Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-08
GERMANS WEAKLY
ATTACK THE BRITISH
Haig's Men Seize 5000 Pris-
oners in Advance to Three
Mile Depth.
TAKE MANY TEUT0N GUNS


tatingly before the tremendous thrust
which the British have delivered into
the long-held German line in Belgium.
Only weak counter attacks were re-
ported during last night, according to
the unofficial accounts from the battle
field. and Gen. Haig's troops have held
all the ground they won, which reaches
at points depth of nearly three miles.
The force of the British drive is only
in part indicated by the reports of more
than 5000 prisoners taken. More Ger
mans raked in by the British net are
being sent rearward. and there yet re-
main to be enumerated the many guns
taken. Several batteries are known to
have fallen into British hands, the cor
respondents say. and prisoners tell OF
the destruction Of scores Of German
guns by British shells during the ter
rife bombardment that preceded the at
tack.
While the counter attacks so far do
1ivered have not been in great force
extremely heavy loses to the Germans.
the rush OF German reserves into the
fray cannot be much longer delayed.
and much furious fighting is to be ex-
pected before the attack can be pressed
further into German-held territory.
Germans Rushed Forward.
being rushed forward by Field Mar
shal Won Hindenburg in an effort to
ste m the British torrent which has
swept over the heights dominating the
Lille plain. AS every succeeding clash
between the mighty armies on the
western front has dwarfed the one
which preceded it. so the initial phase
nP hot 10 nf
be merely a prelude to the struggle
which is to come.
The British thrust follows almost on
the heels of the triumphant announce
ment by the German emperor that the
allied offensive in the west had been
definitely checked. bearing out reports
that the Germans had underestimated
the power and resources Of their foes
and were not ready to Withstand the
terrific blow which fell upon them.
From the captured heights the British
guns today are sending their message
of death across a low and level plain
of scarcely five miles in breadth which
separates them from the industrial
capital Of northern France.
Chance to outfank Ridge.
Lille is the chief Of a little group Of
three cities in which prior to the war
centered Frances great textile indus
tries. 1t formerly had a population Of
10000 and its two sister cities, Rou-
baix and Turcoing, were the homes Of
about an equal number. Turcoing and
Roubaix stand on, rising ground from
four to six miles northwest of Lille,
the only high land now In front of the
British. To their right, however, Lille
is protected by a ridge which stands
between it and Armentfefes. the town
on which the right wing Of the attack
ing British army rests. An advance
into the plain will outfiank this ridge.
More Prisoners Coming In.
Correspondence Of the Associated Press.
BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE, June 8. via London.-The
number Of prisoners reaching the COL
lecting stations since the beginning
yesterday of the new British drive in
Belgium has now reached more than
\ No estimate of the number of guns
captured is yet possible. although 1t Is
known several German batteries were
taken practically intact. Prisoners say
that scores Of German guns were de-
stroyed during the British lombard
ment.
The night passed quietly on the front
Of the new attack, all the conquered
territory being held.
The German losses in their counter
attacks were terrible. The full depth
of the British attack was 5000 yards.
InTee counter dltdChS Dy Ine IerIQanS,
which were not delivered in great force.
were broken up last night.
Aware of Coming Blow.
The Germans. though apparently
aware that the blow was coming and
seemingly prepared to meet 1t, were
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
attacks the Germans could fling against
it. including the first great surprise
of poison gas as a means of supposed
civilized warfare.
Ypres in a sense was avenged yester-
day. for Messines ridge has been the
vantage 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 vainly to hold 1T when the Prussian
troops massed their modern and over
poWering weapons of war against it,
Lacks Elements of Surprise.
The attack lacked many of the ele-
ments OF surprise which accompanied
the battle of Arras and the successfui
storming Of Vimy ridge There has
been no doubt for three weeks mast 90
to the intentions of the British. The