New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-16
Force Enemy to Retire
Nearly 1000 Yards East
of Messines
Germans Give Way
On Arras Front
Lose Trenches at Bulle-
court as Haig Strikes
New Blow

London. June 1.-THE British War
Office announces. and Berlin admits, a
further forced retirement Of the Ger
man forces east Of the Messines Ridge,
in Flanders. Attacks south and cast
of Messincs and astride the Ypres-
Confines Canal drove the enemy back
from 500 to 1000 yards on a seven
nile front, and cost him $50 prisoners,
a howitzer and seven machine guns.
On the Arras front the British fol-
lowed up their success Of yesterday
cast Of Monchy and struck sharply at
the isolated section of the Hindenburg
line the Germans still hold northwest
Of Bullecourt. An additional portion Of
this trench belt was seized by Hsig's
men. and the hostile garrison. which
resisted stoutly. lost heavily. The VIC
tors took forty-three prisoners.
The new British front in Flanders
now runs from the River Lys to the
River Warnave. and thence northward
10 Klein Zillebeke. which Is well across
the Ypres-Comines Canal and several
rifles east of Yprcs. The Warnave runs
west 10 east a mile north OF Armen-
there's, and thence northward TO loin
tho LIS. which forms the boundary be
tween France and Belgium.
Fruits of Messines Victory
The present operations are fruits Of
the Messines victory. Many SIM mar
successes were reported following the
battles of the Somme. But IN the pres
ent instance the enemy resistance Is
considerably less stubborn. On the
Arras front, also. the British are WI
ming more easily than during 'ne
period of the holly contested engage
ments around Bullecourt. Roeu%, "a
vrelle. Oppy and Fresnoy.
The Berlin dav bulletin declares that
fighting on the Flanders front began at
$3.50 o'clock last evening and lasted
throughout the night. The confession
Of withdrawal does not include quite
the area given in the British reports
and is curiouslv worded II says:
"The enemy pressed back our protect
inc attachments situated further east
between Hollebeke and the Douve anGI
southwest of Warneton. which had
hitherto successfully screened our
fighting line against all reconnoltring
thrusts by the British since May 10.
This seems framed TO suggest that
the present sighting line, on which Hin-
denburg means seriously 10 contest the
British advance, is well back OF the
advanced trenches which Haig's troops
are now absorbing. protecting de-
tachments" is a description usually ap-
piled 10 rear guards.
Berlin Admits Loss
The Berlin day communicate also
admits a loss east of Monchy, appar-
emily the capture Of Infantry Hill, re-
ported yesterday by General Haig
Here. saws the German statement, brlt-
ish forces pushed their way into the
defending trenches, but were thrust
out by a counter attack, except for a
trench west Of Sart Wood, which they
continued 20 hold. Sart Wood has
been the German rallying point since
Hindenburg lost the heights east OF
Monchy early in the Battle of Arras.
Both artilleries are said 10 be un'
usually active. not only in the region
north Of the Scarpe. but also between
Ypres and Armentieres. The BrltiSr
statements mention successful RAIDS
north OF Lens, east of Loos and near
On the front held by the French
there was little activity aside from the
duel Of the big guns. The Belgian re
port records heavy artillery fire.