GREAT BATTLE IN PROGRESS

Otago Witness, Issue 3197, 23 June 1915, Page 17

GREAT BATTLE IN PROGRESS

ROTTERDAM, June 16. . French fo'rces, with numerous guns supporting, strongly attacked German positions near Dixmude. They gained some ground, notwithstanding a strong resistance by fresh German troops. A great battle is In progress between the coast and Steenstraate. The Germans have replaced the guns on the coast by bigger weapons of the newest patterns, FRENCH OFFENSIVE, PARIS, June 15. A communique, after denying the German report of successes in the Souchex region, adds : “ We have now for over ai month, both north and south of Arras, and between the Oise and the Aisne, continuously progressed. All our attacks succeeded brilliantly. This is not a guerrilla warfare, as the German press states. Our attacks have extended over the fronts of brigades and divisions, and have resulted in killing between 2000 and 3000 Germans in a single day.” Much importance is attached to the freshFrench offensive in Lorraine. The objective is supposed to be Avricourt, but in well-informed circles it is believed that General Joffre is testing the strength of the German forces defending the outer works of Metz. LONDON, June 15. Paris reports say that the continued French pressure north of Arras, although resulting in slow progress, has a valuable effect in attracting the German reserves of men and artillery from different pomts. It is believed they are bringing up fresh troops from the north of Belgium. The French are daily capturmg fresh portions of the defences around Lens, and their continued successes are deeply impressing the Germans. Numerous statements by German prisoners show l ow intolerable the repeated French hammerings at this point are becoming, and how deeply they feel the superiority of the French fighting power. Renewed energetic French attacks on an extended front are. expected with clearer weather. PARIS, June 15. Official : Our batteries heavily cannonaded the German trenches in the Lorette and Neuville sectors. The enemy’s attacks at Quenuevieres were led by eight battalions. Prisoner* state that their losses were heavy. A GERMAN ADMISSION. AMSTERDAM, June 16. A German official report admits that tha Germans have not yet recaptured tha ground lost north-west of Soissons.