WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

HOSTILE POSITIONS STORMED AJLL OBJECTIVES GAINED, Received June 15, 7 p.m. liOndon, June 14. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports: We conducted successful operations in the morning eastward of Monchy-le-Preux, and stormed hostile positions of considerable local importance on a frontage of three-quarters of a mile on high ground, including Infantry Hill, which was stubbornly contested on numerous occasions. We gaine; all our objectives. A French Eastern communique states: In Thessaly our cavalry occupied Trikala. A battalion of light infantry has moved to Volo. A wireless German official message states: We repulsed a strong English attack eastward of Monchy. TAKING OF MESSINES. MINES EXPLOSION ONLY AS INCIDENT. ' MAGNIFICENT ARTILLERY WORK. RESPONSIBLE.. Recieved 'Tune 15, 5.30 p.m. London, June 14. Military authorities do not stress the value of the great explosion in the Messines victory. It played a useful part, but the success was entirely due to the magnificent artillery, work, rendered possible by the fine aviation work. Probably not many Germans were killed by the explosion, as the front line of i trenches is usually thinly held. The New Zealanders wounded at Messines are arriving in the London hospi- > tals. Sir Thomas Mackenzie has visited them, and found them progressing excellently and in the .best of spirits. EFFECTS OF VICTORY. ENEMY FURTHER WITHDRAWING. "POSITION FULL OF MOST INTERESTING POSSIBILITIES. Received June 15, 6 p.m. Reuter Service. London, June 14. The headquarters correspondent report*:—The effects of the victory of Messines continue to develop. The enemy withdrawal is expending southwards. We now occupy the German front line trenches from Ploegsteert Wood to the bank of the river Lys, nearly midway to Armentieres. The German heavy shells generally are falling at their extreme range, indicating the withdrawal of the big guns as far as possible without placing them out of action. Our patrols are persistently harassing the enemy, We are steadily bombarding the new positions. The country over which the enemy is retiring is low and marshy, but owing to the long drought our progress is not difficult. The strategic position is full of the most interesting possibilities. FOR GERMAN EDIFICATION, London, June 14. A German official message says: Wo exploded several mines eastward of Ypres, playing havoc with the English positions, GERMANS ABANDON PART OF FRONT. London, June 14. Important sections of the Ploegsteert front have been abandoned by the Germans. [Ploegsteert is about three miles south of Messines.]