The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-07-07
The CANADIANS
ALMOST IN LENS
Territorial Troops Are Slowly
Fighting Way Through the
Clty's Subures.
FIERCE BATTLE IN STREETS
British Troops Joined in Two Attacks
Within "a Hours-AII Objec-
tiVes Were Gained.

Canadian Headquarters in France,
June 29.-Fighting their way forward
amid a labyrinth of ruined houses over
which the smoke of battle hung
densely, the Canadians at shutdown to-
night were more than half way
through Avion- The attack, which
was the second in twenty-four hours,
was made in conjunction with the Brit
ISL troops, all of whom reached their
detectives.
Hold Reservoir Hill.
On the north the hold upon Reser-
voir Hill was made absolutely by the
gallant advance of the British soldiers
who went forward unchecked, despite
heavy enemy Smelling.
The German trenches on the east
ern side were occupied within half an
hour after the attack began. Through
out the day there had been incessant
artillery activity. The Germans kept
Coulotte and the Lens-Arras road IN
der shrapneI fire throughout the af-
ternoon, evidently to make difficult
the assemblage of troops for a fur
Their advance into Avion.
Their former front line on the out
skirts of Avion also was hammered
with high explosives and considerably
damaged. The Canadian guns did
much counter battery work to the
east of Lens, where most of the en-
emy's guns now are located.
a Terrific Bombardment.
There was comparative calm for a
short time before o'clock. When the
appointed time came on a front of
many miles from the Scarpe to a point
well to the north of Souchez River,
hundreds of guns operated in a ter
rifle cannonade.
Soon Reservoir Hill, Lens itself,
Avion and the region to the south
were hidden behind an almost impene-
| trabIe veil of smoke from bursting
shells. Amid this the infantry, who
had remained inactive throughout the
day, rushed forward.
Big Guns Hold Stage.
Washington, June 28.-Again the
operations along the western front in
France are being carried out mainly
by the artillery wing of the belliger-
ents, according to adYices from the
war front.
The infantry activity, what little
there is of it, is by patrols. In one Of
these minor attacks the Canadians
have occupied an additional trench
astride the Lens-Arras road, but in
another attempt to bite further in the
Lens sector they were repulsed, ac-
cording to the German war office.
Reciprocal bombardments of consid-
cradle intensity, continue to prevail
along the Aisne front, and in Cham
payne and there has also been a re-
newal of the big gun fire in the AYo-
court sector, northwest of Verdun.
Italians Lose Gains.
In the Asiago Plateau zone of the
! Austro-ItaIian theater the Austrian ar
ti11ery has shattered positions taken
recently by the Italians and re-occu-
| pied them. The fighting was on Monte
Ortigara and the Austrians assert that
they captured more than 1900 pris-
oners.
The Rome war office, in admitting
the withdrawal of the Italians, says
the destroyed positions afforded no
shelter to the Italians from the muir
derous fire of the Austrian artillery.
Lively fighting continues between
the Russians and Austro-Germans on
the eastern front, particularly in Ga
licia, south of the Tarnopol railway
and along the Narayuvka river. The
operations on the Macedonian front
continue OF minor Importance, and
there is nothing to be cleaned from
the reports Of the beIligerents to indi-
cate that a general engagement is
brewing. There have, however, been
several smart skirmishes and one at
tack by the enemy, preceded by VIC
lent bombardment against the French
positions. 1t was repulsed.
Expect Fail of Lens Soon.
Washington, June 27.-The slow but
sure enlightenment of Lens, the impor-
tant coal center held by the Germans
in the department Of Pas de Calais, is
in process of consummation by the
Canadians, according to official re
ports from the front. Having already
during the present week captured i'm
portant vantage points west and south
west of the town, a fresh smash al
. the German lines has been rewarded
by the occupation. of the village OF
La Coulotte, situated mile to the
south.