WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 15 June 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

THE BRITISH CAPTURES TOTAL

734-2 MEN.

447 GUNS, 242 MACHINE-GUNS

AND 60 MORTARS,

LONDON, June 13,

Sir Douglas Haig reports: Since June 6th our total captures are 7342 men, forty-seven guns, 2442 machineguns and sixty trench mortars.

We drove off raiders north-west of

Lens. We downed six enemy aeroplanes

MOST SATISFACTORY,

LONDON, June 14,

The “Times” correspondent at Headquarters says: Despite a lull, we continue to annex bits of ground and stretches of trenches. We now hold a line over 2000 yards in advance of the line attacked cast of Messincs. The whole situation at Messincs is most satisfactory.

PREPARING NEW LINE OF DEFENCE.

AMSTERDAM, June 14.

The Germans are using forced and German labour to construct a new line behind the Dender river, cast of Flanders to the Scheldt. Other operatic:® eloquent of military activity indicates that the Germans will do their utmost to retain Flanders. IMPORTANT SECTIONS ABANDONED BY GERMANS. Received 5.55 a.m. LONDON, Juno 14. Important .sections on the i Ploegstreert front have been abandoned by the Germans. Ploogstreert is situated in Belgium,, about midway between Wafnpton and Armcntieres. The possession of .this part of the front has become untenable by the recent captures of Messines and adjacent territory. PRESSURE COMPELLED GERMANS TO FALL BACK.

Received 8.55 a.m

ONDON, June 14

The High Commissioner cables:— General Haig reports a further advance eastward of Messines. The combined pressure southward of the front of attack compelled the enemy to abandon an important section of their first, line of defences between tl\fc River Leys and Styves. Wo followed the enemy closely, and considerably progressed eastward of Plocgstreet Wood: also gained ground in the neighbourhood of Gapaard.