Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-08
STARTS HIS DRIVE
IN EARLY MORNING..
ON 9-M|LE FRONT
Captures Villages and NJ.
merous Points of
Vantage.
ALSO lNFLICTS HEAVY a;FI, .',
CASUALTIES. ON GERMANS
Mines Loosed in Front of Enemy
Positions Containing l,ooo,-.-
600 Pounds of Explosives. i
CREATES CoNsTERNATIoN
y "
Probably Never in History Is Attack
Launched With Greater Prep.
aration.
CREATES CoNsTERNATIoN
Probably Never in History Is Attack
Launched With Greater Prep.
aratiOn. y,

In one of the most elaboratelv
planned and daringly executed ma:
neuvers OF the war. Sir Douglas Haie,s
forces have dealt mighty blow
against the German line in Belgium
and been rewarded with notable gains
In terrain. and the capture of more
than 5000 prisoners and numerous.
guns of various caliber. In addition
they inflicted heavy casualties on the
Germans IS
Over front of more than nine miles
extending from the region Of Ypres
southwark nearly to Armentieres. the
British started their drive in the early
hours of Thursday morning. and at
ntghtfall had everywhere advanced
their line, capturing villages and n,i.
merous points of vantage, among the
latter the Messines- s-Wytschaete ridge,
which commands the surrounding
plains for miles, and which for two
and half years has been troubla-
some salient, 5'
The villages OF Messines and wyt.
schaete fell into the hands of the
British during the attack, and tho
British even pressed on eastward from
Wytschaete and occupied the village or
east fhA
village on front of more than ave
miles.
Probably never In history was an
attack launched with greater preparar
ton. For days the wytschaete salient
had been the object of the British
guns. which had hurled tons Of steel
upon 1T. When the time for the at
tack came. the British loosed mines
a irf fne 1
plosives in front of the German posi-
miles away in England.
EVERYWHERE GERMANS
ARE BEATEN OFF
with CONSERVATION reigning among
tho Germans. and under a curtain OF
fire, English Irish, New Zealand and
Australian infantrymen. with "tanksr
to aid them. started across the open,
The Germans offered only slight ra.
sistance and everywhere were beaten
OFF. even late in the afternoon. when
they had somewhat regained their COM
posure and attempted a counterattack
near the southern end Of the line, which
was broken up by the British artillery
fire. ~
Except for German attack against
the French northwest of ST. Quentin
which the French troops repulsed.
quiet prevailed everywhere on the
French front on Thursday except along
the Chemin-d n-des-Dames, where the ar
tillery activity was violent
Considerable lighting continues be-
tween the Austrians and italians in the
Carso region. Along the Vipacco Val
ley the Italians delivered several
thrusts. which were repulsed while
near Jamiano the Austrians have made
further gains according to Vienna.
Rome. however. asserts that the Aus
trtan attacks failed in the latter re-
gion. as likewise did an offensive In
force on the Trentino front. -
Great preparations are being made, in
France for the arrival OF American
troops. Already an American transport
containing food for them has arrived In
French port, and American warships
are anchored off the French coast.
Camps have been prepared for all
branches Of the American forces who
are eSpected