ARTILLERY ACTIVITY ON WESTERN FRONT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 148, 22 June 1917, Page 5

ARTILLERY ACTIVITY ON WESTERN FRONT.

LONDON", June 21. A Maestricht (Holland) newspaper states that many Belgians are leaving Flanders and arriving at Limburg (Hollnnd). They assert that the Germans are preparing to evacuate Flanders, especially tbe coast regions. ' A French communique states:—The enemy strongly bombarded our positions from the Aillette River to Laffaux. There is great reciprocal artillery activity. At Mont Blond and Mount Cornillet, in the Champagne, our fire scattered and threw- back to their own trenches German attackers^ Sir Douglas Haig reports that the, British have completely repulsed fresh counter-attacks by the enemy northwards of the Souchez River. The we»ther <was unfavourable for flying yesterday, but aeroplanes co-operated with the artillery with good results and downed two German aeroplanes. Two of ours arc missing.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.) CANADIANS OPENING THE WAY TO LENS, 10.35 a.m.) OTTAWA, .Tune 21. Canadian headquarters in Franco reports that the Canadians captured a group of German trenches on Reservoir Hill, facilitating the Allies' approach towards Lens.— (A. and X.Z. Cable.) GERMANS ADMIT LOSS OF TRENCHES AT SOUCHEZ. (Received 8 a.m.) LOXDOX, June 21. A German communique stntes: "The artillery has been very violent between the Yser and the Lys. The English attacked on the north bank of the Souchez. They were repulsed on the wings, but penetrated our urst line in the centre. Wo recaptured the greater part of the ground lost on Monday southward of Hochberg, in the Champagne."—(Admiralty, per Wireless Press.)