The Sentinel=record., 1917-06-08
BRITISH OPEN BATTLE
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 Al the prisoners say the Germans had been expecting the attack. but were taken completely by surprise by he hour at which it was launched and the fury with which it was car Tied forward They had been com. pletely dazed by the most gigantic mining operations yet carried out in the world war.
 More than one million pounds Of high explosives had been placed under he ground in forward positions dur | ing the last twelve months and the Iupheaval of a score Of separate mines spread panic among the troops already 1 narassed as they wefe to the point tt dislnaction by seven days and nights Of fire from the greatest concentra. tiOn of guns on given front since the war begun. The battle Of Arras apparently had reached he Il tima Q in this respect, but today's Lombard ment was carried out by 20 per cent more guns, especially guns Of heavy calibre
 The AIessines ridge has long been thorn in the side oi he British. They were driven from it in those perilous days of October. 1914, when with weak lines and virtually no artillery they 0ravely but forlornly attempted to hold this point Of vantage.
 If all of the British gains are held the pressure on poor old Ypres, which has resisted every effort of the Ger mans. will be effectually relieved. Not much is left or Tpres, but its crumbl- ing walls and brick dust, but the Brit sIh have held it the last important landmark which survived in thc little E ngdom overran by the Germans in
 heir mad dash against France.
 The British 0bscured observation by ,ue ol the most effective smoke bar ricades ever set up The attack came a dawn win the full moon still high Ia the heavens Mine explosions were the signals for the turning on of all
 he gu1s which were employed in dropping a curtain of fire that swep. before the British attacking units. Meanwhile other guns were hurlug nigh explosive shells agalnst all the ierman communications while still others were spraying the German bat teries with a de uge Of gas shells.
 As the results Of this artillery cO- operation the German guns were ef.ec- ually sienced during the initial stages lf the attack and the British casual ties were consequently light
 it was not long after dhe battle started that Messines village was re ported captured Then came word that the tHosplce of Lenfre and Ia retia (Zareeba) had fallen and that Wytschaete, n the very nose of the German sa ent, jast south Of Ypres was being surrounded
 Important trench positions were taken all the way from Observation Ridge, southeast Of Ypres to Ploeg steer wood, north of Armentiers One Of the most formidable Of these was Damstrass. which the British fire had all but oLliterated. Other positions
 aken were known as the "Ungodly trenches. "Schnetzel farms" and bat tie wood The troops fighting today were English. irish, New Zealanders and Australians.
 Having expected that there would be an offensive near Ypres he German lad been rushing guns and new di- visions Co this section daring the past TWO weeks.
 Todays attack lacked many of The clements of surprise which accom- panied the baii e Of Arras and the suc- cessfa stormng Of Vmy ridge as there has been no douhi for three weeks past as to the Intentions Of the British
 The Germans knew that @ big push