CALM NIGHT ON THE MEUSE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2733, 30 March 1916, Page 5

CALM NIGHT ON THE MEUSE

ALLIES' CQUP-DMAIN IN LORRAINE GERMAN WORK BLOWN UP AND PRISONERS ' TAKEN ' The High Commissioner reportß: , , irTT , . , , . iU , r London, March 28; 3.25 p.m. "The night was calm east of the Meuse. ' "The artillery on both sides was rather active on the west, in the region of Malancourt, the Woeuvre, and the sector along the foot-hills of the Meuse. "In Lorraine,' in the Forest, of Parroy, a coup-de-main was made on an enemy work j the occupants were prisoner, «iiid tb© work blown up in the retirement." (it » ' ,■_ , .... London, March 28, 12.25 a.m. . In the Argonne the French artillery was active on the enemy's concentrations at the De La Fontaine sector, as far as the eastern Argonne." HEAVY ATTACKS REPULSED ! By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. March. 29, 8.45 p.m.) at? "u ffi • i • ±1 . Paris, March 28. A French official communique states; "After a violent' bombardment of our position on the Avocourt-Bethiucourt front, the Germans, at three o'clock in the afternoon, strongly attacked our Haucourt-Malancourt front in successive waves of assault. All the attacks were repulsed with heavv loss tn tho enemy by oi\r curtain of artillery and infantry fire." BRITISH HOLD THE GROUND THEY WON, (Rec. MaTch 29, ,8.45 p.m.) ?■ , London, March 28. Sir' Douglas Haig (the British Commander-in-Chief) reports that in spite of heavy artillery lire the British troops have held the ground which was captured at Sti Moi. "We shelled the enemy's positions opposite Loos and Hifl. Inch, and those facing Aix Noulette;" High Commissioner's report adds: "Our artillery was very-effective in replying to the enemy's lire. The total prisoners taken are now five officers and 195 men." ARTILLERY INFERNO AT VEIiDUN INCENDIARY SHELLS IN TEE OITY. Paris, March 28. Mr. Simms, correspondent of the United Press of America, who visited Verdun, says: "The Germans are bent on ; the destruction of the city. The}; daily hurl 350 of the largest incendiary shells into the business and residential districts. Several fires are raging simultaneously. Verdun is becoming another Reims. The scene is gripping in its awfulness. The conflagrations in the city are accompanied by a deafening roar from the orest of Douaumont, which the French are shelling, resembling the noise of Vesuvius in eruption. The German shells exploding on the southern slopes flash out like huge smoke guysers. * "Officers say that they ask nothing better than that the German will continue the attacks; oacli attempt increases the enemy's losses. The Verdun sector is like a gigantic ant-hill, which men and transports swarm unceasingly. The French gun® wd munitions tseem to be unlimited." THE STRATEGY OF UNITED EFFORT ONLY WAY TO CRIPPLE ENEMY'S INTERIOR LINES. By Telegraph—Preeß Association—Copyright' Milan, March 28. The Italian newspaper "Stampa," discussing the Paris CViilercnco, states: "Tho Western commanders have ugroed that Germany must not be allowed the facility of accumulating forces• against a smgle ally. This must be mot by crushin" and combined action. The presence of tho Allied Premiers in Pafis gives full weight to this agreement." ' ' GERMANS STILL CLAIM THE INITIATIVE. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, March 28. i The "Cologne Gazette" says: "The battles that have taken pkco have (riven clioico to "our supreme commands to appoint, the place and time, compelline* th 6 enemy to fight where wa wonted Inm. If thoea in aninwnnd of events .Jfulettffi Site, tho viewpoint may be resided with satisfaction."

RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE IN THE NORTH OBSTINATE FIGHTING ENEMY'S ELABORATE LABOUR NULLIFIED Tk, High reports: w "Potrograd reports that north-west of Postavy, the Russians, after an obstinate tight, linve occupied two liues of the enemy's trenches'"A stubborn resistance was encountered at Lakes Narotcli ana \ishnevs' ;0)0 . , Qn the Caucasian sea front the ltussians repulsed the Turks on the left bank of the Baltalchi." 0 •- London, March 29, 2.20 a.m "In the district of Jacobstadt, a German attack on the village of Vargon"ln north-west Postavy the enemy are stubbornly resisting with fierce counter-attacks. "West of Lake Narotch the Germans occupied a forest at boutn ritza, but a Russian counter-attack, entering from the northern part, ejected Galicia, north of Bojup (PBojan), 13 mines were simultaneously. The Russians entered two lines of enemy trenches, killing or taking the Germans prisoner, and capturing five guns. GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. . (Reo. March 29, 8.45 p.m.) London, Maroh 28. | A' German official communique from Berlin states: "Tho Russians again hurled fresh masses on the German lines at Postavy. where the Saarbrueck | corps bravely defied assault. An attack in several waves by two Russian j divisions was dashed to pieces by the Brandenburgers and Hanoverians, who • were fighting with the Saarbrueck corps." - I CLEAR PREPONDERANCE ON THE RUSSIAN SIDE. ' « ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) ' London. March 28. The ''.rimes" correspondent states: "Obstinate fighting,■.with a clear preponderance on the Russian side, continues .along the entire front from Riga to Poliesia. The Russian advance on the left bank of the Dvina. helps to liilllfy the Germans' elaborate labour throughout the winter, while the pressure on such a wide front distracts and prevents tho Germans from localising the . conflagration." !