New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-18
SWEEP
OVER TRENCHES
AROUND ARRAS
Renew Drive and Advance
at Many Points-Take
SteinbruCk in AlSaCe.

Paris, June 17.--Again the French
armies have taken up the sweep
against the German lines around Arras
which was halted for a few days by
the desperate resistance of the in
vaders. Trench after trench has been
carried, particularly on the road from
Souchez to AK Moulette, evidently by
a greatly reinforced front.
While desperate encounters between
infantry at bayonet point and artillery
battles Of unsurpassed violence have
ranged along this line of the French
advance, the forces Of General Joffre
in Alsace have sturdily forged their
way ahead on both banks Of the river
Fecht. They have taken Altenhof, a
suburb of Metzeral, and Steinbruck,
the town which was the objective Of
such fierce fighting last year.
The intensity of the artillery fight
ing in Northern France is shown by
the fact, announced in to-night's Of
fetal report, that 100000 French shells
were expended on a comparatively
short front to support the infantry at
tack.
Battle Is Desperate.
The French War Office communique,
issued tonight, follows:
There has been great activity on
the front during the last two days.
The fighting to the north of Arras since
Yesterday has taken on a character Of
extreme intensity. The infantry ac-
tions have been numerous and des-
perate, the duel of artillery violent and
continuous.
"We have realized important prog
ress, almost all of which has been
maintained, notwithstanding the fu-
rious counter attacks of the enemy,
some of which were markedly accen-
tuated to-day.
at is especially in the north part of
the sector that we have progressed,
carrying several lines of trenches on
both sides of the road from AK Mou-
lette to Souchez. The Germans are
still holding on in Fond de Buval, but
they are almost completely surrounded.
Advance Toward Souchez.
1--WE made advances yesterday and
to-day toward Souchez, in the direc-
tions northwest, southeast west and
east, in an uninterrupted fashion.
Further to the south we have taken
foot in the park of the Chateau de
Carleul, the moats of which, filled with
water, served as a base for the enemy
defences; captured the cemetery Of
Souchez and gained ground on the
slopes to the southeast Of Souchez chill
1l9), thanks to several brilliant as
saults.
"The gains of yesterday were en-
larged to-day. To the north, TO the
east md 20 the south of Neuyille We
took by assault the enemy's first line,
and at certain points the second line.
The units engaged fought It the point
Of the bayonet and with grenades under
a violent artillery fire.
Our infantry, after having attacked
with great spirit, very etfcaciously sup
ported by fire of neatly three hun
dred thousand shells, was obliged to
make front during the night of Wednes-
day-Thursday against violent and re-
heated counter attacks c-rried out by
large electives, and repulsed them
along the entire front.
I'VE have evacuated only a small
wood conquered yesterday morning to
the south Of qill ll9, which the enemy's
artillery fire rendered uLte1aoie.
German Losses Heavy.
THE Germans brought into the en-
qagement eleven divisions, which suf-
fered extremely heavy losses. On our
side we have suffered serious losses.
The morale of our troops is perfect.
The number Of pri-oners taken by US
exceeds six hundred, including more
{ n twenty officers.
"In Alsace our success continues. We
have taken Altenhof tAlthoD, a
suburb of Metzeral; then Steinbruck.
and we are continuing our progress on
both banks of the Fecht River. The
Germans are setting fire TO Metzeral.
"The number of prisoners who have
fallen into our hands has reached 500,
Of whom ten are officers and twenty
eight non-commissioned officers. To
the war material already reported may
he added three bomb throwers, three
machine guns, some field telephones
and apparatus for the emission Of
asphyxiating gases.
IAN enemy aeroplane has been
brought down by one Of our machines
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