VIOLENT ATTACK ON VERDUN FRONT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2742, 10 April 1916, Page 5

VIOLENT ATTACK ON VERDUN FRONT

GERMAN SCORE AT BETHINCOURT THREE HUNDRED YARDS OF ADVANCE POSITIONS The High Commissioner reports:— London) April 7, 6.20 p.m. A French official report says: "West of the Meuse, in course of the night, by an attack following a violent bombardment of our positions between Bethincourt and Hill 267, the enemy penetrated our ifirat line of trenches between Bethincourt and Cliattoncourt. A counter-attack immediately, ejected him from the greater part of-the ground occupied. The enemy holds only advanced elements over a length of 300 yards. . ' "East of . the Meuse, the bombardment has been intermittent. , Progress was continued towards the enemy's advanced trenches south-west of Fort Douaumont. There has been slight artillery activity in the Woeuvre. "The night .was calm on the rest of the front." 1 London, April s, 1.10 a.m. "West of tlie Meuse, after a violent bombardment'for several hours, the enemy attacked the French positions on the south, and at the entrance of the village of Haucourt,.over a front of two kilometres, the enemy was forced to retire before our artillery fire, leaving corpses on the field. , "South-east of Bethincourt, slight progress was made by grenade fights in the communication trenches which were captured the night before by the enemy between Bethincourt and Hill 285." , London, April 8, 7.20 p.m. Tlie French official reports state:— . '"In the Argonne we successfully exploded two small mines at Hill 289. We occupied the southern lip of the crater, and caused an explosion an a German mine. •• ■ , / _ . , "West.of'tlio Meuse the Germans, during the night, renewed their attacks against our positions on the south and east extremity of the village of Haucourt, but at the latter point, in spite of repeated efforts, the enemy was unable to dislodge us from our lines, from which a murderous fire was poured, causing heavy losses. "At South Haucourt, the Germans succeeded in gaining a footing in two small works situated below Haucourt and Hill 287 ; which we occupy, i "At South Bethincourt, grenade fighting continued in the communication trenches, along the road from Bethinoourt to Chateaucourt, to our advantage. "East of the Meuse an intermittent bombardment' continues. "An. enemy bombing attack on our trenches east of Crest, near Beaufort, was repulsed. "In the Woeuvre, the night passed quietly. "In the Vosges an enemy reconnaissance endeavoured to rush small posts at Longefol Kopf and Souderacs, but was dispersed by our fire."'OBSTINATE FIGHT FOR ST. ELOI ■ f ' ENEMY REGAINS PORTION OF LOST GROUND. The High Commissioner reports: London, April 7, 11.58 p.m. at St. Eloi (south of Y pres) the enemy succeeded in regaining a portion of the ground we captured on March 27. Fighting continues. "To-day there has been much artillery activity at Souchez, Aix Noulottej St. Eloi, and Ypres." RAIDING PARTY EJECTED BY THE BRITISH. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright April 9, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 8. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "A small raiding party entered the British trenches north of the river Ancre, but were quickly driven out." GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Rec. April 9, 5.5 p.m.) London, April, 8. _ A ..German'wireless message claims: "We have captured tlie English craters south of St. Eloi. These were held by the Canadians. "The enemy north of Four de Paris, in the Argonne, attacked, using flame projectors, but were repulsed. . ■ "Repeated enemy attacks north-east of Avocourt broke down. "We also repulsed an attack on our position at Bois Caillette." i (Rec. April 9, 11 p.m.) • Amsterdam, April 9. A German official communique states: —"We have captured the French position on Termiten Hill, south of Haucourt, to a width of two kilometres (1 1-5 mile)." THE GERMAN LOSSES AT VERDUN. ' , By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. April 9, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 8. The "Times" correspondent at Paris states': "The pendulum of battle has ewung back, on tho west of the Meuse, to a hollow dominated by the French guns. A trustworthy estimate puts the German losses at Verdun at 150,000 fallen in the first line. Fifty thousand casualties were caused by artillery sickness (?). REPORTED LOSS OF AUSTRIAN TRANSPORT (Rec. April' 9, 11 p.m.) parrs, April 0, - It is reported that a French submarina sank an Austrian transport in the Adriatic,

BIG BATTLE ON THE YSER SHORTLY SIGNS OF THE ENEMY'S PREPARATIONS (Rec. April 9, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 8. The,"Daily Mail" correspondent at Rotterdam states that a big battle is expected on the Yser shortly. Tlio Germans have been making 'most extensive preparations, and heavy and light guns and an immense quantity of ammunition have been sent to Ostend, ivhile their whole lino has been strongly reinforced and the hospital accommodation doubled. The Dutch Government has sent a strong army to the Flanders border in case the Allies turn the Gorman right, when Dutch neutrality will-be in danger of violation by a German retreat. HOLLAND'S PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES. (Rec. April 9, 5.5 p.m.) , The Hague, April 8. A Bill has been introduced into the Dutch Parliament authorising the Government to call up the 1917 class of men if that should be found necessary. OUR SUCCESS IN MESOPOTAMIA ANOTHER ASSAULT PENDING • STORMS AND FLOODS COMPLICATE THE SITUATION The High Commissioner reports.— London, April 7, 9.15 p.m. In continuation of yesterday's message regarding the fighting in Jlesopotamia, the Felahie position, which was carried in the course of a determined advance of the 13th Division, consisted of several lines of deep,'trenches. _ The necessary measures have been taken for ail assault on a higher position at Saiinaiyat. ' Stormy weather and the Tigris' floods complicate the situation. The Press Association message relating to the above operations covers the same ground', and adds:— I "We obtained positions on the south bank, from which we can enfilade the Turkish positions on the opposite bank," RUSSIANS 20 MILES FROM TREBIZOND ' (Rec. April 9, 11 p.m.) m. n • • , Petrograd, April 9. Ihe Russians are now near Surmench, twenty miles from Trobizond.