Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-26

SANADIAN
FRANCE. June 26.-Canadian troops
entered the village Of La Coulotte
this morning. The Germans have
withdrawn in this neiEhborhood
from a line about one and three
quarters miles long.
Gen. Petain has resumed his dashing
operations on the Aisne front, and to-
day reports a brilliant success Tor MS
troops in a surprise attack northwest
of Hurtebise. The entire first line OF the
strong German position there was car
ried and held against counter attacks
The Germans were badly cut up. besides
losing more than 800 men in prisoners
1t is in this sector, between Craonne
and Cerny, that the most feasible route
lies to the German fortress of Laon. the
vital support of the whole German line
on the French front. Last nights effort
by the French seems to indicate that
their chief command has no idea OF
letting control Of the situation here sup
from its grip under the nagging tactics
recently adopted by Won Hindenberg.
who has been trying his best by thrusts
here and there to wrest control OF
dominating points from Petains forces
French Official Report.
PARIS. June 26.-The official state
ment of today follows:
After a short bombardment last even
ing our troops made a brilliant attack
northwest of Hurtebise against a
enemy. All our objectives were at
tained. In a few moments we carried
the German first line. Counter attacks
delivered by the enemy at both ends OF
W " r
tillery bombardment. were broken up
by our fire The enemy. surprised by
the rapidity of our attack. suffered
heavy losses. and left In our hands more
GERS.
Several enemy surprise attacks on
posts in the region of Tahure and in
the Argonne were broken up by our
fire..
Lens Is Being Encircled.
BRITISH HEAD QUARTERS IN
FRANCE, June 2s.-The British are clos
ing in about Lens. After the capture on
Sunday of Fosse and enemy trenches
west from the hill and from the lines i'm
medaitely south of the Souchez river sew
eral new positions have been occupied in
this region nearer Lens. Patrols are ad-
vancing across the plains in an easterly
direction. Thus the great mining center
is being slowly encircled. For weeks Lens
has not been exploited economically by
the Germans and now it is directly men
aced by the military.
Canadians Advance Farther.
CANADIAN ARMY HEADQUARTERS
IN FRANCE, June 26.-In their general
advance on Lens the Canadians have
occupied the strongest outpost in the
defense Of that place and have pushed
their troops toward La Coulotte The
m rnrrrry fv1I
the Souchez valley during the last few
weeks has brought signal success to
the British arms with relatively slight
losses.
capture German outposts southwest of
Reservoir Hill. The attack was evident
ly expected The Germans scuttled.
abandoning ground upon which ma
chine-gun fire was imm ediately turned
by Germans located on the hill. This
was speedily followed by heavy artil-
Iery fire, which continued during the
night in the vicinity Of the Lens cleo
trio station.
The enemy's dugouts were searched
and found to be empty.
Drive South of Souchez.
Patrols which were sent out reached |
the summit Of Reservoir Hill without
opposition and pushed on down the
eastern slope. and the strong Lens out
i
while south of the Souchez river the
Canadians drove forward on the heels
of the retiring Germans. Railway en- |
bankments east of Lens electric sta
ton were occupied. The advance was
then continued toward La Coulotte. AS
night fell strong parties were sent out |
to consolidate the positions occupied. |
while patrols were sent forward to
keep in touch with the Germans.
Several days ago the Germans were |
known to be destroying houses in the |
western part of Lens with the object |
of giving a wider area of fire for their |
of clinging to the eastern side of the |
city and prolonging the struggle by |
house-to-house fighting. |
British Official Report.
LONDON, June 2s.-The official report |
from British headquarters in France |
last night read:
Lens was followed up during the day |
on both banks Of the Souchez river.
Substantial progress was made by our |
troops in this area on a front Of about |
one and one-half miles |
"A raid attempted by the enemy last |
night southeast of Ypres was COM |
pletely repulsed by our machine gun |
fire.
There was heavy fighting in the air
yesterday. Five German aeronIanes
were brought down by our machines:
five others were driven down out of |
control. Another hostile machine was |
shot down by our anti-airchaft guns. |
Five Of our aeroplanes are missing
French Elected, Says Berlin.
BERLIN, June 26. via I<ondon.-The |
French troops which penetrated the |
German lines northwest of Hurtebise |
on the Aisne front were subjected to |
counter attack and elected from the |
greater part of the positions they had |
occupied. army headquarters announced
today.
Great quantities of ammunition are |
being expended in artillery fire along |
the front held by Crown Prince Rup- |
precht the British front in Belgium
and northern France. the statement |
declares.