Omaha daily bee., 1917-06-09
HAIG IS HOLDING
Three MILES OF
GROUND GAINED
Weak German Counter Attacks
During the Night Are Re-
pulsed; Won Hindenburg0
Gathers Forces. IL

Wy shcFuN'hteb AaVrs't
So far the Germans have reacted
hcstitatingly before the tremendous
thrust which the British delivered
into the long-held German line in Bel
GUM.
Only weak counter attacks were re-
ported during last night according
to the unofficial accounts from the
battlefield, and General Haig's troops
have held all the ground they won,
which reaches at points to depth Of
nearly three mics. .
Hindenburg Gets Busy.
Vast numbers OF German troops are
being rushed forward by Field Mar
shal Won Hindenburg in an effort to
stem the British torrent which has
swept over the heights dominating
the Lille plain and threatens to sweep
the Teutons from the great industrial
section of northern France.
As every succeeding clash between
the mighty armies OF the western
front has dwarfed the one which pre-
ceded it, SO the initial phase of the
battle of Messines promises to be
merely prelude TO the struggle
which is to come.
Blow is Unexpected.
The British thrust follows Aalmost
| on the heels of the triumphant an
tnouncement by the German emperor
that the allied offensive in the west
had been definitely checked, bearing
cut reports that the Germans had un-
derestimated 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 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.
Center Of Textile Industry.
Lille is the chief OF little group
of three cities in which, prior to the
war, cehtered Frances great textile
industry 1t formerly had popula-
ton of 10000, and its two sister cit
les, Roubaix and Tourcoing, were the
homes of about an equal number.
Tourcoing and Roubaix stand on ris-
ing ground from four to six miles
northwest of Lille, the only highland
now in front of the British. To their
right, however, Lille is protected by
ridge which stands between it and
Armentieres, the town on which the
right wing Of the attacking British
army rests. An advance into the
plain will outfank this ridge,
Batteries Taken Intact.
British Headquarters in France,
June 8.-(Via London 1.-The number
Of prisoners reaching the collecting
stations since the beginning 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, although it
is known several German batteries
were taken practically intact.
The night passed quietly on the
front of the new attack, all the con-
quered territory being held.
Prisoners say that scores of Ger
man guns were destroyed during the
British bombardment. ....
The German losses in their counter
attack were terrible. The full depth
of the British attack was 5000 yards.
Three counter attacks by the Ger
mans, which were not delivered in
great force, were broken up last night.
Heavy Fighting at St. Quentin.
Paris, June 8.-Heavy lighting con-
tinued. throughout the night below St.
Quentin, the war Office announces.
German infantry attacks between St
Quentin and La Fere were checked by
the French fire.
The French positions were bom-
barded with especial violence before
the infantry attacks. Severe encount-
ers occurred at various other points
on the front The French took pris-
oners in raids in the region of Souain.
Berlin Announces Withdrawal.
Berlin, June S.-(Via London.)--
The German forces on the Belgian
front have withdrawn from the salient
protruding westward to prepared
position between the canal bend north
of Hallabeke and the Douve basin,
two kilometres west of Warneton,
army headquarters announced today.