Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 June 1917 — GERMANS RETREAT AS BRITISH WIN [ARTICLE]

GERMANS RETREAT AS BRITISH WIN

Drive in Flanders Forces Teutons to Abandon Positions From St. Yves to Lys. OFFENSIVE IS BIG SUCCESS Major General Maurice, Chief Director of Military Operations at War Office, Says Messines Battle Was Great Victory. London, June 15.—Important sections of the German front between the Lys river and St. 4 Yves have been abandoned by the Germans, it is an-, nounced officially. British troops are reported as following the retreating Germans closely and have made considerable progresseast of Ploegsteert wood. The statement is as follows : • “Our further advance east of Messines, combined with the pressure of our troops south of the front of our attack, has compelled the enemy to abandon important sections of his first line defensive system in the (area between the River Lys and St. Yves. Our troops have followed up the enemy closely , and have made considerable progress east of Ploegsteert tvood. We also gained ground during the night in the neighborhood of Gaspard. German Trenches Are Raided. “We raided enemy trenches during the night north of Bullecourt and south of Hooge and captured a few prisoners in each case.” [The retirement indicates that theBritish are bringing great pressure to bear on the German line at Warneton, as St. Yves lies near the captured ridge at Messines and the Lys is a few miles farther south.] Calls Offensive Big Success. The Messines offensive was the most successful attack which the British have vet made, every single objectlvethat Ws marked in the preliminary; plans having been attained, said Maj., Gen. F. B. Maurice, chief director of military operations at the war office/ in his weekly talk. French Front Reported Quiet. Sris, June 15. —No Important enments are reported in the official! statement. The Germans violently bombarded French positions at vari-, ous points.