GERMANS EVACUATING FLANDERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9694, 23 June 1917, Page 7

GERMANS EVACUATING FLANDERS

HEAVY FIGHTING AT VAUXAILLON CANADIANS CAPTURE TRENCHES By Telegraph-Press Association —Copyright. Australian and Now Zealand Cable Association and Renter. (Received June 22, S.lo p.m.) i LONDON. Juno 21. A French communique states; German attacks yesterday east of Aauxaillon were jirecoded by- a fierce bombardment,, which was earned, out by special assaulting troops recently from the Russian front. _ , Our troops resisted obstinately, and all the enemy s efforts to develop tho few advantages which they had acquired in the first shock were squashed hy our fire and counter-attacks. , The Germans finally only penetrated our first line m two places, namely south of Alont Doninge’s on a front of 100 metres and north of Moisy Farm, on a front of 200 metres. An energetic counter-offensive in the morning enabled us to recapture our former positions, where wo discovered numerous bodies, testifying to the enemy’s high losses. Between Juno Bth and 20th we destroyed' fourteen enemy aeroplanes; seven others fell within thei r own linos. Our air squadron dropped twelve tons of bombs on enemy railway stations, factories, blast furnaces, bivouacs, and ammunition, dumps, causing important damage.

HEAVY FIGHTING AT VAUXAILLON CONTINUED

ENEMY POSITION PENETRATED 300 METRES DEEP

Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Renter. (Received June '22, 9.45 p.m.), LONDON, June 2S. A French communique states: Fighting was continued to our advantage oast of Vauxaillon. Our counter-attack’ on trenches in the sector at Moisy Farm gave us important results. So far wo have all our positions with the exception of a salient of JOO metres north-eastward of the farm, where enemy parties are still holding out. . . Artillery duels are liveliest in this region of our lines, there is a tairiy lively bombardment between Hurtdbiso and Craonno. In the Champagne our advance north-east of JVXont Cornille was particnlarly brilliantly accomplished. The enemy attempted to recapture positions wrested from him on the 18th, but was repulsed by bombers, who pursued and captured a German trench. Wo thus advanced 300 metres deep on a front of - GOO metros.

High Commissioner’s Cable. LONDON, June 21', 4.30 p.m. French official report: A German attack yesterday east of Vauxaillon was extremely violent. It was prepared by artillery and carried put by assaulting troops consisting of a fresh division from the Russian front, Ihe attack was broken hy our stubborn resistance. All the enemy attempts to increase early gains were broken by our fire, and the Germans were finally unable to penetrate our first line except at two points southward' of Mount Demnges and northward of Moisy Farm. Our counter-attack regained the former position.

EVACUATION OF FLANDERS IN PROGRESS

Reuter’s Telegram. (Received Juno 23, 1.5 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, June 22. It is reported that the evacuation of the civil population of West Flanders continues. Two thousand have been removed, from places behind th<3 front.

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG’S REPORT

ENEMY ARTILLERY' ACTIVE ASTRIDE THE SCARPE. Australian and Now Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. (Received June 22, 9.45 p.m.) LONDON, Juno 22. Sir Douglas Haig reports: ; Our fire repulsed raiders southward of the Bapaume-Camibrai road and eastward of La Veutite; alsoi in the neighbourhood of Lomb artzyde, where another enemy party entered our front lino, but was immediately driven out. 1 The enemy’s artillery is active astride the Scarpe.

CANADIANS CAPTURE GROUP OF TRENCHES

Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. OTTAWA, June 21. Reports from Canadian Headquarters state that tho Canadians captured a group of German trenches on Reservoir Hill, facilitating the Allies’ approach towards Lens. '■

GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORTS

ENGLISH PENETRATE FIRST LINE ON THE SOUCHEZ. Admiralty—Per Wireless Press. *■ LONDON, June 20. A German official report states Artillery firing has been very violent between the Yser and the Lys. Tho English attacked on tho north bank of the So lichen. They wore repulsed on the wings, but penetrated our first line in the centre. We recaptured tho greater part of tho ground lost on Monday southward of Hoohberg (or Mont Haut), in the Champagne. Australian and Now Zealand Cable Association and Router. (Received Juno 22, 8.15 p.m.) , LONDON, June 21. A wireless German official message states: —Near the coast wo made a night surprise attack on tho English, and brought hack prisoners. We stormed French positions on a front of 1500 metros at Vauxaillon, and penetrated far into the enemy’s reserves. Wo repulsed counter-attacks on tho captured trenches.

GERMANS READILY SURRENDER

FIGHTING SPIRIT DISTINCTLY LESSENING. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, June 21. Visitors arriving in London confirm tho reports of newspaper correspondents respecting the waning moral of the German troops. It is very notable along the Western front how readily tho Germans surrender. Some of the best disciplined troops are kept in hand, but tho overwhelming gunfire frequently caused them to desire to become prisoners. The fighting spirit is most distinctly lessening. The Germans, in sheer ruthless malignity, fire large naval shells daily into Reims, Arras, and Bapaume. These places are in ruins. Nobody is livin'- in Bapaume, and only four hundred in Arras. ” PARIS, Juno 21. The ‘'Petit Pnrisien” states that the British armies’ remorseless harrying has effaced the word “rest’’ from the German soldiers* vocabulary. The airmen are spreading on every side a network of incessant raids, while tho artillery block supplies, especially the all-important victuals.