BATTLE OF THE RIDGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 June 1917, Page 5

BATTLE OF THE RIDGE.

•LABYRINTH OF DEFENCES. NEW TREXICHE9 IN RECORD TIME. 'London, June 8. Mr. Percival Phillips, telegraphing late on Thursday night, says:—The attacking front was more than 10 miles. British troops, including come of the finest fighting men from the Dominions, swept over the slopes of this heavily fortified barrier between Ypres and Armentieres, and firmly established themselves beyond the crest. Thousands of prisoners were taken, but the number of Germans killed by our guns was far greater. Apart from the Irish, Australian, and Now Zealand infantry, the battle was a triumph for a lleet of tanks, the aviators, and sappers. The engagement is a most Important success, although not a great battle, in the sense that the Somme and Arras mere great battles. A thorn has been plucked from the left flank of our long front, and a nest of German batteries can no longer dominate Ypres and watch every movement in the British trenches. The Germans have been driven below, as the Canadians drove the Germans from Vimy Ridgo to the plain of Douai. It is a clean-cut success, which will be of immeasurable benefit in the future. The new positions were not taken without very hard fighting, but the resistance was much less than was expected. Thero were comparatively few strong points in the crowded area. Jfachinegun forts tried to hold out after the rest of the line had surrendered. The ridge was only 200 ft high, but the Germans had seamed the western elope with a labyrinth of tunnels and concreted redoubts, weaving into a mesh of defences the remains of Wytschaete. The German batteries and infantry reinforcements were largely increased in the last few weekß. Our men might havo had to fight every foot of the way, but they easily went up the slppe3. The stiffest resistance they met was not equal to the dogged stand made by some German units near Arras. Tin* Wytschaete garrison only clung to their timbered lairs until the British flank crept round and enveloped the cellars which represent the village. The Australians, New Zealnnders, ar.d Irishmen not only reached their goals on every part o£ the front; but they also dug the deepest trenches in record time Eye-witnesses tell us that the most of them are now asleep in the bottom of these trenches, dog-tired. As yet, enemy counter-attacks have not worried them. DIPHTHERIA. Prevention is safer than Cure. Take i Svkes' Formalin Tablets—l/ 6 all : stpres. Ciire sore throat, smoker's throafc qiuii; sey. _ , DON'T FORGET. ~, Coughs and Colds will be .prevalent the next few months. Their life will be short when you use SYKES' CURA COUGHaII stores, Is bottle. ' The idea of a civilian required to be ' called upon in the name of the King before it was incumbent upon him to '. render assistance to the policewasßhown to be a fallacy in the Police Court at Auckland on Thursday. Prior Jto 1813 the use of the precise'formula wat ro- '. quired by law, but legislation paßsed in ' that year did away with this requirement. It is not now necessary for a , constable to make a formal appeal, a i simple call for assistance being sufficient ' This point was brought out through a man charged with failing to assist a 1 constable averring that he had not ' heard him call for assistance, and adding that his attention might have been ! secured had the phrase "In the King s ' name" been used. At Auckland on Wed--1 nesday three men were each fined £; ' 10s and costs for failing to assist a ' constable in the execution of his duty 1 when called upon to do so. ! DON'T FORGET. i Coughs and Colds will be prevalent th< next few months. Their life will be shorl when you use SYKES' CURA COUGHaII stores, la bottle, ' Chemists like you to ask for "Unique" 5 Hot Water Bottles, made by the North ' British Rubber Company, because thej - know "Unique" bottles last for years ■ never leak and give the greatest satis LJUfMtiou. Trade Imntmlly. B.W.theM