New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-30

3oA, while another French position in
the Avocourt wood was captured. The
two operations melted $50 prisoners.
Berlin Admits Loss
Both Paris and Berlin arc more
frank than usual in admitting their
reverses. Berlin confesses the loss OF
Hindenburg's front line Of defence be
tween Oppy and Gayrellc, after vio-
lent hsnd-to-hsnd fighting. but ac-
knowledges no British success in tho
Lens area. Paris admits that the Ger
mans hold forward trenches both at
Cernv and northwest Of Ncrdun. bu,
minimizes the extent OF the enemy
Gains. and declares that storming
troops were sharply repulsed on the
from. between Craonne and Rheims.
The British enterprises were carried
out 70 force a German evacuation Of
Lens. which seems imminent. and to
crush in the so-called Oppy switch line.
six miles further south. thus opening
the way for an assault on the Notan
line, Hindenburg's final defensive sys-
TEN before Douai
There is reason TO suspect. however,
that il IS not IN this region hat Hslg'
main blow Kill .all, As several strong
German positions north of the Scarpc
River must be reduced before the Brit
ish can undertake general advance
Moreover. the big guns are still pound
ing heavily in Flanders all the way 10
the Channel, especially around the
northern end Of the Wytschaete-M Mes
sines Ridge and over the Belgian 'front.'
German Measures Defensive
The German measures, violent as
thew appear to have been. were essen
tally protective. Evidently the Crown
Princes recent sharp thrusts along the
Chemin- des- Danes were feeling out
operations preparatory 20 heavier
drive to force the French back from the
crest of the plateau overlooking me
Athlete Valley. The extension Of the
fighting beyond the eastern angle OF
this front and against the Corbeny sa-
lient suggests heavier engagements 10
come.
The German attack on the defences Of
Verdun was not surprise. as the ar
tillery had been active there Tor sew
oral DAYS Il is possible the Crown
Prince is beginning his final effort 10
tokc Verdun. but not likely. as the bat
tle remained entirely on the left bank
Of the Meuse. where Nivelle has estab-
Tshed his defenceS at a fairly safe as
tance from the citadel. II is probable
the assault was in the nature OF a
strong diversion 10 drain Petaln's re-
serves from the Aisne front.
Attack in Thunderstorm
The British forward movement seems
10 have been made on a wide front
from Loos to Mericourt and thence al
most all the way 20 Gavrelle, but 10
centred south Of Lens and Oppy. me
Canadians, who are evidently depended
upon TO take Lens, began their attack
i'm a wild thunderstorm last night ana
moved forward in a drenching ram. ne
last dispatches reported them hall way
through Avion and still going ahead.
Just northwest Of Avion lies the knot
OF intersecting rail lines. the loss oil
which would practically isolate the Ger
mans in the coal city.
Oppy is the pillar Of the Oppy switch
line ard a stronghold that can hardly
be taken i'm frontal assault. ConSe-
auently, the British arc trying TO turn
Il from the south Berlin says Haig s
storming waves were constantly rem
forced. despite heavy losses. until the
German defenders were shouldered out
Of their trenches.
Sharp Battle on Aisne
According to Paris, the battle around
Cernv was stubborn. The first repeat
ed German attacks were broken. but
the enemy finally gained a footing from
which he was soon expelled. Finally,