New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-08
time. is a smaller illustration Of the
same tactics.
Arras Drive Foreshadoved

time. is a smaller illustration Of the
same tactics.
trrss Drive ForeshadoWed
Il Is inconceivabie that the British
do not mean 20 extend the present
major offensive to the Arras battle
6eld. The heavy artillery fire main
tanned i'm this sector. the constant
raids. the frequent stubborn encoun-
teTs for small posts, give every m
dcation that this is their intention: II
is not likely that they will sacrihce
the fruits Of two months hard
hshting for the chances involved IN
new adventure and it is highly probable
that the two sectors will both become
the scenes Of extended battles.
ON tho Arras front Haig's forces are
almost face TO face with Hindenourg
Wotan line. This is but thin barrier
to the conquest Of Douai and the CON
seouent SCATTERING of the whole Ger
man defence system IN northern
France. l. is also probable that the
fighting will extend into the sector De
tween Cambria and st. Quentin, where
there has been pause since shortly
after the IIindenburg retreat. IN al
likelihood the battle Of Arras was but
a preliminary operation TO the great
engagements now initiated by the sue
cessful assault upon the Wytschaete
bend. IL. $50,
Nearly two years Of preparation went
ia make to-day's advance success.
'rbrouobout that period British sap
ners and miners were busy burrowing
tn,lor the German Notifications, when
were penetrated by q maze or suD.sur-
face channels ard loaded with a million
pounds Of explosives.
A few minutes after O'Clock TINS
morning more than twenty OF these
great mines blaZed of with detona-
ton that was heard clear across the
English Channel. Observers at the
front say the effect can be compared
only to that of an earthquake. Large
sections OF the German positions were
literally blasted off the map. Inc
cncuv occupants were killed, dazed or
stunned so that the advancing troops,
protected by "a curtain Of fire flung
before the German reserve bases, went
forward with comparatively slight
losses.
Every picturesque or terrible ele-
mcnt which helps to constitute modern
warfare was present in to-day's action.
Though the British troops gathered IN
hattie formation within their own lines
under full moonlight, their movements
were hidden BY an elaborate barrage
Of smoke which was sent up over the
whole front. The fire of the massed
batteries. which had been intense for
ten days, rose to an even more active
pitch of drum fire. The wide-h ing
fare and shock of the mine explosions
was really the order Of advance and
the soldiers, preceded by flock OF
he az r4a
Mans Land. BY the time the sun was
well ND all their first detectives had
been won.
These conduests were built upon for
another strong push in the afternoon;
which carried the victorious Ihlrd
Army, under General Sir Herbert I. w.
Plumer. to positions straddling the
base Of what had formerly been the
Wvtschaete bend. In the early opera
tions 1900 prisoners were TAKEN ana up
IN 40 in the afternoon total OF
something over 5000 had been counted
and sent to the rear. The cannon,
trench mortars and machine guns sun
remain uncounted. but in such deep
advance many were undoubtedly cap
To.dav's British fighting front IS
officially given as from south OF ~"
Douve Brook 10 north of Mount Sorrel.
In addition to the towns mentioned Dy
Tho War Office as occupied, correspon-
dents at the front declare the villages
of Lenfer and zsreeba were stormed'
as we'll as fortified positions from
Ploegsteert Wood. north OF Armen-
torres to Observatory Ridge, below
Ynres. The German trenches absorbed
were complicated concrete sS.m G sirasse.a
"ffnso5lv Trench" "SchnItzel Farms
and "Battlewood." These fortifcatons
the Germans haze occupied and de-
yeioped since the third battle OF ipres
in 1915. ,.h.d
Though the British bombardment had
covered fortnight the Germans seem
to have been surprised by the he; Assault sa;ac
One Of their regiments was just beng
relieved at the moment OF attack. Inc
Comparatively co feeble resistance offered
by hindenburg's forces suggests that
the extent and thoroughness of the
British preparations had been under
estimated at German headquarters.