FRANCE AND BELGIUM.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 9 July 1917, Page 5

FRANCE AND BELGIUM.

RECIPROCAL ARTILLERY ACTIVITY.

SLIGHT BRITISH ADVANCE REPORTED.

FRENCH REPULSE ENEMY ATTACKS.

LONDON, July 7. Sir Douglas Haig reports: There is artillery activity astride the Scarpe, in the neighborhood of Messines and Nieuport. We slightly advanced our line eastwards v>f Wytschaete. We repulsed a raid in the vicinity of Acheville, ■■;.■•• A French communique states: There is a marked recrudescence of artillery activity at some sections. Our operations in the Champagne enabled us to reduce twoi email salients. The enemy ; four times unsuccessfully attempted to recapture their lost ground, and sustained serious losses. The artillery I struggle is being continued, the keenest being on the left of the Meuse. From the 21st to 30th June our chasing planes brought down 19 enemy aeroplanes, and, in addition, 14 enemy machines were seriously damaged an^d fell in their own lines. ' A French communique states: There is the most active reciprocal artillerying in the Champagne, "notably at Casque Teton. Enemy attempts west | of Cornillet and south-east of Tahure were easily repulsed. Our artillery carried out a, destructive fire on German organisations north and west of Hill 304. AMSTERDAM, July 6. Antwerp has been fined a hundred thousand marks for refusing to rebuild the "buildings damaged by the Germans. The Mayor of Brusse.4 has heen deported to Dusseldorf for refusing to make requisitions.