ANOTHER SMART COUP BY THE BRITISH

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3126, 3 July 1917, Page 5

ANOTHER SMART COUP BY THE BRITISH

M" PITCH» AT IT7WC r Uon Al Ltno ENEMY'S DEFENCES FURTHER WEAKENED (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright). ■ .' , London, July 1. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"Following on yesterday's success south of Lens, we attacked last night on the north bank of the Souchez, and captured, the enemy's defences on a front of half a milo south-west and west of the town. Wo niado successful raids laet night north-cast of Epehy."—Aua.-N.Z Cablo Aesn. THE BRITISH "BAG" FOR JUNE I (Rec. July 2, 7.5 p.m.) . ' ' ' , London, July'l. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "There has been considerable artillery activity on tho enemy's eido in the Scarpo Valley and in the .neighbourhood of Lons. During tie month of June vra captured 8688 Germans (including 175 officers) and 67 ffune (including tiro heavy pieces), 102 trench mortsirs, 315 machine-guns, am l great quantities of other material."—A us.-N.Z. Cable Aesn.-lleuter. HAIG'S TACTICS AT LENS "', SWIFT BLOW AT ENEMY'S WEAKENED DEFENCES, "' ■ ■ :' London, July 1.. Reuters special correspondent at Bntish Headquarters reports: "Up .to Thursday evening we had been systematically pushing, the Germans in a northeasterly direction. The double operations which developed on Thursday evening, though distinct in their phases, were part of the same tactical scheme. Tho enemy's withdrawal from tho outer defences of Lens tended to weaken his resisting powers on tho. Oppy line, between Oppy and the Soiichoz River, so occasion was taken to strike a blow, with satisfactory results. We made a substantial gain, of territory round the Lens salient! at a cost of light casualties. With exceptions, the enemy is not fighting well! He 1 knows he is going backward. Whether he is told it ie in accordance to plan or he realises he is being beaten back, Iho result must equally be to produce the 'umder-dog' feeling. More than once the, occupants of .frenches and posts have bolted on the approach of our men."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn. " !

ENEMY FALLING BACK IN BELGIAN COAST REGION ;■'"■■■. Amsterdam, July 1. ' Ghent is full of people, who liave been evacuated from Osteml, Courtrai, and Menin. The refugees state that the Germans have abandoned part of'the coast of Belgium, retiring as far as Osteiid, as they fear annihilation under the British bombardments, which have wrought havoc to many towns. A German from Zeebruggo declares that nearly forty torpedo-boats and submarines were lost in the moet recent action with/the British naval forces.—Aus.-N.Z Cable Assn. HOW THE BOMBARDMENT BATTERED OSTEND. : ■~[' ■■■.■■. (Eee. July 2, 10.45 p.m.) : - London, July 1. Aeroplane photographs of the recent ■bombardment of Ostend show that little damage ivas done to the residential portions. Miwh wreckage is disclosed, at the wharves and amongst the xleatroyers, submarine shelters, and at the pier. ■ There has been much bombardment of this coast for over a week.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn, ••',.'■ ■ '. LONG-RANGE FRIGHTFULNESS. ■ ■..-•■■ ; (Bee July 2, 7.5 p.m.) '. ;'■ ■ ■. . . ' ' • London, July 1. ■ The German long-range guns fiTed forty-eight shells into Dunkirk, killing a few of the civilians.—Aus.-N.Z, Cablo Assri. i ' GERMANS SHORT OF GUNS . '' tttec. July 2, 10.55 p.m.) ■ '. . London, July 1. The "Morning. Post," in a special article on/the Western Front, states: "There are abundant indications that the Germans are ehort of guns and ammunition. Although many of £heir guns are massed at certain points, the rest of the line is shinned in order to do so. The British counter-battery work never ceases. When one of the enemy's batteries is detected, suddenly anything from 150 to 500 British shells are turned on tho spot. In this way it is estimated that fhe British have destroyed 1280 German guns in twenty-three weeks."— 'Aus.-N.Z. CaWe Assn. • . . SEVERE FIGHTING ON VERDUN FRONT 1 LIVELY ENGAGEMENT'AT MORT HOMME.

•'."'.' ' London, July 1. A French official communique states-. "In spite of the recrudescence of llio bombardment'east of Cerny, there wore only local engagements on the CernyAilles sector, where we repuJsed the enemy's attempts at various 'points. The, enemy violently bombarded our front lines oust of Reims. On the Verdun front tho artillery struggle continues to bo intense in tho region of the Avocmirt Wood and Hill 304 and Mort Horn me. Our fire smashed an attack on tho Avocourt redoubt. Ther:> was a lively engagement west of Mort Homme. around one of our advanced posts, which was lost and retaken fivo times, and finally abandoned by both sides because tlio gunfire had completely destroyed it." —Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router. ; Tbo High Commissioner reports:— London, July 1, 11.5 p.m. A French official report states: "In the Cerny-Ailles sector,'a bombardment by. large calibre shells developed, with redoubled intensity towards tho , end of last night. This was succeeded by a very violent enemy atkiclc eastward of Cerny, as tho result of which the enemy occupied our line elements ou a front of 500 yards. Trenches that had been deluged with projectiles wore evacuated by our troops. The concentrated fire of our batteries oausod great ravages in the enemy ranks." • . ■ .