THE BRITISH ATTACK ON LENS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3172, 24 August 1917, Page 5

THE BRITISH ATTACK ON LENS

FURTHER GROUND GAINED FIGHTING IN THE STREETS OF THE CITY By Telegraph-Press,'Association-Copyright London, August 22. ' Sir Douglas Haig reports: "We have maintained tho positions wo captured yesterday morning on the outskirts of Lens, and made further progress at certain points. We secured additional ground north-oast and north of Lens as the result of heavy fighting, in which wo repulsed strong counter-attacks. There is ■ great artillery, activity east and north of Ypres."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Aesn.-Rcuitor. ■ ! '' FURTHER SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS (Eec. August 23, 11.45 p.m.) London, 'August 23. Sir Douglas Haig reports successful operations eastward end north-eastward of Ypres for tho capture of a series.of strong points and fortmed farms astride the Ypres-Menin Road, between tho Ypros-Roulers railway and Langcmarck. There was bitter fighting at all points.. The enemy repeatedly counter-attacked, but our artillery and machine-gun fire inflicted heavy losses -The struggle was fiercest on' the high ground in the neighbourhood of Ypres-Menin Road, where we advanced to a depth of five hundred yards on a front of a inilo We captured an important observation position, also, on the western portion of Inverness ' Copse. Our line further north was advanced to the'maximum depth of over half a mile aimed at, on a front of 2\ miles.' The cuomy resisted stubbornly. Owing to the obstinate nature of the fighting tho number of prisoners is unusually email- in proportion to the enemy's total losses. Sinco August 15 1378 have been captured at Lens. In fierce air fighting we brought down twelve of the enemy** 'planes, and drove down five others. Twelve- of ours are missing." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. LENS A SOLDIERS' BATTLE / : CANADIANS HANGING ON WITH GRIM TENACITY. (Rec. August 23, 11.45 p.m.) London, Augusj; 23. Reuter'a correspondent at Headquarters says: "The ferocious battle was continued throughout yesterday round Lens. The Canadians are holding _ their gainß on tho western fringe of the city, but north of tho railway the situation is not clear, owing to the sway of the great fight. Tho German artillery fire is the heaviest yet experienced. Tho first Prussian Guards reserve division are the latest troop 9 to bo thrown in to try and relievo tho situation. -It is mainly _ a soldiers' battle. Methods of frightfulness are impossible owing to tho possibility of endangering one's own people equally with one's adversaries. Fewprisoners aro taken. It looks as if the Huns realise that they must retake Hill 70 or quit Lens."—Reuter. • VIOLENT STRUGGLE BETWEEN YPRES AND LENS. ) I . London, August 22. The United Press Agency correspondent at Headquarters states that heavy fighting continues about Lens and Ypres. The British at daybreak attacked positions between Langemarck and Frezenberg. The battle is progressing. The Bavarians and Prussians are fighting desperately among the ruins of Lens. The Canadians, despite two violent counter-attacks in rapid succession, succeeded in establishing advanced posts. The Canadians at one time were fighting into Lens proper, the Germans pouring up from concreted cellars and mine-shafts like ants from disturbed anthills. The Crown Prince threw in the sth Grenadiers, belonging to the Ist Prussian Guards' Reserve Division. Portions at least of six divisions are concentrated ngainst tho Canadians, showing the importance, the German High Command attaches to Lens.-iAus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SEVERE FIGHT EAST OF ST. JUILEN . ' - - * (Rec. August 23, 0.5 a.m.) London, August 23. Mr. Philip Gibbs state that severe fighting is proceeding eastward of St. Julien' and extending southward across the Zonnebeke beyond the Frezenberg Redoubt while our right has again penetrated Glencorse Copse, where the enemy is defending strongly. The Canadians aro still heavily engaged at Lens, checking violent counter-attacks, of which there have been at least twenty. Never have tho Canadians been so hard pressed by the enemy. The enemy has massed many new troops and guns for the defence of Lens, but tho Canadians won't loose their grip till they have strangled it.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. HEAVY ATTACKS ON THE FRENCH LINE . I BRILLIANT COUNTER-OFFENSIVE ON THE MEUSE. London, August 02. A French official communique' states: "Tho enemy last night violently bombarded different points of our first lino on the Aisne. The Germans made several strong attacks in the region of Mecejean Farm, east of Braye south of Le Bovello between Allies and the Hurtebiso Monument and the California Plateau. We entirely maintained our positions everywhere and took prisoners. We repulsed a violent counter-attack yesterday evening betweon Hill 301 and Mort Homme. A brilliant counter-offensive drove out the enemy from elements in winch he obtained a footiug in our new front line."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Tieuter. (Rec-. August 23, 10.40 p.m.) London, August 23. A French, official communique- states: "Severe attempts by the enemy to recapture our new position on the right bank of the Meuse were broken, with great loss without anywhere reaching our lines.' Attacks with liquid flro in Caurieres Wood merely increased the enemy's losses. Since August 20 we have taken prisoner 0110 unwounded troops .including 15-1 officers, and also GOO wounded men, with important booty. In ono of the threo tunnels which were captured •on Mort Homme wo look prisoner tho wholo of a regimental staff, a corps commander, officers, and engineers."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reut'or. (Rec. August 23, 11.45 p.m.) ' London, August 23._ A French official commnniquo Elites:—"The artillery duel is somewhat violent in the regions of Braye and Corny. Our batteries in Champagne destroyed more enemy gas reservoirs. On tho Verdun front tho encmv reacted during the course of the day with his artillory, especially on flic left bank of the Meuse, but did not attempt to attack our new positions. Six of the enemy's aeroplanes were destroyed in air fights, whilo fivo others Toll, damaged."—Aus.N.Z; Cable Assn.-Reutcr. OVER 6000 PRISONERS TO DATE London, August 22, 3 p.m. Tho llijh Commissioner reports:— . \ French official report slates: "Since Monday 6116 .nnwniuiucri prisoners hare been takon, including 274 officers. Ther avo aim 600 wounded prisoners in our ambulances. The now prisoners who woro taken yestorday have not yel been counted."-

GERMAN OFFICIAL RISPQRT

(Kec. August 21, 0.5 a.m.). f( , London, August 25. A German official communique states: 'Strong British attacks near St. .Tulien wore repulsed. Fresh engagement* cleveloi red between the roads from Staden and Monin, towards Ypres. Ihero is Ditttu- hand-to-hand fighting round Lens, tho shell-fire igniting a coal depot, which is still in British bands. "The French repeatedly utormed and obtained a, footing on vho knolls eastward of Avocourt Wood. French attacks on tho eastern bank, of the Mouse, secured a footing on the southern part of the Saniogneux;, Otherwise tho French massed attacks were eanguinarily repulsed, forcing tho enemy to replenish ten divi-skme."-Aug.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Kouter. A later German official report states:-- .British attacks eastward of Ypres, on a fifteen kilometre front (9 miles), failed, with heavy losses."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. GERMAN CRIME ON THE BATTLEFIELD AEROPLANES ATTACK FRENCH HOSPITALS. Paris, August 22. Infuriated by their defeat at Verdun, the Germans have committed a fresh and inexcusable crime. Aeroplanes, with incendiary bombs, set fire to threo French hospitals full of wounded, and turned their machine-gu,ns on the medical staff when rescuing the patients. Tho victirns include seven medical men. Seven wounded men were killed and thirty-threo injured. A Bed Cross nurse and a malo nurso were also killed. There was no panic. The wounded who were notable to walk wore assisted by comrades. Although tho Bed' Crosses on the, roofs of the hospitals wore plainly visible in tho glare of the burning buildings, tho Germans returned and bombarded tho hospitals a third time.—Eejter.i GIANT FRENCH GUN AT VERDUN, Paris, August 22. The "Echo do Paris" mentions that a new giant French jruh is being used at Verdun,-which throws a elicll nearly six miles high—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-