THE WESTERN FRONT.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1917, Page 3

THE WESTERN FRONT.

(•Per' Press Association — Copyright)

BRITISH PROGRESS. WELLINGTON, June 28. The High Commissioner reports British official: In last night’s operations north-west of Fontaine les Croiselles all our objectives were gamed with little loss. Two hostile counterattacks of considerable strength were repelled. During the day our progress south-west of Lens continued and we extended our gains, capturing the enemy | positions astride the Souchez River, on; a front of two miles to a depth of 1000; yards. We occupied the village of Le Oulotte.

FRESH GERMAN TROOPS

AMSTERDAM, Juno 26

Fresh German troops have reached Flanders and are proceeding to the Ypres, Dixmude and Ostend districts. The civilians have evacuated Menin and the German Supreme Command has left Courtrai for Ghent. There are indications that the Germans expect an early British offensive.

BRITISH SUCCESS

A FURTHER ADVANCE

(Received, This Tlav at 8.50. a.m.) LONDON, June 27.

General Haig gained all objectives in yesterday night’s operation northwestward of Fontaweliz Croiselles. The losses were slight. We drove off two strong counter-attacks. We intended our gains southwestward of Lens and captured -positions astriun Souchez river on a two mile front to a depth of a thousand yards. Me occupied thevillage of Laeoulotte.

ABOUND LENS

THE BRUTISH RAIDS

LONDON, June 27

Mr Phillip Gijbbs states: —During the past two days a great change has developed in 'the situation round Lens and the enemy is retreating from the suburbs before our patrols to new defences around the city. The retirement has been forced upon him owing to heavy losses by our artillery. Ever since capture of Vimy ■Ridge the enemy in, a panic has been prepared to abandon Lens, hut we were not the pace and !ho .drifted back with guns and held the , maze of cottages and works surrounding the city. The Prussians holding .the suburbs fought well, _counter-attacking some times fiercely, but our high explosives caused constant ■ wastage in their ranks, n e w prisoners describing tuo life as hellish. The enemy has been unable to repel our constant raids, preceded by terrific bombardments. In the recent raid at Hullucli the British stayed two and a half hours in the German trench**, leaving many dead. It is pretty clear that the German command believes that worse is coming, hut fears that the losses ore .more frightful than they could afford at. the present tame. Their resolve t n withdraw was hastened and made definite by Sunday’s sudden storming of Hill 65, dominating the trench system on - Ride of the city- Waves of, English following the artillery work, took possession of the western slopes of the bill without opposition. The Germans remaining on the other side crept back to th e ruined streets of Lens and disappeared into shelters below'the shattered houses.”

DEVASTATION

(Received, This Dav at 8.50. a.nn) LONDON, JuricS?.

Mr. Philip Gibbs continues.— Early this morning the enemy fell back from I;acoulott e under the pressure of our

patrols. Ho has blown up Crat.csavion and all cross roads,. just as did th e countryeastward of Bapaume and i?eronne before the [March retreat- The enemy has blown down several streets on the wesward sine ><* t lio citj’) and elsewhere is systematically destroying blocks of houses, as carriel out in ali French towns wherefrom he is preparing to retreat

FURTHER PROGRESS. LONDON, June 27

' General Sir Douglas Haig reports that our artillery this morning prevented the development of a counterattack noith-westwardi of Fontaine and Croiselles. We successfully raided westward of Oppy. . /, Our fire stopped a raid south-west-ward of La Bassee.

FRENCH SUCCESS. dragoon cave captured. WELLINGTON, June -2b. High Commissioner reports, Lon--1 < or.. June 27th at 3.30 p.m., French official report.—There has been . lively artillery work in the region of the mpnument at Hurtebise. The Germans have not attempted new counterattacks against the positions we too c on Monday. . The latest information shows that the position captured includes the Dragoon Cave, over one hundred metres wide, and three hundred deep, _wbi was transformed into a veritable fortress, with numerous openings for mach{ns gun emplacements. Nine machine iruns were captured, with much other vr.ateiral.

PRESSING ON LENS

THE GERMANS RETREATING

(Received This D*v at 12.25. p.m. 1 ) . LONDON, June 2/. j The United Press Headquarters’ cor- ! respondent renorts the British continue closing in on Lens, the advancing patrols keeping touch with the retiring

Germans southward •of the city rfnan s have retreated into Mericourt-Airo n : the ruins of Lourailway embanEflWtlfc »nO). a £ MSps as: * nd ■ •

'"'"holding the British west of We village. The difficulties of‘the attackers is tremendous, but prisoners admit the Germans are sorely pressed, and that ' they fear the worst.