WESTERN OFFENSIVE.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14444, 30 June 1917, Page 5

WESTERN OFFENSIVE.

LENS SURROUNDED ON THREE ! SIDES. FIGHTING IN THE RUINS. SITUATION WILL IN HAND. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) London, June 28. The United Press correspondent at Headquarters says the Canadians ot<:u- j pied Eleu-dit-Leauwitte, on the scutliern edge of Lens, and patrols are advancing beyond. . The Germans blew up a bridge o\er the Souchez river leading to the city. Canadian patrols entered the outskirts of Avion, and are neavingMericourt. Troops pus-lung towards Lens astride the Arras-Lens railway captured a portion of the Avion-Mericourt switch line, with light losses. The Prussians holding the dugotits refused to surrender, and completely bombed out. The Germans are resisting stubbornly, but we have, the situation well, in hand. The British are touching Lens on three sides, and the enemy are reduced to fighting from, the ruins of the buried city. The trenches outside are in our hand?. The Germans' position is critical.