Sledge-Hammer Blows.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VII, Issue 252, 17 August 1917, Page 5

Sledge-Hammer Blows.

Haig’s Two Offensives North of Lens and North of Ypres. Big Progress at All Points. French Keep Pace with the British. [mw MMMSAnow —oonamn.) [beuteb] Received 17, 2.30 p.m.) • London. August 16. The British have captured Laneerrarck. [jCWIAUAX AND NEW lULASD CABLE ASSOCIATION.] (Received 17, 11.30 a.m.) Paris, August 16. “ Le Matin ” states that the Britishers' impetuous assault was the most violent witnessed for ten months past. The merciless violence of the fight and its swiftness explain the small number of , jutund. The few prisoners taken were completely exhausted and mu state of depression. They belonged to the old classes, many of wore invalided early in the war. “ Le Petit Journal ** states that if the British attacks north of Lens continue, the fall of Lens is imminent. (Received 17, 8.45 a.m.) Amsterdam, August 16. Twenty to thirty trainloads of wounded are traversing Liege daily for Germany. [nrrtD sekticx.] (Received 17, 1.30 p.m.) London, August 16. The United Press correspondent says that the British blow in the Ypres region extends from Polygon Wood to the Anglo* French junction on a six-mils front. The French attacked simultaneously, brilliantly supporting Sir Douglas Haig's left. The French right has already crossed the Steenbeck stream, and is still advancing, while their left has gained all Its objectives. Prisoners are comms in. The British advance continues. The Irish are performing wonders, and the Ulsterites are fighting side by side with the Southerners. x Sir Douglas Haig keeps Prince Rupprecht guessing by shifting about like a master boxer in the rinc. The enemy is desperately holding cut at Lens, where there has been heavy fighting all day. The Canadians last night crushed the Ger* mans like flies, and bloodily repulsed ten counter-attacks by 9 o'clock, whim the enemy broke off the fight. The Fourth Guards Division was practically annihilated as it marched into Lens, the approach to which is only a narrow neck which leads across open country. This narrow neck was swept by British artillery and machine-gun fire. [BIGB COsIMISSIONEt’S MESSAGE.] (Received 17, 11.20 a.m.) London, August 16. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Eastward and northward of Ypres at 4.45 this morning, the Allies again attacked on a wide front with heavy fighting. Progress was made at all points, despite the stubborn resistance of the enemy. On the Lens battle front, three more enemy counter-attacks during the night were repulsed. At Cite St. Auguste our artillery broke up the enemy concentration. [aUSTBAUAN AND NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION AND BETTER.] (Received 17, 1.30 p.m.) London, August 16. A French communique states: After violent artillery pre- , paration, we attacked at dawn in conjunction with the British t on our right. Our infantry, with superb elan, assaulted the enemy positions on both sides of the Steen-traete-Dixmude road, earning all our objectives. We have crossed the Steensbeke, end are progressing on the yjgKt hank in contact with the British. We made a vigorous attack south of Allies, and carried a solid enemy trench system cn a front of one kilometre. Four enemv counter-attacks '.ere easily repulsed.

BRITISH FIELD-MARSHAL’S EARLIER REPORT. [AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION AND BETTER.] London, August 16. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Ea iy this morning the Canadian troops stormed the German positions south-east and east of Loos on a front of two miles. The formidable defences of llill No. 70 were carried by assault. After storming the first trench system the whole front was attacked, and we advanced to the western defences of Cite St. Auguste, penetrating the position to a depth of a mile. Besides an elaborate series of trenches and strong points on Hill No. 70, the villages of Cite St. Elizabeth, Cite St. Emilie and Cite St. Laurent, as well as Bois Rase and the western half of Bois Hugo, are now in our possession. All our objectives were captured, and our casualties were slight. During the day five counter-attacks were repulsed by our •infantry or broken up by our artillery. One was by troops of the Prussian Guards. The enemy losses were heavy. The number of Germans taken prisoner is not ascertained, but 282 reached the collect- * ing stations this afternoon. On the Ypres’battlefront an attack against our positions near the Pilkem-Langhemarck -oad was completely repulsed. The formidable defences of Hill No. 70, which since September, 1915, when they resisted sur attacks, have been strengthened by every device, are now in our hands. We brought down nine German aeroplanes and drove down five. Seven of ours are missing, two whereof were overtaken by a violent storm. ALLIES STRIKING IN UNISON. DIRTY WEATHER HAMPERS AVIATORS. v [ AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZE.ALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION'.] Paris, August r 6. # M. Marcel Hutin says that the artillery of all the Allies appears to be striking in unison. The unfavourable weather in Flanders hampers aviation work, preventing the British artillery from achieving its maximum effect. THE CANADIANS AT LENB. [ AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) London, August 16. The Canadians also stormed positions near Hill 70, carrying everything with irresistible dash and achieving the day’s objectives in the first rush along with 1000 yards of front to a depth of nearly a mile. Rase Wood, Cite St. Laurent, Cite St. Emilie, parts of Cite St. Elizabeth, Hugo Wood ,and a number of other important positions about Lens have passed into British possession with several hundred prisoners. Already Lens is a mere death-trap if the Germans continue to hold it. THE FRENCH ADVANCE. KEEPING PACE WITH THE BRITISH. London, August 16. A French communique states ■ We have made appreciable progress west of the Dixmude road in Belgium. There is an active artillery duel on both banks of the Meuse. An enemv attack west of Hill No. 304 was repulsed. ' [area commmbioner’s übbragb.i London, August 16. A French official message states: Our troops in Belgium are keeping pace with the British, and have captured their objectives, mdudmg"Stensbeck.