BRITISH ADVANCE IN FLANDERS ON WIDE FRONT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16561, 9 June 1917, Page 7

BRITISH ADVANCE IN FLANDERS ON WIDE FRONT.

DOMINATING MESSINES RIDGE CARRIED BY STORM. GERMANS PRESSED BACK OVER A MILE BY SECOND ATTACK MANY GUNS, AND OVER 5000 PRISONERS CAPTURED. By Telegraph— Association—Copyright. Australian »nd N.Z. Cable. (Received 12.10 tm,) LONDON. Jon© 7. Reports from Sir Douglas Haig state : We launched an attack at ten minutes past three o'clock this morning against the German positions on the Messines-Wytschaete Ridge on a front of over nine miles. We captured our first objectives everywhere. Our operations south of Ypres were continued methodically throughout the day, and were completely successful. The HessinesWytschaeto Ridge, which for 2$ years has dominated our positions in tho Ypres salient, was stormed by our troops this morning. We captured the villages of Messines and Wytschaeto, and the enemy defence systems, including many strongly organised woods and defended localities, on a front of over nine miles from south of La Douve Brook to north of Mont Sorrel. Later we again advanced in accordance with our plan of operations and carried the village of Oosttaverne, and the enemy's rearward defence system east of the village on a front extending over five miles. An attempted counter-attack on the southern portion of our new positions was completely crushed by our artillery. The enemy's casualties to-day wero heavy. Besides other losses, up to 5-30 this afternoon, over 5000 prisoners had passed through our collecting stations, and others were still coming in. We also captured a number of guns, many trench mortars, and machine-guns, which are not yet counted. There were many air fights. Five hostile formations, one of which consisted of over 30 machines, were attacked and dispersed with heavy casualties. Nine German aeroplanes were brought down, and at least nine others were brought down out of control. Six of ours are missing.