GERMAN INFANTRY MOWN DOWN BY BRITISH FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16562, 11 June 1917, Page 6

GERMAN INFANTRY MOWN DOWN BY BRITISH FIRE.

EXTRAORDINARY EFFICIENCY OF THE ARTILLERY.

ARMY CAN TAKE INITIATIVE AT ANY TIME WITH SUCCESS. Renter. (Received 12.80 a.m.) LONDON, June 10. Reuter's correspondent at British headquarters, writing on Saturday evening, says there has been great aggressive activity on our front The Germans were never before so harried. There were four raids on the front of the First Army during last night. The Canadians were most successful south of Lens, and brought back a record bag of prisoners. The latest news regarding the German counter-attack against our new positions on the Messines Ridge last night, shows that it was very costly for the enemy, our drumfire and machine-guns mowing down the Germans. The enemy's losses since Thursday morning are estimated at five times the total number of prisoners taken. The Third Bavarian Division suffered a record disaster, only a shattered remnant withdrawing. N The correspondent continues: As an instance of the extraordinary efficiency of our artillery, I am permitted to state that our batteries advanced so smartly after the infantry, a few hours after the battle began, that they had actually a more intense concentration of fire on vital sections of the attack than at the opening, when every weapon was in a long-planned position. It has now been demonstrated that the army can take the initiative against the Germans at any time or place it chooses with confident assurance of victory.