Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-07
HA|G STRIKES HARD
ON BELGIAN front
British Sweep Nine Miles OF
German Positions on Mes
nes-Wytschaete Ridge.
BIG BATTLE CONTINUES


blow at the German lines in Belgium.
striking early this morning along a
nine-mile front on the Messines-
Wytschaete ridge. between 1pris ana
Lille
Success marked the opening of the
offensive, the British winning all tneir
initial detectives and pushing on Their
further progress Is reported TO De
Lille A million pounds of explosives
were let loose under the German first line.
While a considerable stretch separates
the field Of this new offensive from that
Of Arras, the operation may be con-
sidered as in conjunction with the con-
tinuing battle on the Arras front
sweeping salient in front OF tho CITY
attack and in a broad sense this salient
is now under threat from both the north
and the south.
Gains North Of scarpe.
Belying the recent German boast
that the British offensive from Arras
had come to a halt. Gen. Haig proved
that he had not lost his Initiative theIe
by making a successful drive 70 tne
scc.A Of Lens. carrying a mile OK the
German front north Of the Scarpe yes
terday. -
The reverberations from tnls oloW
had hardly died away before TO-DAY Al. y.
tack was launched on the other siue "a
the Lille salient.
A sharp, well defined curve in the
German line. about three miles oeep
and the same distance across. Is the I'M
mediate object of this new attack In
common with other sections OF the line
in Belgium along front of some thirty
miles. its defenses had been subjected
to a tremendous pounding by the Brit
ish artillery for days.
British omcial Report.
By the Associated Press.
LONDON. June THE official state
1--WE attacked at $40 am. this morn
ing German positions on the Messines:
Wytschaete ridge on front OF over
nine miles. We have everywhere cap
tured our first objectives and further
along the whole front Of attack. Num-
bers Of prisoners are reported already
to be reaching the collection stations.
Well Over the Ridge.
(stan Correspondent Of the Associated Press)
BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE. June Z. via London. 5.4S pm.
The British rush this morning on the
essines-Wytschaete ridge OF the Bel
ridge, where they t<s now fntrenehing,
The vilaSeS q Nesan9s was rePc:esd e z,
have been taken early In the hshting- II
was also reported that Lsnfer ana "a.
ssa s6 ass a tass ssiEiss Gzssshssss ssssmias ING
The he British also captured important
trench positions gu The Wy from pHssr- p,nsr-
stsspt 9t wood. WOOD north Of Armentierss.
Million Pounds Of Explosives.
More than. 1000. 900 pounds Of high
explosives was blown up under the
German forward positions. This. the
most gigantic mining operation IN the
history 4of war, spread panic among
The british in their attack used
probably 20 per cent more guns. espe-
cially those Of heavy calibers. than they
employed in the battle OF Arras.
ing. More than one thousand Germans
were taken prisoners early In the en-
The lighting continues under mid
summer sun. The Germans have not
rallied for the expected counter attack,
French Check Germans.
PARIS, June IA strong force Of
Germans made an attack northwest OF
ficiaI announcement says the attackers
were caught under a violent French fire
and retired after sustaining heavy
losses. The statement follows:
I'm the region northwest OF St Quenrln
a strong force Of Germans attempted at
midnight an attack on our lines over q
front Of about 500 yards. Our fire. de-
livered with violence and precision.
checked the, attempt quickly. The ef-
feet Of the fire was SO great that the
Germans Immediately returned to their
trenches.
North of the Chemin-des- Danes
heavy artillery fighting continued on
the front south of Filain.
I'm upper Alsace surprise attack
west of Bfsel was repulsed easily.
Two German airplanes were brought
down on June 6. Supplementary IN
formation now at hand establishes
definitely that three more German
machines have been brought down by
our pilots on June 3. and s."