Evening star., 1915-06-18
FRENCH STATEMENT.
PARIS. June IS, 2,4o pm.

PARIS, June ~, 2:4O pm.
The report on the progress of hostili-
ties issued by the French war Office
this afternoon consisted of ten
words. 1t said there was Moth
ing to add to the announcement
given out last night. Last nights
official statement reads:
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 character
of extreme intensity. The infantry
actions have been numerous and des-
perate: the duel of artillery violent
and continuous.
We have realized important progress
almost all of which has been main
counter attacks of the enemy. some
of which were markedly accentuated
today.
1t is especially in the north part of the
sector that we have progressed, car
rying several lines of trenches on
both sides Of the road from AK Hou
Iette to Souchez. The Germans are
still holding on in the Fond de Bu-
val. but they are almost completely
surrounded.
day toward Souchez. in the direc-
tions northwest. southeast. west and
east. in an uninterrupted fashion.
Farther 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 defenses; captured the ceme-
terry of Souchez and gained ground
on the slopes to the southeast OF
Souchez Chill 119), thanks to several
brilliant assaults.
The gains of yesterday were enlarged
today. To the north. to the east and
to the south of Neuville We took by
assault the enemy's first line. and at
certain points the second line. The
units engaged fought at the point of
the bayonet and with grenades under
a violent artillery fire.
Our infantry. after having attacked
with great spirit. very enicaciously
supported by hre Of nearly 100000
during the night of Wednesday
Thursday against violent and repeat
ed counter attacks carried out by
large electives. and repulsed them
along the entire front
We have evacuated only a small wood
conquered yesterday morning to the
south of hill 113. which the enemy's g
artillery fire rendered untenable.
The Germans brought into the engage
ment eleven divisions, which suffered
extremely heavy losses. The morale
Of our troops is perfect The num-
her of prisoners taken by us exceeds
800 including more than 20 officers.
Our air squadrons have effectively
DOmDarQeO the enemyS reserves at
Givenchy and In the forest Of La
Folie. and dispersed contingents in
the act Of taking up their forma-
tions.
The grave check suffered by the enemy
in his counter attacks at Quepne-
vieres ie confirmed by the great
number of German dead found In front
OF our trenches
A long-range piece has twice bonn
barded Villers- -Cotterets. One per-
son was wounded.
At Rheims an examination of the
points where German projectiles fell
establishes the fact that more than
eighty shells, several of which were
OF 1ncendiary type. have fallen on
the town, and more particularly on
the cathedral.
In Alsace our success continues. We
have taken Altenhof fAlthof), sub
urb of Metzeral; then Steinbruck.
and We are continuing our progress
on both banks of the Fecht river
The Germans are setting fire to Met
zeral
The number of prisoners who have
failen into our hands has reached
800. OF whom 10 are officers and 2S
non-commissioned officers. To the
war material already reported may
be added three bomb throwers. three
machine guns. some field telephones
and apparatus for the emission of
asphyxiating gases.
An enemy aeroplane has been brought
down by one of our ma chimes in Al =
SAGE. The two German aviators were
killed