LAST NIGHT'S NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8465, 2 June 1916, Page 5

LAST NIGHT'S NEWS.

THE WESTERN

THEATRE

TEiE BRSTISH FRONT.

AN INTERESTING REVIEW

LONDON, June 1

Tho following record oi the happen-- ■. ings on the entire British front during the past fortnight, in which the '• oversea troops have taken a full and active share, has been issued. The most active' centres of fighting were Souchcz village and the Vimy Ridge. The fury oi the artillery attack on Vimy Ridge had not been equalled since the Allies' offensive m September. During the bombardment • on Way 21, the smoke and dust could be seen for miles, and all the subsequent lighting occurred in the cloud- . The enemy concentrated the fire of 100 , batteries on the small front, • wip;-i : ' out the trench. The. German infantry had little to face except onr barrage or fire. During the 22nd and 23rd our patrols at Vimy were engaged in gallanb bayonet lighting, and accounted for a 'considerable number of tne enemy. Severe fighting south-oast of Souclioz village lasted from the loth to the 25th. Tho position is now comparatively static. T-fie enemy's artillery fire m Flanders, reached its greatest intensity- on.' tho; sector between Hooge and the Ypros-i Routers railway. Wo replied, punishing the enemy's artillery. Our nre burst five gas cylinders in the German trenches on the 23rd, the onomy's . troops suffering from their own poison. • . Though the -general situation Irom Arras to tho Somme was unchanged, thorn was considerable local activity. The result of the trench raids has encouraged our men in the belief that they arc. more than a match for the enemy. Typical German raiding pair ties attacked our "trenches at three pc;nts. but onr men invariably flung ti>em back. 'Patrol work also led to . encounters, in which tho onomy suflornd considerably. These incidents wore valuable in keeping up the spirit ni-nd-"cnturo and initiative among onr men. Our artillery on the southern p.nrt oi tlio line organised heavy bomhsirdmimts whicn 'practically domoUshod tii'- • enemy's barrier on the Albort-Poronn.' road.