WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 June 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

NERVOUS AND APPREHENSIVE THE ENEMY KEPT ON THE JUMP. TIGHTENING THE LINE AROUND (LENS. Received June 26, 10.20 p.m. London, June 2(1. Mr. Phillips says the enemy is exceedingly nervous and apprehensive. False mght alarms are continually signalled, jumpy sentries calling gunners from their dug-outs and setting batteries blazing. The futile discharges of shells and the many bold British raiding expeditions are increasing the 'tension. Every raid is completely successful, despite the enemy's watchfulness and tho strengthening of the front line of the German detachments. German nervousness is shown by tho destruction of property in and around Comiues, four miles east of Warneton. Great fires are (burning in Coinines. The British line is being drawn tighter around Lens. The steady bombardment forced the enemy to fall back to the Reaumont wood, enabling the British to occupy another strip of the ruined dwellings and slag heaps, which are being utilised by machine-guns. Lens is still well defended. The colliery district behind contains many carefully concealed batteries. The enemy is no longer attempting to recapture the suburbs lost at Lens. Though tho present period is one of apparent tranquility, there is enough d*ing to convince the enemy that the British army is not resting. SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS. A RAM) REPULSED. Received June 26, 9.15 p.m. London, June 26. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We followed up yesternight's success southwest of Lens, and substantially progressed astride the Sonchez river on a front of 1J miles. We Tepulsed a raid southeast of Ypres. Heavy, air fighting occurred yesterday. Eleven of the enemy machines were downed and five of ours are missing. A French communique says: Sustained reciprocal artillerying occurred north of Laffaux Mill, and in the sectors Craonne ! and Clievreux. Twelve hundred shells were thrown upon Rheims. SUCCESSFUL BRITISH OPERATIONS. London, June 25. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—We raided at a number of points and successfully entered trenches at Epehy, Bullecourt. Roeux, Loos and Hooge, killing i many. We remained two hours in trenches eastward of Vennelles, blowing up j dug-outs and inflicting casualties. We (carried out successful minor operations I south-westward of Len3 and north-cast- ! ward of Warneton, gaining ground and j taking prisoners. FIGHTING AMONGST OSTEND DUNES. London, Juno 23. The Morning Post's correspondent at the British front states that British troops .who are now fighting amongst the dunes below Oatend 'have been in lively contact with the enemy recently, particularly during the German raids against tho British, who are holding Lombartzyde. The country is sadly changed. Villas and summer hotels on the seafront, cafes and market gardens, have been wiped out by the merciless shelling. The population lives in concreted cellars. The British front is seamed with a network of canals and small waterways. AMERICAN DOCTORS AT WORK. London, June 25. Reuter's correspondent at head quarters reports that 2000 United States army medical men have taken over six of the big British base hospitals. BRITISH ADVANCE ON LENS. London, June 25. Tho United Press correspondent at headquarters says the British made another move towards Lens at night, talcing 400 yards of the front line castward of Riaumont Wood and established two advanced posts north-west of Warneton "Fires in the towns of kens and Comines were plainly visible. FRENCH ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. London, June 25. A French communique states that, there was the liveliest reciprocal artillery work in the sector of Boyero and Froidemont farms and in the direction of Hurtebise. east of Chevreux. A GERMAN REPORT. London, June 25. A German official message says:— There has.been'an increase of artillery activity between the YEev and tho Lys. Fighting activity is livelier at the La Bassee Canal and on the south bank of the Scarpc. We drove bade English attacks northward of the Souchoz river and eastward of the Lens-Arras road. We repulsed strong English attacks at Hullueh. Two French attnc":s at Vauxallot failed with high losses.