ADVANCE REACHES DEPTH OF THREE MILES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 139, 12 June 1917, Page 5

ADVANCE REACHES DEPTH OF THREE MILES.

TERRIBLE NEW WEAPON DEVISED BY BRITISH-

LONDON, June 11. * A report from Mr. P. Robinson, correspondent of the London "Times," states that every known weapon except gas was used in the British attack, including a new horror known as "milk-cans," or boiling oil. It is not permissible to describe this weapon, but it throws to a distance projectiles which contain highly-inflammable stuff, and burst on concussion, scattering conflagration over a wide area. Prisoners say this caused terror, and did immense damage. ,Mr. Robinson says the New Zealanders had perhaps the most formidable part of the line. The village of Messines was the chief, objective. The German guns were quicker in getting to work here than elsewhere, and the New Zcalanders were heavily shelled. The German infantry were strongly fortified and stiff fighting resulted. The New Zealanders took the village and everything asked of them within the time appointed, and then entrenched. The Australians, according to plan, went through the New Zealanders and carried the victorious advance to the present line, a total of 5,000 yards. The German wireless messages concerning the battle are hilariously untrue and a web of falsehoods. The total British casualties when the first wireless was issued did not exceed 10,000. Having regard to the number of prisoners it is impossible to believe that the German losses were under 30,000. Describing the value of the air service in the Messines fight, Mr. Robinson states that one Bquadron supplied reports enabling the gunners to silence 72 enemy batteries. One brigade sent in 390 calls, in response to which the British guns are knowji to have obtained 160 direct hits. In addition to dropping explosives on enemy aerodromes, the airmen flew down and attacked sixty German concentrations, immensely impeding the military machine.