THE WESTERN FRONT.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 June 1917, Page 3

THE WESTERN FRONT.

AN ENEMY ATTACK

LONDON, June 17

A French communique states: Following on last night’s bombardment iii Uie Hurtebise sector the enemy attacked and succeeded in entering a salgi t of our positions, but was driven jack after a. brisk fight, being only Lute to maintain himself insome "small oUments of our advanced liri*. Artil-. 1 ry activity continued all day long liy: e north of Carney and north of Braye eii Laonnais. The enemy has violently bombarded Rlioims during the past few days. Twelve hundied shells fell to-day and there were many civilian casualties.

; A neat JOB. LONDON, June 18. Mr. Percival Phillips states that one of the neatest achievements was the capture of Infantry Hill near Monchy. The {British surprised two companies of Bavarians at breakfast in their trenches The British quietly slipped across' with out firing a shot and brought hack 17 men within two minutes. It was the quickest and most effective little job during the recent operations. The Bavarians were compelled to leave their steaming coffee. THE KAISER’S SPEECH.

AMSTERDAM, June 18. The Kaiser reviewing the Guards and Landwehrs said the enemy’s long prepared spring offensive was a failure. The losses the British were now publishing was a tribute to German troops bravery. Whatever might happen he counted on the soldiers’ valour.

HAIG’S REPORT. LONDON, June 18. Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig reports . We took prisoners during the enemy’s failure to regain our positions on In fantry Hill. Our troops gamed ground slightly in the direction of Warnetwon. There was mutual artillery activity all day Tong in the neighbourhood of Lens and northward of Armentieres . The air fighting yesterday was in our favour and we brought down ten German aeroplanes, while 'five others were driven down- Two of ours are missing.

german necessity. RESULT OF BRITISH PUSH. i (Received this day at 1.20 a.m.,) PARIS, June 19. Military experts predict that the Germans will bo compelled to fall hack, because Ypres canal ” I,ys are at the enemy’s rear, and the ■British artillery is ceaselessly shelling the bridges, across which they must bring supplies. The British staff aro awaro of the German plans. It is believed they will attack Klein, Yillcareke and Hollebeke, tiro directed pivot of the German retreat.

A GERMAN REPORT. (Reuter’s Telegrams.) LONDON, June 18. German official: There was lively artillery activity at the Yser Canal and on both sides of Y'pres and on the Lys River also Between La Basee and the Sensee Brook. British reconnoitring advances southward of Warnetown eastward of Vermelles, and in the neighbourhood of Loos failed. Three British atacks eastward of Croiselles failed. A successful German enterprise resulted in increased French artillery fire in the nieghbourhood of Corny ; also on laige sectors of the Aisne front and in western Champagne.

A FRENCH REPORT. ."LONDON, June 18. A French communique states: There wa 3 marked artillery activity in the region of L’Affaux at Pantheon and in the' CraonneChevreux sector. We recaptured a system of trenches forming a salient in the Champagne in a front of 500 metres. The Germans contnue to bombard Rheims into which town 2000 shells were thrown to-day civilians being killed or injured.

POISONED CANDY ,NEW YORK, Juno 19. Rev. Byssche has returned from France. He said I have proof that the Germans manufactured and distributed poisoned candy to soldiers in France and Belgium. He had seen the candy and its effect on children and troops .

A BRITISH RETORT. (Received This Day at 9.50. a.m.! LONDON, Juno 19. General Haig reports:—We raided last night southeastward of Levorgineor noar Bapaume road.