A STEADY ADVANCE.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15939, 28 June 1917, Page 7

A STEADY ADVANCE.

BRITISH FORCES I® SUBURBS OF LENS. FRENCH SUCCESS IfJ THE ftISNE. LINER MONGOLIA SCJNK IN INDIAN OCEAN. (3rd YEAR—332nd DAY.)

THE WESTERN THEATRE. THE BRITISH OFFENSIVE. SUCCESSFUL MINOR OPERATIONS. Tlio High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, June 26 (2.30 p.m.). Sir Douglas Haig reports Northwestward of Croiscllcs wo carried out a successful local operation at night, securing a number of prisoners. At La Bassee a hostile raiding party was repulsed during the night. WAR IN THE AIR. A BRITISH SUCCESS. Tho High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, Juno 26 (11.5 a.m.). Tho Admiralty reports that in tho fcourso of patrol work yesterday three naval aeroplanes engaged enemy machines in tho vicinity of Roulcrs. After a 16 minutes' fight one enemy machine was brought down in flames. It is thought that two others wcro also brought down out of control. O.wing to clouds, however, this has not been verified. Our machines are safe. GERMANY'S FAILING MAN POWER. ANALYSIS OF ARMY'S STRENGTH. (By Cable—Preea Association —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association., LONDON, June 26.

The "Daily Chronicle's" Paris correspondent states that two-thirds of the German effectives are fighting in the West and one-third in tho East. The net transfer of troops from tho Russian front to France since the Russian revolution amounted to only three divisions. The line had been previously so thinned that it was impossible for tho Germans to make a larger withdrawal. Since April there has been a total increase of eight divisions on tho German Western front, where there are now 155 divisions, of which 112 have been engaged on sectors in the AngloFrench offensives, 23 being engaged twice over. It is estimated that every timo a division is withdrawn from an active sector it has lost an average of 2000 men. Five-sixths of the German army have, therefore, sustained serious losses, using 25 divisions to repair the losses. Onlv 12 fresh divisions now remain behind the front, the others having already been used up as reliefs. PROGRESS TOWARDS LENS. • RECENT GAINS EXTENDED. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, Juno 26 (10 p.m.). A British official message states: — "In last night's operation northwest of Fontaine lez Croisilles all our objectives wero gained with little loss, j Two hostile counter-attacks of considerable strength wore repelled. "During the day our progress southwest of Lens continued. We extended our gains, capturing the enemy's position astride the Souclicz river on a front of two miles to a depth of 1000 yards. "We occupied tho village of La Coulotte." AT LENS. GERMANS GIVING WAY. UNABLE TO REPEL BRITISH RAIDS. (Australian and N.Z. Ca,ble Association.) (Received Juno 27th, 8.35 p.m.) LONDON, June 27. Mr Philip Gibbs states: — "During the past two doys a great change has developed in tho situation round Lens, tho enemy retreating from the suburbs before our patrols to new defences round tho city. The retirement has been forced on him owing to tho heavy losses inflicted by our artillery. "Ever sincc the capture of Yimy Ridgo the enemy has been in a panic, and was prepared to abandon Lens, but we were not forcing tho pace, and he drifted back with his guns and beld the maze of cottages and works surrounding the city. 'The Prussians holding tho suburbs have fought well, counter-attacking sometimes very fiercely, but our high explosives have caused a constant wastage in their ranks, and new prisoners ■ describe the life there as hellish. I "The enemy is unable to repel our ! constant raids, which are preceded by j

terrific bombardments. In a recent raid at Hulluch tho British stayed two Hours and a half in tho German trenches, leaving many dead.

"It is pretty clcar that the Gorman Command believed the. worst was coming, and feared that his losses would be moro frightful than he could afford at tho present time. Their resolve to withdraw was hastened, and riiado definite by Sunday's sudden storming of Hill 65, which dominates the" trench system on tho western side of tho city. Waves of English following the artillery's work took possession of the western slopes of tho Hill without any opposition, and the Germans remaining on tho other side crept back to tho ruined streetg of Lens and disappeared in their shelters below the shattered houses. "Early this morning the enemy fell back from La Coulotto, under the pressure of our patrols. He has blown up tho streets at Avion, and nil tho crossroads, just as he did in the country eastward of Bapaumo and Peronne before tho march of his retreat. The enemy has blown down several streets of houses 'on the westward side of the city, and elsewhere he is systematically destroying blocks of houses, as ho did at all tho French towns from which he was preparing to retreat." THE ENEMY ANXIOUS. EARLY BRITISH OFFENSIVE PREDICTED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received June 27th, 8.15 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, June 26. Fresh German troops have reached Flanders, and are proceeding to the Ypres, Dixmude, and Ostend districts. Tho citizens have evacuated Menin, and the German Supreme Command has left Courtrai for Ghent. There are indications that the Germans expect an early British offensive. THE FRENCH LINES. PROGRESS IN THE AISNE. SUCCESSFUL SURPRISE ATTACK. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, June 26 (3.10 p.m.). A French official report states Yesterday evening, after a short artjllery preparation, wo attacked northeastward of Hurtebise. "We solidly organised the spur, all our objectives being attained and the German first line .trenches falling into our possession in a few moments. "The enemy made a counter-attack on two extremities. A violent bombardment was broken by our fire. The enemy attacked rapidly, but sustained heavy .losses, including 300 men made prisoners. (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) (Ranter's Telotrrams.) * LONDON, June 26. A French communique saysWe attacked a strongly fortified crest northwest of Hurtebise, reached all our objectives and smashed counter-attacks. We surprised the enemy, who lost seriously. THE GERMAN VERSION. FIGHTING IN GALICIA. A wireless German official message says:—Numerous artillery duels have taken place. The French penetrated our lines north-west of Hurtebise Farm. Our counter-attacks recaptured tho majority of the positions. Fighting activitv continues southwest of Lutsk and between the Strypa and the Dniester.