WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 June 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

FURTHER GROUND GAINED, j AT MESSINES AND ON THE SOUCIIEZ. T Received Juno 14, 1 aim. London, June 13. Fiedl Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports: We gained further ground eastward and north-eastward of Mossine» on a front of nearly two miles, and occupied the hamlet of Gapaard. We also advanced our line slightly astride the Souchez river. There was i-onsidorabli! enemy artillery activity north-eastward of (iouzeaucourt uwl southward and northward of the Scarpe in the neighborhood of Lens and Ypres, Our aeroplanes yesterday did useful work, despite the unfavorable weather. NEW ZEALANDERS AT IVIESSINES. GREECE GRAPHIC STORY OP THE ADVANCE MAGNIFICENT ELAN IN BATTLE. (Special Dispatch from the Official New Zealand War Correspondent). June 8. Captain Malcolm Ross reports: "The recent tremendous artillery bombard, ments culminated to-day in a brilliant new British offensive, which has dealt the enemy another blow that shoulK go far to assist in winning the war. The New Zealanders, who for the past month had been hard at work at their preparations, were allotted the great honor ol attacking Messines, which is on the crest of the famous ridge which has dominated our front line in this part of Belgium ever since the British were driven off it in 1914. They succeeded brilliantly, carrying out their allotted task in a manner altogether worthy of their traditions in Gallipoli and tiie Somme. Tho spectacle at the faintest dawn, when the l-rontis advanced to the attack, was one of the most thrilling ever seen in battle. Immediately our guns began their terrible barrages, great mines, in vast masses of earth and smoke and lurid flame, shot skyward with awesome effect, making the ground rock and quiver as if stricken by an earthquake. THE ENEMY SURPRISED. "The moment of attack came as a great surprise to Ihe enemy, who only that night had put Bavarian troops in his line. The eroploding of the mines and the commencement of tho terrific bombardment told the enemy that the long-expected attack had cone at last; but his frantic 'S.O.S.' went up in vain, for before his guns could open the in- ' fantry liad already captured his first lino and were proceeding, behind their creeping barrage, to Messines itself and the objectives still farther afield. Whipped with a hail of shot and shell, the ridge was soon hidden behind a pall of dust and smoke, through which the brilliant green of the enemy's signals of distress and the flashing of our bursting shells made weird pyrotechnic effects. Part of our troops led the attack on the left of Messines, and pijrt fought on the right. Some went through half the village to the left, one battalion of Rifles goin« through the front of the village. Two machine-guns in the right sector of the village were missed in the advance, and made matters unpleasant for tho Rifles; but they were soon silenced. THROUGH MESSINES. "As the sun rosp above the grey bank of smoke and dust, we saw the men of one brigade advancing through the smoking ruins of Messines to take up an objective still farther ahead. Early in the morning their brigadier himself walked all along this line, and reported 'All well—a brave performance. Later the Australian troops came through the New Zealanders, advancing to still further objectives. Numbers of German dead lie in front of and in Messines and hundreds of prisoners have already been captured. Some went down on their knees, crying 'Mercy!' and 'Kamerad' others wept, Several batches that passed our trench seemed to be greatly shaken, and were glad to be captured. Cur victorious troops went through their ranks with magnificent elan, scorning every danger. "Many British troops on the left, and ether Australians on the right, fought magnificently, carrying all their objectives. Just after I left the field the enemy was reported to be massing for a counter-attack; hut if the army can hold its present gains, the great battle will have started auspiciously. Our young airmen, who did not escape scathicss, "accomplished moat wonderful and daring feats. They held complete mastery of the air. Our casualties so far, especially considering the great strength of the position attacked, have been unvsually light. Tho 'walking cases' coming back across the open country were cheerful and jubiliant." j

THE FINEST FEAT YET PERFORMED.

BECONQUEST OF BELGIAN TOWNS. In a late*.dispatch, dated June 9, Captain Ross i\ Ktes: — June 9. The enemy has not recovered from the shock of the battle of Messines. The New Zealanders are still firmly established on the ground thev have gained, and have not been counter-attacked. Specially interesting is the fact that to our men lias fallen the honour of the recapture of the first of the Belgian towns since trench warfare commenced. In Tiailleul, just over the border, where many of the Belgian refugees have sheltered, there were affecting scenes when ■ the bulletin announcing the recapture was posted. Generally there was great rejoicing, yet among the crowd were some old men and women who read the news and went away weeping. Their homes had been devastated, but the first Belgian town had been redeemed. The valour of our officers and men in this terrible attack waß beyond all praise, and the important share they , took in capturing the famous ridge will probably rank as tho finest feat of arms they have accomplished in this war. The casualties have increased since the first ,day, but are still far below the Somme 'record, tho proportion of killed and badly wounded being surprisingly low.