New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-08
Villages and Heights
Seized; German De-
fences Overrun
A Million Pounds
Of Explosives Used
New Attack Eliminates
the Salient Near
Wytschaete

Belgium struck to-day the most ener-
getic blow they have yet delivered
against the German lines.
The attack, preceded by gusts OF
drum fire and the detonation of a mill
ion pounds of high explosives under
the German positions, was begun be-
meath a summer moon over a nine-mile
front, lying roughly between Ypres and
Armentieres. 1t was pressed throughout
the day, with a second strong thrust
in the afternoon, and resulted in
the elimination of the "Wytschaete
bend" the capture and consolidation OF
the entire Messines ridge, the storming
of a number of villages, including Mes.
sines, Wytschaete and Ostaaverne, tho
penetration of the German front and
rear defences over most Of the front
and the capture of more than 5000
prisoners and many guns.
The preliminary explosions which
heralded the British advance are said
to have far exceeded anything of the
sort attempted during the war. They
were prepared over period of nearly
two years, and the effect of the burst
ing mines on the masses Of Germans
herded into the trenches in preparation
for the long-awaited British offensive
is said to have been overwhelming and
deadly. Thousands of the enemy ars
L i A l. L..
Complete Success
The British success to-day is COM
parable only with the storming of Vimy
Ridge by the Canadians at the begin
ming Of the Battle of Arras. 1t was
even more complete. Apparently on
the northern portion of the battlefield
Haig's forces have ruptured the entire
Hindenburg defensive system, as the
War Office reports the occupation Of
Ostaaverne, two and half miles east
of the former British line, as well as
the seizure of the German rear fortif-
cations beyond the village on five
mile front.
On the southern half OF the battle
front the Germans apparently were
able to rally from the shock of the al
most volcanic explosions of the morn
ing In the afternoon they delivered
counter attack with reserves gathered
at Warneton, on the Ypres-Comines
road, but it was wholly broken up hy
an effective British barrage.
Berlin bulletins indicate that the
British attack extended over a thirty
mile front, as far south as the banks
of the Scarpe, east Of Arras. The day
bulletin mentioned only the beginning
of the assault after extensive explo-
sions" and drum fire Of extraordinary
violence" The night bulletin admits
that "in the Wytschaete salient the
enemy has broken into our foremost
position zone" and adds that "the fuct-
uating battle still continues violently"
Such prompt admissions are not usual
from the German War Office.
British Dominate Region
The immediate effect of the British
victory is to give them the domination
Of the entire region surrounding the
fighting area. The line of hills be-
tween Wytschacte and Messines is only
about half the height of vimy ridge,
but it is tho only highland for miles
around. IL overlooks and controls a
fiat agricultural country. Vimy ridge
wa3 captured only after several days
of heavy lighting, though the Cana
dians swarmed 10 the crest during tho
frs. days attack.
Apparently the English, Irish, Aus
tralian and New Zealand contingents
used in to-days fighting cleared the
crest of the Messines ridge and swept
down well beyond il, absorbing much
of the German defence system at the
base of the angle which General Haig
strove to crush IN.
Incidentally, in erasing the three
mile German salient in this region the
british have secured relief for Ypres.
which has been ALMOST battered into
heap bv two years and a half of Ger.
man she'll fire directed from the high
ground about Wytschaete.
Threat to Lille
The victory is a direct threat against
the German occupation of Lille, Rou'
baix and Turcoing, the clustered cities
which form the industrial centre OF
Northern France. Two lines of heights
bv which Hindenburg maintained his
grip in this region are now both IN
British hands. With the Wytschaete
bend no longer in existence, the map
shows that the British fighting 'front.'
ia gradually enfolding Lille, both from
the north and the south, while at some
points the British soldiers are less
than five miles from the city.
The gains registered east Of Arras'
toward Douai. are already a dangerous
menace 20 the south Of Lille, while to-
davis success begins a similar enveiop-
ING movement from the north. IN
terms Of fighting, the British armies
are still long way from the city but
il is clear that the familiar "pinchinS
strategy is being applied. The north
Il .o,,,h nrashre exerted on Lens,