In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 28, 2 June 1915, Page 5

In the West.

!N THE NORTH OF FRANCE. I ARTILLERYMAN'S IMPRESSIONS. AN UNFORGETTABLE PICTURE. iIMKB ANii StfDNJBI SUN SeKVIOK. (Received 8 a.m.) i London, June 1. . The Times' correspondent in the north of France says that the operations of the. French north of Arras were a complete success. An artillery officer gives a vivid impression of the principal engagements at Artois. He

•ays: "Our cannonade was the most formidable of the war. In one case,

• the attack was prepared by the guns, all calibres firing on the enemy's lines for four hours. Their violence increased hour by hour, and then mines were driven under the enemy trenches and exploded. The scene was a terrible one, being hidden by impenetrable smoke, in which hundreds of shells exploded simultaneously. Thousands of bayonets Hashed, and the infantry sprang from the trendies and advanced. Marching calmly, they carried the first line and advanced to the second as though they were on parade. It 'was an unforgettable picture. The soldiers, who were duly incomparable, jmarched with a line of officers some paces in the front.',' HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING. United Psiaa Association. (Received 9.10 a.m.) Paris, June 1. A communique states: On Monday night we penetrated to Thicker, east of the Aixnoulette-Souchez road, where violent hand-to-hand fighting resulted to our advantage. A very violent combat developed around the sugar factory at Souchez, wliero we captured sixty prisoners. We repulsed two companies of Lafontenelle, north of, St. Die, with heavy losses. MISCELLANEOUS. Amsterdam, June" ]. The Allies are advancing at St. Julien. The German line is weakened and is giving ground north-east of Ypres before vigorous attacks, preceded by an effective bombardment of tlie trenches. The enemy, despite orders to bold at all costs, is gradually I losing the ground won there a month Ago. The German line was pierced at Several points, but they continue to courageously defend every cottage, dump of trees or stone wall The defensive line, instead of a series of unbroken trendies, is now irregular, consisting of a hastily improvised medley of small forts the whole way between and Dixmude. Allied airmen are very active dropping bombs on magazines, stores and reserve troops, and they raided Zeebrugge on Sunday.

A Gorman official report says strong French forces attempted to break outlines north of Arras and Hois le Pretre, but the attacks were defeated, thanks to the bravery of the Rhenish and Bavarian regiments. The enemy sustained extraordinarily high losses at Bois-le-Pretre. The French penetrated our advanced trendies, hut otherwise the attack failed. Our artillery, with a few shots, again destroyed the railway viaduct at Dammen kirch,. which the French had repaired after a month's toil. Paris, June 1.

Official: We made further progress to the norths of Arras. On the road from Souchez we occupied a mill and some German trenches stretching from the mill to a sugar factory. There are only artillery duels on the outskirts of Bois l e Pretre.