ALLIES RECAPTURE TRENCHES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2346, 31 December 1914, Page 5

ALLIES RECAPTURE TRENCHES

AN ALSACE VILLAGE INVESTED STEADY PROGRESS AT SEVERAL POINTS . Paris, December 29. A' communique states: "The enemy violently bombarded our position from the Lys to the Sonime. We progressed between the Somme and the Argonne, repulsed several counter-attacks on tho heights of the Meuse, and recaptured trenches and a redoubt at Bois Brule after three successive counter-attacks. "Wo are now closely investing Steinbach, following a' violent action. We have seized tho ruins of a chateau north-west of Steinbach." Monday night's communiquo states: "A violent storm throughout Monday prevented operations on most of the front, but wo progressed in the Argonne." THE FESTUBERT-GIVENCHY FIGHTING , HOW THE VILLAGES WERE LOST AND WON. , (Rec. December.3o, 0.55 p.m.) Paris, Decomber 30., A further'account of the fighting at Festubert-Givenchy states that tho Indians held the trenches between the two villages. The German trenches in places were less than fifty yards distant. The Germans attacked, using bayonets and grenades. Tho Indians resisted- for hours with bayonets and knives, until ordered to withdraw. Meanwhile the hand-to-hand fight spread to tho villages, and every house was hotly_ contested. The Germans gained possession of Givcnchy, but at the most critical moment two regiments of French Territorials arrived, and. spread over the wholo line. The French, English, and Indians fought desperately side by side, in a confused line; regardless of nationality.or regiments. Bayonets, knives, and bombs were used, and hardly a shot was fired. Believing tho day was won the Germans had quitted the trenches, and were amazed at the.onslaught. They vainly refuged in the trenches, but the Allies turnod them out of every line of the trenches, and saps traversed. The German dead lay in heaps. At dawn the Allies again had possession of Givenchy. REIMS AGAIN BOMBARDED ' . WOMEN.AND CHILDREN KILLED. ' ' (Rec. December 31, 0.55 a.m.) - . -.' ■ ' ~ , Paris, December 30. The. "Matin" says that tho Germans have again bombarded Reims, many houses have been destroyed, and children playing in the gardens killed and wouiided. Twenty-five, mostly women and children, were killed on Decern-' ber 22.