GREAT ACTIVITY ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15948, 19 June 1915, Page 7

GREAT ACTIVITY ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

ALLIES REPORT SUCCESSES NORTH OF ARRAS,

FRENOH CONTINUE THEIR ADVANOE IN ALSACE,

\ THREATENED GERMAN TOWN SET ON FIRE.

Wellington, June ISThe High Commissioner, cabling From London, makes the follow* ing report:—

" There has been great activity along the western front during the last two days, and the allies have made important progress, which has been almost wholly maintained, despite furious counter-attacks. " The allies have captured several lines of trenches on both sides of the Aix Noulette-Soucbez Road, between Arras and Bethune. The Germans still hold ground in the vicinity, but are almost surrounded there. i " The allies have gained a footing in the park of Carlofll Chateau; whose refilled moats have served as a_base for the enemy's defences. " The French have captured the Sonchez Cemetery, and have gained ground south-east of the- town. The success achieved on Wednesday was extended on Thursday by brilliant assaults further south in the region of Neuville. The enemy's first line and points hi tho second line were carried. "The French infantry, attacking vigorously, and supported by 300,000 shells from the artillery, had to meet violent and repeated counter-attacks. They repulsed these along the whole front, evacuating only a small wood, captured on Wednesday, which the enemy's artillery rendered untenable. Eleven German divisions were engaged, and they suffered extremely great losses, including 600 men made prisoners. The French also experienced serious losses. " The allies' airmen bombarded the German reserves near Givenchy and La Folio wood, thus disposing of masses of troops in process of formation. " The enemy's grave defeat 'at Guennevieres is confirmed by the great number of corpses found in front of the allies' trenches. - Incendiary shells have been dropped on Rheims. " In Alsace, the French captured Altenhof, a suburb' of Metzeral—

a. railway terminus just across the frontier near Oolmar—and Steinbruck. Progress on both banks of the Feoht, in the samo region, has \ been continued, and 500 prisoners have been taken. The Germans set fire to Metzeral. ' "An enemy aeroplane -was brought down in Alsace, and both Germans in it were killed." '