FRONT OF BRITISH ADVANCE AT MESSINES INCREASED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16567, 16 June 1917, Page 7

FRONT OF BRITISH ADVANCE AT MESSINES INCREASED

ft'GEEMAN witedeawai.now extending south. Si FRONT LINE ABANDONED HALF WAY TO ARMENTIERES. HEAVY GUNS MOVED BACK TO EXTREME RANGE, FRONT LINE ABANDONED HALF WAY TO ARMENTIERES. ENEMY'S HEAVY GUNS MOVED BACK TO EXTREME RANGE, Is» Telegraph—Press Anocittion-Copyrigbt. ||§||j&uter. (R**»m& 13.10 ».m.) LONDON. June 14. *&'•" The effects of the victory at Messines continue to develop. The enemy withdrawal is extending south. We now occupy the German' front line trenches from Ploegsteert Wood, two miles south of Messines, to the bank of the River Lys, nearly midway to Armentieres. The German heavy shells are generally falling at extreme range, indiI eating the withdrawal of the heavy guns as far as possible without I placing them out of action- British patrols are persistently harassing this i enemy and the guns are steadily bombarding the new positions. The country over which the Germans are retiring is low and marshy, but owing to the long drought progress is not difficult. The strategic position is foil of most interesting possibilities. Australian wad N.Z. Cable. (foceivad 9.80 p.m.) LONDON. Jobs 14, Military authorities do not emphasise the value of the great explosion of mines in the Messines battle. The mines played a useful y. part) but the success was principally due to magnificent artillery work» rendered possible by fine aviation work. Probably not many Germans lllpwere killed by the explosion, as the front line trenches are usually thinly held.