Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-06-12
Associated Press Summary. I

ASSOCIATED Press Summary
The wiplng out OF the German sail
ent at Messines appears, in the light
Of later developments to be merely
the prelude to a projected battle OF
far mightier description after a Ger.
man reaction-of a surprisingly feeble
character. The British have resumed
trench raids over a front reaching
from north Of Ypres to as far south as
Epehy, distance of about seventy
miles as the crow dies but far more
than that along the tortuous winding.
Of the battle front.
The official announcement regarding
operations north OF Ypres is especially
interesting in view Of the recent fire.
quently reported heavy artillery firing
on the Belgian front. Some weeks ago
the Germans made voluntary retire.
ment from in front OF the Belgian lines.
a fact little noted at the time in the
pressure of greater events. From
Ypres the allied front curves sharply
to the sea and an advance here would
threaten the German hold on their
great Submarine bases on the Belgian
coast. Ostepd and Zeebrugge.
FIGHTING in MACEDONIA.
/ In the meantime there are indfcA.
t1ons that General Sarrail is preparing
I, t. resume the offensive An Macedonia,
the Bulgarian officia1 announcement
, reporting a great increase in the
violence Of the allied artillery hre on
| this front Considerable fighting has
been going on in Macedonia for a
month>or more but the neagemess Of
the OH icial reports and the SURPRISING
interest Of events In France have conf
bined to obscure the exact situation.
! Another gleam Of light has pierced
the dark clouds hanging over Russia,
| The Cossacks have again voiced their
determination to support the provision.
al government and there are indica.
tions that they Will receive strong
backing from the peasants This cheer
ing news comes on the heels OF the
publication Of President Wilson's mes
sage to Russia which is hailed by the
British press as not only a great state
document but powerful reinforce
ment to the men who are striving for
law and order in the infant republic.
BRITISH MAKE ADVANCE.
London, June 1.-THE British have
made an additional advance south OF
Messines. according to an official state
ment issued by the war once this
morning.
The statement says:
There was considerable artillery
activity on both sides during the night
east Of Epehy Bodies of hostile troops
assembling in the area were dispersed
by our fire.
1--WE made a successful raid last
night southwest Of La Bassee. Much
damage was done to the enemy's
trenches and mine galleries. and pris-
oners were captured.
Parties Of our troops also raided
German positions east Of Vermelles
and south OF Armentieres. They in
flicted a number Of casualties on the
enemy.
"Our own and the enemy's artillery
showed great activity last night south
Of Ypres."
SHIPS LEAVE oSTENO.
An admiralty official statement
reads:
"The vice admiral at Dover reports
that the latest reconnaissance Of
Ostend shows that all large shipping
has been removed from that harbor.
Two destroyers lately reported as be-
ing towed to Zeebrugge are probably
those damaged during the lombard
ment. which have been removed from
the basin
'The harbor presents deserted ap-
pearance."
Ostend 10 now seriously threatened (
from the land side. 1t Is less than ten
miles north ct the extreme Belgian
left flank. which rests IN Westende.
The French Official report yesterday
told Of heavy artillery firing IN the
Westcnde Nieuport sector The recent
British aucccsses indicate an effort to
roll back the entire German right
wing
ITALIANS RESUME DRI6E.
Rome, June 1.-THE Italians have
resumed the offensive. Todsy's official
statment says they have captured
Monte Ortigara east OF Gina undice
and have carried Angelic pass.
ARTILLERY IN DUEL.
Paris, June IL. There was active
artillery fighting last night north Of