The Western Front

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 315, 15 June 1915, Page 5

The Western Front

IMPORTANT FRENCH SUCCESSES. GERMANS LOSE A GREAT ASSET. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) Received June 14, 6.10 p.m. London, June 13. A correspondent says the Germans are exerting their principal eiForts against the French at Ilebuterne. The French offensive is causing consternation to the German command, who have created a mobile column moving constantly to points against the French pressure. The capturo of Neuville gives the French possession of a huge network of defence constituting the Germans' greatest asset in the North of France. The feat was accomplished at a cost of cruel losses. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT. GAINS AT SEVERAL POINTS. A FINE INFANTRY DASH. SOISSONS BOMBARDED. Received June 14, 9 p.m. Paris, June 14. Official: We carried by assault a strongly fortified ridge northward of the sugar refinery at Souehez, and held our ground, notwithstanding an intense bombardment. We attacked the German trenches ad rjoining the Serre-Mailly Road, south* east of Hebutern. Our infantry, by a single dash, carried three trenches and took a hundred prisoners belonging to three regiments. The prisoners stated the German losses in the past few days were very heavy, and certain units were interned. A counter-attack was annihilated as soon as the ranks were formed. Our artillery caused a strong explosion at Puiseux, the explosion being followed by a fire and panic, which our gunfire increased. We progressed southward of the Quennevieres farm, and Soissons was then bombarded with 120 shells. ACCOUNT OF SEVERE FIGHTING. GREAT DASH BY FREXOII. STUBBORN STRUGGLE PROCEEDING. AMERICAN HELP FOR FRANCE. Paris, June 13. Official: Details show that the. fighting at Ilebuterne was severe between the 7th and lOt'.i. The Germans had a sharp salient at Serre, three kilometres from Hebuterne. Both villages are situated on rising ground facing each other. The German trenches lay halfway between, fronting the Tout Vent farm. They were enclosed by a line of big trees and garrisoned by 1000 men of the 17th Ba<len Regiment. All were placed hors-de-combat; not a man essaped, while two companies of reserves were almost entirely blotted out in the first counter-attack. Two battalions of the 99th German Regiment were, hurriedly brought up from the Arras sector, without food, and suffered heavily. Our prisoners on June 11 were 80, ineluding ten officers. Our men displayed great da.sb. Tinas sail It was iixed for five o'clock in the morning. Our batteries prepared the way, and soon all the positions were covered by smoke, the Germans meanwhile keeping up a heavy fire on our trenches. Precisely at o o'clock our first line quitted the trenches and , dashed into the furnace. In ten millutes they had passed over two German trenches and reached a point where thev| were ordered to entrench. The second wave cleared out the German trenches behind our first line. On the preceding evening our artillery had cut the communication trenches, depriving the enemy of food and ammunition supplies. We found the Germans squatting and crouching in little groups, and some fired occasional shots. The resisters were dealt with and the others surrendered. After the capture of the position we cleared out the choked communication trenches under heavy German cannonading and consolidated our new position. A communique states: —There was an incessant cannonade all night north of Arras. iWe are in possession of the railway station north of Souchez. There is a stubborn struggle proceeding with hand grenades in the southern part of the labyrinth. Wc maintained all our gains. The Journal <ies Debats slates that Senator Humbert's mission to the United States on behalf of the Minister of Marine has resulted in Mr. Charles Schwab placing the whole works of the Bethlehem Steel Company and every other industry in which he is interested at the disposal of France. Mr. Schwab wrote: "Our two great republics ought to stand shoulder to shoulder." He expressed affectionate regard for France and hoped she would soon reap a rich harvest of victories. FRANCE AND SUPPLIES. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) Received June 14, ti.lo p.m. London, -Tune 13. France is taking steps to remedy the shortage of war supplies due to the mobilisation of skilled workmen. SPIES ARRESTED. Received June 14, 5 p.m. Amsterdam, June 13. A Berlin telegram states that the Germans discovered a system of espionage and conspiracy at the headquarters at Macstricht. Seventeen spies were arrested at cli'veil being sentenced to death ami six to long imprisonment, I and seven have already been executed.