BRITISH CAVALRY ENTERS THE ACTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 137, 9 June 1917, Page 5

BRITISH CAVALRY ENTERS THE ACTION.

CRITICAL POSITION OF ENEMY EAST OF RIDGE. RECORD RAINFALL CAUSED BY EXPLOSIONS. (Received 12.40 a.m.) LONDON, June 8. The Cnited Press Association's correspondent at headquarters states that six thousand prisoners have been taken. The success is so complete that British cavalry entered the action. Our advance is over three miles deep at the centre, and the Ypres salient is wiped out. All the objectives on the Messines Ridge were fully won. and the battle was carried out perfectly. Ulsterites and Nationalists fought shoulder to shoulder like demons aud ftormed the ridge together. The night was spent in consolidating tho ground ■won. The Germans eastward of the ridge are in a critical position because the River Lys and ( oraines Canal converge behind and meet at Coruines. Thus even if they succeed in crossing the waterways their losses from shellfire must be enormous. Prisoners were terror 6trickeu at the quaking of the earth, and thought the last day had arrived. They were much shaken, and their counter-attacks resembled the kicks of the dying. Record rain and hailstorms occurred in the afternoon, believed to be due to the explosions plus the artillery, which surpassed anything seen during the war. The British success was largely due to the air service, warplanes manoeuvre ing ceaselessly, scorning heavy aerial barrages. Ceneral Haig's preparations were so perfect that he was able to advise Mr. Lloyd George of the exact moment when the attack would begin.—(Cnited Service.)