Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-06-07
BRITISH ARTILLERY
POUNDED DEFENSES
LONG BEFORE DRIVE
English General Proves that
He Had Not Lost
Initiative.
RUSSIAN AFFAIRS
BRIGHTER TODAY
United States Part in War
Becomes More Appar-
ent Daily.
(By Associated Press.)

General Haig has launched his ex-
pected blow at the German lines in
Belgium striking early this morning
along nine-mile front on the Mes
sines-Wytschaete ridge between Ypres
and Lille.
Success marked the opening of the
offensive, the British winning all their
initial objectivps and pushing on.
Their further progress is reported to
be satisfactory along the whole front.
While a considerable stretch sep
arates the f1eM of this new offensive
from that of Atras the operation may
be considered as in conjunction with
the continuing battle on the Arras
front sweeping salient in front OF
Lille has been created by the Arras
lient is now under threat from both
the north and the south.
Belying the recent German boast
that the British offensive from Arras
has come to a halt, General Haig ear
lier this week proved that he had not
lost his initiative, thereby making
successful drive to the south of Lens.
carrying mile of the German front
north Of the Scarpe.
1.-The reverberations from this blow
hNh hardly died away before today's
II
of the Lille salient.
A sharp, we'll defined curve in. the
German line, about three miles deep
and the same distance across. is the
immediate object of this new attack.
In common with other sections Of the
line in Belgium along front Of some
thirty miles, its defenses had been
subjected to a tremendous pounding
by the British artillery for days.
The French front is comparatively
quiet. The only developments Of note
last night was German attack north
west Of st. Quentin. This was quickly
checked by the. French hres ,,.ss.l sls Az.
Conditions In Russia appear rhors,
promising from several angles.
Today brings new indications Of
the increasing part the United States
is daily taking part in the war.
Capture French Positions.
Berlin. Via London, June Ger
man troops yesterday captured French
positions for an extent of nearly one
and one-quarter miles along the
Chemin-des- Danes front south of
Pargny-Filain. in the Aisne region,
says the official statement issued to-
day by the German army headquar.
ters staff.
Early today the German statement
says:
The battle in Flanders fully hared
up at most extensive explosions and
most violent drum fire."
Panic Among Germans.
British headquarters in France.
(via London), June 7.-(From starr
correspondent of the Associate
Press)-The British rush this morn
ing on the MessinesWytschaete ridge
Of the Belgian front took them we'll
over the ridge, where they are now
entreching.
More than one million pounds Of
high explosives was blown up under
the German forward positions. This.
the most gigantic mining operations
in the history of war, spread panic
among the Germans.
The British in their attack today
probably used 20 per cent more guns.
especially those Of heavy calibers.
than they employed in the battle of
Arras.
The villages of Messines was report
ed to have been taken early in the
fighting. 1t was also reported that
Lenfer and Zareeba has fallen and
that Wytschaete had been surrounded
by the British storming troops
Tanks were in the thick of the
fighting. More than 1000 Germans
were taken prisoners early In the en-
gagement.
The fighting continues under mid
summer sun. The Germans have not
iyet rallied for the expected counter
attack.