ATTACK ON THE VILLAGE OF MALANCOURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2736, 3 April 1916, Page 5

ATTACK ON THE VILLAGE OF MALANCOURT

A DESPERATE FIGHT

COST. THE ENEMY CONSIDERABLE SACRIFICES

London, March 31, 4.10 p.m

The High Commissioner reports.— In tho Argonne the Allies have repulsed two grenado attacks directed on our position north of Avocourt. West of tho Mouse tho bombardment of Malancourt was redoubled in violence in the course of the night. The Germans launched a series of masked attacks, debouching from throe hills simultaneously, on a village forming an advanced salient of.our line, and hold the advanced position. After a desperate fight, lasting tho night, which cost considerable enemy sacrifices, our troops evacuated the.ruined village, but hold tho egress from it. In tho Woeuvre, the Germans attempted three reprisals for our blowing up work east of Haudromont. All were repulsed., , , FRENCH EVACUATE MALANCOTTRT VILLAGE. • By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright . Paris, March 31. A communique states: —The bombardment of Malancourt was continued with redoubled violence. The (jfermans launched a series of attacks, debouching from three sides simultaneously against Malancourt village. Thorc was a desperate struggle all night, the enemy; suffering heavy losses. Wo evacuated the ruined village, but still hold the exits. ABANDONMENT CAUSES NO TACTICAL INCONVENIENCE. By Telegraph—PreES Association—Copyright (Rec. April 2, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, April 1. Semi-official—After stubborn streo t fighting all night long at Malancourt, tho battalion constituting the wholo gar risen of tho advanced position was compelled to retire, being overwhelmed by a brigade cf. the enemy, on whom our troops inflicted enormous losses. The F rouch line now passes just behind the Malancourt-Haucourt position, which could be well abandoned without tactical inconvenience. The essential thing is th at we hold Hill 30<1 ; from whenco we can enfilade the positions from which tho enemy launches his attacks. . ENEMY LAUNCHED TWO ATTACKS ON.. THE VILLAGE. (Rec. April 2, 5.5. p.m.) . 1 Paris, April 1. A French communique says the bo mbardment at night was extremely violent between the woods southward of tho Haudremont-Vaiix region. The Germans at tho latter point launched two attacks in large numbers. Our curtain and riilo fire checked the first, but tho second enabled the er emy to gain a footing in the western portion of 'tho village. SIX POWERFUL ATTACKS ON HILL 295. London, April 1, l t 2o a.m. The High Commissioner reports:— "South of Soinme tho enemy, after artillery preparation, launched a series of surprise attacks on our posts in the region of Dompierre, but all failed. "hi the Champagne there was a destructive French fire south of St. Marie-A-Py. "West of the Meuse, artillery activity abated, and the enemy made no attempt to issue from the village of Malancourt during the day. _ _ • "North of Somme, after.violent bombardment, tho enemy delivered six powerful attacks during tho evening on our positions at Hill 295, using lachrymose shells. The Germans were able to ,gain a footing for a moment, in portions of our trenches, but were ejected by a vigorous counter-attack. In a further attack later, west of the same place, they completely- failed." ENEMY TRENCHES WRECKED BY THE FRENCH. (Rec. April 2, 5.5 p.m.) ■ . Paris, March 81. A French communique says;—We wrecked the enemy trenches south of ?aint Marie-a-Py. A German aeroplane was brought down aflame in the enemy lines, north of Tahure. The artillery fire slackened at Malancourt, and the enemy made no attempt to debouch during the day. After a violent bombardment _at Morthomme, the enemy strongly attacked the positions north-east of Hill' 295. accompanied by a curtain of tear shells. The Germans succeeded momentarily in setting foot in the first-line elements, but were driven out by a sharp counterattack. The enemy later abortively attacked further westward. During a lively aerial fight, our airman brought down an Aviatik in our lines at Soppe, near Belfort. CONSIDERABLE ARTILLERY ACTIVITY ON BOTH SIDES. London, April 1, 4.20 p.m.. Tho High Commissioner roports:— _ ■ _ "In the vicinity north of tho Aisne there was considerable activity on both sides. There were artillery actions in the regions of Fontenoy, Moulin, and Soustouvent. ' "In the Argonno we fcxecuted a destructive tiro on enemy roads and railroads north of Haute Chevansse.\ . "Wost of tho Meuso there was an intermittent bombardment in tho region of Malancourt, without any infantry action. "Bast of the Meuso the bombardment became extremely violent towards evening and during yesterday night between the wood south of Haudromont and the Vaux region. At tho latter point two German attacks were overthrown' the first°was launched in the direction north and south, but was checked by our curtain and infantry fire bo fore our lines were reached. In the course of the second attack the enemy, after lively fighting, obtained a footing in tho portion west of tho village.which we occupied. Vln tho Woeuvre there wero some gusts of artillery fire on tho villages at the foot of the slopes of- the Meuso." EXASPERATING FRENCH OFFENSIVE AT AVOCOURT WOOD. London, March 31. The desperate attacks on the ruins of Malancourt are due to tho exasperating French offensive at Avocourt AVood. There, correspondents narrate, the French made a holocaust of the grey-green waves of German reinforcements, necessitating the Germans bringing up a Bavarian brigade. Malancourt' fonnpl a salient supported on the right by tho Dead Man's heights' and on tho left by Hill 304. These are the pillars of the French reDespito the German capture of the vallagc, the French semi-official messages state that the bite of our troops is unaffected, while tho enemy is losing his sharpness. A Berlin wireless message says Mat the village of Malancourt and the French defence establishment! on both sides of the village were taken by storm. Brief encounters at close quarters developed before tho French trenches south of Fort Douaumont. BOMBARDMENT GENERAL AND MORE INTENSE. London, April 2, 1.5 a.m. The High Commissioner reports:— "Bombardment is general and more intense between Avocourt and MalanCoUr "ln East Mcuw a German attack pn a mho between Fort Douaumont owl Yaux village was conioletelv checked by. our faro-

NOVELTY OF THE GERMAN BATTLE PLAN AT VERDUN. J)y Telegraph—Presß Association—Coßyrlaht (Rec. April 2, 6.5 p.m.) ' Lofidon, 'April 1. Newspaper correspondents point out tlie novoltyof the German battle plan at Vorclim tho use of twelve-inch guns to produce an impenetrable curtain of (it'O, thus cutting off sonic French detachments, One such detachmout worked frit soic remaining three-inch gun for two days. Tho men wore '■hungry and nearly dead with tiitiguc, and gave up every bono.of escape. Tho lieutenant refused a drop of water, lest there should be insufficient to clean llio gun. Ho said: "Tho gun is thirstier than I." , A GERMAN ATTACK COMPLETELY STOPPED. (Roc. April 2, 11 p.m.) Paris, April 2. A French communique states that tho German attack between Douaumont Fort and Vaux villago was completely stopped. EFFECTS OF THE VERDUN BATTLE ON THE GERMANS. London, March 31. Reports from the Swiss frontier state that 1500 unwounded Germans arrived at Blotsheim from Verdun witli their nerves shattered. They were ablo no longer to stand tho strain. They were deaf and speechless automatons, and had to bo carried from tho train. EXTENDED BRITISH LINE INCLUDES HISTORIC PLACES. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) , . ■ , „ London, March 81. Tho new British lino includes Notre Dame de Loretto, Ablain, St. Nazairo, Snissy, Carvency, La Folic Farm, the Labyrinth, Nelvillb, St. Vaast, la Targotte, and tho Vimy Heights. The French transfer of these historic places evidences tho- magnificent feeling and confidence of tho French in tho British. ATTACK NEAR NEUVILLE ST. VAAST EASILY REPELLED. ; (Rec. April 2, 6.5 p.m.) ? London, April 1. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—There has heen much aerial activity oii_ both sides.' We. carried out successful work, "but three of our machines are missing. Wo easily repelled an attack near Neuville St. Yaast. An enemy attack south of St. Eloi broke down under our fire.