THE DESPERATE CONFLICT ON VERDUN FRONT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2738, 5 April 1916, Page 5

THE DESPERATE CONFLICT ON VERDUN FRONT

. JRMANAHACP ALL-DAY FIGHTING ON VAUX-DOUAUMONT .- v.'r : . : .y\ .SECTOR / .|:' ; By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright - ■ .J' ~.,,,,.,..,,. ~ Paris, AVril 3. •■''• A Frenchofficial communique states: "Several German attacks against : the Ayocourt redoubt were repulsed. There was a very lively struggle all day long in the Douaumorifr-Vaux sector. Four simultaneous attacks were ra'ado by forces exceeding a division. The enemy penetrated Cailletto wood, south-oast of Douamont Fort, but we immediately drove them back into the corner of the wood; ■ ' ', , . "We evaouated the last of the ruined bouses in the Vaux village. Our hne> now skirts the edge of the village. ~_,.- , „ "Our aviators brought down four enemy aeroplanes in.the Verdunr-'gion." i (Reci April 4, 11.10 p.m.) • ■'■■■~ Paris, April 4. A French communique states: "Our artillery blew up,one of the enemy's blockhouses and an ammunition depot in the Avocourt wood. , "There was a violent German attack between Haucourt and Bethincourt. against our old positions north of the Forges Brook, the enemy not knowing that we had evaouated them on; the night of March 31. Our surprise fire from our new positions inflicted important losses. We further forced tha enemy baok in the Oaillette wood. Our final counter-attaok was especially violent, and we regained the western portion of Vaux village." ' HIGH COMMISSIONER'S. REPORT.. London, April 8, 4.10 p.m. "West of the Meuse there was a bombardment of the villages at Haucourt and Esnes, but no infantry action. "East of tho' Meuse there was'fighting during,the night in the region of Douaumont-Vaux, which "was favourable to the Allies, who gained gioimd in the Gaillette wood, their line being based on the right flank cf Vaux, crossing tho Gaillette wood, whore the enemy occupied the north horn, rejoining the Allies' position south and west of the village of Dauaumont. •'. "It is .confirmed that German attacks yesterday covered a front of three kilometres, by successive small assaulting columns. Our artillery and infantry fire caused heavy losses iu the enemy's ranks. • _ ' ~..;.' "In Lorraine' our artillery caused several fires at Remabois. ■ ■'■ "In the Ancervillers region, south of Blamont, an enemy reconnaissance, endeavouring to approach our positions, was repulsed by fire. "Near Noyon a German aeroplane roll in our lines, and the aviators were taken prisoner." . „ ■ London, April 4,1.50 a,m. "West of the Meuse. yesterday tho Germans launched a vigorous attack' between Haucourt and Bethincourt, and oil our positions on,the north bank of the Forges Brook, which we evacuated, retiring to the south bank, from which we inflicted severe losses on the enemy. "East of the Meuse our successful counter-attacks enabled us to drive the enemy to the northern borders of the Caillette wood. "North of Vaux Pond, we leoccupied the western portion of the village of Vaux." , ■;•'■. __ ■:' » ' THE BATTLE OF VAUX DESPERATE ATTACK BY THE GERMANS. (Rec; April 4, 8.25 p.m.) Paris, April 3. . The "Petit Journal" says of Sunday's fighting at Vaux: "The Germans dolivered a heavy bombardment from dawn. Their 305 millimetre (12-inch) shells ploughed up our trenches for several hours, and they then launched a D division of their best troops. The first column, which attacked our north front, was held up by our curtain of fire. The second debouched from tho wood south of Vaux, while the third followed the road on our left. The situation was becoming critical when our roinforcements delivered a' counter-at-tack A terrible struggle followed, and ihe Germans were compelled to retreat'before our charges. They failed in their object, which was to cut off our communication with Fort Vaux." GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Rec. April 4, 8.20 p.m.) . . Amsterdam, April 3. , The German official communique on Sunday claims that the Germans "captured the enemy's defences aud flanking entrenchments north-west and west of Vaux.. ''~,- „ , - ■•„ , , • "The French counter-attacks collapsed before our artillery and machineinn fire." ' BRITISH SUCCESS AT ST. ELOI REPORT FROM SIR DOUGLAS HAIG., (It'ec. April 4, 10.30 p.m.) London, April 4r Sir Douglas Haig reports:— "We captured tho crater at St. Eloi (souili of Ypres), which the, Germans, held since Thursday, establishing our lines beyond the crater. • "The artillery on both sides is active. I ■ - , "■ ./ ■ t BRITAIN'S TIMELY HELP. . ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. April 4, 5.25 p.m.) London, April 3., • M Marcel Hutin writes in the "Echo de Paris": "The British rendered creat service- in liberating some of our divisions, wd so ambling us to •irengtben our front at Verdun and elccwhere.