LOCAL SUCCESS IN FLANDERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 173, 22 July 1918, Page 5

LOCAL SUCCESS IN FLANDERS.

METEREN CAPTURED AND 436 PRISONERS TAKEN LOXDOX, July 21. Sir Douglas Haig's morning report states:—Scottish troops captured Mctcrcn Village, in Flanders, two miles west of Bailleul, gaining all their objectives, taking over 300 prisoners, and capturing a number of machine-guns. Under cover of this operation the Australians advanced their line a short distance south of Mcteren. "We took a few prisoners in raids and patrol encounters in the Nieppe Forest sector. The evening report states:—As a result of to-day's operations our line in the Mcteren sector has been advanced on a front of about 4000 yds, and the village of Meteren, with a group of buildings to the south-west, is now held by the British. On the extreme left the enemy offered considerable resistance. At other points our objectives were gained rapidly and without difficulty. We took 436 prisoners. The British made a successful raid near Beaumont Hamel, south of the Somme. Further north, after sharp fighting, we pushed the line forward on a front of about a mile south of Hebuterne. There is hostile artillery activity in the neighbourhood of St. Tenant and Ypres. Sir Douglas Haig also reports:—Minor operations in the Hebuterne sector, north o£ Albert, were continued with success. Our pressure compelled thy eneruy to withdraw from Rosoignol Wood, between Hebuterne and Bucquoy. This important local feature is now in our possession. We followed up the enemy, who suffered heavily.— (A. and N.Z. and K«uter.) The headquarters correspondent of the United Press states:—Sir Douglas Haig's artillery is constantly harassing the Germans. This strengthens thu indication that the Allies are slowly but surely increasing their effective strength, and in places have gained the initiative. The British guns throughout the Armentieres salient and elsewhere are perpetually pounding the enemy alonfr Che roads, support trenches, and reserve positions, and aleo in the more distant rest billets. Wherever Prince Rupprecht replaces tired by comparatively fresh divisions the British high explosive shells harass the moving troops.—(A. and X./C. Cable.)