New-York tribune., 1917-06-13
Capture Village of Gaspard
and Threaten German Base
at Warneton
Cavalry Again
Active in West
Haig Praises Plumer's Sue.
cess in Flanders-Predicts
Complete Victory

London, June 12.-The British fol-
lowed up their success of yesterday
southeast of Messines, on the Flanders
front, with an advance to-day on a two
mile line TO the east and northeast of
the town. The village of Gaspard was
occupied in this operation. which
brings the British front still closer TO
Warneton. the base Of Hindenburg's de,
fensive actions since the Messines
ridge and the Wytschaete bend fell into
Haig's hands.
The British commander also struck
on the Arras front this morning, ad-
vancing his line astride the Souche1
River and capturing three machine
guns.
The official statement from Berlin
reveals that British cavalry have been
operating extensively east of Messines.
The report asserts that of the mounted
attachments that advanced against the
German lines "only remnants re-
turred," but it is regarded as signifi-
cant that the action on this front has
opened out to such an extent that cav
airy operations are possible.
Raids on French Front
Fighting on the French front was
confined to lively raids. Five sue
cessive counter attacks by Petain's
troops against the enemy's positions
west Of Cerny, in the Champagne, yes
terday are declared bv Berlin TO have
I been beaten back with heavy losses
! largely in hand-to-hand fighting.
Field Marshal Haig to-day issued a
/ special order congratulating General
| Plumer and his army for its success
I at Messines, which contained state
ments ringing with a new note of con-
fdence. The British success Thurs
day. the commander declared, was "sr
earnest of an eventual victory for the
Allied cause" and showed that moth
ing can save the enemy from complete
defeat; brave and tenacious as the
| German troops are, 1t is only ques-
ton of how much longer they can en-
J dure repetition of such blows"
"The full effects OF the victory can
not yet be estimated" General Haie
declared, "but that they will be very
great is certain" He points out that
the position assaulted was zone OF
very great natural strength, on the
defences of which the enemy had la
bored necessarily for nearly three
years" and says the British losses
for battle of such magnitude were
gratifyingly light.
Warneton Near Fall
The British advance to-day on the
Messines front was made possible by
the driving forward of their left flank
as far as Klein Zillebeke, across the
Ypres-Comines Canal. Gradually
Piumers troops are squeezing the
enemy out of the narrow salient ere
ated by the thrusting of this wedge
into the lines north of Warneton. and
the fall of the latter place, whlch, III
turn. commands the important road 70
Confines, appears to be only matter
Of hours.
The Berlin statement tonight speaks
Of lighting at close range southwest
/ of Lens, which may indicate the I'M
mincnce of a renewed British attack
in that sector. where a slight advance
was registered on the Souchez to-day
Along this whole front there are grow
ing signs of German demorallzatlon
not the least of which is the entire
absence of any organized counter oi-
fensive. As an evidence Of the ner-
vousness Of the German troops since
General Plumer delivered his stunning
blow on Thursday, the British state
ment points TO the fact that the seven
field guns captured yesterday, were
anotber British massed attack. the Ger
man cunners took fright at the Brit
;sb anproach and fed precipitately
abandoning their guns.