FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3197, 23 June 1915, Page 20

FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT.

PARIS, June 18. Official; The fight northward of Arras was extremely intense. Numerous desperate infantry actions and a violent artillery duel are continued. We made important progress, which we almost wholly maintained, despite the enemy’s furious coun-ter-attacks. We captured several lines of trenches on both sides of the Aix-Noulette-Souchez road. The Germans still hold their ground at Bnval, but are almost surrounded. We captured the Soucliez cemetery, and gained ground on the slopes south-eastwards —namely. Hill 119 was carried by assault, and southward of Neuville the first enemy line on the rising ground. With bayonets and hand grenades, under a violent artillery fire, our infantry, after attacking with extreme vigour, effectively supported by nearly 300,000 shells, met during Wednesday night violent and repeated counter-attacks and repulsed them. Along the whole front we only evacuated a small wood southward of Hill 119, owing to artillery fire. The Germans had 11 divisions 'engaged, and suffered heavy losses. We experienced serious losses. We captured upwards of 600 prisoners, including 20 officers. Our air squadron effectively bombed enemy reserves al Givenchy and the Lavolie Wood, dispersing masses of troops in progress of formation. The enemy’s grave defeat at Guennevieres is confirmed by the great number of corpses in front of our trenches. Incendiary shells have been dropped on Rheims. We captured Altenbof. a suburb of Met-

7.2r1, and then Steinbruck, and continue to progress on both banks of the Fecht. The Germans set fire to Metzerl. We took SGO prisoners, including 10 officers, and captured three trench mortars, three machine guns, and an asphyxiating gas plant. Our aeroplane brought down a German machine in Alsace, and its occupants were killed. PROGRESS IN THE VOSGES. PARIS, June 17, A communique states : We continued our progress in the Vosges, and mastered the heights dominating the Fecht, to the north of Steinbruck and Metzeral. We also prospered between the two branches of the Upper Fecht and the heights between the Fecht and Ranch Valleys. LONDON, June 18. Reuter’s correspondent states that in the British offensive at Hoogc and Festubert the men flung themselves forward with irresistible dash, and either shot or bayoneted the opposing Germans. After a lull of some hours the engagement was resumed. On the 16th more substantial progress was made at Hooge. A German counter-attack was made from north of the Belleward Lake town bridge. Under the British fire the enemy retreated, leaving many dead. The British casualties were light. RIOTING AT MARINES. LONDON, June 17. The Central News Amsterdam correspondent says that a traveller from Ghent declares that some women at Malines commenced rioting on Tuesday, and almost the entire population participated. The Germans fired on the mob indiscriminately, and quite 700 persons were killed. Mahnes is now isolated by electrified wires. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. BERLIN, June 17. Official; We silenced a coast battery. The English and French continued their attempts to break our lines on Wednesday. We recaptured the greater part of the trenches lost north of Lake Bellewarde. The Westphalians and Saxons overpowered the British north of La Bassee Canal after a hand-to-hand fight. The French south of Souchez succeeded in penetrating our positions for a width of 600 yards, and obtained a foothold. Fighting is proceeding. Attacks elsewhere were repulsed with sanguinary losses. They were conducted with a great expenditure of ammunition and regardless of losses, but again terminated in the defeat of the French and British. Victorious hand-to-hand fights furnish fresh proofs of the bravery and imperturbable endurance of our troops. General Mackensen has forced the Russians to abandon their positions and retreat upon Tarnoglad. The situation south-east of the Dniester marshes is unchanged.