FRENCH PROGRESS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3196, 16 June 1915, Page 28

FRENCH PROGRESS.

PARIS, June IS. A communique states: There was an incessant cannonade all night north of Arras. We now possess the railway station at Souchez. A stubborn struggle with hand grenades is proceeding in the southern part of the Labyrinth. We have maintained all our gains. THE HEBUTERNE FIGHTING. PARIS, June 13. Official: Details of the fighting at Hebuterne show that it was severe between June 7 and 10. The Germans held a sharp salient at Serre, three kilometres from Hebuterne. Both villages are situated on rising ground, facing each other, and the German trenches lay half-way between, fronting Tourvent. Their front enclosed a line of big trees, garrisoned by 10C0 men of the 17th Baden Regiment, All were placed hors de combat —not a man escaped; while two companies of reserves were almost entirely blotted out in their first counter-attack. Two battalions of the 99th'German Regiment were hurriedly brought up from the Arras sector without food, and they suffered heavily. Our prisoners to June 11 numbered 80, including 10 officers; Our men displayed great dash. The assault was fixed for 5 a.m. Our batteries prepared the way, and soon all the position was covered with smoke. The Germans meanwhile were keeping up a heavy fire on our trenches. Precisely at 5 o'clock our first line quitted ■their trenches and dashed into Fumes. In 10 minutes they had passed over two German trenches and reached a point where they were ordered to entrench. A second wave cleared out the German trenches. From behind our first line on the preceding evening our artillery had cut their communication trenches, depriving the enemy of food and ammunition supplies. We found the Germans squatting or crouching in little groups. Some fired occasional shots, and these resisters were dealt with, but the others surrendered. After the capture of the position we cleared out the choked-up communication trenches under a heavy German cannonading, and consolidated our new position. IMPORTANCE OF NEUVILLE. LONDON, June 13. A correspondent says that the Germans are exerting their principal efforts against the French at Hebuterne. The French offensive is causing consternation amongst the German commanders, who have created a mob.lo column., >■ ... ...... n. stantly to the points of greatest French pressure. The capture of Neuville gives the French possession of a huge network of defences, constituting the greatest asset in the North of France. The feat was accomplished at a cost of cruel losses HEAVY GERMAN LOSSES. PARIS, June 14. Official: We carried by assault a strongly-fortified ridgo northward of the sugar refinery at Souchez, and held our ground notwithstanding an intense bombardment. ■ We attacked the German trenches adioining the Serre-Mailly road, south-east of H-butcmc. The infantry with * single dash carried three trenches, taking 100 prisoners belonging to three regiments. Prisoners stated that the German losses during the last few days have been very heavy. Certain units concerned in a counter-attack were annihilated as soon as their ranks were formed. Our artillery caused a strong explosion

at Puiseux, followed by a fire panic, which onr gun fire increased. We progressed south of Guennestieres Farm, Soissons, and then bombarded the position with 120 shells. ALLEGED ESPIONAGE CONSPIRACY. AMSTERDAM. June 13. A Berlin telegram states that the Germans have discovered an espionage conspiracy, with its headquarters at Maastricht. Seventeen spies were arrested at Liege, and 11 were sentenced to death and six to long terms of imprisonment. Seven have already been executed.