The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1917-06-08
British Guns Command Lille,
Industrial Capital of
Northern France
BATTLE DWARFS
PREVIOUS ONES
Thrust is Answer to German
Claim That Offense
Was Ended r.

being rushed forward by Field
Marshal Won Hindenburg in an
effort to stem the British torrent
which has swept over the heights
dominating the Lille plains and
which threatens to sweep the
Teutons from the great industrial
sections of France.
As every succeeding clash be-
tween the mighty armies on the
western front dwarfs the preced-
ing one, so the initial one of the
battle of Messines, promises to be
merely a prelude to the struggle
which is to come.
The British thrust follows al
most on the heels of the triumph
ant announcement by the German
emperor that the allied offensive
in the west had been definitely
checked, bearing out reports that
the Germans have underestimated
the power and resources of their
foes and were not ready to with
stand the terrific British blows.
From the captured heights the Brit
ish guns today are sending their mes-
sage Of death across low and level
plain OF scarcely FIVE miles in breadth
which separates them from the indus
trial capital of northern France. Lille
is the chief OF little group of three
cities In which prior to the war center
a. Fran npS1ta
formerly had a population OF 100000
and its two sister cities Of Roubaix and
Tourcoing were the homes of about an
equal number. Tourcoing and Roubafx
stand on rising ground from four to
six miles northwest OF Lille, the only
high land in front of the British. To
the right Lille Is protected by a ridge
which stands between 1t and Armen-
there's. An advance on to that place
will outfiank this ridge.
Battle news Is timed with the ar
rival OF reassuring reports from Rus
sia. The surrender of the Kronstadt
secessionists has been followed by re-
ports OF the enthusiastic reception ac-
corded Minister of War Kerensky on
his tour OF the Russian 'front.' The en-
ergy with which the minister has act
ed to restore the morale and discipline
OF the Russian army has aptly had its
reward and revived hope that the great
Slavic country may soon make her
military power felt again on the east
ern battle line.
There has been renewed activity on
the French front near st. Quentin.
The artillery has been strongly en-
gagged and the Germans apparently
were preparing to attack last night.
The French guns however, broke up
the attack In its incipiency. While
the British are delivering their con-
centrated attack on land in Belgium
their air forces are active. Operations
in the vicinity of Dixmude in which
three German machines were put out
Of action were reported today.
A semi official report says Austria
has made a formidable concentration
Of forces on the Italian front by the
withdrawal of troops from the Rus
sian front. The statement asserts the
Italians are confronted by two-thirds
OF the Austrian army.
Six Thousand Prisoners.
British Headquarters in France. via
London, June 8.-(From staff cor
respondent OF The Associated Press)
Tho number Of prisoners reaching
the collecting stations since the Begin
ming yesterday of the new British
drive in Belgium has now reached
more than 5000. Many more prisoners
are coming In.
No estimate Of the number of guns
captured is yet possible but several
German batteries were taken practi-
cally intact. Prisoners say scores Of
the bombardment.
All the conquered territory has been
held.
The German losses in the counter
attack were terrible. The full depth OF
the British attack was 5000 yards.
Three counter attacks by the Germans
which were not delivered In great
force, were repulsed last night.
Terrific Explosions.
London, June S.-An the special
correspondents at the front in their
description of the Messines battle feat
ure the Tremendous explosions OF
mines which preceded the British ad-
vance.
"The earth opened and the German
line disappeared" Is one terse descrip-
Every writer likens the effect on the
surrounding terrain to an earthquake.
Cne says that the hill on which he
stood shook like jelly. Another says.
I'VE saw what might have been the
doors thrown open in front Of huge
blast furnaces. They appeared in pairs
and threes and singles and with each
blast the earth shook and shivered."
1T was worse than an earthquake
said some one who had known one Of
the worst earthquakes Thunder
clouds Of smoke rose to immense
heights while our eyes were filled with
the horrible spectacle.
I'VE saw familiar landscape already
pIowed and narrowed by the war van-
fish or assume grotesque shapes. Hill
so went UP in fine dust"
Germans Retire
Berlin, via London, June s.-<Ine
German forces on the Belgian front
have withdrawn from the salient pro-
trndina westward between the canaI.g