WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

SLIGHT GROUND GAINED. AIR FIGHTING ENDS IN OUR FAVOR. Received June 19, 9 p.m. London, June 19. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reports: Wo took prisoners during the enemy's failure to regain his positions on Infantry Hill. Our troopers gained ground slightly in the direction of .Warneton. There was day-long mutual artillerying in the neighborhood of Lens and northward of Armentieres. The air fighting yesterday was again in our favor. We brought down ten German aeroplanes, and five others were driven down. Two of ours are missing. A French communique says: There is marked artillery activity in the region of Laffaux, at Pantheon, and Craonnl, in the Chevreux sector. We captured a system of trenches, forming a salient, at Champagne, on a front of five hundred metres. The Germans continue tc bombard Rheims, wherein two thousand shells were thrown to-day. Civilians were killed and injured. GERMANS MUST RETREAT. THEIR POSITION UNTENABLE. Received June 20, 1.30 a.m. ' Paris, Juno 19. Experts predict that the Germans will be compelled to fall back, because the Ypres canal and the river Lys are in the enemy's rear, and the British artillery is ceaselessly shelling the bridges across which they'must bring supplies. . The British staff is aware of the German plans, and it is believed the attacks on Klein Zillebeke and Hollebeke were directed aB a pivot to the German retreat. PREPARING THE ATTACK. ACTIVITY ON THE WHOLE FRONT. GERMANS LEARN THE DATE. London, June 3. German messages' show deepening anxiety concerning the bombardment at Wytschaete and Measines. The report issued from Berlin to-night Btates that tho artillery firing at Wytsohaeto has become very intense. The Germans recently displayed signs, "Come on, Australians. We are ready for attack. We will meet you on the 7tlt." A correspondent at British headquarters reports that raids, aerial reconnaissances, and spasmodic 3helling have been the chief features of enemy activity during the past week, indicating that uncertainty is perturbing the Germans. A prisoner stated that his commander had promised the Iron Cross and 10 days' leave to all men bringing back prisoners, as it was essential to learn the British intentions. British guns are deliberately thundering from Ypres to St. Quentin, wire-cutting, trench-obliter-ating, nerve-racking, and demoralising the enemy. Meanwhile German newspapers, while preparing readers for another tremendous shock on the Ilindenburg line, are endeavoring to comfort them by exaggerating the alleged colossal British losses. , EFFECT OF AIR RAID ON GHENT. Amsterdam, June 18. The Telegraaf states that a recent air raid on Ghent entirely destroyed a munition factory, also the commandant's quarters. Many civilian laborers and soldiers were killed. 1 ''.'>