FRANCE AND BELGIUM.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 18 June 1915, Page 5

FRANCE AND BELGIUM.

FRENCH GAINS EXTEND

IMPORTANT PROGRESS IN THE

VOSGES

SIR JOHN FRENCH'S REPORT

SOME TRENCHES TAKEN

SEVERE ENGAGEMENT IN

FLANDERS

BELGIANS MAKE SOME PROGRESS

PARIS, June 17

Official.—We have gained ground at various points, notably east of Lorette and south-west of Sonchez. We captured in the labyrinth three hundred prisoners and machine guns. At Quenneviere, after repulsing several coun-ter-attacks, we extended our gains north-westward and captured a hundred prisoners.

The enemy threw three hundred shells on Rheims, some incendiary. A dozen projectiles hit the Cathedral. We made important progress alon£ the Vosges, and carried Brannkop, on "the northern bank of the Haute Fecht, taking three hundred prisoners, including four officers, many rifles and half a million cartridges.

On Tuesday some bombs were dropped at St. Die, Belfort, and Nancy. Some civilians were wounded. LONDON, June 17. Sir John French reports: Yesterday evening we captured a mile of the first line of trenches east of Festubert, but failed to hold them during the night against strong counter-attacks. We successfully attacked the German posi-l 'tion north of Hooge early on Wednesday, and occupied the first line of •trenches on a front of a thousand yards and also part of the second line. One hundred and fifty-seven prisoners were counted by noon. A German counterattack was repulsed with heavy loss. PARIS, June 17. The French are equipping their infantry with light steel helmets resembling those of antique men-at-arms, and also head pieces. They offer some protection against spent shell fragments and bullets. ' LONDON, June 17. The Daily Mail's Rotterdam correspondent says that German machine guns checked a spirited British advance near La Bassee. ROTTERDAM, June 17. There was a severe engagement, after a heavy artillery action, on the EssenDixmude and Ramscapelle^Dixport front. Fresh German corps are still arriving. There was an engagement southward of Ypres. Heavy fighting is imminent. A great number of German wounded in the vicinity of Dixmude have been conveyed to Bruges. HAVRE, June 17. A Belgian official report says: 'We gained a footing on the western border ■of the grounds of a chateau at Boine. On the Dixmude-Woumen road the •enemy precipitately evacuated his trenches, abandoning the dead.