ATTEMPTED COUNTER-ATTACK CRUSHED BY ARTILLERY.

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

ATTEMPTED COUNTER-ATTACK CRUSHED BY ARTILLERY.

LONDON, June 8. Reports from General Sir Douglas Haig state: — Our operations south of Ypres were continued methodically through out the day, and were completely successful. The Messines-Wytschaete Ridge, which for 2i years lias dominated our positions in the Ypres salient, was stormed by our troops this morning. We captured the villages of Messines and Wvtschaete, and the enemy defence systems, including many strongly organised woods and defended localities, on a front of over nine miles from south of La Douve Brook, a mile south of Messines, to north of Mont Sorrel, south of the Menin Road. Later we again advanced in accordance with our plan of operations and carried the village of Oosttaverene, two miles north-east of Messines, and the enemy's rearward defence system east of the village on a front extending over five miles. An attempted counter-attack on the southern portion of our new positions was completely crushed by our artillery. The enemy's casualties to-day were heavy. Besides other losses, up to 6.30 this afternoon, over 5,000 prisoners had passed through our collecting stations, and others were still coming in. We also captured a number of guns, many trench mortars, and machine-guns, which are not yet counted. There were many air lights. Five hostile.formations, one of which consisted of over 30 machines, were attacked and dispersed with heavy casualties. Nine German aeroplanes were brought down, and at least nine others were brought down out of control. Six of ours are missing. A Belgian communique reports mutual artillery bombardments along the vhole front, principally at Dixmude and between Steenstraete and Hetsas, where the Belgian guns destructively bombarded the enemy batterieß— (A. and N.Z. Cable.) A German communique states:—The enemy has broken into our foremost "position in the Wytschaete salient. A fluctuating battle continues violently. An earlier German report stated:—Between Ypres and Armentieres an artillery battle has raged since yesterday with undiminished violence. The English attacked this morning in Flanders. Strong English attacks at Hulluch, Loos, Lieven, a suburb of Lens, and Eoeux failed. We dpstroyed eight English aeroplanes.— (Admiralty, per Wireless Press.)