Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-04
INFANTRY LULL BROKEN
BY ATTACK NEAR LENS
British, by Early Dawn on Sunday,
Had Captured All Intended
Positions.
FIGHTING STILL IN PROGRESS
Every Indication OF Heavy Losses In.
hicted on Enemy-Tcutons, StilI
Rescntful at Loss Of Bullccourt,
Bombard Ruins Of Town.

tFrom staff Correspondent OF the
Associated Prcssl
wITII THE BRITISH ARMIES IN
FRANCE via I.ondon). June 3. $3.50
! r. M.-Thc infantry lull of several
weeks WAS broken late last night. when
under the light of nearly full moon.
! the British made an attack southwest
of Lens and in the direction Of that
besieged city. The point Of attack was
/ due west OF Avion. which is ono Of
| the southern suburbs of Lens. the latter
being the center of a mining district
which SprawlS for miles along the val
ley OF the Souchcz River.
Most Of last nights lighting was
south or the river, although an add
ranccd post was established north Of
that stream. The British by early
dawn had captured all the intended
positions. and were still lighting to-
DAY along the Lens Arras Road They
had captured the ciectric-powcr sta
! ton just south OF the river. where the
| Germans had been established for
many months. and which was fairly
stin with machine guns. The station
! had been pretty we'll blown about by
artillery fire. but was still formi-
dahle fortification.
Further south. the British captured
some brick chimneys. which had been
transformed into Il strong point These
most of the bittercst fighting in the
world war on vast front has from
time to time swirled about sugar fac
tories windmills. farm buildings,
cemeteries. breweries. Stag heaps un-
imposing mounds like the Butte du
Warlencourt. churches. inconsistencies and
even asylums for the insane
NEARLY 100 PRISONERS
COUNTED DURING MORNING
Nearly 100 prisoners had been count
cd this morning from the nocturnal
operations about Lens. and there was
every indication that heavy losses had
been inflicted on the enemy. Artillery
activity continues undated. first one
side and then tho other. hombardins
and retaliatinG in turn.
ipres comes in for tho usual day and
night Smelling. There has not been
day in the last two years that shells
have not poured into whst is loft Of
thiS once important little Belcia city
Not content with a purely destruc-
tive fire. the Germans lately nave been
resortins 10 use OF gas shells in great
profusion. The Germans made a minor
attack last night OH a British out
post line southwest of Chcrisy the
weight Of which carried two posts. but
one was subsequently wrested from
them.
The Germans. still rcSentful at their
defeat AT Ruliecourt, have been bonn
harding the ruins OF that town and
the British positions to the east of II
in the iiindenhurE line with great vio-
renee Tor several DAYS past. their guns
pouring shells OF all calibcrs into
these positions throughout last night.
Notwithstanding the German wireless
statements that Rullccourt and vicinity
are of absolutely no Importance. Ger
man atrplanes dropped bombs rather
indiscriminately back Of the British
lines during the moonlight hours Of
last night.
RAIDS CONTINUE Ali. TT
AND DOWN BRITISH LINES
EaIds continue all up and down the
British lines. one British raidinc
party met large body OF Germans
IN NO Mans Land" and had "a hot
hight. finally routing the Germans. who
fed. leaving numbers OF dead and
prisoners behind.
recently captured letters written by
Germans on the Russian front to
friends on the western front show that
INC soldiers are not at all pleased with
any proposal to change fronts one
written by :; German officer on tic rus
sian front Is particularly intcrestinG
II says:
1T is quite untrue that Russians are
deserving in great numbers or that an
armlstice has been declared AS mat
ter OF fact. the situation has led TO
more casualties than usual. because the
Germans arc becoming foolhardy We
nave lost here during a short period a
pattaIlon comma ndcr. regimental medi-
ca ohcer and company commander, all
through lack of caution. The first two
we're bagGed by AN infantry SINNER
whilc they were debating with Rus
sian on peace. Our great topic Is the
possibility of moving westward We
DO not desire change OF fronts"