Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-18
SWEEPING GAINS
MADE BY FRENCH
AT THREE POINTS
Drive Germans From Their
Trenches With Hand Gren-
ades and Bayonets.
EARTHWORKS SWEPT AWAY
AS IF BY TIDAL. WAVE
In Preparation for Infantry At
tack, 100000 Shells Are
Fired.
SWEEPING TOWARD SOUCHEz
Berlin Claims Russians Retreating
Over Own Frontier to
Tarnogrod.
EARTHWORKS SWEPT AWAY
AS IF BY TIDAL. WAVE
TOWARD soUcHEz
Berlin Claims Russians Retreating
Over Own Frontier to
Tarnogrod.

Especial Gable to The Times -Dispatch.1
LONDON, Juno 17.-Sweeplng sue
cesses of the most brilliant character
have attended the French offensive, not
only to the north of Arras, but in
Alsace as we'll. Widespread gains, In
which heavy losses were inflicted upon
the Germans. are reported in the mid
night communique received here from
Paris. All the fighting of the last two
days has resulted favorably to the
French, this statement AYERS.
Three decisive victories stand out
among the multitude of local successes
reported by the French War Office
These are:
/. North, south and east Of Neuville
Here under an iron curtain of explosive
shells the French. with hand grenade
and bayonet. hurled the Germans out
of the entire first line of trenches
and parts of the second. In prepara-
ton for the infantry attack, the almost
unprecedented number Of 100000 shells
were fired. The German earthworks
and entanglements were swept away
as by tidal wave. and many of their
concrete trenches were but shattered
ruins when the victors took possession
Violent counterattacks. directed by a
heavy force of Germans. estimated to
have consisted of fully eleven divisions.
were broken by the French fire, and
all the gains were maintained, with
the exception of a small patch of woods.
which was rendered untenable by the
German long range artillery fire.
FRENCH FORCES SWEEP
FORWARD TOWARD TOWN
2. North, west and south of Souchez.
their progress almost uninterrupted.
the French have swept forward to-
wards the town, one of the most i'm
portant points held by the Germans In
the defense of Lens. The cemetery has
been carried by the French, who,
sweeping on beyond. have won con-
siderable ground on the slopes to the
southeast of the towns. Further south
the French have won a footing in the
park of the Chateau OF Carleul. whose
bitches. filled with water, served as n
base of defense for the Germans. All
these gains have been maintained in
the face Of violent counterattacks, the
official communique records.
3. In Alsace. successfully advancing
between the Valleys of the Fecht and
LAUGH. the French have taken Alterhof.
across the Fetch from Metzeral, and.
sweeping forward, have taken Stein
bruck by storm. In this lighting, all of
which is in German territory, the vic
tors have captured more than 500
prisoners, including a number Of Of
ficers, and a quantity of material.
among which cylinders for the ennis
sion of poison gas were found.
INCENDIARY SHELLS
FIRED AT CATHEDRAL
The French War Office tonight re-
peated its assertion that incendiary
shells had been fired by the Germans
at the Rheims Cathedral Earlier in
the day an official statement issued at
Berlin had denied that the cathedral
nad been bombarded. stating that the
smells were directed at a barracks to
the east.
The same statement admitted that the
FRENCH had occupied the German
trenches on front OF 500 meters a
little less than 400 yards, south of
Souchez. The French attacks in the
Vosges were reported brought To a
halt, although it was admitted that the
attacking troops had made gains in
the direction OF Metzeral.
The Germans are strictly on ths do
fensive on the entire western front,
their defensive taking the form of Wig
orous counterattacks which keen large
forces OF French and British engaged.
Berlin to-day reported the clearing OF
their trenches near La Bassee OF the
British as had previously been admitted
by Sir John French