FRENCH WARFARE ON THE WEST FRONT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2405, 10 March 1915, Page 5

FRENCH WARFARE ON THE WEST FRONT

HEAVY GUN FIRE AT YPRES'

FRENCH PROGRESS IN UPPER ALSACE

the High Commissioner reports (London, Maroh 8, 5.30 p.m.):— Reports from Paris state: "Trenches were captured by ub north-west of Sfluain. Trenches were also captured between Perthes and Beausejour for a distance of from 40) to 500 metres. (These operations are in the Reim»-Ar-gontie portion of the battle-front.) . . "On the heights ofthe Metiae (operations between the Argonne Forest and the Mouse), French artillery; according to prisoners, seriously dainaged. a 42 centimetre gun, which was dismantled and sent to' the. repair shopi In the VosgftS, at Reiehacherkopf (operations around Munster, in the La Fecht region, Upper Alsace), the Germans counter-attacked violently, and succeeded in gaining a foothold for an instant. They were driven away by the infantry, leaving Reichacherkopf definitely in the Allies' hands. The enemy's lOsses were extremely heavy. . , _ In a later report (March 9,. 12.30 a.m.) the High Commissioner states tliat the enemy's attempt to retake the wood which was captured by the Allies yesterday was repulsed, and the Allies' counter-attack gained them ground towards the east, and captures of prisoners. "Between Mesnil and Beausejour (in the Argonne) the enemy rccapttired some metres of trenches, while the Allies gained a hundred metres ef road north-east of Mesnil. . • "In the regions of Saint Mihiel, and the Forest of Apfemont,- tile Allies obtained a footing in the enemy's trenches and took mtlch material.

HEAVY GUN FIRE HEARD -FROM YPRES,

\ Amsterdam, March 8. Heavy gun fire has been heard at Roulfirs, coming from the direction of Ywes Many trains of wounded have arrived at RonlerSi There is much water traffic from Ghent to Bruges, including boats with machine-guns. .

FIERCE HANIJ.TO-HAND FIGHTING

FEARFUL STRUGGLE' IN THE DARKNESS,

London, March 8. Details of the loss And recapture of the trenches at Notre Dame de Lorette (north of Arras) show that the Germans blew up the foremost trenches with mines, and expelled the French from the se«>nd and third lilies by weight of numbers The French artillery bombarded the GSrtiia.iiE for several hdtirs iteifc day enabling the infantry to retake the second and third lines. Thert there was' a lull till evening, when tain poured_doftn. Th 6 Freiich theft • charged irresistibly. There waS a fearful struggle in th£ darkMfeSj find afi indfsctibalilA ilprtSr as the French bavoiieted the Germans, wh6 bolted to their Owh liiles. Daylight revealed nearly three thousand Germans dSid Oh the field. The French losses totalled a thousand. OBJECTIVE OF MANY OF THE PRESENT ATTACKS. London; March 8. "Eye-Witness" says: "A great many attacks at the present stage aim at oapturing rising ground, as it lfi of the Utmost importance to gain positions From which the enemy's trenches, batteries; and communications may be abservable The effect of artillery fire is nofr so great that it is almost true to say that infantry is used more to screen the guns than anything else; all offensive action is dependent on sustained, intensely accurate artillery fire-'; "■Eve-Witness" adds: "A captured uerman states that the population behind the German lines live in abject servitude, being compelled to mend the rnflfli die trenches, and thrash corn, lhey are paid in army rations, without \Vhich the}' would starve, as all foodstuffs are commandeered."—"Times" and Sydney "Sun" services;

ANOTHER AIR RAID ON OSTEND

EXPLOIT BY SIX BRITISH AVIATORS,

London, March 8. Official—Sis naval aeroplanes raided Ostend on Sunday last. They dronned eleven bombs 011 the submarine repairing base and four on the military headquarters It is probable considerable damage was done.

(Rec. March 9, 7 p.m.) Sydney March 0. Commander Longmme, who wasjii charge of the Ostend raid, reports that two seaplanes returned owirtg to their petrol freezing, lhe others returned from tile raid safely. ,

UNTIMELY ADVENT OF BAD WEATHER,

(Rec. March 9, 5.30 p.lii.) London, March 9. The "Tinigs's" cor/espoildeiit at Paris states that the weather which Sfct ill on Saturday will probably delay further progress m the Champagne region. "This is a pity." fee save,-"because it will give the Oetmills time to reorganise th*!r i|«fWiv<s pssiUflft* Thu FMiiftH ««cMif?bt'|'artfln Mftjary 28, fthd i)ot a day fiaes has" been without nwnrfiiß, total aflvanie at gay one point

did not amount to a mile, but each day the enemy had a more diffioult defence problem to face.''—"Times" and Sydney, "Sun." services. (Rec. March 9, II.SO p.m.) Paris, March 0. Official.—Snowstorms in the Champagne district are interfering with the operations. "We continued our advance west of Perthes, lost some ground between Mesnil atid Beausejour, and gained a hundred metres nortli-east of Jlesnil. "We continue to progress north of Badonvillier.