The sun., 1915-05-27
BRITISH JAM WEDGE
INTO GERMAN LINES.
Occupy Trenches on 3 Mile
Front East Of Festubert,
Says Field Marshal.
FRENCH HOLD THEIR OWN
Special Cable Despatch 10 TnE sux

British forces have pierced the German
lines east OF Festubert with a three mile
wedge and now occupy the first and sec.
ond line Of the enemy's trenches.
This news came In the form of an Off.
cial statement from Sir John French Is.
sued by the Press Bureau tonight. 1t
Is as follows:
The first army continues its prog
ress east OF Festubert. The territorial
division yesterday carried group of
German trenches. capturing thirty-hve
prisoners. They followed this by cap
turing one officer. twenty-one men and
one machine gun this morning.
Since May rs the First Army has
pierced the enemy's line on total
front Of more than three miles OF
this entire hostile front line system
of trenches has been captured on
front OF 5000 yards. The remaining
portion OF the fret and second line OF
trenches is now in our possession.
The total number OF prisoners taken
is eight officers and 777 men. Ten
machine guns have fallen into our
possession. as well as quantity OF
material equipment, particulars OF
which are unavailable.
The French official communicate tele-
graphed here tonight tells OF the French
holding their own after their great sue
cesses yesterday north Of Arras. In the
face OF desperate attacks of the Germans
they only gave ground once, and that
was when the enemy occupied Tor
short time portion Of the trenches
around the position known as Les Cor
nailles. The Germans were soon after
routed. and In no othc. salient were
they able to make any headway
\ feature OF the day was midair
battle, in winch German aeroplane
which had started for Paris'was beaten
of and finally brought to earth by other
airrnen in scissor. The statement is as
follows.
British troops made new ad-
vance in the direction OF La Bassee,
capturing sixty prisoners. including
several officers and taking also some
machine guns.
North OF Arras the Germans con-
tinued their desperate efforts In the
region OF Angres to recapture the
positions which they lost yesterday.
During the entire day the fighting was
extremely violent. At the position
known as Les Cornailles "A counter
attack by the enemy at first threw us
back, but less than an hour after
ward we recaptured the entire posi-
ton and we have held II since then.
At the breastworks near by the fur
ther TO the south. the enemy. as
result OF furious attacks, recaptured
part OF the northern salient We
were able to hold the western and
part of the southern salients. Be
tween these two defensive positions
and the road from AK Noulette to
Soucnez our attacks made progress
and We gained foothold at several
points in the enemy's line. He has
not been able to reoccupy any OF the
trenches captured by US yesterday.
At the northern edge OF the road
from AK Noulette to Souchez
spirited combat took place in the
woods. The respective positions have
not been modified. Between this road
and the Lorette heights in the ravine
called lie Fond de Buval the enemy's
violent artillery fire was not able to
dislodge us from the position which
we captured yesterday. We have
won new ground
on the northeastern slope OF the
chapel Of Notre Dame de Lorette We
advanced 200 meters despite an In
tense bumbardment. on the outskirts
OF Ablain Saint Nazaire we captured
"A quick firing gun. At Seuville Saint
Vast We Nptured. after a hot ngnt.
group OF houses which formed "A
dangerous salient. The enemy in
these several actions suffered very
heavy losses.
A German aeroplane on its way to
Paris this morning met the flying
squadron OF the capital and was
forced to retreat. In returning 1t
threw bomb on Villenoy near Meaux.
but without apy result.
Aeroplanes at the front were noti-
a.I In In
machine, bringing IL down near Rraine
in the region OF scissors. The two
German aviators were killed, Four
uneXploded bombs were found among
the debris. our aeroplanes success
fully bombarded the aerodrome OF La
Brayeile near Doux, throwing nifty
shells OF 80 kilograms each. The aero
plane sheds and other buildings there
were struck.
The afternoon communque said
The checks inflicted upon the enemy
yesterday in the region OF Angres
and at point to the north or the
heights OF iLorette determined the
Germans to come back with an attack
OF extreme violence. There was furi-
GUS hghtlng last evening and during
last night We were successful In re-
tanning all our gains. Our troops
gave evidence OF magnificent courage
and showed splendid tenac!ty OF pur-
pose.
The Germans in the beginning de-
lvered "A counter attack against the
works captured by us to the northwest
of Angres. Furious attempts TO take
this position were made by them time
and time again. In spite Of the excep-
tIonally intense bombardment 10 which
our troops were subjected we retained
possess lon OF all OF our new positions.
Furthermore, at the end of the day
We occupied almost entirely the posi-
ton near Buval where we gained
footing in the afternoon, Here we are
maintaining ourselves under violent
FIRE AT the same time we have
gained ground on the heights to the
northeast of Loretto and we have
captured trench of the enemy In tho
environs of Souchez.
An artillery engagement Of constd-
erable severity developed yesterday in
the region OF Scissors, There was
another such encounter near Rheims
From the rest of the front no re-
ports have been received.
The following stascment regarding the
op rations OF the allied airmen was ap-
pended to the commuHique
During the day OF May % our avia-
tors showed great activity along the en-
tire front and they were successful in
several cndeavors to lombard the
enemy. They threw down in all 2O3
projectiles or these 81 were large
bombs Of a weight of ten kilos (about go
pounds) each. Fourteen shells weigh
ing 100 kilos GOO pounds) and 40
Weighing 43 kilos I95 pounds) each. to-
gether with other missiles. were thrown
down by our men.
1.-THE efficacy OF this fire was proved
at several points, particularly at the
German aviation park located at Her.