THE BATTLES ON THE MEUSE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2768, 11 May 1916, Page 5

THE BATTLES ON THE MEUSE

.:..,' RENEWED ASSAULTS ON HILL 304 '. COMPLETE FAILURE OP THE GERMANS ■ By Telegraph—Press.Association—Copyright c'.■•■•«: • 1 mm '■ '„ ■, \- ~. Paris, May 9. ■ . benli-official:. Ihe enemy on Monday, despite a decimating cross fire, repeatedly the assaults on Hill 304. A Pomeranian regiment, regardless of" terrific losses, fought obstinately.but fruitlessly for hours. ■■Finally, .after-ben)" expelled from a ravine, the enemy attempted to outflank us by an attack towards Hill:287; but'failed, completely. The situation on both banks is now-'the same as before the last renewal of the'formidable German, offensive." ..':■■ .-/■' HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. < ..The High Commissioner'reports: „„"■'■'' „ _. London, May 9, 4.10 p.m. Between the Oiso and the Aisno we repulsotl a coup-de-.main which was directed on. our works south of Autroches, • "In the Argonne, in the region of Solanto, we took ..two small posts, the occupants of which had been killed. We also occupied several craters in front of- these -posts. ■'•>■,-■ "On the left bank of the Meuse, the enemy, during the night, yiolentlv bombarded the trenches at Hill 304.- A German attack, which was launched at 3 a.m., was completely repulsed. • .;. ."On the right tank, our. counter-attacks during the night enabled us to drive the-Germans out from some of our first-lino elements, which were occupied by theni, north-west of Thiaumont Farm.. ' '"...''■, "There has been an intense bombardment of our lines between Dounumont and Vaux, and in tho Eix and Chatillon regious, ! in the Woeuvre "A lively exchange, of grenades took.pkice in the forest of Apreniont, and in the La Fecht. .Valley, in the Yosges." : ; \ FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. • By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright (Bee- May.; ll),' 11.30 p.m.) ; ,t, , . , Paris, May 10. .• A French, communique states: "The artillery fighting is less violent Our ourtain of' fire checked the enemy's attack west of Hill 304, the Germans beine unable to debouch. ' ".Details of the attack's of May S and 9 show, that the cost to the enemy was heavy. Our artillery swept the revictuailing convoys, and the enemy's detachments, on. the road between Esscy and Bayonville, north-west of Pout iMoiisson." ./' . GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. ;,-.■„ ■ . -~',■ ;■■■,;,„ ' : Amsterdam, May 9." A German communique states: "Wo stormed several trenches south of Hartcourt.-. '■".-',.-■. "We repulsed the French attempts to regain the trenches on Hill 304 and also attacks in the vicinity of Thiaumont, inflicting heavy losses, eapturiii" nino-machine-guns." • ° ' THE,GERMAN ARTILLERY AT VERDUN. . ' ■ " fficc. May 10, 9.40 plih.) ' „„ "• , m ~ „, , : ~ ~'■ ~ , ' ' London, May 9. J.he Daily Telegraphs Paris correspondent states that the German artillery at. Verdun is the most powerful that they have yet employed, but its fire is waning. The German infantry is unable to hold the ground thus cleared, in face of the. French infantry's furious-counter-attacks. . The Pomeranians, to whom the forlorn hopes were allotted, have been withdrawn from Champagne, where it baa been intended they, were to lead an offensive. GERMANS CALLING OUT THE 17-YEAR-OLDS v (Rec. May .10, 11.30 p.m.) Amsterdam, May 10. '. In consequence of the losses sustained at Verdun, Germans who attained the age' of 17 in April have been summoned for immediate enlistment. The news has discontented the German upper and reiddlo classes, who are complaining that tho cnfl will denudO' the country of its best youths, who are now at college. . "ANZACS" ON THE WESTERN FttONT DISPATCH FROM MR. MALCOLM ROSS A WELCOME CHANGE FROM-SUN-BAKED EGYPT The following special message has been received from, the New Zealand war correspondent (Mr. Malcolm Ross): Headquarters, (France), May 7. "Not. long ago, when the German Chancellor was stating in the Reichstag I April 51 that the.- Dardanelles undertaking was' 1 a failure, he little, dreamt that the Anzac-.Army Corps had already landed in France, well equipped, and in tho pink of condition, and eager for their first clash of arms witli the real enemy. Yet such was tho case. Even while he was speaking, men from the Ist battalion wore marching to tho front Hue. "All along the Toufce from the port, of'disembarkation, to tho front the Anzacs received a cordial welcome from the French people. Women from the Bed Cross and others met them at wayside stations with coffee, cakes, and fruit. From tho dripping dug-outs of Gallipoli and tho hot wind-swept sands of Egypt to tho comfortable billets and springtime rural scenes of France is a great but delightful change, and tho troops are thoroughly interested in their now surroundings. Thoir behaviour so far has been highly satisfactory. Billeted in villages and farmhouses, they quickly got on friendly terms with tho peoplo s and it is no uncommon sight to sec some big overseas warrior nursing a baby, or with one or two peasant youngsters marching proudly by his side. "All the arrangements made by the British Army worked excellently, and both officers and men are loud in their praise of them. On all hands the British and overseas troops iu-e fraternising. Everything augurs well for a successful campaign. "Tho trench people are wonderlully calm and optimistic, and consider that the Germans are already beaten, though none can predict when the end will comb." ' WELCOMED BY A FIERCE BLIZZARD By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright London, May 9. Tho' artangemonts for the disembark ation and entraining of tho Anzacs wero excellent, British landing officers and military, polico superintending the transfer from tho ships to tho trains. There was some amusement on tho arrival of tho first transport at tho. quay. The troops, long accustomed to greet tho natives of Egypt, shouted "Good Day" in Arabic. The Frenchmen, not understanding, shook their heads, Then somebody aboard shouted, "Vive la France," and the cry was taken up by thousands of soldiers, and there was much cheering by those ashore. Tho town wart bragged, and the populace crowded tho streets, women offering tho 6oldiers flowers, and manifesting a delight equal to that on the arrival of the Indians in 1911. The Australasians' Hue physique made a great impression on the French people as they marched over the cobbled streets. When they entrained their destination was a profound socrot; even tho transport officers did not know whither tho trains were going.

Some of the troops accomplished the journey while a fierce blizzard raged. Tho earliest arrivals at tho British front wore quartered in tents during a blizzard, which lasted the whole night, and blow down tho whole cantonment. The men did not utter a complaint, but crawled into dug-outs and ' billets, aud allured them with their British comrades. Many of the Australasians felt the cold keenly. Some fortunately secured two blankets before leading Egypt, though the regulations only provided for one. Tho British authorities thoughtfully distributed a thousand pairs of mittens. /.Tho moment the men entered a section of the front-line trenches, tho Germans opposite held up a banner inscribed, "Welcome to the Australians." FIRST FIGHT WITH THE GERMANS WABJI RECEPTION FOB THE HUNS. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. May 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, May 9. The Anzac Corps is now composed of New Zealanders and Australians, undeT the command of the senior Australian officer in Prance. Tho men in London speak cheerfully concerning their conditions in France, admitting that the shelling was heavier than anything they had encountered in Gallipoli, but long spells in billets behind tho trenches relieve the strain. Officers and men are eager for raiding and cutting-out expeditions, which, as the troops settle down, will relieve tho monotony of trench life. The men's work so far has been almost solely in the supporting trenches. A. member of tho Second Division, in a letter, says: "Our division is eonfident that it will make a hole somewhere when, its gets loose." The name •"Anzac" has been retained for tne Australian'.and New Zealand army. General Birdwood's quarters are officially called tho Anzac Headquarters. A soldier on furlough says: "The Australians and New Zealanders' first real action in France came on Friday, when the enemy raided the trenches after bombarding them. They were immediately driven out. I'riday afternoon .was calm on the Australian, front. In the evening several of . tho German batteries opened a terrific bombardment along sixty yards of their front, a more intense bombardment than anything of the kind experienced in Gallipoli.' The ground rocked with the detonations of the various calibre high explosives, and then camo shrapnel. The Australians and New Zealanders were ordered to withdraw to the supporting trenches. Then a hundred Germans rushed the trench, but only thirty reached it, the rest being mown down b.v the flanking fire of tho machine-guns. "An English-speaking officer, disguised in an Anzac uniform, attempted to deter the Australians from obeying the order to retire, calling out: 'This way, boys! The Germans are coming!' No one was deceived by tho statement that he was a leader, of the Australasians' supports, and several of the Germans were bayoneted. Then the true supports arrived, making short work of the . enemy. Next day the Australasians had their, revenge. The Germans were bringing up supports or a relieving force,: aud wea'e cauglit by a, concentrated fire in a communication trench on the rising ground behind their front, and suffered heavily. Observers' r saw them carrying oft their dead and wounded for several hours." The Australian aud New Zealand casualties in France are;— •' Killed—B officers; 76 men. Wounded—lo officers; IGS men. PRESS COMMENT ON THE ARRIVALS .'..'•.. London, May 9. The newspaper's welcome the Anzacs' arrived at the Western front. The 'Tall Mall Gazette" says: "We know that the Anzacs are in the very, van of the Empire's resources, and are ready, like the Canadians at Ypres, to establish recorebs for dash and endurance. We wish them all good luck." A correspondent at the British Headquarters writes: "Hitherto there was a possibility that the Germans did not know the Australians and New Zealanders were on. the Western front, so the general'staff has not. taken the risk of announcing the fact. The Bodies, however, have now tested their quality; and the Australians and New Zealanders have drawn a surfeit of eulogy from the French, .with whom they are billeted. The Canadians are also delighted at fighting alongside the heroes of Anzac. The Australians and New Zealanders are gratified to be in Franco. Anzao was a few hundred acres of potted Hades, and there was no getting away from the eternal rattle of war, the sandflies, the heat, and the dysentery.. But the Western front was the goal of their desire. Talk about the great offensive—they want to get on with it. The . officers give lectures, and point out strategic plans, which will involve much time." SOUTH AFRICANS AT MARSEILLES ,; (Eec. May .11, 1 a.m.) Paris, May 10. The South African contingent has been welcomed at Marseilles.