Evening star., 1915-06-05
FRENCH CLAIM CAPTURE
OF SOUCHEZ REFINERY
British Admit They Have Lost Some
Trenches to the Northeast
Of Givenchy.
HEAVY CASUALTIES REPORTED
Kaiser's Forces Said to Have Lost
Severely in Fighting Along
Road From Menin to
Ypres.

LONDON, June 5.-Heavy
German offensive movements.
which have been likened to a
great pendulum swinging first
from the east to the west then
west to east, are about to be re-
sumed north of Arras, on the
plains OF Flanders and in north
ern France, with renewed vigor.
Already there has been sharp
fighting as the pressure against
the allies lines has been height
ened.
Closing of the Belgian frontier
indicates that great bodies of
troops are again being sent into
the western campaign, now that
Przemysl has fallen into Teu-
tonic hands. British forces have
been pressed back at several
points, but the French declare
that they continue their success
full offensive movements. 1t is
admitted, however. that gains
made by either side have been
insignificant when compared to
the enormous casualties.
Severe German Losses.
The Amsterdam Telegraars Bruxes,
Belgium. correspondent reports that
there has been heavy fighting on the
road from Menin to Ypres, with severe
German losses. The allies it is said.
repulsed all attacks. The hospitals at
Courtrai. Roulers and Thourout are
full Of newly wounded men, and long
conveys of wounded are coming from
the User line to Bruges, according to
the correspondent. ....
covering some trenches taken by the
British northeast of Givenchy, and
have stormed the chateau in the viii
lage of Hooge, part of which the Brit
British were compelled to evacuate the
building which they had captured
Monday night.
ASSSA = AsAA6 az SouSACLs
Bitter fighting between the Germans
and French is proceeding near Souchez.
where the French claim to have cap
tured a number of positions and are
now undergoing fierce counter at
tacke.
While the movements of both sides
in the west in themselves are con-
sidered small matters in military Cir
cles here, they are believed to be the
forerunners of resumption OF fight
ing on a large scale.
French Punching Hole"
For some time it has been reported
that the French were slowly driving
out the Germans from strong positions
north Of Arras and were, in the words
of an officer just returned from the
front, punching hole in the German
line" To stop this movement, and
also to relieve their troops. who. ac-
cording to the British accounts. were
suffering very severely from British
ter attacks, the Germans has dis
patched a lot of new troops to the
Arras-Ypres line.
Tells of French Capture.
The capture by the French of the
sugar refinery near Souchez IS de-
scribed in a report given out today by
the official "eye witness at the front
This is what it says:
"Violent attacks on the part of the
French from both the west and tho
south were met by fire of the Ger
man batteries and machine guns locat-
ed on the north side of the refinery
The Germans resisted for some time,
IiZed by the
tillery fire of the French and Withdrew.
..The basement of the factory was
found to be filled with German dead.
while the French losses were slight
Germans Make Attack.
Furious at having lost a position
which would serve as a base for count
er attacks on Ablain. virtually all of
" hich is in the possession of the
French, the Germans made a desperate
effort to regain it. Amid destroyed
walls and great holes in the ground.
made by large shells. the Germans be-
gan their attack at midnight. In this
amid and confused engagement the
French were obliged to Withdraw. but
j counter attack. The French company
which had momentarily yielded later
pushed forward, aided by reinforce
nents and an intense artillery fire.
under which the Germans feared their
retreat would be cut off.
Position Is Organized.
when the French counter attack
lad attained the refinery itself 1t was
'ound that the Germans already had
withdrawn, and the position was
promptly organized by the French.
ouring this work a commissioned
,fflcer remained for eight hours At his
,ost directing his men. and this in
Ipits Of the tact that he had q splinter
rom q she'll in his thigh.
TN 3 period Of three weeks neak4y