In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 44, 22 June 1915, Page 5

In the West

“HELL’S MOUTH!” • - . ' ' . . i,' [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright} United Press Association. Paris, June 21. Villages north of Arras have been reduced to jumbled heaps of brick and mortar, and huge chasms lined with sandbags twist through the streets. Machine-guns are hidden under cupolas of armored steel, and there are blockhousevs of sandbags and armor plate. The enemy burrowed so deep that the bombardment lost much of its' efficiency. The attacks were sustained by showers of hand grenades and short and furious infantry rushes combined with a 1 patient founding up of the enemy overlooked in the first dash, who attempt to continue to fight in an inner recess in a maze of trenches. The French nicknamed the Duval position “Hell’s Mouth.” It is a sheltered ravine on the south-east flank of Lorette, and provides a natural stronghold bristling with subterranean forts and redoubts. The French invested three and then avalanches of metal, prepared by an attack on two sides, was pressed on until the forces converged. The Germans fought with the ferocity of cornered ruts. Owing to the steadily narrowing area ot fire their machine-guns wiped out many of their own men in places. The Germans took cover behind the piles of their own dead. The French are now swarming up the rugged western slipes of Hill 1111. which is directly south-east of SoUchez, but will soon be obliged to abandon the fortress which is defending from Lievin to Lens. The slowness of progress has given the Germans time to prepare a strong second line at the Givenchy brickfield and Hill 140, east of the NeuvilleGivencJiy Head. Decent battles are proving the value of aerial torpedoes, which the French ,aro able to regulate with great accuracy. FRENCH PROGRESS CONFIRMED umiak a Pitt** AesuoiAiioit The High Commissioner reports, under date London, 2Lsl June, (ti p.m.) In the sector north of Arras the French progressed towards Souchez, taking several trenches. Approaching the north-west of the village there was an artillery duel all night. .Near Dompierre, west of Perronne, the enemy’s attack was preceded t>y the explosion of mine chambers, but it was stopped dead by our artillery arid infantry fire. On the heights of the Meuse, on the sector of the French at Calonne, the French maintained all yesterday’s gains despite counterattack of extreme violence at four in the morning. At the end of the day a strong enemy column essayed another counter-attack and was dispersed. ni'Veiich recon nai sauces reached the proximity of Cbazelles, Oonderxon and Les Rernarois, the enemy having abandoned this battle grpnnd. All the German communication trenches which the French occupied were full of corpses, and about twenty prisoners were taken. In the region of Bonbomme the French took hy assault a spur to the east of Calvaire and Dubonhomme, and progressed to the nearest slopes reaching the borders of the village of Bo.ihomme. in t.ie Valley of La Fecbt they are still progressing, having passed the cemetery at Metz-

eral. There has been hand-to-hand fighting to the south-west, where they also gained ground and took 150 prisoners, including four officers, THE FRENCH ADVANCE. ■ 1 - VERY SATISFACTORY REPORTS. (Received 12.15 p.m.) Paris, June 21. A communique states: We carried further trenches, and arc now approaching from the north-west of Souchez. In Lorraine, near Reillon, we followed up our advantage and ■captured all the enemy’s forts &nd trench along a front of 1500 yards, and the enemy’s counter-attack was dispersed. Our scouts advanced close to Cbazelles, Goudreaxon, and Les Remabois, the enemy having abandoned the territory, all the German trenches being full of corpses. In the region of Le Bon Homme, we carried by assault the spur. Calvaire Du Ron Homme, and readied the outskirts of Le Bon Homme. We advanced beyond the cemetery at Metzeral. Hand-to-hand fighting continues. In the south-west we gained ground and took 150 prisoners.