PRELUDE TO BIG BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3104, 7 June 1917, Page 7

PRELUDE TO BIG BATTLE

TERRIFIC BOMBARDMENT ON THE BRITM FRONT GUNS HEARD IN ENGLAND AIR BATTLE AT THE THAMES MOUTH GREAT NAYAL ATTACK ON ' ZEBRUGGE AND OSTEND Indications' of the nest great stroke by the British on the Westorn front are given in a dispatch which describes an .intense bombardment on the northern section of the line. Coupled with this reliable portent is a formidable naval attack on Zeebrugge and Ostend-the most formidable of /its kind since the war began-which created great havoc, and the air raids in Belgium. The roar of the British guns ha? been heard in London, and faintly heard even as far as Harrow. A thrilling air battle oyer the Thames Estuary has been watched by eager crowds. The , German 'planes were hotly engaged by "the British airmen and anti-aircraft •.guns, and one was observed to fall into the sea. Commodore Tyrwhifi. commanding n light cruiser and destroyer squadron, has had the good fortune to sight and engage the enemy's destroyers at five miles' roDge. One of the enemy's ships was sunk before the fugitives reached thp safety 'of their minefields. Heavy Austrian attacks on the Italian front have been repulsed with heavy losses, and further progress made.in the Italian advance. Spasmodic activity is reported from the Russian front. The news from Petrograd chiefly relates to the new crisis which has been created by the action of the rebels on. the island of Kronstadt, who have defied the Revolutionary Government and established their so-called "capital" on board ono of the warships.

NEW BRITISH ATTACK IN PREPARATION - INTENSE CANNONADE ON NORTHERN FRONT I i HEAVY ATTACK ON THE FRENCH REPULSED (By TeUgraph—Press Association—Copyright). London, Juno 5. Sir DooWas Haig reports: "We drove off raiders south-eastward of Lens and southward of Armentieres. We conducted a. successful raid southward and eastward of Tpres.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Rcuter.

London, June 5, 9.40 p.m. A British official report states: "We gained ground slightly during 'the night south of the Souc'hez River. The electric powel»station in the neighbourhood, for which there was fierce fighting on Sunday, is now in our hands. Wo made a successful raid 60uth of Tpres to-day." '< GREAT BATTLE PREPARATIONS ON NORTHERN , BRITISH FRONT ' ROAR OF THE GUNS HEARD IN LONDON. (Rcc. June' 6, 5.43 p.m.) 1 London, June 5. The artillery preparation on the northern British front continues with unparalleled intensity. The roar of the guns is heard in London, 150 miles distant, the windows and crockery are vibrating in Kent and Sussex, and a faint thudding is even heard as far as Harrow.—United Service. ' BRITISH REGAIN LOST GROUND FOR FRANCE . REPRISAL RAID FOR/ ATTACK ON OPEN TOWN. London, Juno 5. A French official communique states: "A British attack during the night restored to us parts of the trenches in which the enemy got a footing yesterday, north-west of Froidmont Farm. As a reprisal for the enemy's bombardment of the open town of Bar-le-Dac on May 27, seven of our aeroplanes on the night of .Tune 3 dropped a ton of bombs in Treves. Our air squadrons also dropped fifteen tons of bombs on aerodromes at Morhange, Habsheim, Prescati, and Sisson. They severely damaged the sheds, and also bom bed several railway stations and'munition depots, causing fires and explosions. Six German aeroplanes were brought don and seven others were forced down damaged in their own lines.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Rcuter. (Eec. June 6, 8.15 p.m.) „ . . London, June G. A French official communique states: "Intermittent artillery actions are reported on the greater part of the froitf, being especially lively in Belgium, the Hurtebise sector, and the Vauclerc Plateau."—Aus.-N.Z. Call© Assn.-Reuter. THE GERMAN REPORT (Rec. June 6,. 5.30 p.m.) London, June 5. A German official report states: "An artillery battle is raging on the Wytschaefce salient and neighbouring sectors with extreme violence. There has been lively fighting at several points in the neighbourhood of the- coast and between the Laßassco Canal and the Bapaume-Cambrai Road. The English advances were without result. Wo heavily repulsed two French night attacks near Brayc-en-Laonnais. We brought down twelve of the enemy's aeroplanes.—Aus.-Jf.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter.

HEAVY AUSTRIAN ATTACK ON THE ITALIANS DESPERATE SUNDAY NIGHT BATTLE ENEMY'S MASSES DEFINITELY REPULSED An Italian official report states: 'We repulsed renewed attacks eastward of Gorizia, and Vodice. The enemy, after several days of violent artillery activity in tho Carso, attacked in mass formation on Sunday night from Bosso Faiti to the sea, and was definitely repulsed after severe lighting. Wo advanced our positions near Cast.agnavizza, and Versic. Our counter-attacks almost complctelv rcgaincd our positions southward of Janiiano."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Pouter. ' AUSTRIAN LOSSES OFFICIALLY ADMITTED The High Commissioner reports:— London. Junfe 5, 1.20 p.m. The Austrians officially admit the loss of Kuk Mountain and tho shell-shat-tered ruins of Jamiano. They say there is little cause for rejoicing over tho victory, as it cost the Italians at least. 180.000 in killed, wounded, and prisoners during tho nineteen days' battle of' Isonzo. London, June .1. An Austrian official report 'dates: The cnoniy eastward of Gorizia failed to recapture his lost trenches. Our -prisoners reached a total of 000. There- is lively fighting in the region of .laniiano (on the Carso). The Italian losses during 'the [sono battle exceeded those in any previous battle. The lowest estimate is 160,000 killed and wounded and 10.000 taken prisoner. Thirty-five Tteliaii divisions took part in tho nineteen days' struggle. Half the Italian army stormed a front of forty kilometres (25 miles), and only occupied Kuk Mountain and tho ruins of Jamiano.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Ke.uter. FOOD FAMINE IN AUSTRIA Rome, June 5. The food question in Austria, is increasingly critical. All food parcels for Italian prisoners are systematically used to feed the starving population—Aus.N.Z.. Cable Assn.