IN THE WESTERN BATTLE AREA.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 147, 22 June 1915, Page 5

IN THE WESTERN BATTLE AREA.

FRENCH MAKE PROGRESS AT MANY POINTS. ENEMY ABANDONS BATTLE GROUND IN LORRAINE. The High Commissioner reports, under date of London. 21st .Tune, G p.m.: — In the sector north of Arras, the French progressed towards .Souchez, taking several trenches approaching the north-west of the village. An artillery duel was maintained all night. Xear Dompierre, west of Feronne, an enemy attack, predicted by the explosion of mine chamber?, was stopped dead by artillery and infantry tire. On the heights of the Meuse, on a sector of a trench at Calonne. the French maintained all yesterday's gains, despite 1. counter-attack of extreme violence al 4 in the morning. In Lorraine, near Reillon. the French pursued their advantage, all the jirst line of the enemy being taken on a front of 1.500 metres. At the end of the day a strong enemy column essayed to counter-attack, but was dispersed. The French reconnaissances have reached the proximity of C'razelles, Gondrexie and Les Remaboi?. the enemy having abandoned the battle ground. All the German communication trenches which the French occupied were full of corpses. About 20 prisoners were taken. In the region nf Bon Homme the French took by assault a spur to the. raA of Calvairr dcs Bon Homme. and progressed to the nearest slopes, reaching the borders of the village of Bon Homme. In the Valley of the Fecht they are still progressing, having passed the cemetery at Metzeral. There has been hand-to-hand fighting to the south-west, vrhere they also gained ground and took 150 prisoners, including 40 officers.