WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 30 June 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

ERIE BATTLE IN A THUNDERSTORM , HEAVEN’S AND HAIG’S ARTILLERY AT WORK. AEROPLANES DEFY THE ELEMENTS. LONDON, June 29. Report from British, headquarters state: We have advanced south-west of Lens. A terrific thunderstorm broke just before dark on Thursday. We are advancing on an average of five hundred yards along a two mile front, and are advancing half-way through Avion, also well to the southeastward of Lens, and the Germans have not counterattacked. All gains have been consolidated > A correspondent who watched the battle from an elevation behind the Canadians, states a black storm cloud came up with vivid lightning and thunderclaps, and everything was indistinguishable. The infantry stormed the outskirts of Lons and the plains southward to the accompaniment of both heaven’s and Haig’s artilleries. Aeroplanes defied the elements and literally played with the storm, and again swept the Germans from the sky. THE GERMAN STORY. LONDON, June 28. A German official message says: “In retaliation for the bombardment of Dunkirk the enemy bombarded Westende. No military damage was done. Our artillery greatly damaged the English trenches on the Belgian coast.” .ANOTHER STEP NEARER LENS.. LONDON, June 28. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We made considerable further progress southward of Souchez river. Our line in this area was again advanced on a front ofAwo miles, reaching the outskirts of Avion.;; ~..'"t Seven enemy aeroplanes were downed. Four- of ours axe missing. .TT,V VBOMBARDMENT OF RHEIMS. tv LONDON, June 29. A French communique reports: An intermittent .enemy bombardment at various points which were vigorously countered, particularly left of the Meuse. , . Twelve hundred shells were thrown into Rheims, and. eight fell in the Cathedral. HEAVY PGMTING. GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED. LONDON, June 29. The High Commissioner reports: French official: In the region of Cerny, south-east of Corbeny and northwest pf,Rheims, German attacks have been repulsed. There has been heavy fighting in. places, particularly at Cerny. In the region of Bois and Dovocourt, westward of Hill 304, a powerful attack has been repulsed, as well as another attempt. BRITISH SUCCESS ON A WIDE FRONT. AVION ENTERED. LONDON, June 29. The High Commssioner cables: Marshal Haig reports that early last night we attacked and captured the enemy’s forward positions on a front of 200 yards south and south-west of Oppy. The whole of our objectives were gained, and a number of prisoners and machine-guns capfured. We continue to gaiiT ground on a wide front south of Souchez River. We have entered the town of Avion which is situated south-east of Lens. RUSSIA BACK TO GERMANY. RUSSIA’S PRISONERS. LONDON, June 28. Petrograd newspapers state that 3600 German prisoners of war have escaped through Finland each month. The Finns are not assisting in their recapture. RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE .STARTING. LONDON June 2s. German reports describe a continuous artillery and trench mortar fire in Galicia. The “Cologne Gazette” admits that ■the Russian offensive is starting despite the mutinies which weakened discipline, adding resignedly, “Let all come. Our eastern wall stands.” Best informed London opinion estimates that Brusiloff is still the largest .individual Allied array, and an offensive is expected to improve the internal situation, probably postponing the crisis until winter.

i PLEDGED TO FIGHT TO THE DEATH. PETROGRAD, June 28. Numerous battalions at the front battalions, pledging to fight to the death for the glory of Russia. Generalissimo Brusiloff, in a special order, greets the movement as a noble and patriotic step in' the face of the enemy at a critical moment, in Russia’s history. He says he is proud to add his own name. THE ELECTIONS. PETROGRAD, June 28. The Provisional Government has decreed that the constituent assembly elections shall take place on September 30th, and that it shall meet on October 13th. LABOUR’S INSATIABLE DEMANDS FACTORIES CLOSING DOWN. Received 10.45. PETROGRAD, June 29. Extravagant Labour demands continue, and render the industrial condition c-haotic. Workmen often work six hours and then take a day’s rest. Wages, doubled since the war began, have again doubled since the revolution, and unskilled men are making five hundred sterling per year, and skilled men one tfTousand. If workmen strike Avages are demanded during the whole time of the dispute; Avhen employers demur they are threatened AA'ith execution. It is almost impossible for factories to continue under present conditions, and several large factories announce they are closing doAvn. Prices for many commodities are tenfold, a simple lunch costing 12s, boots, formerly 30s, are noAV £lO. State control seems the only method-of overcoming the difficulties, but it is doubtful if this is possible at present. Mr. Arthur Henderson is visiting Moscow. G R E jJ C E . ~ VENIZELOS’ FIRST STEP. , Received 8.50. ATHENS, June 29. . Greece has broken off relations with supporters of Germany. BRITAIN’S WONDERFUL ORGANISATION. AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT. LONDON. June 28. In the House of Commons, Dr. Ad-* dison, revising the Avork of the Ministry of Munitions, said that Britain’s capacity for the production of explosla’cs in March 1917, was tAvcnty-times the capacity of March, 1915. With regard ’to Agun ammunitions they had reached a state of production that they Averc able to diA-ert some factories to assisting other branches. There were great reserves of field-gun ammunition prOA T idcd, and their arrangements were working so smoothly that despite the enormous expenditure at the front, the stock of filled shells had decreased only seven per cent, during the first nine weeks of the offensiA r e. The output of machine-guns and rifles Avas fully equal to the demand. Dealing with the supply of raihvay material for the army, he said raihvay lines were pulled up in Britain and India, and Australia and Canada had also contributed. Canada Had arranged to pull up and ship eight hundred miles. Over two thousand miles of track were already supplied. The improved tanks were coming forward freely, and he hinted at a further de\ r elopment thereanent. An inter-Alfied Hu re an Jhad been established in London in order to pool the Allies’ munitions requirements with America, and so avoid competith T e buying. Negotiations Avere proceeding to enable the United States to place its resources more readily and effectively at the Allies’ disposal. Britain’s output of steel before the Avar avhs seven million tons and it Avas uoav ten million. He hoped it would be tAvelvc million by the end of 1918. He stated that there Averc thirty thousand skilled munition volunteers, Avliilo forty thousand soldiers had been released from the colours, and thirty thousand army reservists wore employed on munitions. The reduction in the cost of shell components compared Avith last year represented a saving of fortythree millions sterling. The Ministry was taking stops to provide traders Avith information regarding the almost' infinite minerial resources of the Empire.