THE FIGHTING ON THE WESTERN FRONT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2777, 22 May 1916, Page 5

THE FIGHTING ON THE WESTERN FRONT

AEROPLANE ATTACKS '\' ' . " GERMAN PROGRESS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF ' VERDUN ARRESTED i ' London, May 19, 3.25 p.m, The High Commissia 'ner reports':— In the Westeril Are onne, the enemy, following a mine explosion, attempted to penetrate a small saliu'mt on tho lino near St. Hubert. Our curtain fire stopped them and. threw them Iback into their trenches. On the loft bank of ; the Mouse yesterday, the Germans renewed their attacks in the region of Avocoui 31 Wood and Hill 304. These were extremely violent attacks, and were carried <t« it by large effectives, apparently two newly-arrived divisions, . but they were una Me to dislodge the French from Avocourt Wood and tho positions west Of Hill 304.Y In the centre, however, the enemy obtained possession of a small earthwork so ii'.th of Hill 287 (between Hill 301 and Avocourt). Several attempts by tike enemy to incpeaso his progress at this point were arrested by our fire. On tike slopes north-east of Hill 304 an eneniy attempt to rotako the email fort capiiired yesterday completely failed. On the right bank of tho Meuso and in the Wocuvre there is moderate artillery activity. On Thursday night soino enemy aeroplanes dropped three bombs on Gerardmer; insignificant materiail damage was done. A German aeroplane Was forced t<s descend yesterday near ! Monehould; and tho enemy aviators were made prisoner. Sub-Lieutenant NaraflTO brought down his tenth aeroplane near Bolarite, in Argonne. LAST THURSDAY'S BATTLE NEAR HILL 304. i By Teleeiwrli—Press Association—Oopyricht Rec. May 21, 5.5 p.m.) London, May 19. The "Daily Chronicle's" P a lis correspondent Says: "Fifteen thousand Germans on TlfWday advanced cm a> front of a mile and a quarter on both sides of Hill 287, and retired only when huoidreds were shot down. Later a fresh fifteen thousand advanced repeatedly and Vesneratoly and only captured a 6malt field work. "When the French' capturMl the fort on tho north-eastern elope of Hill 304 the first wave was stopped fa'vjenty yards from tho work, tho 6«cond gained the parapet, and the third overwhelmed the trenches, in which were found 450 dead. They captured machine-guns, r3 ortars, rifles Bud bombs/'

GERMAN ATTEMPT TO CROSS THE YSER CANAL FRUSTRATED London, May 20, 10.5 p.m. The High Commissioner reports;— lu Belgium some enemy groups sought to cross the Yser Canal, between Sfieenstraate and Het Sas. but were stopped by ouj- infantry and artillery fire. In the Champagne the Germans made great ((mission of gas on our front, between the Souam and Sominepy. This was arresfiatl by our curtain iiro immediately, and spoilt tho enemy, who were unable to laiunch an attack prepared. West of the Mouse there wag violent bombardment in tho course of the night on our positions, between Avoeourt Wood and Mort Homme. There was tvo infantry attack. . _ ' In the Vosges a. coup-de-main 011 our nmall posts at Linge failed. Yesterday evening, Sub-Lioutenant Navarre brought down liia eleventh German aeroplane, tho machine falling in our lines at Cattail court. Two enemy aviators were made prisoner. Another German aeroplane, afcUtcked by Sub-Lioutenant Nungsser, crashed to tho ground in the Forges Wood; I'liis makes tho fifth by this aviator. Three other German machines which were afttaclced by our aviators fell vertically in their own lines. German aeroplanes during tho night dropped a nnmSber of bomlis 011 Dunkirk ana Bergues. At Dunkirk one woman wa s killed and fa.venty-soven wounded. It Bcrgues live were killed and eleven injured. A French squadron iiumedialelv bombarded the enemy cantonments at AYyfweg Zaren and Ha ndzaeijie, and a Belgian squadron bombarded .the centre aerodrome at Ghistelles, m .ost of tho shells reaching the mark. WHAT IS CLAIMED IN A GERMAN QOMMUNIQUE. By Teleeraph—Press ABSocia,tion—Oonyidjslit (Rec. liny 20, 5.5 p.m.) Amstordam, May 19. A German communique states: We oaptured trenches; on hotli sides of the jHaucourt-Esnes Road to a height southward of tho Camiwo Wood. I A French attack on Hill 301 collapsed, with considerable losses. t; Boelilke brought down his sixteenth, aeroplane southward of Ripont. I SUCCESSFUL COUP DE MAIN BY THE^FRENCH. ! (Rec. May 21, 11.10 p.m.) i Paris, May 21. . < A ; , French communique says:—A coup de main enabled us to penetrate the {enemy's lines north-west of Ville sur Tourbe. The occupstnts of the trench were killed or made prisoners. , , The Germans, after an extremely vi olent bombardment,, launched a widespread a±tack on the whole of the Mort Hoinme region, and! momentarly entered olur first line to the eastward. They were driven out with heavy loss. After a ,a?ries of deadly and fruitless assaults westward .and on. the- northern slopes of alort Homme the Germans occupied some elements in our advanced trench, some contingents reached the second line, an '1 were caught by thb violent fire of our guns, and'.retreated in disorder, leaving numerous dead. • . A LOST CRATER RECAPTURED BY THE) BRITISH. (Rec. May 21, 11.10 p.m.) • i London, May 21. |Sir Douglas Haig reports:—The enemy on Friday night rainted the line southwest of Loos, and entered our front trenches, But was driven out immediately. Thflenemv's attempt to rush a post westward of Wieltje was frustrated. tThe Efor'th. Lancashires recaptured the crater lost on. tho Afimy Ridge on the IStli. ■■ iWe blew up a mine in the Hulluch. scctor ant! occupie<l the^crater. ' I GENERAL JOFFRE'S MESSAGE TO BRITISH MUNITION 1 MAKERS. (Rec. May 22,. 0.15 a.m.) 1 LonWon, May 81. Glmeral Joffro begged the Rev. H. It. Wakefield, Bishop of Birmingham, who is vis filing the front, to tell England that it is impossible to havie more than enougn of the most powerful cannon and munitions. Even now tlfl3 requirements have :|ot. been completely met. L/tRGE GERMAN CONCENTRATION ON BRITISH 'FRONT. ("Times" and Syiney "Sun" Services.) . (Rec. May 20/ 5.5 p.m.) 1 . , Loncton, May 19. An aVmsterdam Press message reports that there are large. German, tions on! the British front, 20,000 fresh tr oops being sent to La Bussed The great, est. activity is between Ypres and Lens. UHLANS BROUGHT BACK FROM THE BALKANS TO BRUSSELS. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) / (Rec. May 20, 5.5 p.m.) '■ London! May 19. "The 'Viines" correspondent at Amsterdam learns from an authoritative Bel. gian snuved that the Germans are forcing young Belgians into the army, and compelling tlie{ local authorities to help enrol them. ■ . Thousands of TJlilans who went to the Balkans eight months agos have returned to Ifrclgium. and have gone into' camp near Brussels.