Encouraging Reports.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 11 June 1918, Page 3

Encouraging Reports.

SMALL GAINS. GREAT LOSSES. (Reuter). Received this day 9.30 a.m. London, French headquarters, June 9, 9 p.m.—The latest reports from the battlefield are. encouraging. The French are fighting with great bravery and tenacity. Right and left of the battle area, the enemy, despite powerful efforts , has been unable to progress bevond the advanced positions technically called the covering zone which were swept 'by the fire of his minnenwerfer. ' In the centre the Germans succeeded in cutting an obtuse salient out of our line with its furthest point at Rossons^sur-Metz. Their gain consists of a bit of ground 1200 yards deep which tliey were able to batter with, heavv trench artillery. There is nothing discouraging about the results of the first day's fighting. The enemy's method of attack was the same as on 21st March, namely, a heavy gas bombardment for hours, followed by an attack of closely massed (formations in I great strength with tlie object of swamping our line before the defence organisation could thke effect. ( The denaeness of ih-e Mneiny s formation-was greater than m previous attacks, ana his _ losses jiVust have been extraordinarily heavy for our guns_ liad him at thier mercy and did terrible execution. There are several anxious days ahead. It is certain the enemy will make, an extremely bitter fight for it, but li? is paying tlie full price for every- kilometre.

A BRITISH RAID

Received this day, 10.15 a.m. ' London, June 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We successfully raided a German post in the sector northwastward of Bethune and repulsed an a,ttack in the evening on a post m Avelry wood.