FRANCE AND BELGIUM.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 24 May 1915, Page 5

FRANCE AND BELGIUM.

REPORTS FROM VARIOUS SEC- • TIQNS.

PARIS, May 23. _ Official.—The British repulsed a strong attack, northward of La Bassee and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. Our artillery successfully replied to an extremely violent bombardment on our positions northward of Arras. We took more houses in Northern Ablain, and also a number of priJ eoners. •LONDON, May 23. The British on the Festubert sector are advancing. They captured further I trenches and several important points. Anti-aircraft guns winged a German aeroplane, which landed in the German lines. *" i Sir John French reports a violent artillery engagement north-east of Festu^ bert, rand some infantry fighting on Friday evening. We further pro-j grossed southward of Quinquerve. PARIS, May 23. Official.—We cleared out the enemy's trenches on ~ the Blanche spur, and great numbers were killed in the com* | inunication trenches, while others sur-l^ndere^-j^^-'Tnd'-r'eiemy' made several cdunter-attacks at night,'..andI were re-. pulsed with heavy'losses,, : ''.':. :

The entire Blanche is in pur hands. We also progressed south-east of Chapel Lorette, and are now within a hundred metres of the north-eastern extremity of Ablain.