WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

ADVANCE ON LENS, ENEMY DECAMPS 'PROM RIVER , BEND. BRITISH SUPERIORITY. /, ~ Ottawa, June 21. Canadian headquarters reports that tile Canadians captured a. group of German trenches on Reservoir Hill, facilitating the Allies' approach towards Lens. „, Paris, June 21. "" the Petit Parisien states that the remorseless harrying of the British armies has effaced tlfe word "rest" from the German soldiers' vocabulary. Airmen are spreading on every side a network of incessant raids, while the artillery blocks supplies, especially of all important victuals. London, June 21, The Morning Post's headquarters cor, respondent says the German airmen are desperately attempting to recover their prestige after the loss of MesSines, when the British completely smothered them battle. The Germans do not venture to attack singly, and frequently a couple of British airmen have dispersed a squadron of 15 machines like frightened birds Visitors arriving i n confirm the newspaper correspondents respecting the waning moral of German troops It is very notable along the Western front how readily the Germans have surrendered, gome of the best disciplined troops have been kept in hand, but the overwhelming gunfire has frequently tawed the desire to become prisoners, flie fighting spirit is most distinctly lessening. J The Germans, in'*sheer ruthless malignity, fire large naval shells daily at Rheiius, Arras, and Bapaume. These places are in ruins. Nobody is living in Bapaume, and only !«K) in Arras. A French communique states: After the bombardment mentioned in the afternoon the Germans attacked our position on a front of one kilometre with large forces, and succeeded in gaining a footing in the first line trench east of VauxaiUon. Another attempt south of Filair, on a salient in our line eastward of Rozere farm, was without result. The artillery duel iwas lively between, Hurtebise and Chevreux and on the Verdun front in the sectors of Vaeherauville and Chambrettes farm.

SPECIAL ENEMY ASSAULTING TROOPS, GAM FOOTING IN FRENCH TRENCHES. . VIGOROUS COUNTER-ATTACKS. '.Received June 22, 8 p. m . ... London, June 21. A French communique states- The German attacks yesterday east of VauxaiHon were preceded by a fierce bombardment. They were carried out by special assaulting troops, who had recently come from the Russian front. Our troops resisted obstinately all the enemy's efforts to develop the few advantages To acquired. The first shock was squashed by our fire and counterattacks. The Germans finally penetrated the first line at two places, namely, south of Mont Deninges on a front of *OO metres, and north of iMoisy farm, on a front of 200 metres. An energetic counter-offensive in the morning enabled us to recapture the former position, where we discovered numerous bodies, testifying to the enemy's high losseß. Between the «th and 20th \June we destroyed fourteen enemy aeroplanes. Seven others fell in our lines. Our air! Bquadron dropped twelve tons of bombs on enemy railway stations, factories, blast furnaces, bivouacs, and ammunition dumps, causing important damage. Received June 22, 10 p.m. London, June 22. A French communique says: Fighting continued to our advantage east of Vauxaillon. Our counter-attack on the trenches Jn the sector of MoUy farm gave important results. Hitherto we had captured all the positions, with the exception of a salient of four hundred metres norfih-eastward, where enemy parties are still holding out. Artillery duels of the liveliest character are taking place in this region. There is a fairly lively bombardment between Hurtebise and Craonne in the Champagne. Our advance north-east of Mont Cornillet was particularly .brilliantly accomplished. The enemy attempted to recaptwe the positions wrested from him on the 18th inst., but the attack was repulsed by bombers, wKo pursued and captured their trench. We thus* advanced three hundred metr»n ;i on a six hundred metres front. WEST FLANDERS. EVACUATION OF CIVIL POPULATION Renter Service. Received June 23, 1.15 a.m Amsterdam, dune 22. It is reported tbat the evacuation of the civil population of West Flanders continues. Two thousand were removed from places behind the front. RAIDE'RS REPULSED. ■Received June, 22, 10 p.m. London, June 22. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Our fire repulsed raiders southward of Bapaurae. on the Cambrai road, eastward of Laventie, and also in the neighborhood of Lombartzyde, where another enemy party entered the front line, but was immediately driven out. The enemy's artillery is active astride the Scarpa. GERMAN OFFICIAL STORY. Received June 22, 8 p.m. London, June 21. A wireless German official message states: Near the coast we at night surprised and attacked the English and Drought back prisoners. We stormed French positions on a 1500 metres front : at Vauxaillon and penetrated far into i the enemy's reserves, and repulsed counter-attacks in the captured trenches.