THE WESTERN THEATRF.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15918, 4 June 1917, Page 7

THE WESTERN THEATRF.

THE BRITISH OFFENSIVE. SUCCESSFUL PATROL ENCOUNTERS. The High Commissioner reports: — LONDON-, June 1 (2.2i3 p.m.). Sir Douglas Hnig reports that west--ward of Cherisy we gained ground ] slightly; elsewhere natrol. encounters resulted in our favour. During the night iu the neighbour- ! hood of Goueeaucourt, north-cast of Loos, and near Ploegsteert "Wood, we ■were successful. FURTHER SUCCESSES. ENEMY'S THIRD LINE RAIDED. (By Cable—Press Association —Copyright.) (Australian and X.Z, Cablo Association.) LONDON. June. 1. A correspondent n£ Headquarters reports that tho British reached the third lino of Gorman trendies last ninlit. In a raid near Loos tho British stormed and occupied two enemy posts westward of Cherisy. There was stiff fighting in _ the Scarpe Valley between the raiding party and a German patrol, ART ILLERY~ACTI VIT Y. NEAR BULLEOOURT AND VIMY. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, June 2 (12.50 p.m.). Sir Douglas Haig reports:— "In the neighbourhood of Bullecourt and also at Vimy Village, the enemy artillery was active during the night. 'There is nothing else of interest to report." BRITISH CASUALTIES. MAY LISTS ISSUED. (Australian and X.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, June 1. The following are mo British casualties for May:— ARMY. 5991 officers, 107,075 men. NAVY. 177 officers. 2317 men.

THE BELGIAN SECTOR. VIOLENT ARTILLERY DUEL. (Router'e Telegrams.) LONDONj June 1. A Belgian communique sta-tes: — Particularly lively bomb fighting took place near Stecnstraetc and Ferryman's House, and a severe artillery duel near Dixmude. THE GERMAN VERSION. (Australian and X.Z. Cable Association.) (Reuter'« Telegrams.) (Received June 3rd, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Juno 2. A wireless German official messago states: — "There has been violent artillery activity in the coastal area, and in tho region of Ypres bend and Wytschacte scctor. "We repulsed English raids at Hulluch, Cherisy, and Fontaine.'' ALLIED AVIATORS' EXPLOITS. (Australian and X.Z. Cablo Association.) (Router's Telegrams.) (Received June 3rd, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 2. The Admiralty reports an aeroplnno attack on enemy aerodromes at St. Denis and Westruppe yesterday morning. Naval aeroplanes and seaplanes attacked German bases last night at Zccbruggo, Ostend, and Bruges. They dropped several tons of explosives. ENEMY VERSION. VARIOUS SUCCESSES CLAIMED. (Received June 3rd, 5-5 p.m.) LONDON, Juno 2. A wireless German oiiieial message states:— '"There has been increased artillery ing in the region of the Wytschaete Bend, near Lens, and on the north bank of the Scarpe. ' We took many prisoners, including a Portuguese soldier. "Wo took many prisoners, including a front of 1000 metres, near Allemont, north-cast of Soissons, and repulsed repeated counter-attacks. "We captured on the Western front during May 237 officers, 13,000 men, three guns, 211 machine-guns, 434 quick-loaders, and 18 mine-throwers." WAR IN THE AIR. COMBATANTS' LOSSES. (Australian and N.Z.' Cable Association.) (Received Juno 3rd, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 2. According to communiques the Germans on tho West front lost 442 aeroplanes during May; tho British and French 271. Tho British brought down 243 enemy machines.

THE FRENCH ADVANCE. I ACTIVITY IN CHAMPAGNE. 1 FRENCH LINES RESTORED. (Router's Telcgrnme.)' T ,OXDON, Juno 1. A French communique states There has been fairly lively artillery activity in the regions of Vauxaillon and Laffaux, and north-west • oi Rheims. In the region of Hill 10S, which is south of Berry-au-Bac, the enemy exploded several mines and occupied elements of the trenches which had been wrecked by the explosion. _ Bv a vigorous counter-attack in Champagne we ejected the enemy at points where they obtained a footing last night north-east of Mont Haut. Our line lias boon eompletely restored.

BOMBARDMENT OF RHEIMS. THOUSANDS OF SHELLS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.} • PARTS, Juno 1. A thousand shells fell in Rhoims on May 27tli, and about 2000 on May 23th. MANY PRISONERS CAPTURED. " ALLIED AVIATORS ACTIVE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Renter's : (Received June 3rd, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 2. Sir Douglas 13aig reports:— ''During May we captured 3112 prisoners. and also captured field guns, SO machinc-guns, and 21 trench mortars. ' "Wo successfully raided a number of occupied dug-outs southward of Y*pres. "There is considerable artillery activity south-eastward of Epeby, on both banks of the Scnrpc, and on tho Ypres sector. "Long distance bombing raids wero carried out by aeroplanes on Wednesday with good results, the enemy's ammunition depots aii<l railway stations being damaged." FRENCH AERIAL EXPLOITS. hi:av y en'emyßombardment. j (Recoivod June 3rd, -">.5 p.m.) j LONDON, Juno 2. A French communique states: — "The enemy last night violently bombarded our first lines north of LafTaux •Mill, and in the regions of the California Plate 1 :i and Chevreux "Woods. "Between May 17th and Maj- 31st we destroyed 32 enemy aeroplanes. Fiftyseven ethers wero seriously damaged, and fell probably behind the enemy's own lines." TEMPORARY" ENEMY" SUCCESS. LONDON, June 2. A Frencli official communique states: — "North of Lsffaux Mill, after a lively bombardment, the enemy obtained a footing at some points in our advanced tronchos. "Our counter-attack largely ejected the attackers. "The artillery duel continues in the Champagne. Wo repulsed several attacks against Hill 30-4." ENEMY CLAIMS. LONDON, Juno 2. A wireless German official message states: — "We successfully engaged the enemy north-east of Soissons. ' IN CHAMPAGNE. LIVELY ARTILLERY DUELS. (Renter's Telegrams.) (Received June 3rd, 11.35 p.m.) LONDON; Juno 2. A French communique reports lively artillerying in tho region of Laffaux, Hurtebise, and Craonno,

Sinco April 16th the French an' British have captured over 52,000 Gcr mans, including 1000 officers, and a' enormous quantity of material, includ ing 4-16 heavy guns and field guns 1000 machine-guns, and numcrou trench suns.

GERMANY FAILING. HUGE LOSSES REVIEWED. OVER A DIVISION DAILY. ALLIES TAKE 75,000 PRISONERS. (Australian and. X,Z. Gabl© Association.) (Received Juno 3rd, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 2. French correspondents at Head quarters state that between April 15tll and May 24tli tho French captured 31,820 prisoners, of which number 28,040 wero unwounded, making, with the British and Italian captures during the last 8 weeks, a total of over 75,000 which is equivalent, in bayonet strength, to nine divisions, as tho enemy divisions are now constituted. Estimating tho killed and seriously wounded at twice tho number of prisoners, the Germans on tho Alsno and Champagne fronts liavo lost during tho period mentioned an average of a regiment daily, but in reality their losses have been far heavier, since, according to their own computation, tho killed have been much moro numerous than those taken prisoner, and tho proportion of wounded to killed cannot bo put at less than 4 to 1. VALUABLE AEROPLANE WORK (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) (Reuter'a Telegrame.) (Received June 3rd, 11.35 p.m.) LONDON, Juno 2. Sir Douglas Haig ronorts: — "There has been reciprocal artillorying at different points, and much valuable aeroplane work. I "Seven enemy machines were brought down."