The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-06-16
BRITISH IN GREAT
DRIVE IN BELGIUM
Gen. Haig Launches Successful
Attack on Nine Mile Front
Near Ypres.
MESSINES RIDGE CAPTURED
Without Stopping for Rest British
Make Second Drive Capturing Sew
eraI Strong Positions.

London, June S.-The British armies
struck today on q new front and won
a victory which supplements the sue
cesses at Arras IN the last two months
The Germans, though apparently
aware that the blow was coming and
seemingly prepared TO meet 1t, we're
driven from their nearly three years
hold on Messines Ridge, opposite poor
old Ypres,' the last remnant Of an i'm
portant Belgian town, which, with the
help of the French and British in turn,
has held out against all the massed at
tacks the Germans could fling against
it, including the first great surprise
Of poison gas as q means Of supposed
civilized warfare.
Ypres in a sense was avenged today,
for Messines Ridge has been the van
tage point from which the Germans
have poured torrents of shells into the
stricken city. The British also wiped
off an old score against the Germans,
for they held the ridge in October,
1914, and with very thin forces and
virtually no artillery fought blOodily,
but Yainly, to hold it when the Prus-
sian troops massed their modern and
overpowering weapons Of war against
il.
Fiercest Big Gun Fire.
Today's attack lacked many Of the
elements of surprise which aecompa-
MED the Battle of Arras and the sue
cessful storming of Vimy Ridge. There
has been no doubt for three weeks
past as to the intentions of the Brit
/ ish.
The Germans knew that a big push
was to be made against Messines and
/ they had plenty of time to prepare for
/ the defense of that place. Prisoners
! taken today, however, declared that
/ the bombardment of Vimy was child's
: play compared with the gunfire turn
1 ed upon Messines.
This fire reached its climax Just as
dawn was craving the eastern skies
and while the full moon was still sus-
pended high in the heavens. Today's
successes won all along about a 10
4 mile front proved another triumph for
4 British artillery supremacy.
As the fighting was wholly On Bel
/ gian soil, however, the Belgian aTtil-
/ lery stationed some distance north OF
/ the actual line of attack, lent aid with
/ a violent bombardment Of the German
/ positions within range Of its varied
/ calibered weapons.
Made Second Drive.
The British troops made q second
drive and carried the village Of COST
taverne and the German positions east
of the village over an extent OF five
miles, it is officially announced to-
night
The German casualties were very
heavy, and the British took more than
/ five Thousand prisoners, many guns,
trench mortars and machine guns.
Germans Admit Losses.
Berlin, June Sin the Wytschaete
salient the e2emy has broken into CUR
foremost positions zone," the German
! official communication issued tonight
says.
THE fluctuating battle still con-
tinues VIOLENTLY" the communication
adds
Advance Along ScarPe River, Too
London, June THE British troops
/ have captured German positions north
OF the Scarpe river over a front OF
about mile, according to the official
report from headquarters tonight The
text reads:
1.-THE operations commenced last
night north Of the Scarpe we're sue
cessfuIly completed today and all our
objects gained We have captured
the enemy's position on the western
slopes of Greenland Hill on a front OF
about mile and taken 162 prisoners,
including four officers
Artillery Activity Is Great
I'VE have also captured few pris-
oners as q result of raids carried out
early this morning north Of Ypres-
There has been considerable artil-
lery activity again on both sides at a
number Of points along our 'front.' par
I ticularly on the north bank OF the
Scarpe and n the neighborhood OF
I Vimy Village, Armentieres and Ypres.
Activity in the air continued yes
terday. Eight German airplanes we're
brought down in the air fighting, one
Of which fell within our lines. Eight
others were driven down out Of con-
/ troll Seven of our machines are miss