore became the gauge of the Germans ability to stop ouradvar.ee, under tho most favourable conditions, they were possessing. The German defences consited of an elaborate, intricate system of well-wired trenches of strong points forming a defensive belt of over a mile in depth, with numerous farms ana woods thoroughly prepared. Iho defence included largo numbers of machine gun- The Germans , brought .increased numbers of guns of all calibres to bear on the Hanks of the attack, and numerous communication trenches and switch lines radiating in all directions were amply provided. Strongly constructed concrete dugouts and machine-gun emplacements, were designed to protect the garrison from tho effects of our bombardment. The Germans admitted no precaution provided by the incessant, labour of years, guided by their experience in the defeats at the Somme, Arras ana and disadvantages, carried out. the his assault, and subsequent attacks almost in exact accordance with tho time tab Nintcen deep mines exploded simultaneously at 3.10 in the niornmg wrecking largo portions of the fiont and support trenches, including extensive dugouts and mining attempts. Immediately after tho mmo explosions, our guns opened, nnd f&ntry attacks carried the wholo front line system within a few minutes. Our troops immediately pressed on up tho western slopes of Mossing r.na Wytsehaeto ridge, anl within three hours of storming, the entire Crestline was capturel from the south and northwards. Shortly afterwards the whole of Alessjjnes was captured, and the troops also completed the capture of Wytschaeto village. . Before mid-day, after hand to liana fighting, our troops in the second stage of the attack pushed down the eastern slopes of the ridge and advanced against a powerful line of rear 1 :

Heavy fighting occurred in a further series of fortified woods. Strong points were captured in the village of Mostavem during the afternoon, lying just westward of the centre line, i practically the wholo of this trench

system was in our hands hy nightfall, and wo had gained the whole day’s i objectives. j Groat numbers of German dead are j lying in the captured positions, which i proved the severity of the enemy's i losses, a large proportion being Baj varians. Our losses were light. I Tho enemy at night did not attempt to recover tho lost positions.

j Following General Plumer’s great' care and thoroughness in his preparations, the complete success is chiefly ascribed to the destruction caused by the mines, the violence and accuracy of the bombardment, tho finest work of the Royal Flying Corps, and the incomparable dash 'and courago of the infantry. . The whole force acted in perfect combination. The Tanks were excellent. Every means of offensive at our disposal .was used. Thus every arm of the service shares the victory. We captured a Gerfhan Post last night northwards of Ilavricourt wood. GALLANT NEW ZEALANDERS. A WONDERFUL RECORD. TAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION ' & P.EUTEK.] LONDON, June 8. Thirty Victoria Crosses are Gaaotted, moulding six Australians and ono New Zealander, Private Donald Forrester Brown, of the infantry. His Company had the heaviest casualties of officers and men from machine 'gun fire, and 'Brown wilth a comrade reached within thirty yards of tho enemy’s guns, and killed four of the gun crow, and captured the gun.

The Company were again similarly hold i(p and Brown and a comrade, with great gallantry, rushed tho gun and 'killed the crew. The Compnny contempt of danger, but coolness were then heavily shelled but Brown’s contempt of danger and coolness, kept up the men’s spirits. Subsequently as a sergeant, Brotvn made a single-handed attack upon a machine gun, killed tho crow and captured the gun.

Later, whilst sniping tho retreating enemy this gallant soldier was killed. BRITISH OFFICIAL REPORT. 6,400 PRISONERS TAKEN. WELLINGTON, June ±O. The High Commissioner reports from London on Juno Btli at midnight: A British official message states during tho day our new line south of Ypres was organised and secured.

German counter-attacks south-east and north-east of Costaverne, east oi Messines, were repulsed (with loss) by infantry or broken by artillery. Over 6,400 prisoners, including 132 officers, have passed our collecting stations to date.

As tho result of yesterday’s work, more than 20 guns are reported captured, but are yet to bet collected. Our aircraft yesterday co oporated very successfully with the infantry and artillery, In addition to a large number of successful air raids, aerodromes, balloons, trains, billets, depot's and troops also were attacked with bombs and machine guns. The enemy aircraft were prevented front taking part in the battle. Wo brought down 20 Gorman machines, while 14 of ours .are missing.

ANOTHER STRIKE

HAIG’S FURTHER ADVANCE.

WELLINGTON, Juno 10. The High Commissioner repdrns from 'London on June 9th: Sir Douglas Haig reports that yesterday evening the enemy powerfully counter-attacked on nearly tlio whole of the now front, southward of Ypres and the Comines canal, o na front of about six miles. The attack was delivered by a largo force of fresh divisions brought up from tlio enemy! reserves,' who pressed determinedly under a destructive firo from our artilerv and machine guns.

The enomy u ero completely repulsed at all points. The fighting was fierciest east of Messines and also at Kelinillebeke, northward of the canal. The enemy attack was broken down with great loss at midnight, on the whole lino. Wo retained all the ground captured since the commenconsent of the battle. Further south our .operations .carried out at night were a complete success. South of the Souchez river we capturod German positions on a front of over two miles, to a depth of halt a mile. Heavy casualties were inflicted and over, seventy made prisoners, besides a number of machine guns being captured. Our casualties were light. Enemy trenches wore successfully .entered northward of the Souchez river, from south-westward of Loos to south-west of Labassee. A largo number of Germans wero killed and groat | damage was done to tho defences. A further forty-four prisoners and several machineguns were taken-

german ADMISSIONS

LONDON, June 8,

Berlin official. —Eastward of Wytshadte and Messines, there was _ a strong destructive .eniemy fire during th afternoon and onward. Under the influence of the heavy losses which fle.n attacking divsions suffered, and which is confirmed by prisoners, the enemy did not repeat biassed attacks during Itho clay. Only Australian* troops wre sent into the firing lino for the fruitless attacks ienfitwards tof Messines. AUSTRALIANS’ FINE Woniv. a greatlTecord. LONDON, Juno 9. Correspondents at .British Headquarters states that) the Australians made a smnll local attack at Balto Wood on Friday morning, rounding off Thursday’s gains. The whole operation was so successful tfliat.it was completed by 9.30 o’clock . lin tbe morning.

The total prisoners are now at> least;7ooo, and moi;o-than 100 guns wero knocked out. . , The Australians and Ze»toder3

broke all records on Thursday in digging successive lines of trenches six feet deep.

During the morning attack tho British success was so complete that even tho heavy guns were able to move into the German lines in a few hours. Tho attack on Messines Ridge was worked out in the open air by a model covering an area of four tennis courts, which included such minute details as an isolated tree stump. PHILIP GIBBS’ REPORT. LONDON, Juno v. Mr Philip Gibbs reports: “Tho capture of Messines Ridge has given orn men a remarkable sense of their achievementi. They know (that the formidable task was carried out witn extraordinary lliglit losses. Tho proportion of lightly wounded is high. At least o/ne Irish company took its objective without n single casualty. The victory is unclouded by tho heavj sacrifices of the Battle of tho Somme. “The New Zealanders says that it aas r. great day for New Zealand.

Air Gibbs describes his visit to Wytscfcacte whore the Irish Natioria.bts and Ulsterme.i vied with the exploit of the New Zealanders 'n carrying Mess nes Rid 40. The Irishmen stnjtio 'that the bombardment wiped out Wytschaete Wood which was eight hundred yards square. Nothing stayed the Irish attack except occasional small bodies of Germans with machino guns. The villago was a fortress and capable of defence from all sides, but the Irish surrounded and captured it easily. Tho garrison was demoralised by tjbe ,long shellfirje.. TRo Dublin and Munster men took 1000 prisoners, and the Ulstermen took another 1000. The Germans on Friday continued massing at Warn ton for a counter-at-tack, but each time, our guns scattered them.

The new ridge gives us the advantage in observation, and the tables are turned on tlie enemy.

ENEMY DUMBFOUNDED

PARTS, June 9.

The British victory at Messines dumbfounded the enemy, who brought up four reserve divisions to assist the six divisions of his b£st troops facing the 'British. The movemont was immediately observed and the British artillery opend Rro. Tho German heavies replied from very long range, but the precision of the British guns neutralised tho Gorman fire.

Lacking proper artillery sunnort the Germans twice attacked half-hearted-ly .and vainly. FRENCH ACTIVITY. LONDON, Juno 9. A French communique repontr'activity at night on the wholo front north of Laffffaux Mill, south, of Filian, in the sector of Cernoy. Tho artillery Igliting was occasionally violent. The enemy repeatedly, at numerous points, attempted ' attacks, which collapsed.