The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-06-16
HAIG GAINS ON
7 MILE FRONT
Drives Germans Out of the
Trenches in Advance of
New Line.

LONDON. June 15.-Further victories
were gained to-day by the British troops
at Arras and south of Ypres. More Of
the Hindenburg line northwest OF Bulle-
court still in German hands was taken
in hot fight in which the, Germans
lost heavily on practically the whole
| front beyond the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ridge. and for three miles south OF it to
the River Lys. the Germans were driven
out OF all of their former trenches that
they occupied in advance of their new
line.
In this fghting the British. advancing
on a front of seven miles and more, cap
tured $50 prisoners, howitzer and
| seven machine guns. and completed the
occupation Of large areas Of the old Ger
man first line trenches near the Lys.
The German War Office admits defeat.
explaining II as the driving in Of cover
ing troops.
! The German statement would indi-
cate that the Germans affected a retire
ment OF some sort on this front more
than month ago. The troops just
driven back had held advanced posi-
tions since May 10. the German state
ment says. indicating that on that date
the German main forces south OF the
Oaicial Statements.
The official statements follow:
British Day Statement-Our troops
+ attacked yesterday evening south and
/ east Of Messines and astride the Ypres-
/ Confines Canal The enemy's re-
sistance was quickly overcome and the
I whole of our objectives was gained in
| both localities. We captured more
than l50. prisoners. one howitZer and
seven machine guns.
AS the result of these operations
and the constant pressure maintained
BY our troops since June =, we now oc-
cupy the German front trenches from
/ the River Lys to the River Warnave
and have advanced our line from 500
TO 900 yards on the whole front from
the River Warnave to Klein lille
beke a distance Of about seven miles.
British Night SYSTEMATICALLY this
morning we attacked and captured
further portion OF a sector Of the Hin
denburg line stili held by the enemy
northwest OF Bullecourt. The hostile
garrison offered stubborn resistance
and suffered heavy casualties. We
took 43 prisoners.
Four German airplanes were brough.
down yesterday in air hghting and
three others were driven down out or
control Two OF our machines failed
to return.
French Report.
French Night Statement-The day
has been quiet except on the sectors OF
Hurtebise and Craonre. where the two
artilleries continued to show activity.
Relgian Statement-The artillery
/, fghting has been rather spirited toward
Schilierburg and Steenstraete. At
, Het Sas yesterday our avlators brought
down two enemy airplanes, which fell
within the German lines. This morn
, ing a third airplane attacked by our
machines was brought down in fiames
toward keyem.
German Day Statement-Front OF
| Count Prince Rupprecht; In Flanders.
between Ypres and Armentieres. after
comparatively quiet day vigorous
gunfire began at $3.50 p NJ. followed
by British attacks along the whole
front. After fighting which in some
places lasted untTl morning the enemy
pressed back our protecting detach-
, ments situated further east, between
Hollebeke and the Douve region and
southwest Of Warneton, which had
, hitherto successfully screened our
a fghting line against all reconnoitring
thrusts by the British since May 10.
I On the Artois front after vigorous
: waves Of fire, the British attacked our
trenches during the morning east OF
Nonchy. They forced their way in at
| some points. but were at once elected
, by a counter attack by our troops,
who were in readiness. A portion OF
: a trench west of the Sart Wood Is still
= held by the enemy.