BRILLIANT VICTORY

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 137, 9 June 1917, Page 6

BRILLIANT VICTORY

I ON MESSINES RIDGE. SEW ZEALANDERS IN THE CENTRE. « STERN FIGHTING AHEAD. (Received 2.10 p.m.) fa.i LOXDOX, June SCorrespondents at British Headquarters insist that the enemy has known for weeks of the coming attack on ilescines, and made every possible effort to make the positions impregnable, yet General Plumer has broken the lines. This is General Plumer's first great otSensive. Hitherto he hail the ugly task of holding the Ypres sa-lient. Stern fighting is certainly ahead, as the Germans -are -urc to us? the troops already for counter-attacks. The first success, however, is a brilliant victory, and represent; an advance in the centre of four thousand to five thousand yards. Irisli-.-nen assisted the New Zealanders ta capture the ridge, while Australians and Englishmen wore righting near by. Particularly stiff fighting occurred in Battle Wood, where the Hermans still hold a corner, this being the only set-back to tie British of the whole glorious day. There was also heavy lighting round ■\Yhite Chateau. Before a large part of the ridge is a dip in the ground, where the British artillery was unable to cut the wire, but attackers went through everything with irresistible dash. A feature of the battle is. the success of General Plumer's aviators. Thouo-h they downed 44 German machines they only lost ten. In one case rive British aeroplanes fought 25 Germans, wrecking eight. while all the British returned safely.