THE WESTERN THEATRE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXX, Issue 14579, 2 June 1916, Page 6

THE WESTERN THEATRE.

ON THE BRITISH FRONT

A. FORTNIGHT'S RECORD

Press Association—Electric Telegraph—Copyright

LONDON, Thursday

Tim following is a record of the happenings on the entire British front for the. jvist fortnight, in which the overseas section has taken its full and active share. The most active centres of fighting have, boon Souchoz village and Vimy Kidgo. The fury of the artillery attack on Vimy has been unequalled since September. During the bombardment on .May -.Ist, the smoke and dust were seen for miles, and all subsequent fighting occurred in « cloud. The enemy concentrated :; hundred batteries on a small front, wiping out a trench. The Gorman infantry had little to face except our barrage or' lire. During the '22nd and i2lJrd our patrols at Vimy engaged in gallant bayonet lighting, and accounted for a considerable number. Severe fighting south-east of Soiicbez .village lasted from the J nth to the -Mth. the --"ith. Tne position is now comparatively quiet. The. enemy's artillery fire in .Flanders; reached its'greatest intensity at Mooge and at the Ypres-Koiilors railway. We replied, punishing the enemy artillery, ami bursting live pis cylinders in the Gorman trenches on the L'.'ird. the enemy troops sufl'oring from their own poison. Though the general situation from Arras to the Somme is unchanged, there has been considerable local activity. The results of the raids has encouraged our men to the belief that we are inure Than a match for the enemy. | Typical German raiding parties attacked three points, and we invariably tlung them back. .Patrol work has also led to encounters in which the enemy lias suffered coiisideraldv. ;

Those incident-; are valuable, and are koepinir up the spirit of adventure and initiative amonir our men.

Our artillery in the southern part vi' the line organis-ed heavy bombardments of the enemy's barrier on the JVronne road, which was practically demolished .