NIGHT ATTACK ON FRENCH POSITIONS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2683, 1 February 1916, Page 5

NIGHT ATTACK ON FRENCH POSITIONS

GERMANS THROWN BACK IN THE WEST . TERRIFIC SLAUGHTER IN ARTOIS The High Commissioner reports:. "The Germans last night attacked tho French 0 P rf' the Somme on the front Dompierre. The enemy's infantrv was twice thrown hack oil their trenches by the French curtain of fire and'bombardment-.'" FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Rec. January 31, 9.10 p.m.) ■» • j. , , . Paris, January 31. A communique states: "We have oarned out a destructive fire on the enemies depots at Saiia-umines, south-east of Lens, and tho German "narks" Snnr,\- V^ aC th °l. Vlnly - a }?° destroyed the enemy's work opposite Soupix, north of the Aisne, annihilatm g the garrison. DESPERATE FIGHTING FOR POSSESSION OF GROUND (Rec. January 31, 10.40 p.m.) on i i. i i- , Paris, January 30. There has been almost continuous and terrible hand-to-hand fighting in Artois foiv seventy-two hours. The Germans delivered ten attacks in one week, with only one slight succoss a t Prise. French officers consider that these operations represent the enemy's maximum eftor.,. hie Germans in the north sacrificed nearly a whole dn-i 'son, and the ground at Nm.ville St Vaast was so hotly contLted that the dead remained unbuned. Many of the enemy's wounded were loft to die Southwards of Lens, trenches wero taken and retaken. The Germans lower down the line miide a gas attack with some success. Then tho Ger man infantry stormed the trenches over a front of nearly a mile 'riiev met a desperate deience, and the slausl.ter was terrific, entire companies of the enemy being mowed down. Then followed fierce fiMitin" in tin enter" when, their grenades being exhausted, the' antagonists foiHit with liwi' The French have already recovered much of the ground . GERMANS CLAIM PRISONERS. (Rec. January 31, 9.55 p.m.) mu r. i • i. „ Amsterdam, January 30- > The Germans claim that the prisoners they captured at Friso (on the Western front) included some English soldiers. i 1